CHAPTER 16: THERE’S NO AVOIDING THIS SCHOOL NOW.

Victoria smirked and casually dusted off the collar of Darius’s shirt. "The kiss was hot, but unfortunately, it can’t last. Still, thanks for the experience. At least I proved my point to the Blondie."

The crowd murmured with renewed interest.

"Damn... Things are about to change."

’Yes, a change,’ Victoria thought, a fierce determination lighting up her eyes. ’Now that I’ve made my mark, there’s no turning back. Whether I like it or not, I’ve made my entrance into this school. Even if the mask of my family’s kindness slips, me coming to this school can’t be avoided anyways.’

’Now that the Alphas had their eyes on me... now that i had challenged them... they would stop at nothing to break me. They would want me to kneel, to beg, to submit. But they were in for the shock of their lives.’

"Little sister!" came a shout, filled with panic and disbelief. It was Theo, rushing into the building with Callum on his heels.

"Greetings, Alpha Zephyr. Alpha Darius," the brothers chorused, bowing deeply.

"Little sister?" Darius repeated, one eyebrow raised and a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"What did you do?" Theo hissed under his breath, grabbing Victoria’s arm and gently pulling her behind him as if shielding her.

"Yes," Callum added, stepping forward. "She’s our little sister. She was just brought home recently. She’s... not entirely in her right state of mind right now. The doctor is still looking after her. We don’t know what she might have said or done, but please... forgive her." He bowed again, more deeply this time.

"Interesting..." Zephyr muttered as he turned away. "You’re Mirabel’s sister." With that, he sauntered back into the heir’s office, towel still draped around his waist.

"So you’re saying she’s crazy?" Darius said, eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Victoria once more. "Well... I can believe that. She’s bold....too bold. But fine. You may go. I’ll have a word with your eldest brother."

He let out a laugh...low, cold, and cruel...before turning and exiting the building.

Wasting no time, Callum and Theo led Victoria out of the building and into the adjacent school library.

The library was deserted, the scent of old books lingering in the air. Rows of shelves loomed around them.

Victoria’s eyes scanned the room...until they landed on a figure seated near the back.

There, reading calmly, was their eldest brother.

A young man with braided raven-black hair, dressed in a crisp white shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal a well-toned chest. He wore tailored black trousers, and in one hand was a thick book. He looked up slowly, ocean-blue eyes meeting theirs.

Victoria, Theo, and Callum stood still, silent under the weight of his gaze. His stare was analytical, unblinking, as though reading a particularly complicated passage.

Finally, he stood and walked toward them.

Without a word, he pulled Victoria into his arms.

Shock rippled through her body.

"I’m glad you’re home, little sister," he whispered.

Victoria’s eyes widened. ’Another twist?’ she thought, heart pounding. ’He of all people? The one I expected to lash out, to show irritation? And instead, he’s acting... gentle?’

Damien Ashford. The eldest son. Cold. Calculating. A perfectionist who manages the family’s business empire. His expectations were notoriously high, and his temper was legendary.

And yet...

Nothing about this family matched the personas Victoria had carved out in her heart.

Is this what they call the calm before the storm, or are all these sudden changes in my family’s behavior actually real? If so, why? Why the shift?

"But then why did you do that?" Damien asked sharply, releasing Victoria from his embrace. His intense gaze bore into her, eyes glinting with restrained emotion. "Why did you go against the heirs?"

He knows already?

Her thoughts raced as her heart thudded in her chest.

"I received a call," Damien continued, his voice suddenly calm but laced with menace. "A call about a certain bold little sister of mine....one who had the nerve to defy them. And now I’ve been asked to teach you a lesson."

He smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His expression sent chills down Victoria’s spine.

"Well, congratulations," he added, pacing slowly in front of her. "There’s no avoiding this school now. However, before you can even think of becoming a member of this academy, do you have the slightest idea what kind of hardship and brutal training await you?"

Yeah that’s it... Victoria thought. I’ve drawn their attention. Exactly what I want.

"And once you become part of this institution," Damien said, his tone darkening, "your suffering won’t end....it’ll only begin. You don’t even know the meaning of hardship yet. And still, you dared to act arrogantly in front of the heirs? Especially the first heir, Alpha Darius?"

His voice rose as his features twisted with anger. "You have no idea what you’ve done!"

Victoria swallowed hard.

"Please, take it easy on her, brother," Theo interjected, stepping forward and placing a gentle, protective hand on Victoria’s trembling shoulder. "Callum and I shouldn’t have left her alone. That was our fault. You’re just meeting Victoria for the first time and you’re making her scared already."

"Oh really?" Damien snapped, turning his fury toward them. "You knew better. You both know exactly how intense and unforgiving the training is to join this academy...especially when it comes from those in positions of power. And yet, you left her unguarded?"

He let out a bitter laugh, one devoid of humor.

"You ask me to take it easy on her?" he continued, voice rising. "Fine. I might consider going easy on our dear little sister. But do either of you understand what the other heirs will do? They’ll make her regret ever walking into this school. They’ll strip away her pride, her confidence...piece by piece. So tell me....what am I supposed to do, huh?! Sit back and let her walk into a nightmare unprepared?"

"We’ll figure it out," Callum said firmly, stepping beside Theo. His eyes met Damien’s without flinching. "We’ll protect her. But that still doesn’t justify yelling at her like that. You’re scaring her."

Damien’s eyes narrowed.

"Oh really?" he said coldly. "Then let’s see how far your love for your sister goes."

He turned abruptly and barked, "Both of you kneel. Now."

Without hesitation or complaint, Theo and Callum dropped to their knees.

Victoria’s eyes flew wide open, stunned. "W-What are you...?!"

Before she could finish her sentence, Damien picked up a horsewhip lying on a nearby stool. The leather cracked through the air as he lifted it high.

"This," Damien said, voice low and furious, "Let this be a lesson to you."

Theo and Callum remained still, their bodies braced for the impact, heads bowed in silent acceptance. They didn’t flinch. They didn’t resist.