CHAINS OF DESTINY

Kira's pov

I could feel them staring. Their eyes followed me as soon as I stepped through the gates of Crescent Moon Academy. I told myself this was supposed to be a fresh start, a new beginning. But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be that simple.

I've always known I'm beautiful. People used to say I had an hourglass shape that would turn heads anywhere. But today, they weren't looking at me because of that. They were looking because they all knew the same thing-I was the Alpha's abandoned daughter. The whispers confirmed it as I moved through the hallway, and my wolf senses picked up every word, even if they tried to keep their voices low.

"That's her, right? The one the Alpha left behind..."

"She thinks she can just walk in here like nothing happened."

I kept my head high, ignoring them. I wasn't here to make friends or worry about what they thought. I had a mission-finish school and move on with my life. Nothing more, nothing less.

But as I got closer to my locker, I sensed something was off. My wolf stirred inside me, alert. That's when I felt it-a hard shove from behind. Someone had pushed me. I stumbled but didn't fall, thanks to my reflexes kicking in just in time.

"Wow!" one of the students muttered in surprise. "Did you see that? She didn't even hit the ground."

I turned slowly to face my attacker. It was Claire. Of course, it was Claire. The daughter of the Nightfall pack leader. Her friends stood behind her, all smirking, enjoying the scene.

"You can't just walk around here like you own the place," Claire said, crossing her arms with a smug look on her face.

"Who does she think she is?" one of her friends chimed in, tossing her hair back dramatically.

"Oh, wait," another one of Claire's minions added, pretending to think hard. "Isn't she the Alpha's abandoned daughter?"

That sent them all into fits of laughter. Claire's face lit up as if she'd just won something. But their words didn't sting the way they wanted them to. They didn't know me, and they didn't know my story.

I kept my expression neutral, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. I wasn't here to impress anyone. And I definitely wasn't here to befriend Claire or her little circle. I had one goal-graduate. Nothing else mattered.

I forced myself to stay calm as I picked up my bag from the ground. The scuffle with Claire had left me rattled, but I wasn't going to let her see that. I headed toward my locker, trying to ignore the murmurs and laughter that followed me.

"Why don't you just go back to wherever you came from?" Claire's voice echoed behind me, sharp and biting.

I tightened my grip on my bag, my fingers digging into the straps. I could hear one of Claire's friends say, "We need to make her understand she's nothing."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "If you believe I'm nothing, then pretend you don't see me," I said, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside.

Claire shoved me against the locker, the metal surface cold against my back. "You're not in a position to tell me how I should treat you," she said, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

I wanted to push back, to let her know I wouldn't be pushed around. But I knew it would only make things worse. I was about to say something when a tall, handsome figure appeared behind Claire.

"What's going on here?" Jaxon Lycroft asked, his voice smooth and commanding. He leaned in and kissed Claire on the lips, making it clear they were a couple.

Claire smiled, clearly pleased with the attention. "Just welcoming the new girl," she replied, but her gaze remained on me.

I'd heard rumors about Claire and Jaxon dating, but seeing them together confirmed it. Jaxon's eyes, however, weren't on Claire. They were fixed on me, specifically my hips. I felt a flush of discomfort but tried to ignore it.

"Leave her alone," Jaxon said, his tone casual but authoritative. "We don't need to start drama on the first day."

Claire's smile faltered. "But Jaxon, she-"

"I said, leave her alone," Jaxon interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Claire's lips pressed into a thin line as she gave me one last, resentful look before turning away, her friends trailing after her. Jaxon's gaze remained on me for a moment longer, before he turned and followed Claire.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. It wasn't over yet, but at least for now, I had a moment of peace. I opened my locker and tried to focus on the task at hand. It was clear this school year wasn't going to be as straightforward as I had hoped.

Throughout the day, I couldn't shake the feeling that Jaxon's eyes were on me. Whenever I glanced in his direction, I'd catch him staring. I wasn't about to let his attention distract me. I had my own mission to focus on, one that had nothing to do with high school drama.

Finally, the last bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. I gathered my things, mentally preparing for the tasks ahead with the Secret Assassination Group I was part of. My mind was consumed with strategies and plans for executing the mission assigned to me.

As I stepped out of the school gate, I heard someone call my name. "Hey, new girl!" Jaxon's voice rang out behind me. I turned to see him running toward me, his face flushed from exertion.

"Hope you enjoyed the school environment?" he asked, trying to sound casual. I could see through his attempt to play it cool. He was clearly interested in more than just casual conversation.

"Jaxon, I don't have time for friends, let alone a drink with you," I said, my tone clipped. I didn't have time to entertain any of his advances or distractions.

Jaxon looked surprised. "How did you know what I was about to say?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I didn't respond. Instead, I turned and walked away, ignoring his confused expression. I had more important things to think about than Jaxon's attempts at friendly chatter. My focus was on my mission and staying under the radar.

The mission tonight was crucial. I had been assigned to eliminate the leader of the Savage Night Pack, a group notorious for dealing hard drugs. The location had already been provided to me, and I knew exactly where to go.

As night fell, I suited up, preparing for the task ahead. I slipped into the woods, my wolf senses sharpening as I picked up speed. The trees blurred past me as I ran, focused on reaching my destination.

When I arrived at the location, I paused at a distance, using my wolf sight to survey the area. I was taken aback by what I saw. Jaxon was there, along with his twin brother Kane. They were standing right in the middle of the target location.

But what really stunned me was the revelation that Jaxon was the leader of the Savage Night Pack-the very person I was supposed to eliminate. My heart pounded as I tried to process this new information. Jaxon wasn't just some high school heartthrob; he was a dangerous criminal I was meant to take down.

Suddenly A voice-cold and clear-rang through my mind. It was unlike anything I had ever heard before. It wasn't just in my head. It felt like it was echoing through the air itself, a command I couldn't ignore.

"You are bound to both, each representing a part of your destiny. One will be your protector, the other your true mate. Embrace both connections with wisdom and grace, for you hold the power to balance their strengths and guide them with your heart."

Now the problem is, how am I going to identify who the true mate is among the both of them? Because it was clearly said that one of them is my protector and the other is my true mate.