CHAPTER 47: NEW FRIENDS.

The others exchanged glances before following quietly, their minds still spinning with questions.

***

The morning class ended swiftly, and the students began to disperse...some heading straight to the cafeteria, others walking off toward different departments for their various activities.

At one of the long cafeteria tables, Victoria sat with Joe, Dickson, and Jamaila. In front of them were plates of hamburgers and crispy chips, accompanied by colorful fruit juices: orange, apple, watermelon, and pineapple, each drink glistening beneath the warm overhead lights.

However, the cheerful hum of lunch chatter seemed dim around their table. Students passing by kept darting glances in Victoria’s direction, whispering among themselves as they moved past.

"Is this how they’re going to keep staring at you?" came a feminine voice from behind.

A young lady with a confident stride approached the table and sat down uninvited. Her short hair was dyed a striking shade of blue, adding a bold contrast to her otherwise simple attire. She looked directly at Victoria, brows slightly furrowed with curiosity. "I mean, didn’t everyone agree it wasn’t your doing....since you spoke up and cleared your name? But now... why are they all still looking at you? Like you’re the one who put the board up."

"And who are you?" Dickson asked, tilting his head slightly with a half-smirk playing on his lips. "You just sat down here without asking."

"Oh, sorry. I’m Rose," the girl replied with a warm smile, unfazed by the suspicion. "Nice to meet you all."

"You’re a scholarship student too?" Joe asked, folding his arms across his chest while narrowing his eyes with slight skepticism.

Rose chuckled softly and leaned forward, pointing at the jewelry she wore.. small but elegant gold earrings and a matching necklace. "See this? Real gold. Are you blind dude? I’m not on scholarship. I pay my way around here. I mean, no fancy last name, no mansion back home, no driver waiting outside but I work for what I have."

"Which means you, me, and Victoria all pay our way in," came another feminine voice as another girl approached. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, soft waves framing her face, and a cheerful, slightly mischievous smile as she pulled out a chair and sat down beside them. "Anyway, my name’s Blonde. Crazy, right? I’m still mad at my parents for that name, but here we are."

Joe raised an eyebrow, his tone dry as he spoke. "Why are you both at our table exactly? Fine, Victoria pays her way in, but she’s not like the other rich kids. Shouldn’t you two be mixing with the rest of the gold-chain crew?"

Blonde let out a small laugh. "Do I look like I want to mix with those pretentious motherfuckers? Please. Most of them act like the world owes them something just because their parents own ten businesses. I saw this table and figured you guys looked... I don’t know, sane."

"Same," Rose added, her mouth already half-full of fries. "I can’t stand the drama that comes with their cliques. It’s exhausting watching them parade their egos around like trophies."

"I just prefer keeping a low profile," Blonde added, shrugging. "Sure, my parents pay for my school fees, but they’re not that influential. Nobody here really knows me, and I kind of like it that way. Anyway," she continued, her smile widening, "I’m throwing a small party at my house today. My parents are flying out on a business trip, and I’ll have the whole place to myself. I wanted to ask if you all would like to come. You know a party for new students just to know each other. I’m not inviting much students. Only those at this table."

"That sounds fun. I love parties!" Dickson said enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up. "Just tell me there’ll be drinks."

"Oh, there’ll be drinks. Plenty of them," Blonde replied with a light-hearted chuckle. "You’ll love it."

"And yeah, I got some drugs," Rose suddenly chimed in with a mischievous grin, pulling out several small, tightly wrapped packets from her bag and laying them casually on the table.

Before she could fully display them, Joe swiftly reached over and shoved her hand and the drugs back into her bag. "Are you crazy?!" he hissed under his breath, glancing around to make sure no one had noticed.

"Oh my goodness!" Jamaila gasped, immediately clutching the edge of her hijab as she started clasping her hand together in prayer. "What are you doing bringing that here?!"

"Oh, keep quiet, holy girl," Rose said with an eye roll, clearly unbothered. "I tend to hate people who act all saintly. They always end up being the worst."

Joe narrowed his eyes at her, disbelief painted all over his face. "Are you trying to go to prison or something? Why would you even have drugs on school grounds of all places?!"

Rose shrugged nonchalantly, brushing back her blue-dyed hair with an air of confidence. "How do you think I afford this fancy academy, huh?" she said, then let out a low chuckle. "I sell drugs to the rich kids in schools. This place is crawling with them.. spoiled brats with nothing better to do than snort stuff after sex or pop pills to last longer in bed. They eat this shit up. One wrap goes for ten thousand bucks."

"What?!" Blonde blurted out, her eyes wide with shock. "You really make that much? And they actually buy it?"

"Of course they do," Rose replied, laughing softly. "To them, ten thousand is pocket change. I might’ve paid a lot to get in here, but I’m making my money back...fast. I didn’t come to school to find a mate or make straight A’s. I came here for business."

Joe’s fingers twitched as he quietly began counting on them, lips moving in silent calculation. It was obvious his mind was already racing through what he could do with a hundred thousand bucks.

"You’re not going to any party, though. Even if you’re going, it should be the Freshers’ Party...the one every student, fresher or senior, will attend. At least there, you might dig up something useful," came a low voice suddenly, firm and familiar.

Leo had appeared beside Victoria, his presence invisible to everyone else at the table. Only she could see and hear him. He leaned close, whispering into her ear with an intensity that chilled her bones.

"I’m still going," Victoria muttered under her breath, pretending to adjust her juice cup.

In a flash, Leo slammed both hands on the table....only she could feel the vibrations. The others continued chatting, unaware of the invisible werewolf spirit seething beside her.

"Have you lost your mind?!" he growled, voice rising with a frustrated scoff. "Why the hell would you want to attend their stupid party? We didn’t come to this academy to drink and dance! We’re here to investigate the Moon Sickness, punish those responsible for your death in your past life, and if you have any mercy left...find a cure. Or let the werewolves perish with their cursed blood."

Victoria closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath before responding quietly, lips barely moving. "I know what I’m doing, so please shut up, Mr. Ancient Wolf. There’s no harm in going to a party. Besides, the Moon Sickness started right here...in this academy before it spread across the world. If I’m going to uncover anything, I need to know the students, their backgrounds, and their families. Every single one."

She cast Leo a sideways glance and smirked slightly. "You’re my guardian werewolf, right? Then act like one."

Leo rolled his eyes and scoffed. "They’re not influential. What’s the point of investigating them?"

But Victoria ignored him completely.

"So is it settled then?" Blonde asked, eyes wide with excitement. "Are you all going to come?"

"Yes, we’re coming," Joe said with a relaxed grin as he placed a hand on Dickson’s shoulder. "We could use a little fun."

"Well," Rose added with a shrug, "even if I can’t sell at your party, Blonde, I’ll still come. I can do business at the Freshers’ event later anyway." She smiled warmly. "Thanks for the invite."

"I won’t be coming, though," Jamaila said softly, her voice tinged with regret as she heaved a sigh. "My parents are super strict. They don’t let me attend parties."

"That’s alright," Rose said with a dramatic sigh. "The saints must stay home and polish their halos, I guess. Anyway, see you guys later. I’ve got customers to find."

With that, she slung her bag over her shoulder and sauntered away confidently, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.

"I’m off too," Dickson announced, getting to his feet. "Nicole’s heart isn’t going to win itself. Gotta get back to the battlefield." He winked and followed after Rose, whistling as he went.

Just as Victoria was about to rise from her seat, a voice rang out sharply from behind.

"Hey, new girl! The Alphas want to see you. Report to them immediately."

The table went silent.

All eyes turned to Victoria.