Chapter 26: The Price of Defiance [II]

Chloe let out a frustrated breath and rubbed her temples, her annoyance evident. "I know you were trying to stand up for Elle, but there were limits, and you crossed every single one of them. Beatrice isn’t just some random werewolf. She’s from the Perigee Clan. And Alpha Mikhail..." She trailed off for a moment, shaking her head in exasperation. "Look, I don’t care what kind of relationship you have with the Alpha Twins or what you have against them, but you shouldn’t have provoked a royal clan, let alone two of them, on your first day here. Now you’re definitely going to be ostracized, and we’re going to get dragged into this unless we distance ourselves from you."

A sharp prick of indignation stirred in Starlight’s chest. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How could Chloe still think she had any kind of relationship with those Alpha Twins? It was clear Chloe didn’t believe a word she had said back in the dorm, still convinced she was hiding something about why the twins had singled her out in the first place. But why would she lie? What possible reason would she have to keep something like that a secret?

Yet as the frustration slowly settled, the harsh reality of her situation began to creep in. Regardless of Chloe’s harsh words and suspicions, the immediate danger Starlight had created for all of them, especially for herself, was undeniable. She had acted purely on instinct, letting her rage blind her to the consequences of her actions. Maybe Chloe wasn’t entirely wrong.

Maybe she shouldn’t have allowed her hatred of werewolves to get the better of her. She often forgot the kind of world they lived in, where humans were expected to lower their heads and accept whatever treatment they were given rather than challenge those above them. It was honestly a miracle the three girls were even sitting with her right now, considering the target she had just painted on her own back. But then again, how else was she supposed to defend herself if she didn’t fight back?

Sitting quietly and allowing werewolves like Beatrice to walk all over her was something she had sworn never to do again.

​"Seriously, Starlight, what is your problem with werewolves?" Chloe demanded, clearly irritated by Starlight’s silence. "You’re actively trying to show your dislike toward—"

"Okay, that’s enough, Chloe." Ariel immediately cut her off before she could say anything that might put them in an even more difficult situation. She lowered her voice and glanced around the dining hall uneasily. "Are you forgetting where we are? People are already watching."

And true to her words, dozens of curious glances continued drifting in their direction from all across the hall. Starlight became painfully aware of just how many people were watching them. Across the table, Chloe was glaring at her, her expression hard and unforgiving. The look carried enough irritation and blame to make it clear she disapproved of Starlight’s earlier actions, and Starlight couldn’t help but feel a stab of guilt. Still, she stubbornly held Chloe’s gaze until Chloe finally broke the staring match with a scoff and looked away.

Starlight let out a quiet sigh. She was genuinely beginning to regret her rash actions. It was just that whenever werewolves were involved, especially arrogant ones, her sense of reason seemed to fly straight out the window.

Ariel let out a weary sigh. "I think we should continue this conversation back at the dorm before it turns into another scene." She turned toward Elle. "Elle, can you grab some takeaway meals for us, please?"

Elle sprang to her feet almost immediately, as though she had been waiting for an excuse to escape the increasingly uncomfortable atmosphere. It didn’t take her long to return, balancing four takeaway packs inside a large paper carry bag.

Ariel rose from her seat and let out a quiet sigh. "Okay, let’s just head back to the dorm."

"Let me help with that," Starlight offered, reaching for the bag.

Elle immediately shook her head and pulled it closer to herself. "No, I’ve got it." Before Starlight could insist further, Elle was already making her way toward the exit with the bag tucked protectively against her side.

Starlight simply sighed and followed after her. She could feel the gazes following them as they left their table, but one stood out from all the others. It was almost impossible to ignore. The sensation lingered at the back of her mind like a persistent weight, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Unable to help herself, she turned toward the source. Her eyes locked with Nikolai’s from the upper gallery.

The blue-eyed Alpha was seated beside one of the large windows, his attention fixed entirely on her. Unlike the curious and hostile stares filling the rest of the hall, his gaze was far too intense, almost like a predator tracking the movements of its prey. There was something cold and unsettling about it, something that made every instinct in her body scream in warning. If Mikhail’s earlier gaze had unsettled Starlight, this one made her feel as though she had just wandered into the sights of something dangerous.

She immediately looked away and followed her roommates out of the dining hall. She really needed to find a way to avoid the Alpha Twins at all cost.

Back on the upper gallery, Mikhail watched Starlight disappear through the dining hall doors before shifting his attention to his brother. "Why were you looking at her like that?" he asked.

Nikolai didn’t remove his gaze from the exit as he replied, "I hate to agree with Beatrice, but I think Starlight Dawson needs to be punished for the way she spoke to you."

Beside Mikhail, Beatrice immediately perked up at those words, her eyes lighting up with approval. Finally, the stupid twin was saying something sensible. Mikhail let out a low chuckle. "Or are you throwing a tantrum because she didn’t spare you a single glance earlier?"

Nikolai’s head snapped toward him. "That’s ridiculous," he scoffed. "I just hate seeing anybody disrespect you."

Mikhail only chuckled harder, clearly unconvinced. Nikolai would never admit it, but Mikhail knew his younger brother’s pride had taken a hit. He just hoped Nikolai wouldn’t do anything stupid because of it.

Besides him, Beatrice’s gaze shifted between the twins in confusion. She didn’t understand what they were talking about. Why would Nikolai care whether a human girl had looked at him or not?

The very idea sounded absurd. Then a disturbing possibility entered her mind. Could it be Nikolai was the one interested in that human girl?