Chapter 9
Vanya
The moment I stepped into the classroom, it was like someone had hit pause on the entire room—then slow-motion play.
Dozens of eyes snapped to me at once.
A beat of silence. And then—
Laughter.
A roaring, unfiltered wave of snickers, cackles, and jeers echoed off the walls.
“Look what we have here!” Wilde's voice rang out over the chaos like a trumpet of doom. “Well, well, what a surprise! Little Alpha has arrived, guys!”
The laughter surged.
I stiffened, jaw tightening as he swaggered toward me, arms open like I was a long-lost friend he was about to punch in the gut.
“Let’s give him another warm welcome,” he said, dropping his voice to a mock whisper as he crouched down to eye level with me.
My fists curled at my sides.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His fingers hit the to
