Page 21 of Plug and Claim

“Don’t be sorry!” This time, Susie offered her a genuine smile. “It makes me who I am, and I’ve embraced it. Besides, Arken likes it.”

“The…headmaster?”

“Yes. And—” She cut off as students began emerging from rooms. “Actually, never mind, I’ll tell you later.”

Kira was the only one not in uniform, and it made her feel self-conscious as she followed Susie down the corridor.

The students all wore the same navy blazers with red trim on the lapels and pockets, but otherwise, the men and women’s uniforms varied. The male wolves wore navy trousers and red neckties, whilst the females like Susie wore black thigh-high socks, red tartan skirts that were short and pleated, and red bows at the neck.

As much as Kira despised the academy, she had to admit that the uniforms were striking and sophisticated. Meanwhile, her own lack of uniform instantly made her an outsider. The simple flowery blouse, long skirt and sturdy boots she had on were more suitable for visiting the market or walking forest trails, not for impressing peers and teachers at an academic institution.

The students shot her curious looks on the stairwell, which she tried to ignore as she ascended the steps with Susie.

“We’ll have to eat breakfast quickly if we want to get you a uniform before class starts,” Susie was saying.

“We can skip breakfast,” Kira said immediately. The last thing she needed was to have the whole school ogle her simple clothes while she ate. In the past, she would not have cared what others thought, but that would have to change if she hoped to be their leader. She only had one chance to make a first impression, to prove she was one of them, which meant she needed a uniform, and fast. “Let’s just do the uniform.”

“Oh…but I haven’t eaten yet,” Susie said. Her internal battle was obvious as she weighed the options—to eat breakfast, or be obliging to the newcomer?

“Maybe we could get my uniform first, and then find something to eat?” Kira pleaded. To enter the cafeteria like this would be social suicide.

“Sure, that will work.”

Kira squinted her eyes as they emerged from underground.

“This is the foyer,” Susie said, waving her hand around the large, imposing space.

Kira hadn’t had a chance to look at it properly when Nathaniel led her through it last night, and she paused to gaze up at the high ceilings where tall windows of stained glass let in streams of morning light. Above, a wrought-iron chandelier flickered with candlelight, and the grand staircase was made of polished wood and covered in red carpet—a colour that the vampires seemed fond of, because it was everywhere in the heavy drapes, banners, wallpaper and decorations. To the right of the staircase was a black marble fireplace dancing with purple flames, around which gathered a group of students. Some of them stretched out on dark furniture, others stood confidently, and a couple lay by the fireside in their wolf form. It was obvious at a glance that they were a pack.

Kira stared openly, appraising the pack. Every member radiated confidence, as if they had nothing to fear from the vampires.

Kira’s heart beat a little faster when one of the female wolves detached from the group, her yellow eyes giving Kira the once-over as she approached. She was the same height as Kira, but whilst Kira was slender, the woman was skinny, with a narrow face and angled cheekbones.

“Who is this?” she drawled, flicking her black twin plaits behind her as if she had better places to be. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Suzanna?”

Susie’s smile flickered out. “This is Kira,” she said in a strained voice. “Kira, this is—”

“Chelsea,” said the female student airily, her thin eyebrows arching in disdain as she looked down her nose at Kira. “Chelsea Poplarin, beta wolf of the Poplarin Pack.”

Kira’s eyes widened. This was it. An introduction to a pack. This was the sort of connection she needed to make if she hoped to rally the wolves to rise up against their oppressors. It was a lofty goal, but suddenly, it seemed within reach.

Except that Chelsea did not seem friendly. In fact, she sensed an undercurrent of hostility.

Kira squared her shoulders and met the challenge head-on. “Pleased to meet you.”

Chelsea drew back, angling her body away. “I’m not so sure. You reek.”

Reek?

But she had washed last night, and these were fresh clothes, even if she’d spent the night in them.

“Have you not been bled yet?” Chelsea asked impatiently, wrinkling her nose.

Kira had no idea what she was talking about, but she didn’t want to reveal her ignorance, so she changed tack. “I’d like to meet the rest of your pack.”

“No. Absolutely not. Leave at once.”

“Come on,” Susie said, tugging on Kira’s sleeve.