CHAPTER 38: LET’S GO HOME LITTLE SISTER.

The sharp sound cracked through the air as Miss Ameera’s palm connected with Anna’s face.

"We are not fools," she snapped, her voice low but laced with fury. "So keep your lies to yourself."

Darius heaved a heavy sigh, his eyes scanning the tense faces before him. "Anyway, we all know the truth now. The girls brought this upon themselves." His tone was calm but carried a warning edge. "You four still have the right to remain in this training ground... or you may choose to leave. However, if you ever dare to pull something like this again, you won’t just be sent back to your homes. You’ll be handed over to the council and they will execute you without mercy."

The four girls could only bow their heads in silent rage, their eyes bloodshot and brimming with hatred as they glared at Victoria, who was standing off to the side with a bright, triumphant grin on her face.

Victoria couldn’t bring herself to pity them not when they had done this to themselves. In fact, she was overjoyed. A bubbling delight surged through her chest, and she nearly laughed out loud. But she restrained herself. Not here. Not in front of Miss Ameera, Darius, and Zephyr.

"The right to stay in the training ground?" Zephyr raised an eyebrow, visibly shocked by Darius’s leniency. "They should be expelled, Darius. Immediately."

Darius turned to him with a heavy look. "I’m afraid someone wouldn’t allow that. She’ll say the same thing again that we should let them be. Since it was her they wronged, she has the right to decide whether they stay or go." He shifted his gaze pointedly toward Victoria.

Victoria folded her arms and tilted her head slightly, her smile never fading.

’Oh, of course,’ she thought to herself. ’Unless they’re willing to walk out on their own, why should I agree to let them leave? There are still so many chances to punish them if they keep refusing to change.’ She sighed softly, the sound almost theatrical.

"Are you seriously okay with these girls staying here?" Zephyr asked, his tone rising in disbelief. "You could have been killed. Defiled by four feral brutes, and they would have ended your life too. So tell me...do you really want them to remain here?"

Before Victoria could respond, Miss Ameera’s voice cut in. "Even if they stay, I can assure you of one thing....they will never become Lunas. Even if they’re later admitted into the academy, they’ll never rise above the lowest rank. Not after this disgrace." Her voice trembled with fury, and her eyes flashed with disgust.

Suddenly, a firm voice echoed through the courtyard.

"Well, I’m afraid our sister can no longer stay in this place."

Callum stormed in, flanked by Theo and Lucian. Their expressions were dark, their anger radiating off them like heat from a forge.

"It’s only been a day," Theo shouted, "and chaos has already erupted!" He rushed toward Victoria and, without warning, spun her in a dizzying circle, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Are you okay, sister? I’m so sorry your brothers arrived late."

"Oh, please," Victoria groaned inwardly, rolling her eyes as Theo continued to fuss over her until her head spun.

"Enough, brother. I’m fine," she finally said, brushing Theo’s hands off her shoulders. "What are you three doing here, anyway?"

"We came to take you home," Lucian replied, his tone stern and unyielding. "Elder Brother Damien was right. It would be better to hire a private tutor for you than subject you to this madness. I knew you’d be targeted the moment we agreed to send you here." He stepped closer, his eyes fierce. "Let’s go home, little sister. Everyone is waiting."

Callum pointed accusingly at the girls. "Those four devils even took down the two bodyguards we assigned to you! They were killed. Thankfully, Lucian sent another guard today...he’s the one who alerted us to what was happening. That’s why we came."

"How dare you hurt my sister! You must be really tired of living is it?" Theo yelled as he stormed towards the girls, landing a dirty slap each of their faces.

Ouuu. That was fierce. Victoria thought to herself as sfe swallowed hard.

Miss Ameera’s voice rose once more, her fury renewed. "How in the world were such animals in human skin allowed into this training ground in the first place?!" Her hands trembled as she gestured toward the girls, who were now openly crying in frustration and defeat.

Then Darius stepped forward, his expression solemn. His voice, when it came, was final.

"In fact, this marks the end of the training session." Everyone turned to face him. "There will be no more training. From now on, lessons will only be given to students officially admitted into the academy. I will not waste my time or risk lives by trying to teach monsters."

"So you’re giving them all admission letters just like that? Without testing their abilities?" Zephyr scoffed, folding his arms tightly across his chest, disbelief etched across his face.

Darius released a long, weary sigh before turning to face the four trembling girls. "Oh, yes," he said, voice heavy with scorn. "And I support Victoria’s decision to let you remain. You’ll be given your admission letters just like the others." His tone grew colder, sharper. "But don’t mistake this for mercy. I want you to walk through those academy gates. I want you to feel the ridicule burn through your skin when the other students learn what you did and what was done to you. I want you to feel the weight of your shame every single day."

"No... no! I don’t want to go!" Cassandra’s voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. "I’d rather die than become the laughing stock of the entire city!"

"Please, Alpha Darius, don’t let this become public knowledge," Anna pleaded desperately, clutching the hem of his trousers. Her voice shook as she fell to her knees. "No one outside of this courtyard knows what happened. We can keep it quiet...please."

But Darius shoved her back with a disgusted glare, brushing her off as one would a stain. "Absolutely not," he said, his voice laced with cold fury. "We will not keep this a secret. Even if you choose death over disgrace and refuse to attend the academy, the truth will still come out. I hate deceit, and I will not protect filth."

Zephyr gave a low whistle, then clapped his hands once with a mocking smirk. "Nice one, Darius. That settles it. You can all return to your homes now. A letter of invitation will be sent to your family estates soon enough." His voice turned mocking, amused. "Thank the heavens I no longer have to deal with you aspiring monsters."

He turned his gaze back to the group. "While you’re at home waiting for your admission letters, don’t waste your time lounging about. Use this brief reprieve to learn something...anything that might serve you well in the academy. You’ll need it."

Miss Ameera stepped forward, her expression as stern as ever. "Let me make this very clear," she said, her voice hard and commanding. "The academy is not a bed of roses. Just like you received no personal servants here, you will not be granted any there either. Your chores may be handled by general staff, yes but you will never be assigned personal aides. Do not expect special treatment. Now leave this training center. Immediately."

With that, Miss Ameera turned on her heel and disappeared into the building, her robes swishing behind her.

Darius lingered for a moment, then cast one last look at Victoria. A smirk curled at the edge of his lips before he followed Miss Ameera inside. Zephyr trailed behind, throwing a final, dismissive wave.

As the others departed, Theo leaned in close to Victoria and whispered, his voice low with admiration and a touch of awe. "This is good, sister. At least now you’ll get to spend more time with your family. And once you’re admitted into the academy, you’ll have us...your four brothers right there by your side." He grinned knowingly. "I saw what you did, Victoria. The way you turned the whole situation around... impressive. With this, I doubt anyone will dare cross you again."

Victoria smiled softly, warmth blooming on her face like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

’Of course,’ she thought to herself, the smile never reaching her calculating eyes. ’I had to do it. If I want to survive at the academy, I have to be ready. Because what’s coming next... will be worse. There are more monsters ahead..far worse than the ones I’ve just dealt with.’

She paused, her thoughts turning darker, more determined.

’And I wonder... how long you all can keep up this cheerful, harmless act? Until the moon sickness virus finally dominates the Earth? Until everything falls apart?’ Her jaw clenched as a bitter resolve settled in her bones.

’The virus began at that academy. Or... maybe it didn’t. Maybe I’m wrong. But I have to find out before the world crumbles. This time, I won’t be the cure. I refuse to sacrifice myself again. If I can stop the virus from spreading...if I can end it before it begins...then maybe, just maybe, I can save the world... without losing my life. And of course those that wronged me in my first life... I’ll make sure you regret doing so.’