Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 24

Suri Nightingale

I don't think I was breathing during the entire car ride to the academy with Atlas Wolfe, a person who clearly wanted me out of his (pretty and soft) hair, was seated only a few inches away from me. The exhale I let out the second I stepped out of that car was so loud and long that Benjamin blinked at me utterly confused.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Suri? Are you feeling well enough for your first day?" He asked, clearly worried.

I could tell him that I wasn't alright and that would be enough reason for him to bring me back home, but that would make it seem like I was backing down before even taking my first step into this school and that was just not me.

I, Suri Nightingale, have been through hell. I've fought off assholes that tried to hurt my mom and I. I've worked in multiple jobs with even more douchebags that think just because I desperately need a job I'd let them do whatever they want with me. I've managed to suppress my feelings in front of my mother when she was undergoing chemo and I didn't want her to see me looking sad and hopeless.

Going to some rich kids' academy? Getting paid to study? Faking a smile here and there to teachers and students around the hallways? This was going to be an easy feat. Hell, it's going to be like a walk in the park compared to what I had to experience in the past. I can do this. I have to do this.

"I'm okay, Benjamin. Thank you. Tell Keith thanks, too." I tell him with a smile and after he nods, he walks back to the car and I see Atlas has stepped out, too.

I let out a sigh. Stay far, far away from the King.

Thankfully, he seems to have the same sentiment as me with the 'staying away' part because he doesn't even give me a second glance before he starts walking in front of me, not minding my existence.

A part of me definitely prefers it that way, but the other part can't help but feel dejected when he doesn't bother to, I don't know, tell me where the headmistress' office is or something. So much for that Thorne Academy hospitality that according to their brochure all students have.

All thoughts of what this academy and its students claimed to be disappear when I look away from Atlas and focus on where I had managed to end up. After years of being in public schools, this place looked like it was taken straight out of a movie set. Wherever I looked, whichever angle I looked at it from, gone were the chipped paints or the dull buildings considered a school, but looked a lot more like a prison with its tall chain gates.

No, this school was in pristine condition and that is something to note because this is a place that has supposedly been here for a long, long time.

I am guessing it has gone through many renovations because there was just no way glass buildings were popular back in the 1800's or whenever this school was built.

The place actually reminded me of the mall Dev and I went to. Could it be that Keith had a part in renovating this school which is why it looked so... futuristic? I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

It's close to impossible keeping my jaw off the ground as my head turns left and right while I take in my surroundings. Aside from the tall glass buildings, the nature that surrounded it gave it this tranquil and serene beauty.

Tall trees with various colored flowers, plants, and the wide reflecting pool smack right in the middle of it all was like the cherry on top. It somewhat reminded me of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but this one had mini fountains in the middle, water splashing continuously, while there were various flowers and little water animals floating around.

I walked up the wide steps that lead to a sliding glass door, and at that point, I think my jaw did drop to the ground, the second it opened and revealed the interior.

This isn't a school. It's a freaking five star hotel of some sorts, complete with a concierge desk with two blondes in a pastel pink uniform giving each passing student a smile so wide it almost seemed like their lips were glued up to their cheeks. I reluctantly walk towards them.

"Hi! Welcome to Thorne Academy. How may I help you?" Blonde number one is full of energy.

"Uh, hi... I'm a new student and I have a meeting with the headmistress. Can you show me where her office is?"

The two ladies give each other this look that lasts for a millisecond and it feels like they've exchanged some sort of conversation there, but I brush it away as the blonde one brings out what looks like a map and shows it to me. "You're right here while the headmistress' office is here. You just need to take that elevator on the right up to the third floor and then turn left and you'll see her sign." She explains clearly and I nod my head before thanking her.

When I turned around, I could have sworn I heard them whispering things about me, but I told myself that I was probably just overthinking it. They don't even know who I am, what could they possibly be talking about?

As I'm walking to the exact directions I was given since I didn't want to get lost in this humongous place, I passed by a few other students.

There were girls dressed in the exact same pastel purple uniform I was wearing, but matched with different white shoes. Whilst I opted for white boots, they wore white platforms.

Then there were the boys in white polos and light colored ties around their necks. Definitely not the same white-black outfit Atlas was wearing.

Girl or boy though, most of them look at me with curious gazes, probably wondering who the new girl was, before continuing on to walk to wherever they were headed. Thank goodness. I never liked attention, and I most certainly do not want any of that here where I stand out like a sore thumb.

When I reach the third floor and turn left, I see the exact sign the blonde lady was talking about.

It read, in all capital and intimidating letters, HEADMISTRESS WEST'S OFFICE.

I found myself internally chuckling at the fact that her office is at the left side and her name was West. Could they have done it on purpose?

Suddenly, the glass door opened and a lady with translucent skin and a tight white dress appeared. "Ms. Suri Nightingale?"

"Y- yes, that's me." I straightened my back and gave a shy smile that was trying to pass off as me being confident.

"Wonderful. You're right on time. Come on in." She pushes the door open, giving me space to enter and it feels like I've walked into what could be a set from the movie Tron as black, white, and blue colors fill this office.

There's also a hologram of the globe illuminated by the waiting area, while what looks to be a video about the academy is being played repeatedly on a projector screen beside it.

I'm half expecting Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator to come out with his shades and black leather jacket and say, in his animatronic voice, "I am from the future. Come with me if you want to live."

Okay, enough about my weird fixations with relating unusual things happening in my life to movies. I need to focus.

"You can call me Ms. Blake, by the way. I am the headmistress' secretary." The lady who let me in introduced herself.

Now that I'm looking at her up close, she doesn't look any older than early thirties. She must even be only in her late twenties as there's a certain glow to her and a pep in her step. Her figure is also very well taken care of, obviously from how she fills her tight white dress. She almost looks like she's going to get married to a filthy rich man. Assuming she hadn't already.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Blake." I tell her politely and she beams at me. At least she seems nice.

"You can go right into the headmistress' office, and don't be scared. Headmistress West doesn't bite." She said before leaning closer and whispering, "The good students, at least, so be sure to stay on her good side." Then she pulls away while giggling. I know that was supposed to be a joke, but now all I can think about is giving a good first impression because I do not want to be on her bad side where I end up replaceing out what it means to be 'bitten' by her.

I was already imagining a lady dressed in black from top to bottom, ready to drink the blood of her students to keep her youth when I stepped inside the office and was thoroughly shocked to see that she was nowhere near a blood-sucking vampire. "Suri Nightingale, what a pleasure." She greets me with much effervescence and poise.

If a sunflower and a rose had a baby, I think it would be her. She had this certain joyful aura around her, but at the same time she was reserved and elegant to a T.

Her hazel eyes glistened as the sun from the outside gave her this spotlight, making even her long and straight light blonde hair shine. She looked more like a model than the head of this academy.

Is this a prank? Am I being pranked as some kind of first day in school joke? I almost looked around the place for cameras, but I told myself I had to be on my best behavior. Keep calm and collected, Suri.

"Please take a seat, Suri. Feel right at home." She says nicely as she gestured for me to sit down on the overly clean white lounge chair.

I wanted to correct her that home to me was nowhere near a place like this. Home to me was gone as soon as my mother passed away and I know I'll never replace it again.

But this wasn't a therapy session and I certainly didn't want Headmistress Sunshine to know about my most inner turmoils.

Her chairs are extremely comfortable though, I can give her that. The second my butt gets into contact with the soft cushions, I feel like falling asleep.

"So..." She starts with a warm smile and her hands clasped together on top of her table.

"Keith was right. You are a lovely young woman that looks like she has a very promising future."

I tried my best not to look affected by what she just said. First of all, did she just say Keith? They're on a first name basis? Second, did Keith really say all those things? That man really sometimes sounds like he wants to become my stepfather. If only he had found my mother and I a few years earlier. I just know things would have been a lot more different.

"Um... thank you?" I reply to her, unsure how else to respond to the 'compliment'.

She smiles like she understands my uncertainty.

"Nonetheless, I need to tell you that we hold all of our students here to a high degree. I am sure you're well aware of the kind of academy we are, Suri?" Her tone and the look she's giving me becomes more serious.

I nodded my head.

This academy was made out of legends. Literally. The people that graduated here, that walked the hallways, each and every one of them were names that you cannot miss. The waiting list to get in was a mile long and the rate of college acceptance was pretty much perfect. First class education handed to you on a silver platter. You could say you graduated from this place and people would be lining up to know more about it and/or hire you.

Every single thing about this academy and me studying here screamed wealth and privilege and how the hell are you here?

"It's good we are on the same page then," she comments before letting out a deep exhale.

"Well, there's really not much else to say. I just wanted to meet the lovely girl Keith was so enamored by and adamant on getting enrolled here. I hope that you're everything and more that he says you are."

Wow, thanks a lot for overselling me, Keith.

"Which, I am certain you are by just meeting you. I'm sure you won't disappoint us, Suri." She gives me a friendly wink before standing up, which makes me stand up as well and we-awkwardly-shake hands.

"Your student guide is waiting right outside for you. Since today is everyone's first day, the first period is only Study Hall so you don't have to worry about missing anything. I've also made sure the guide is one of our top students. She's sure to give you the best tour and show you the ins and outs of the academy."

Both her and her secretary give me a warm wave and goodbye.

Once I stepped out of the office, I let out an overwhelmed exhale.

Everything was just so... different.

I know I should be grateful because this opportunity is just once in a lifetime and many would die to even experience half of this, but this place, the kids, the uniforms, they all seemed so... unreal. I don't fit in here, and that's what I was scared of.

I was scared of becoming an outcast. Again.

My worst nightmare is realized when said student guide the headmistress got for me appears and she looks uncannily familiar.

Seconds later, I realized why.

"Hi, I'm Stefanie Lancaster."

You have got to be shitting me right now.