Five years earlier… Alex's p.o.v
"Good morning, class, and welcome to Biochemistry 101. My name is Mr Williams, and I'll be your lecturer for this module. In this course, we'll be learning about life at a molecular level the molecules and processes that make the human body function. Don't worry if this sounds overwhelming right now; we'll take it step by step throughout the year. Since this is our first lecture, I'd like to help everyone feel comfortable. Please form groups of three. Choose your group members carefully, as you will remain in the same group for the rest of the year.
Once you are in your groups, you will work on your first group assignment. Your task is to discuss the different molecular levels of life, explaining what they are and why they are important. Your group will be required to produce a 50-page thesis based on your discussion. In addition, you should explain how this knowledge is useful in the medical field. Think about how understanding molecules helps doctors, nurses, or medical researchers do their work. Lastly, your group must choose one or more molecular levels that you would like to focus on in more detail and explain why you chose them. I will provide clear guidelines, examples, and deadlines as we go along. For now, please start forming your groups and getting to know one another."
Everyone in their right mind is not pleased by the amount of work the very first day contribute to their stress. She distracts herself by focusing by her hand flicking between the paper and her thoughts, the fine tip of her pencil hovering over the half-sketched image of a panther or was it a jaguar? Sleek, muscular, with eyes she couldn't quite capture. It wasn't like her usual drawings. This wasn't a random animal reference from a book; it felt personal. The shape of its shoulders. The knowing gleam in its eyes. Familiar. Almost… watching her.
She hadn't drawn animals before not like this. Not with this kind of emotional pull. Her lines were usually sharp, deliberate. But this creature made her hesitate. In the distance, behind the big cat on the cliff's edge, she'd started another figure. A wolf. Mouth open in a howl, body stretched in silent sorrow or maybe a warning. It stood far back, isolated just like she used to feel. The moment her pencil shaded the wolf's silhouette, a chill trickled down her spine. Her hand trembled. Her instincts stirred. Something about it felt real. She dropped the pencil. It clattered against the desk, snapping the silence. Her breath hitched.
Without thinking, she flipped to a clean page. Clean slate. Whatever that was be it friend, mate, or memory she wasn't ready to name it yet. But the tension in her chest lingered, and she knew that some connections... they find their way through ink before they ever appear in life. She looked around the class, and she saw the already devastated audience, and she looked the old man still speaking.
"Students, remember that what we do here contributes directly to medical research and patient care, so I expect you to stay engaged and focused. Please pair up, and we will continue from this point in our next lecture. You are the future of medicine. This course will challenge you there's no denying that. Some of you may find the workload demanding, and at times even overwhelming. However, success in this field depends on discipline, resilience, and commitment. Ultimately, it is up to you how you respond to the challenge.
Medicine requires a high level of mental focus and perseverance. I encourage you to reflect honestly on whether you are prepared to push yourself and grow academically and professionally. Today, I want each of you to ask yourself one important question: Will this course break you, or will it shape you into the professional you aspire to be? Before we conclude, I would like to extend my congratulations to Lucas and Ivy for representing the Faculty of Medicine with excellence. Thank you both for your participation and for bringing home a trophy along with impressive titles. Your achievement sets a strong example for your peers."
Everyone clapped hands, mostly it was for the well-toned tall man. Alex rolled her eyes when she saw some girls dramatically swoon over the already popular wolf. His smile made way to perfect teeth that are almost blinding, his jaw, his eyes, his aura told her that he is an alpha. She felt uneasy because the only way she is able to tell his status is because of her nature. She despises that she already generalised that all alphas are the same. Perhaps that could be the reason he is able to depict her nature; it does not help his dominant scent made him seem to be more toxic.
She knows that if she is to survive here, she has to not be noticed which is easy since no one has ever noticed her beyond greetings. She is planning to sit at the centre row forever, just to avoid the wolves or take up the professor offer to change faculties.
The happy looking guy next to the alpha who has a calmer aura compared is a wolf. The odds. The odds that she will have classes with two wolves. The fact that there were two wolves that have the potential to affect her life made her feel sort of outnumbered, this is so unfair. What if they are douche bags or assholes? They are from the same pack, and she has to be the odd one out. Ugh, she hopes it was not too late to change classes perhaps move to homeopathic medicine or science.
Or she can stick it out. This is mutual territory; she has the same right as them to be here. Good with that mental mind fuck resolved, she waited. Her strategy from high school is to wait until a group required a third member. She rolls her eyes hearing the humans run to join their groups, as to not feel bad she moved her focus to her latest escape attempt, drawing. Part of her mind did focus on what was always said but mostly her focus is on her drawing, she honestly does not understand why she is so obsessed with drawing a moon with pencil and when she has colour it is always red. Perhaps this has meaning in some alternative universe, nah... It is easy to detect that she is alone all the time, which is kinda sad, but it is necessary.
She honestly barely heard Professor Williams beyond what she considered important, but the groups of three thing would be difficult. She never barely fits in, hardly spoke to anyone not even during orientation week. In her defence, none made the attempt either.
[Perhaps your resting bitch face scared people away.]
Her wolf teased but that couldn't be it. She certain her awkwardness had a play in her current social dilemma but before she could get up and go attempt to mingle two shadows hovered above her.
"Lucas?"
Fighting her instincts to express her pure hatred she calmed her expression and emotions before she faced the other man. Her shoulders tensed as she faced the two bodies with question. This made her uncomfortable and as to why they were standing in her given space made her want to run. Why does she have to be the one running? There is an ancient part of history she is now grateful for that made Moon neutral territory; therefore, she is not wrong for being there. She did not want trouble especially with an alpha, which made her nervous and unsure. She refuses to tolerate being weak, with the single brim determination and her will she managed not to back down.
"Would you like to be in our group?"
What? The entire class groaned out their disappointment because the most popular, good looking guy in class now taken. Closing her book, slowly contemplating what to do or say next. She continued staring dumbly at the other man in front of him, praying his face gave nothing away. The other man next to him is slightly shorter, smaller compared to the alpha with plump lips the colour of strawberry. His silky hair kissed with blond highlights making him look more like a playboy and is attractive.
In academics she has always been most certain of herself. Not because of her intelligence but her ability to never forget. She has always scored the highest in all of her grades effortlessly. She also excelled in art, in fact before life made her face reality, she wanted what every omega wanted in Callisto... She dreamed of dedicating her life creating though many forms of art, finding a good alpha to take care of her and the family she should have pleasure carrying. This was the life that was taught to them and for some reason she found solace in the fact life gave her a rude awakening exposing the dark truth of a world she trusted.
Even before the incident, even with her round about skills and broad intelligence the one thing that was hard for her to do is still to make friends. Breathe Alex. This is a new school. New environment. No one knows you here. You can be who you want to be here.
.
"This is Leo. Leo, Alexandria… Youngest in this class. Common, let's got to the back of the class there are many distractions here."
Lucas and Leo went to go collect their things and Alex wondered if what just occurred is real, she stood there not wanting to believe this is real. Her own kind has the humanity to be kind to her they asked for her permission, and she sensed no hostility coming from the two. She continues to stare at the two wolves that wanted to be in a group with a lowly like her, the alpha did not look down on her this seems to be too good to be true.
"I have a perfect idea we can hand in as our Bio to research project. Since we need to choose one on focal point, I say we focus on humans." - Lucas
When they arrive at the desk, she rectified what would soon bother her.
"Call me Alex or Lex."
"Alright. Sorry Alex, Lex will need some getting used to. Lucas that is a good idea but studying diseases in humans does not bode well with creating a solution, some animals have the same genetic resemblance to humans. Therefore, we can use a study that involves animals, to ensure our research does not unnecessarily kill humans but will create more than what is required from the assignment. What do you think, uh? -" -Leo
"Then call me Alex. I suggest we go all in. Use animals to detect, find and make use of different plant life variant to finding the cure like with homeopathic medication. Once test have been concluded and deemed it a success, we extend the test to consenting humans to study the side effects."
"Frequent mixture of ideas is a tantalising idea we can destroy our given task while also suggesting something new..." -Lucas
"Lucas our new partner and friend is a genius. Let us go grab lunch and we can formally get to know each other. Na, common. Come the cafeteria is not far from here." -Leo