WILLA
Outside the headmaster's office, I braced myself.
I expected the Maddoxes to call me out. To accuse me of pretending to be their daughter. I ran through every explanation I could think of, over and over in my head.
I could tell them I was attacked by a monster. Monsters were clearly real here, even if I hadn't fully seen one yet. Maybe I could say it brought me here… or that this was all a mistake. A case of mistaken identity.
Maybe they would give me a light sentence, then let me go.
However—
"Oh, my precious daughter!"
I froze as Mrs. Maddox pulled me into a tight, warm embrace.
My eyes widened, my body going completely still in her arms.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she whispered, her hand moving gently along my back.
I blinked, confused. Why was she apologizing?
If anything, I should have been the one begging for forgiveness.
After a few seconds, she pulled away, as if only just realizing I hadn't hugged her back. Her face was tear-streaked, her eyes swollen and red.
She cupped my cheeks, her touch soft, almost trembling. My heart warmed at the feeling it stirred within me. This was the longest and most affection I had ever received from a mother figure.
And strangely, it felt right.
"How have you been?" she asked quietly, her lips curving into a fragile smile that didn't quite hide the pain behind it.
"Fine… I guess?" I answered, my voice uncertain.
Nothing about this made sense.
Just moments ago in the headmaster's office, she and her husband had looked tense, almost disturbed.
Now…Now they looked relieved. Emotional. Like they had truly gotten their daughter back.
Had they accepted that I was Elyse?
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you," Mrs. Maddox continued softly. "For days, I prayed to the goddess to keep you safe. I thought I lost you again…" Her voice broke.
Lost her… again?
Mrs. Maddox drew in a sharp breath and turned to her husband.
He no longer looked as upset as before, but I could still see it. Feel it. The sadness lingering in his eyes. In hers. The way they looked at each other said more than words ever could.
"She's fine now, Whitney," Mr. Maddox said as he stepped toward me.
Instinctively, I took a step back. He stopped. A faint frown formed on his face. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
"Sorry," I muttered quickly, shaking my head.
Elyse wouldn't do that, I reminded myself. She wouldn't pull away from her father.
Mr. Maddox only smiled, giving a small, understanding shrug.
"I suppose you're still traumatized from the attack," he said gently. "Hopefully, you'll be able to tell us what happened that night."
"No." Mrs. Maddox's voice cut in sharply.
She shook her head, her expression firm. "I don't think it's right for her to relive that experience. Not for us. Not for anyone."
"Whitney—"
"No, Steven," she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Whitney, it could be the Hollow—"
"That's exactly why we shouldn't talk about it!" she snapped, throwing her hands up. "We've had this conversation before. We agreed. We are not asking her about that. Especially not here."
She paused, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening. "At least we have her back," she added more softly, her gaze returning to me.
I forced another smile, shifting from one foot to another under her gaze.
I hated this. I hated being the center of attention.
It was one of the reasons I had never minded being an outcast back at Ridgewood Academy. Well… without the bullying.
But this?
This was worse. It had only been a day, and already it felt like everyone was watching me.
Everyone in this academy.
Mr. Maddox—Steven—pressed his lips into a thin line but didn't argue further. His gaze returned to me, lingering on my face before dropping briefly to the pendant I was fidgeting with, then lifting again.
He opened his mouth as if to speak. Nothing came out. He shut it again.
I waited, expecting something… anything. But nothing followed.
For a few moments, we simply stood outside the administration building in silence. The only sounds were the soft chirping of birds and the whisper of wind weaving through the trees.
"Good afternoon, Steven. Whitney." The voice cut through the stillness.
I turned to see Verah standing just behind me. She smiled at them, and they returned it politely.
"How are you, Verah?" Whitney asked.
"I'm fine," Verah replied. "I heard Elyse was done with the headmaster. I came to get her so we can prepare for today's event. I told you about it earlier," she added the last part, as Whitney narrowed her eyes at her.
"Ah… yes. Today," Whitney said, nodding.
Her eyes flicked toward Steven, and something unspoken passed between them again.
I still had no idea what today was, but I was starting to notice those looks more. The quiet exchanges. Like they were both thinking the same thing but refusing to say it aloud.
"I promise we won't drink anything," Verah rushed on. "No boys, no staying out late and—"
She paused, then added with a sheepish grin, "No…sex…kissing or doing anything you don't approve of."
Great.
So Elyse and Verah were wilder than I had thought.
And judging by how quickly she said it, I doubted she meant any of it. It sounded more like something she had rehearsed just to get permission.
"Please say yes," she pleaded, pouting slightly.
"Are your parents aware of where you're going tonight?" Whitney asked, her tone turning stern.
Verah froze.
Then her expression shifted, the playful charm dropping into a slight frown. She wrinkled her nose before shaking her head.
"You're basically my mom too," she pointed out.
"I am," Whitney agreed calmly. "But you still need to inform your actual parents wherever you're going, especially when it's somewhere dangerous. Young wolves like you shouldn't be in such places without proper awareness."
Verah groaned.
"Are you going to say no too? My parents already rejected the idea. It's no fun staying in the dorm while everyone our age goes out. Even people who are way less strong than we are!"
Whitney sighed, then shook her head. "No. I won't stop you from going, Verah."
Verah's face lit up instantly.
"Thank goodness," she breathed, relief flooding her tone. Then, under her breath, she muttered, "Why didn't the goddess make both of you my parents? Instead, I got stuck with mine for the rest of my life."
"You shouldn't talk like that if you still want to go to the party," Whitney warned.
Verah only grinned, completely unapologetic. Whitney groaned softly, shaking her head.
"I guess we can leave now since you're done talking and confirming she's actually alive," Verah said, looping her arm through mine.
"Yes," Whitney bobbed her head m.
Verah immediately began dragging me away.
"Both of you should come over for the weekend and be careful out tonight. The full moon is predicted!" Whitney called after us.
"Okay!" Verah shouted back.
I said nothing. There was nothing I could say.
Except that my confusion had just doubled. And now, more than ever, it felt like I was truly stuck in this school.
My parents weren't my foster parents. Everyone truly believed I was Elyse. I was in an academy for werewolves, something that should never exist in the real world, yet it felt completely normal here.
And strangely enough, I was taking everything well.
I should have been freaking out. I should have been losing my mind. But I wasn't. Ever since I first heard that voice in my head when I was eight, I had learned to accept that not everything in this world made sense.
My biggest worry was how long I could keep pretending before someone realized I wasn't who I claimed to be.
And more importantly… why was I even here in the first place?