"Liliana..." Cassian called, trying to wake her up.
After a while, Liliana’s closed eyes finally opened when Cassian’s cold hand touched her face. Liliana blinked several times before looking up at Cassian.
"Brother... where are we?" she asked.
"We’ve arrived. Get down," Cassian replied.
Liliana looked at the large gate in front of her. Only then did she realize that she had slept throughout the entire journey and had let Cassian carry her to the academy while she was unconscious. A sense of embarrassment immediately overwhelmed her.
She lowered her head, then hurriedly got off her horse.
Cassian got down as well, as did the other young members of the Draven Pack. They brought their respective horses to the storage area beside the gate, then handed them over to the academy’s horse keepers.
Cassian took out his academy identification card and handed it to the gate guard.
The guard accepted it, examined it for a moment, then stared closely at Cassian’s face before finally nodding.
Liliana followed Cassian after the gate guard finished checking his identification card.
The other members of the Draven Pack immediately surrounded Cassian and Liliana as they successfully passed through the gate and walked toward the dormitories.
"Young Master Alpha," Zero, one of the Beta’s sons, called.
Cassian glanced at him and nodded. "Is there something you want to ask?"
"Does Young Master have no problem with Vera’s behavior, the daughter of one of the Draven Pack elders who tried to hurt Miss Liliana?" he asked while glancing at Liliana, who was standing beside Cassian.
"Do you think I’m the type of person who would simply remain silent when someone dares to provoke my people?" Cassian asked with a mocking expression.
"Then why hasn’t Young Master done anything?"
"Not yet." Cassian’s voice became lower. "Our Alpha is watching the pack elders, and Vera’s father is among those being watched."
Cassian paused for a moment.
"I only need to wait before reacting. The Draven Pack will always punish traitors with the appropriate punishment."
Zero swallowed when he saw Cassian’s demonic gaze. He immediately nodded and retreated to the other pack members.
Liliana said nothing. She simply stood quietly beside Cassian without intending to respond.
"You have all worked hard today," Cassian said. "You can go to your respective dormitories now."
"Yes, Young Master Alpha."
"Take good care of yourselves. Remember, our pack does not have as much power as the other packs in this academy."
Cassian paused for a moment before continuing in a lower voice.
"But that doesn’t mean you have to live humbly like worms in the ground. Fight back if they dare to bully you. I, the Future Alpha of the Draven Pack, will help you as long as what you do is right."
The young members of the Draven Pack smiled and nodded.
"We will listen to Young Master Alpha," they answered in unison.
Cassian waved his hand, then took Liliana away toward the building where the Alpha families lived.
"Is your body feeling better?" Cassian asked when they arrived in the hallway of the rooms.
Liliana nodded. "It’s better."
Cassian nodded. "I’ll take you to the new room that Father prepared for you."
"Mm."
The residence for Alpha families at the academy was different from the rooms of ordinary werewolves. Since Liliana had been given the title of adopted daughter of the Draven family, she was entitled to a much more suitable room according to her status.
"This is your room," Cassian said as he handed her a key.
"My room is right next to yours. If anything happens, tell me. Understand?"
Liliana accepted the key before nodding.
"Mm, I understand. Thank you, Brother."
"Go inside and look at your room. If there’s anything else you need, you can buy it at the store on the first floor."
Cassian reached into his robe pocket and took out a card.
"This is the card Father gave you. You can use it to buy anything you need. Father will send you more money at the end of every month."
Liliana smiled and accepted the card.
"Brother... thank you," she said with a choked voice.
Cassian simply waved his hand.
"I’m going downstairs to take care of something at the dean’s office. Get some good rest. Don’t think about anything else."
"Mm." Liliana nodded.
"Aren’t you going in?" Cassian asked when he saw Liliana still standing in front of the door.
"I’ll watch you leave first before I go inside."
A faint line appeared at the corner of Cassian’s lips. His hand rose again and ruffled Liliana’s hair.
"Brother..." Liliana complained in dissatisfaction.
"All right. I’ll go first."
Cassian walked away from Liliana.
A faint smile appeared on Liliana’s face. Her hand touched the hair Cassian had just ruffled.
After Cassian’s figure disappeared at the end of the hallway, Liliana turned around and inserted the key into the lock.
Click.
The lock opened successfully.
However, before Liliana could turn the doorknob, a voice she had not heard for several days suddenly came from behind her.
"Sister Liliana..."
Liliana’s hand, which was about to push the door open, immediately stiffened.
"Why didn’t you come to see me first after arriving at the academy?" the voice asked. "How long are you going to keep pretending to run away from me, Adrian, and Alaric just to make us feel guilty?"
Liliana slowly turned around. She looked at Valerie’s face, which slightly resembled the face she had possessed a few days ago.
Liliana took a deep breath before a mocking smile appeared on her lips.
"So it’s Miss Valerie. What brings you here to see me?"
"Sister Liliana, are you angry with me again?" she asked. "Wasn’t ruining my coming-of-age party enough? Now you don’t even intend to show me respect anymore?"
"Valerie." Liliana looked at her without the slightest trace of fear.
"I have stopped being a servant at the Beaumont residence. I’m also no longer a member of the Beaumont Pack, let alone your toy servant."
"You kicked me out and severed your relationship with me. So, I hope that from now on, you will pretend that you have never known me."
Valerie’s expression changed instantly.
The Beta daughter of the Beaumont Pack who was always by Valerie’s side finally stepped forward.
"How dare you use disrespectful words toward Miss Valerie?" she asked.
Her hand moved to grab Liliana’s collar, intending to make the girl kneel again, just as she always did whenever Liliana showed disrespect toward Valerie.
However, this time, Liliana did not let her. Liliana quickly avoided her hand. Her own hand immediately grabbed the Beta daughter’s wrist and twisted it.
Crack!
"Akhhhh!" The Beta daughter screamed in pain.
"Liliana!" Valerie shouted when she saw Liliana dare to touch her person.
Liliana released her grip and pushed the Beta daughter away.
A threatening, devilish smile appeared on her lips—a smile she had secretly imitated from Cassian.