Later during the day, several Black Devil students were missing. Apparently, they had to attend an important, top-secret meeting at their pack house, followed by another special training session. Crazy wolves indeed.

At the history class, Elena was sitting at her usual spot with her chin on her palms, more distracted then ever and reasoning about her perfect, newly-discovered mate.

They shared a passionate long-stare and the emotions that passed through her were wordless. Under his intense glare, she felt so shy that her feet froze on the spot, although the powerful desire to walk to him and kiss those plump lips.

When an unaware (and very silly) Rex had grabbed her arm and shook her, Elena barely realised it. However, the creepy growl that followed, together with his change of eye colour, made Elena unconsciously step back from her mate. A glimpse of hurt and disappointment crossed his face.

Elena shivered at the memory of his black veins popping out across his face and arms, before he stormed out from the gym in an aggressive swirl.

Her friends, like everyone else, just stared speechless at the direction where her beautiful mate blurred out. Oddly, Black Devil Gamma ran behind him like a chicken. Maybe they were relatives or something?

Rex was glaring at her from time to time with an inquisitive look. He knew something was up with her. But Elena was avoiding him, not ready to talk about her broody mate.

It was too much and she didn’t even know his name

The fact that they found each other was still quite shocking.

While Elena was utterly distracted, speculating about her mate's identity and the reasons beyond his turbulent disappearance, the attack began.

Alarms started to echo through the corridors. All the students and teachers instantly strode out the classes and sped to the conference room. The youngest were being pushed first, in hurry.

“What’s happening?” Giulia asked, fidgeting with her hands. “It’s probably some rogues.” Marco replied her with a reassuring smile, hurried her inside. Rex was on my side, holding my hand firmly. His protector slash personal bodyguard’s mode was on.

As soon as everyone finally went in, the doors securely closed. ’Dad! There’s a rouge attack!’ Elena mind linked him frenetically. But no response followed.

All of a sudden, several growls vibrated from outside, and from many directions. Fear raised and heartbeats doubled.

When none of the teachers were doing anything to calm the panic, Elena decided to take control, her fists clenched. “Listen to me!” Elena shouted, her Alpha mode on. The silence was immediate, all the attention on her. “Don’t be afraid of these excuses of werewolves. They don’t have anything to fight for and live to create chaos only. Plus, reinforcements will arrive soon!” or at least she hoped so. She paused looking at several unknown – and too young - faces, then lingered on her friends: Marco and Rex with determined expressions were in defensive positions around Giulia, who was biting her lips nervously.

Such a bad luck the senior students of Black Devil were all missing, leaving them with the less-prepared wolves.

“Be in formation and stay united! Trust your wolf as your life’s gift!” Marco yelled with power.

“Let’s hunt them down as a pack that chases freedom from injustice and corruption!” Elena roared. The room was filled with cheers and claps, with few transformations into their powerful beasts. Elena’s eyes turned into a neon green and her hair slightly raised, becoming white. Titilas was with her.

When the door was smashed away like a piece of paper, several students stepped away in terror. All that fervour of the moment, gone.

A huge man entered with a smirk, as if he was the owner of the place. “My my! What a pleasure!” He eyed Elena like she was a sweet pie. Elena glared at him, fear and fury surging through her. Probably on his fifties, with deep wrinkles and oily grey hair, the glint of pure madness across his eyes revealed his identity. After all, this wasn’t a random rouge's attack as they had believed.

“Alpha Ciro” She spat, and her guess was correct by the surprise that crossed his face, swiftly returning to his original expression. “I must feel honour that you know who I am, my dear.” His venomous smile hid a world of agony.

“Don’t look at her” Rex yelled with fury. When the Alpha of Lord Skull ignored him, Rex growled and transformed into his powerful grey wolf.

Ready to spill blood.

Lord Skull was exactly how she imagined: an ageing lonely man with a deteriorated brain.

“There’s nothing here for you. Why did you trespass this territory?” A brave teacher stood from the crowd.

“Oh, I want what was taken away from me.” He growled coldly, threat leaking from all his pores. “From your nasty father!” He said looking at Elena. Her mind was filled by the images of those women forced to abandon they homes with everything they had ever known and loved. All those families separated, so many hearts broken and tears shed.

All because this crazy Alpha was lost in his ravings.

“He will arrive here soon and tear you into pieces, you coward! How dare attacking a school?” Elena blurted, showing her elongated canines.

“I don’t think so, my future loving Luna!” Lord Skull sneered with a knowing look. His words creep Elena out. Shock and nausea enveloped her.

Was Alpha Ciro really there to kidnap her? And probably her friends too, as a pay back to all his ex pack members that fled his dictatorship and ran to Full Moon. “Here! You can say hi to your naive father!” He said viciously, making Elena narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the plastic bag he kept on his hand.

When he threw it near her feet, it fell with a thud. The instant stench of dead, together with the smell of her dad, filled her nostrils.

And it was chaos.