Chapter 8 The Return of the White Wolf Tessa’s Reckoning

The next morning. Mr. Widter personally took Tessa

w best

The principal. Mr Lamb w nonly the d of

is thth

High for afes the city’s Herine of

Education He was a bucy man, not someone easily able However. Me Wheretation in Moris

oder carted weight, and the two waited in the principal’s for his arrival

I wasn’t until after 11 am that Mr Lambert finally entered his office Seeing visitors waiting for him, he immediately had his assistam invite them in After Hing to Teser’s ration. Me Lambert looked troubled

With these grades, imot post Navors Tick–sation holder wher

just

turned

“Mr. Walter. I’ve never named down a request from you but this time, I really can’t help. Mr. Lamber sud hesitantly. “You know Navoris High is one of the ut elite schools, with students aiming for ly League universities. With grades like these, it’s just too difficult. I suggest you try vor ational schools or other regr high schools, but I doubt even they bwill /btake her

Tessa had never wanted her grandfather to beg for her. She stood up and walked out without a word.

Knowing her pride, Mr. Walter quickly followed.

But before they reached the door, Mr. Lambert received a phone call from Nathaniel.

“Mr. Walter, please wait,” Mr. Lambert called after them once the call ended.

I ept Tessa into Navoris High,” he said, his tone suddenly changed.

Even someone as seasoned as Walter was surprised by the principal’s abrupt shift in attitude. What happened!

“Mr. Lambert, did I hear byou /bcorrectly?” Walter asked, lus bvoice /bcautious

“You did. Mr. Walter. I’ll arrange for Tessa to join a ss right away,” Mr. Lambert assured him. He immediately called the academic director to handle Tea’s enrollment

Tessa didn’t refuse, but she knew there had to be more to this sudden reversal.

The academic director ced Tessa in the school’s lowest–branking /bss, gave her a uniform, and introduced her to the twelfth–grade bss /b8 homeroom teacher.

“Mr. bHamilton/b, please btake /bcare of Tessa,” the director said politely.

“Of course, sir. You bcan /bleave her to me,” Mr. Hamilton replied with a practiced smile. At a prestigious school like Navors High, the parents of students were often powerful figures–teachers knew better than to offend them

The third period was Mr. bHamilton’s /bss. He broughtlessa to the twelfth–grade ss & ssroom.

“Everyone, we have a new bstudent /bjoining us today,” Mr. Hamilton announced. “Please bgive /bher a bwarm /bwee.”

1

Chapter 8 The Return of the White Wolf: Tessa’s Reckoning

Tessa walked to the ckboard and, with bold, fluid strokes, wrote her name: Tessa Sinir

“Hello, everyone. I’m Tessa,” she said simply.

The murmurs started immediately.

“Isn’t she the Tessa who got expelled five years ago?”

“Yeah. I think so! She used to be in my ss,”

“Didn’t she elope with a Rogue at twelve? bAnd /bwasn’t there something about an abortion?”

“It’s true! I heard-

s

“Alright, settle down!” Mr. Hamilton’s voice cut through the chatter. “bTessa/bb, /bthere’s an empty seat in the

back. Please take it.”

Tessa walked to thest row, ignoring the disdainful stares from her ssmates.

ss 8 was a general track ss, home to students from influential families who couldn’t make it into the school’s honors track. These students weren’t afraid of causing trouble.

After the third period ended, Queenie Locke, one of Winona’sckeys, approached Tessa.

“Tessa! It really is you! I can’t believe you had the audacity toe back to Navoris. If I were you…” Queenie sneered.

Queenie had been Winona’s sidekick back in the day, often helping her torment Tessa.

“Queenie, shut your filthy mouth,” Tessa snapped, her tone sharp. She was still sleep–deprived from. tossing and turning in an unfamiliar bed the previous night, and now she had a pounding headache.

“Who do you think you are, btalking /bto me like bthat/bb?/b” Queenie sneered, undeterred. “You’re just a useless nobody without a wolf. I could crush you with one bhand/b!” She grabbed Tessa’s wrist, bassuming /bshe was still the meek, defenseless girl from five years ago.

But Tessa’s eyes narrowed dangerously, a spark of menace shing in bher /bgaze.

With a flick of her wrist, she reversed Queenie’s grip, twisting her arm backward.

“bAhh/b–Queenie shrieked in pain.

Tessa bhadn’t /beven bused /bbher /bwolf’s strength.

“I told you, I don’t want trouble, but I’m not afraid of it either, Tessa said coldly, her voice steady bat bmenacing/b, “Queenie, remember this–I’m not the bsame /bTessa from five years ago. No one steps on me

anymore.

She leaned closer, her grip tightening just enough to make Queenie squirm. “And don’t forget: everything you did to me back then. I’ll bmake /bsure you pay for it. Slowly. One by bone/bb.” /b

bTessa /blet go and shoved Queenie backward. Queenie stumbled and fell to the ground, too stunned to react.

Queenie was frozen in disbelief. iHow /ican she be this strong? iShe /ihasn’t even awakened her wolf! So how could she

Chapter 8 The Return of the White Wolf: Tessa’s Reckoning

overpower me so easily?

The way Tessa looked at her–it wasn’t human. It felt like the gaze of a predator locking onto its prey. the first time, Queenie felt fear.

I can’t let Tessa stay in Navoris. iIf /ishe digs up that Winona and I did to her back then, we’re finis

As Queenie sat there, trembling, her mind