Jasmin's POV
Throughout my entire existence, no one had dared show me such blatant disrespect. Even during my childhood, such treatment would have been unthinkable. Yet here at the Academy, I had forced myself to stomach every insult, every deliberate bump in the hallways, all in service of maintaining my carefully constructed facade. I convinced myself that silence was survival, that making myself invisible would keep me safe from unwanted scrutiny.
But something fundamental shifted inside me today.
For weeks, I had rationalized that ignoring their taunts would eventually make them lose interest. I believed that keeping my head down would render me an unworthy target for their juvenile cruelty.
Then Hardy opened his mouth and spoke those revolting words loud enough for half the cafeteria to hear, and every last thread of my restraint snapped.
My wolf surged forward with a vengeance.
