Chapter 4: A Public Spectacle
Maeve's POV
"My class schedule is none of your business, Juniper," I managed, controlling my voice.
"Oh, but it is!" Juniper laughed. "My boyfriend's ex suddenly taking an interest in my favorite professor? How amusing. Though I should warn you, someone like you—without even a wolf—will only be a joke here."
Before I could respond, a soft voice spoke up beside me.
"If I may, Juniper," Freya said, her voice gentle but firm, "Maeve's combat skills surpass many students who already have their wolf forms."
I glanced at Freya, surprised by her unexpected defense. Juniper and her followers exchanged glances before breaking into exaggerated expressions of shock.
"Oh my, the little Omega can speak!" Juniper gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "I thought your kind just wagged their tails and followed orders."
The girls behind Juniper erupted into sharp laughter.
"God, Juniper, be careful," one of them snickered. "She might dirty your new outfit. These Omegas always have that... lower-class smell."
I watched Freya's face fall, her shoulders slumping slightly. The hurt in her eyes was unmistakable, and something inside me snapped.
Juniper stepped closer to me, her voice turning vicious. "Honestly, you should thank me. If it weren't for me, you might still be deluding yourself that Louie would like you. You know what? He said those color-changing eyes of yours made him sick."
Heat rushed to my cheeks, my fingers trembling slightly. But instead of backing down, I stepped forward, meeting her gaze directly.
"Listen, Juniper," I growled, my voice low and dangerous. "You can mock my lack of wolf, you can mock my eyes, you can even mock my romantic choices. But I will not allow you to insult Freya or any Omega's dignity. If you continue acting like a spoiled princess, I'll show you that even without a wolf form, I can make that pretty face of yours a little less perfect."
As my emotions flared, I didn't notice my eyes beginning to flicker with an unusual light, but I did see Juniper and her followers take a step back.
"Come on, Freya," I said, linking my arm through hers. "Let's not waste our time."
As we walked away, I felt someone watching me. Looking up, I locked eyes with Professor Cyrus across the training grounds. His expression was complex—surprise mingled with thoughtfulness, and something else I couldn't quite decipher. My stomach did a small flip as our gazes held for a moment too long.
When we reached a quieter corner of the arena, Freya turned to me, eyes shining with gratitude and admiration.
"No one has ever spoken up for me like that," she said, her voice slightly shaky. "Especially not against Juniper. That might cause trouble for you."
I shook my head as I picked up two training wristguards from the equipment rack. "I don't care about that," I said, fastening the guards around my wrists. "My father taught me that a person's worth isn't determined by their bloodline or rank, but by their actions and character."
"In the Cassiopeia pack, do Omegas have equal standing?" Freya asked curiously.
I nodded. "Every member has their own value and contribution. My father believes that a strong pack needs a balance of different abilities and qualities."
Freya nodded thoughtfully, a spark of hope in her eyes. "That sounds like an ideal place... It's very different here. Most students come from traditional packs where Omegas are considered servants or... worse."
Anger flashed in my eyes. "Then it's time they changed their perspective." I handed Freya hand guards. "Come on, let's give them a show, prove that rank doesn't equal strength."
A genuine smile spread across Freya's face as she accepted the guards. "Let's focus on the present."
Before we began, I couldn't help glancing at Professor Cyrus, almost certain I caught the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Something about his attention made my pulse quicken.
I faced Freya, assuming my signature combat stance. We began sparring, and I consciously controlled my strength to avoid hurting her. Freya shifted into wolf, gracefully evading most of my attacks, while I dodged all of hers with reflexes I'd honed through years of training.
I could feel all eyes in the training arena on me as I executed a series of complex evasive maneuvers. I heard gasps from many observers as I performed a perfect backflip followed by a low kick, deliberately missing Freya's leg by an inch, causing her to back away in surprise.
Grabbing a practice staff from the weapons rack, I twirled it expertly, the familiar weight comfortable in my hands. I strategically aimed for Freya's lower body rather than her upper half, tricking her into protecting her head when the real attack came at her feet, sending her tumbling to the ground.
With a light touch, I placed the staff against her chest, pinning her to the floor in a perfect takedown.
I executed a perfect backflip followed by a low kick, deliberately missing Freya's leg by an inch.
Admiration sparkled in Freya's eyes as silence fell over the training grounds. I knew everyone was stunned by how well I'd performed without a wolf form. Then, a few students began to applaud, and soon the entire arena erupted in cheers—except for Juniper and her followers, who refused to join in, their faces sour with displeasure.
I smiled with satisfaction as I removed the staff and extended my hand to help Freya up.
"That was absolutely breathtaking!" Freya exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen anyone move like that. Where did you learn those techniques?"
"Thanks," I replied modestly. "Just years of training."
As I returned the staff to the weapons rack, I turned to see Professor Cyrus staring at me, arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable. I wondered what he thought of my performance, and found myself wanting his approval more than I cared to admit.
Just as I was about to approach him, a chorus of notification sounds echoed throughout the training grounds. Frowning, I realized everyone had received a message simultaneously.
Students stood frozen, eyes glued to their phones, then darting to me with expressions ranging from shock to morbid curiosity. An uncomfortable weight settled in my stomach.
"Look who found a shortcut to better grades," Juniper's voice cut through the silence as she sauntered over, flanked by her ever-present entourage. She thrust her phone screen toward me with theatrical flair.
A cold chill raced down my spine as my blood seemed to freeze in my veins.
There, displayed clearly for everyone to see, was a photo of me kissing Professor Cyrus.