"The only people whose words carry enough weight to stop something like that without consequence," Theo added, his voice dropping into a more serious tone, "are the academy's heirs. Our elder brother included. But there's no point in calling him now. The punishment's already over."
'That's bullshit,'Victoria thought bitterly, her jaw tightening as she forced herself to remain seated.
But then there was something she had learned the hard way....how quickly people blamed you for their own misfortunes simply because you once dared to intervene. "If you hadn't stepped in, maybe my life would've turned out better." That was always the line. They made you their scapegoat, their cautionary tale. As if kindness was a curse that dragged others down.
'It's better to stay out of things that don't concern me,' Victoria thought to herself, swallowing the lump of anger rising in her throat. 'Better to care about myself.'
Their order arrived moments later, placed delicately on the table by a different cafeteria worker....a younger woman who didn't meet their eyes and disappeared as quickly as she came. The long tray held steaming chicken, crisp fries, and three colorful glasses of fruit juice.
"You should eat now, sister," Theo said, glancing at her with a warm smile. He was already digging into the spicy chicken with ease. "Since our elder brother isn't here yet, we've no choice but to go find him once we're done eating."
"I still have training later," Callum added, picking up a fry and popping it into his mouth. "So let's not take too long."
Victoria eyed the tray silently for a moment. The food looked delicious. Even the scent was enough to make her stomach growl. Back at the mansion, she had eaten little, cautious of everything placed before her...too aware of how easily poison could be hidden in a meal. But here, at least for the moment, things were different. The shared tray meant they were all eating from the same plate. If someone wanted to harm her, they'd risk harming both Theo and Callum, too.
Besides, she hadn't eaten properly yesterday, her nerves too taut. Today, she was determined to fill her stomach while she still could. Who knew what would happen once she finally met her eldest brother and the mask he wore inevitably slipped?
As she picked up a piece of chicken, she glanced sideways, her voice low but pointed. "Who was that lady earlier? The one who slapped the cafeteria worker? She looked like someone the other students follow… or fear."
Callum smirked, clearly amused by the question. He leaned back slightly, his tone casual yet laced with dry humor. "That's the only daughter of the Verlier family. A neighboring pack. She's got alpha blood in her, but unfortunately for her, she was born a woman."
He took a sip of his drink before continuing, "If she had been born male, she probably would've risen to become a dominant Alpha in her own right. But as it stands… her best bet is becoming someone's Luna. Still, she's got the potential."
"I see," Victoria murmured, nodding thoughtfully as she took a bite. The chicken was tender and rich, the spice blooming across her tongue.
"And," Theo chimed in, speaking around a mouthful of fries, "she's also dating one of the academy's most dangerous heirs...Alpha Zephyr Maddox."
Victoria raised an eyebrow at the name, intrigued.
"He's the Alpha of the West," Theo continued, clearly relishing the storytelling. "They call him the Rebellious Wild Card. Passionate. Unpredictable. A dangerously charming bastard who doesn't give a damn about the academy's rules. Powerful but volatile. He's a threat to both tradition and authority."
Perfect, Victoria thought, her lips curving into a small, calculated smile. Thank you for the free information, Theo. I'll remember this.
"Zephyr's third in command among the four heirs," Theo went on, his tone growing a little more serious. "Our brother is technically the last among them."
"Huh?" Victoria raised an eyebrow.
Callum answered this time, his voice low. "Our brother is from the South. And while he is one of the academy's heirs, he isn't a full-blooded Alpha like the others. Our father is a Gamma, and our mother is an Omega. He's had to fight tooth and claw to be recognized among them."
Theo sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Yeah. The three true Alpha heirs...East, North, and West....they were born into power. Full Alpha bloodlines. No one questions their authority. Our brother… he's respected, but he still bows to them in the hierarchy."
Victoria's expression turned unreadable as she absorbed their words. She picked at a fry slowly, her mind racing behind her calm facade.
"So no one dares mess with those three?" she asked quietly.
"Not unless they're looking to die," Callum said bluntly. "One misstep, one insult, and your name might disappear from the academy registry overnight."
"You can say they're not students," Theo said, his tone thoughtful as he leaned back slightly, "but more like… senior enforcers. They've already completed their education, but they still linger in the academy, testing every new student who arrives. In a way, they decide who's worthy of staying here and who isn't."
"What about the other Alphas then, brother?" Victoria asked, raising an eyebrow. Intrigue flickered in her eyes, despite the danger laced through every word spoken.
"You really shouldn't worry about those two," Callum murmured, his voice dipping just above a whisper. "They're devils in human form. And honestly… what's the point of even knowing them? If Father insists on sending you to school, I'll make sure it's not this academy. To outsiders, this place may look like paradise....prestigious, powerful, elite but it's hell on earth."
He paused, a grim look crossing his face. "Those from families without influence know exactly what they're enduring here. Sure, you're the daughter of the Ashford family, but let's be honest....Mirabel will make your life a living nightmare."
Victoria's brows furrowed slightly. "Mirabel?"
"Yeah," Callum said with a slow nod. "You two have never gotten along, and she's tightly connected to the three heirs. All it would take is one whispered complaint from her, and they'd turn against you. No questions asked. One word from her, and you'd be targeted."
He sighed, pushing a fry across his plate with the tip of his fork.
"Well," Victoria said, her expression shifting into one of curious mischief. "Even if I'm not attending this school, I'd still like to know more. You can at least feed my ears, brothers. Come on."