Chapter 4

His voice was gentle yet firm, the kind of vow a werewolf makes only to his mate.

I almost laughed, but the bitterness welled up from deep inside me. Liam's heartfelt words to her were a hundred times more moving than the lies he used to tell me.

After he finished, as if remembering something, he glanced at me and added, "Chloe is such an outstanding girl; anyone would want to marry her. Besides, you are Harper's sister."

Chloe looked at me too, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "Thanks for the comfort, Liam. I know I could never compare to my sister..."

I was done watching this pathetic performance. I cut them off, "The car's here. I'm heading back."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and got into the cab without sparing Liam another glance.

Back at school, I received a message from my father.

"I've found the special training team you asked for. Don't forget our agreement."

I stared at the contact information he sent, didn't reply, and directly reached out to the mentor in charge of admissions at the Royal Enforcer Academy.

"Hello, I'd like to apply to the Enforcer Academy based on my top rank as 'Alpha Wolf' in this year's selection trials. I don't care how full the schedule is."

The next day, the mentor called me into his office.

"The national youth werewolf combat tournament you participated in the past two years has changed its rules. Now, you need straight A's in both academics and tactical theory to qualify."

And only one student per class could earn straight A's.

I lowered my voice. "Understood."

The tournament didn't contribute any bonus points to the trials, but it mattered to me. I had been the champion for two years straight. I'd made a promise to someone—we were supposed to meet again on the battlefield this year. I didn't want to break that promise.

After returning to class, I buried myself in tactical theory.

Liam appeared beside my desk, his gaze falling on my holographic tablet. Then he suddenly asked, "Why are you working so hard all of a sudden? Trying to get straight A's?"

I answered without looking up, "Yeah, I want straight A's."

Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone cooling. "Chloe's always had the straight A's before."

Was that a warning? That I was trying to take what belonged to Chloe? My fingers froze. I looked up, meeting Liam's dark, unreadable eyes. My chest ached with a thousand tiny needles.

I spoke quietly but clearly, every word steady. "But I want them."

Liam narrowed his eyes, then suddenly smiled. "Then you'd better work hard."

A few days later, the test results came out.

As soon as I got my transcript, Chloe came over. "You're working so hard, Harper. I'm sure the straight A's are yours this semester."

Before I could reply, the werewolf students around us erupted in sneers.

"A half-human like her? No way she beats you."

"She's always trying to snatch things meant for true purebloods. Shameless."

Even though I'd been accepted back into the family, my father publicly claimed I was raised in the human world, my bloodline impure. To the others, I looked like an outsider taking what should have been Chloe's. So when they insulted me, no one found it strange.

I ignored them and focused on my transcript.

First subject, second, third... all A's. Then I saw the last line—Tactical Simulation. Next to it: D.

I stood frozen. That couldn't be right. I had never received such a low grade in my entire life.

Around me, the whispers turned louder, deliberate.

"Chloe got straight A's again. Amazing. Looks like someone's hard work was pointless. No matter how much a stray howls, it'll never be an alpha."

I didn't say a word. I walked straight to the mentor's office. "Excuse me, was there a mistake in my tactical simulation score?"

The mentor adjusted his glasses. "No mistake. The first draft you submitted was excellent. But the revised version had all the friend and enemy data reversed."

"Revised version?" I blinked, surprised. "But I didn't..."

Then I stopped short. No—there was one. That course was the only collaborative one. I'd done it with Liam.

It was Liam...

My hands clenched. A sharp pain stabbed through my chest. He knew how important this was to me, yet he still tampered with my work. He knew how much time and effort I poured into that test, and he still made sure I'd lose.

I wandered back, stunned.

I hadn't gone far when I overheard Liam and Chloe talking on the balcony.

Liam smiled at her. "Congratulations. Another straight-A semester."

Chloe blushed a little. "Honestly, I thought it would be my sister this time."

Liam looked at her tenderly. "You're better than she is. Even the Moon Goddess favors you."

It wasn't the Moon Goddess—it was Liam's disgusting favoritism.

I couldn't take any more. I turned and walked down the stairs.

Liam heard the sound and looked over. When he saw my back, his heart skipped a beat.

I walked forward without a word, expressionless.

After a few steps, my phone buzzed with an encrypted message. Just one sentence: [I'll be waiting for you on the battlefield.]

My nose stung. I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surge of emotion. I wanted to reply that I couldn't make it.

But after typing a line, my fingers froze, then slowly deleted it, one character at a time.

I hated people who broke promises. Now I'd become one of them.

My eyes turned red. I clenched my fists tightly and was about to leave when Liam caught up and grabbed my arm. "Harper, I was just congratulating Chloe like anyone else would."

I didn't turn around.

He stepped in front of me, about to speak—then saw my red eyes. His gaze trembled. "You've been crying?"

I turned away. "No."

Liam stared at me for a moment, then softened his tone and lowered his head, half apologetic, half coaxing. "I'm sorry. I messed up the data in our simulation. That's why you didn't get all A's. You can blame me however you want. I'll accept it."

I shook my head, my voice calm. "I don't blame you."

Liam's lips lifted slightly, as if reassured that I wouldn't hold it against him.

Just as he was about to brush the matter aside, I looked up at him and spoke coldly. "I only blame myself—for being blind."

His smile froze in place.