BRYCE
The campus of Willoughby University looked exactly the same as it did when I left it three months ago—imposing, pristine, and dripping with old money that people like me would never have.
I adjusted the worn strap of my bag on my shoulder as I walked through the ornate iron gates, trying not to feel like an imposter. The morning sun glinted off the Gothic architecture, making the stone buildings look like something out of a fairy tale. A fairy tale I had no business being part of.
"Bryce! Wait up!"
I turned to see my sister Mira jogging toward me, her blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail that swished with each step. Even in simple jeans and a t-shirt, she managed to look put-together in a way I never could. Being an Omega hadn't made her weak, if anything, it had made her fiercer, more determined to prove she was more than her designation.
"I thought you were heading back home," I said, waiting for her to catch up.
She rolled her eyes, that familiar expression of annoyance crossing her delicate features. "And miss the chance to make sure my baby brother settles in okay for his sophomore year? Not happening."
"I'm twenty, Mira. I can handle moving into a dorm."
"Uh-huh." She fell into step beside me, her sharp green eyes scanning the campus with obvious distaste. "And I'm twenty-two, which means I'm older and wiser, and I know exactly what kind of sharks swim in these waters."
She wasn't wrong, Willoughby University was a breeding ground for the elite—Alphas, Betas, and even some privileged Omegas whose families had money to burn. Scholarships like mine were rare, handed out like golden tickets to a handful of "promising" students from lower-class backgrounds. Translation: window dressing to make the university look charitable.
I'd spent my entire freshman year keeping my head down, staying out of everyone's way. It was the only survival strategy that worked when you were a poor Omega in a school full of people who thought you were beneath them.
"I'll be fine," I told her, though I wasn't entirely sure I believed it. "Same plan as last year. Go to class, study, and stay invisible."
Mira snorted. "With a face like yours? Good luck with that."
I shot her a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're six-foot-three of hot Omega, little brother. You might want to keep your head down, but people are going to notice you whether you like it or not." She paused, her expression growing serious. "Especially the Alphas."
My wolf stirred uneasily in my chest at the mention of Alphas. I'd managed to avoid most of them last year, but I knew my luck wouldn't hold forever. Alphas at Willoughby were... different. They were entitled, dangerous, and they saw Omegas as things to be conquered, possessed, and used.
"I can handle myself," I said, more firmly this time.
"I know you can." Mira's voice softened slightly. "But promise me you'll be careful. Don't let them push you around, and if anyone gives you shit—"
"I'll tell you so you can come kick their ass?" I told her.
"Damn right." She grinned, but there was steel in her eyes. "Mom and I didn't sacrifice everything to get you here just so some entitled Alpha prick could make your life hell."
The mention of our mother made my chest tighten. She'd worked three jobs to help cover what my scholarship didn't. She'd gone without so I could have textbooks, a laptop, and decent clothes. The weight of that sacrifice sat heavy on my shoulders every single day.
"I won't let you down," I promised.
We walked in silence for a while, passing groups of students who were clearly reuniting after summer break. Laughter rang out across the quad, expensive luggage being hauled by hired help, the latest designer everything on display. I recognized a few faces from last year, though none of them recognized me.
That was fine, and better.
"There's your dorm." Mira nodded toward Bradford Hall, one of the older residential buildings. Not as fancy as the new ones, but solid, and safe. "Same room as last year?"
"Yeah. Single room, thank goddess. I can't afford a roommate situation going wrong."
"Smart." She walked me to the entrance, then turned to face me, her expression serious again. "Listen, I know you hate when I get all protective, but I need to say this. The Alphas here? They're not like the ones back home. They've been raised to believe they're gods, that they can have whatever they want, and Omegas..." She trailed off, jaw tightening.
"Are supposed to submit," I finished for her. "I know, Mira. I lived through freshman year, remember?"
"I remember you calling me in tears after some Alpha cornered you in the library and wouldn't take no for an answer."
My hands clenched into fists at the memory. I'd managed to get away, but barely. The Alpha—some senior whose name I'd forced myself to forget—had laughed it off when I'd threatened to report him like it was all a game.
"That won't happen again," I said quietly.
"You're right it won't, because you're going to be smarter this year." Mira grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to meet her eyes. "No wandering around alone late at night. No accepting drinks from people you don't know, and for fuck's sake, stay away from the Alphas who think they run this place."
"That's all of them."
"You know what I mean. The really powerful ones. The ones whose families have enough money to make problems disappear." She paused. "Especially stay away from Sloane Pierce."
The name sent an unexpected chill down my spine, though I wasn't sure why. I'd heard whispers about Sloane Pierce during my freshman year, everyone had. The Alpha who ruled Willoughby like a queen, who could have anyone she wanted, who was as beautiful as she was dangerous.
"I don't even know who that is," I lied.
Mira's look told me she didn't believe me for a second. "Sloane Pierce is the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack and a senior here. She's also a damn alpha, which apparently makes every horny student on campus lose their damn minds over her." Her lip curled in disgust. "She's arrogant, cruel, and treats people like disposable toys. I've heard stories, Bryce. Bad ones."
"Then I'll stay far away from her," I assured her, though part of me was curious now. I'd seen plenty of entitled Alphas, but something about the way Mira said Sloane's name suggested she was different, or maybe more dangerous.
"Good." Mira released my shoulders, her expression softening. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be overbearing. I just... I worry."
"I know." I pulled her into a quick hug, breathing in her familiar lavender scent. "But I'm going to be fine, I promise."
She hugged me back fiercely, then stepped away, swiping at her eyes.
"Okay. Okay, I'll stop being a worried big sister now." She took a breath, composing herself. "Call me if you need anything, and I mean anything, Bryce. Even if it's just to talk."
"I will."
"And don't forget to eat actual food, not just ramen."
"Yes, Mom."
She swatted my arm, but she was smiling. "Brat. Okay, I'm leaving before I embarrass you further." She started walking backward, pointing at me. "Be safe, be smart, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"That leaves me a lot of room," I called after her.
Her laugh echoed across the quad as she turned and headed toward the parking lot. I watched until she disappeared from view, then turned to face Bradford Hall.
Sophomore year. I could do this.
I made my way inside, nodding at a few familiar faces in the lobby. The building smelled like old wood and industrial cleaner, familiar and oddly comforting. My room was on the third floor, same as last year. Room 317.
The hallway was chaos, people moving in, parents fussing, friends shrieking reunions. I navigated through it all, keeping my head down, my bag held close. Finally, I reached my door and slid the key in the lock.
The room was exactly as I'd left it. Small, sparse, but mine. A narrow bed, a desk, a closet, a window that looked out over the quad. No frills, no luxury, but it was safe.
I dropped my bag on the bed and moved to the window, looking out at the campus below. Students were everywhere now, the quad filling up with life and noise. Luxury cars pulled up to the curb, designer luggage piled high. This was their world, not mine.
My wolf stirred restlessly in my chest, uneasy. Something felt different this year, though I couldn't put my finger on what. Maybe it was just the usual anxiety of starting a new semester.
Maybe it was Mira's warnings echoing in my head or maybe it was the strange sensation crawling under my skin, like anticipation mixed with dread.
I shook it off and turned away from the window. I had unpacking to do, a syllabus to review, a plan to make for staying invisible for another year but as I started pulling clothes from my bag, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change, something I wouldn't be able to control.
The campus bookstore was a nightmare.
I'd waited until late afternoon to head over, hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds, but apparently everyone else had the same idea. Bodies pressed together in the narrow aisles, the air thick with competing scents, Alpha pheromones mixing with Beta indifference and Omega anxiety.
I kept my head down and my shoulders hunched, trying to make myself smaller as I navigated toward the textbook section. My list was short, thankfully. Most of my professors posted digital copies of the readings, but a few old-school holdouts still required physical books.
"Excuse me," I mumbled, squeezing past a group of giggling girls who were blocking the aisle.
One of them, a Beta with perfectly highlighted hair gave me a once-over, her eyes lingering a little too long. "Well, hello there."
I didn't respond, just moved past her as quickly as possible. The last thing I needed was attention, especially from someone who looked like they ran in the same circles as the people I was trying to avoid.
I found the section I needed and scanned the shelves, looking for the thick anthology my English Lit professor had assigned. Of course it was on the top shelf.
I stretched up on my toes, fingers just barely brushing the spine of the book. Almost... almost…
"Need some help?"
The voice came from behind me, deep and smooth with an edge of amusement. I turned to find a tall Beta with dark curls and green eyes watching me, a smirk playing at his lips.
"I've got it," I said shortly, turning back to the shelf.
"Sure you do." He stepped closer, reaching up easily and pulling the book down. He held it out to me, that smirk still in place. "Here you go, shorty."
I was six-foot-three, hardly short but I bit back the retort and took the book.
"Thanks."
"Bryce, right?" He tilted his head, studying me with open curiosity. "I'm Kai. Kai Rivers."
The name meant nothing to me, and I wanted to keep it that way. "Great. Thanks for the help."
I started to move past him, but he stepped into my path, blocking me. Not aggressively, but deliberately.
"You're a sophomore, yeah? I remember seeing you around last year. You kept to yourself a lot."
"Still do," I said pointedly.
He laughed, not at all deterred by my obvious disinterest. "Fair enough but hey, there's a party tonight. Back-to-school thing at the Blue Moon house. You should come."
Every instinct I had screamed no. Parties at the Blue Moon house were legendary, and not in a good way. They were where the elite went to get drunk, get laid, and remind everyone else of their place in the hierarchy.
"I'm busy," I lied.
"Doing what? Studying on the first day back?" Kai's grin widened. "Come on, live a little. It'll be fun."
"I'm sure it will be. For you." I tried to step around him again, but he moved with me, still blocking my path.
"You know, you're pretty for an Omega," he said, and there was something calculating in his eyes now. "Bet you'd be popular at the party. Sloane loves a fresh face."
There was that name again. Sloane Pierce, and the way Kai said it like he was dangling bait in front of me made my skin crawl.
"Not interested," I said firmly. "Now if you'll excuse me—"
"Kai, stop harassing the poor kid."
Another voice joined us, female this time. I looked over to see a petite Asian girl with sharp eyes and an annoyed expression glaring at Kai.
"I'm not harassing anyone," Kai protested, raising his hands in mock innocence. "Just being friendly."
"Your version of friendly is everyone else's version of creepy." She turned to me, her expression softening slightly. "Sorry about him. He thinks his charm works on everyone."
"It works on you," Kai shot back.
"In your dreams." She rolled her eyes, then focused on me again. "Don't let him pressure you into anything. The Blue Moon parties are overrated anyway."
Something about her felt familiar, though I couldn't place it. There was a fierceness to her, a defiance that reminded me of—
"Byeol?" I blurted out.
She blinked in surprise. "How did you...?"
"You look like my sister." The words were out before I could stop them. "Sorry, that was weird."
"No, it's..." She studied me more closely, and I saw the moment recognition hit. "Wait. You're Bryce Carter. Mira's little brother."
My stomach dropped. How did she know Mira?
"We met last spring," she explained, seeing my confusion. "I was visiting campus for a tour, and she was here visiting you. We got to talking in the coffee shop." Her lips curved into a small smile. "She's protective of you."
"That's one way to put it," I muttered.
"Smart woman," she said. "Especially at a place like this." She shot Kai a pointed look. "Full of predators who think everyone's fair game."
"I'm not a predator," Kai protested, though he was still smiling. "I'm a lover."
"You're an idiot." But there was no real heat in her words.
I took advantage of their banter to finally slip past them, clutching my textbook to my chest. "Thanks for the help," I said to no one in particular, already moving toward the checkout.
"See you at the party!" Kai called after me.
I didn't respond, I wasn't going to that party. I wasn't going anywhere near the Blue Moon house or Sloane Pierce or any of the Alphas who thought they owned this campus.
I was going to stick to my plan: stay invisible, stay safe, graduate in three years and get the hell out of here.
It was a good plan. A solid plan.
So why did it feel like the universe was already laughing at me?
By the time I made it back to my dorm, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The campus had settled into a quieter rhythm now, most people either unpacking or getting ready for whatever parties were happening tonight.
I had no intention of joining them.
I spent the evening organizing my room, setting up my desk the way I liked it, arranging my meager collection of books on the small shelf. It was meditative, and calming. A reminder that I had control over at least this small space, even if the rest of campus felt chaotic and unpredictable.
Around nine, I heard music starting up somewhere in the distance. The parties were beginning. I tried not to think about what Mira would say if she knew I was spending my first night back alone in my room but this was safer. This was smart.
I was just settling in with my laptop to review the syllabus for my morning class when my phone buzzed.
Mira: Made it home safe. How's your first night back?
I smiled despite myself.
Me: Quiet. Exactly how I like it.
Mira: Good. Stay out of trouble.
Me: Always.
Mira: I mean it, Bryce. No parties, no Alphas, and no drama.
Me: I'm literally sitting in my room in my pajamas. I think I'm safe.
Mira: Good. Love you, little brother.
Me: Love you too.
I set my phone aside and tried to focus on my reading, but my mind kept wandering to Kai's invitation, to the name Sloane Pierce, and to the strange restlessness my wolf couldn't seem to shake.
It meant nothing. I was just anxious about the new semester.
I forced myself to read until my eyes grew heavy, then finally gave up and got ready for bed. Tomorrow will be better. First day of classes, a fresh start, a chance to prove that I could make it through another year unscathed.
As I lay in the dark, listening to the distant thrum of music from whatever party was still going strong, I made myself a promise.
This year will be different. This year, I wouldn't let anyone get close enough to hurt me. I would be invisible, untouchable.
I would be safe.
I had no way of knowing that across campus, in a mansion that reeked of money and privilege, a certain Alpha was making plans of her own.
Plans that involved a dare, a party, and a random stranger who would turn her world upside down.
Plans that would shatter every promise I'd just made to myself but I didn't know that yet.
For now, I slept, blissfully unaware of the storm that was about to crash into my life.
A storm named Sloane Pierce.