Chapter 4

As Avery stood at the front of the class, her nerves on edge, she scanned the faces of the other students. They looked back at her with varying degrees of interest and indifference. Some of them looked bored, some looked curious, and some looked downright hostile.

She noticed a girl sitting in the front row with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face. She was a tall, athletic girl with long, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She looked like she belonged on a sports team, and Avery couldn’t help but feel intimidated by her.

Avery nervously stood up in front of the class, feeling self-conscious as all eyes were on her.

“Hi, my name is Avery Reeds,” she said softly, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m new here and excited to be at this school.”

As she finished her introduction, she noticed a few students snickering and whispering to each other. The girl who sat in the front row rolled her eyes and muttered something to her friend, causing them both to laugh. Avery didn’t understand why they reacted that way and felt confused.

The teacher cleared his throat, catching the attention of the class. “Thank you, Avery. Welcome to our class. We’re glad to have you here. No more whispering, Samantha.” The teacher then addressed the rest of the class. “Now, let’s all give Avery a warm welcome. She’s new to Moonridge, so let’s make her feel at home.”

The students didn’t quite agree with the teacher, especially Samantha; she just rolled her eyes and turned away.

As Avery took her seat, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach.

Throughout the rest of the class, Avery couldn’t help but notice the other students whispering and glancing in her direction. She felt like a target, and it made her nervous.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Avery packed up her things quickly and exited the room. Then, walking down the hallway, she heard the girl’s voice behind her.

“Hey, Omega. You were in my seat.”

Avery turned to see the blonde-haired girl standing behind her, arms crossed, with a sneer.

“Um, sorry. I didn’t know,” Avery stammered; she frowned because she did not understand what Omega meant.

“Well, now you do. So don’t do it again,” the girl replied before walking away.

Avery watched her go, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. She didn’t know what an Omega was, but she didn’t like how the girl treated her.

Avery quickly breezed through classes up until lunch, where she, of course, sat alone. As Avery sat at the lunch table, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a girl with long, curly brown hair and big brown eyes looking at her kindly.

“Hey,” the girl says, “mind if I sit here?”

Avery saw a friendly smile on the girl’s face. She hesitated for a moment before nodding her head.

“Sure, go ahead,” Avery said softly.

The girl sat across from her and introduced herself as Hayley Bonds, telling Avery she wanted to be friends.

Avery looked at Hayley suspiciously, wondering why someone would want to be her friend after the way everyone else had treated her.

“Why?” Avery asked, still cautious.

“Because I don’t think it’s fair the way everyone’s treating you,” Hayley said sympathetically. “I know what it’s like to be the new kid in school. It’s tough.”

Avery looked down at her lap, ashamed of how she felt.

“I just don’t understand why everyone hates me,” Avery admitted.

“So, what brought you to Moonridge High?” Hayley asked.

“My parents got a job transfer, so we had to move here,” Avery replied. “It’s been tough, though. I don’t know anyone here.”

Hayley nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, it can be hard starting over. But don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll make some friends soon.”

Avery smiled weakly. “I hope so.”

Hayley leaned in a little. “Do you know what we all are here?” she asked.

Avery shook her head. “What do you mean?”

Hayley hesitated for a moment, then seemed to decide against saying anything. “Oh, never mind. It’s not important. Just curious, that’s all.”

Avery raised an eyebrow, wondering what Hayley was talking about, but decided not to press the issue. Instead, she asked, “So, what about you? How long have you been here?”

Hayley grinned. “Oh, forever. My family’s been in Moonridge for generations. I guess you could say we’re a little old-fashioned.” Avery nodded, not sure what to make of that.

After eating, Hayley asked Avery about her day and whether she had met anyone else. Avery mentioned Samantha and how she was called an Omega by her. Haley tsked at the mention of Samantha’s name and told Avery about the prestigious background of Moonridge High’s Queen Bee.

“Honey, Samantha Banks comes from a long line of wealthy families in this town. Her father is a prominent businessman, and her mother is the head of the PTA. She has everything handed to her on a silver platter and thinks she’s better than everyone else,” Hayley explained.

Avery listened with interest but couldn’t help but feel like there was more to the story.

“Thanks for telling me, but why do you think she called me an Omega?” she asked.

Hayley shrugged. “Who knows? Samantha can be cruel to anyone she deems beneath her. Just ignore her and her little clique. They’re not worth your time.”

While they were still talking, a group of boys walked into the cafeteria; Avery’s eyes were drawn to them immediately. They were tall and muscular with chiseled jawlines and bright, clear eyes. They seemed to have a certain aura that demanded attention, and the other students in the cafeteria all turned to watch as they made their way to a table.

Hayley noticed Avery’s interest in the boys and leaned in to whisper to her. “Those are the top dogs,” she said, gesturing to the group. “They’re the hottest guys in school, and they know it.”

Avery couldn’t help but feel a little star-struck as she watched them from afar. She had never seen boys like them before and wondered what it would be like to talk to or be friends with them.

Hayley noticed Avery’s interest and nudged her playfully. “Don’t even think about it, Reeds,” she teased. “Those guys are nothing but trouble. Trust me.”

Avery nodded but couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed. She knew Hayley was probably right but couldn’t help being drawn to the boys’ energy and charisma.

Hayley started to tell Avery about the boys. “So that’s Adrian Coals; he’s the one with the dark hair and blue eyes. He’s a bit of a mystery, but everyone knows he’s got a bad-boy reputation. He’s the guy you want to get to know but don’t want to get too close.”

Avery couldn’t help but notice how his leather jacket hugged his broad shoulders and how his dark hair fell just above his piercing blue eyes. She felt a rush of excitement just looking at him.

Hayley continued, “Next to him is Caleb Barns; he’s the Beta. He’s the one with the sandy blonde hair and green eyes. He’s pretty quiet, but he’s also really sweet. He’s the guy you want to bring home to meet your parents.”

Avery couldn’t help but notice how Caleb’s soft-spoken demeanor contrasted with his muscular build and strong jawline.

Hayley pointed to the boy with messy brown hair and kind eyes. “That’s Eli Kaden; he’s the gentle soul. He’s always there to lend an ear and offer a shoulder to cry on. He’s the kind of guy that you feel safe around.”

Avery couldn’t help but feel drawn to Eli’s kind eyes and warm smile.

Lastly, Hayley pointed to the boy with wild, curly hair and mischievous eyes. “That’s Finn Rake; he’s the impulsive minx. He’s always getting into trouble, but he’s also the life of the party. He’s the kind of guy you want to have around when you need to let loose.”

Avery couldn’t help but feel intimidated by Finn’s wild energy, but she couldn’t deny that he was incredibly charming.

As Hayley finished introducing the boys, the cafeteria began to buzz with conversation again. Avery couldn’t help but feel like she had just been let in on a big secret.

“Have they been here long?” Avery asked her.

“Nah, they transferred here last year; they came and set the whole halls on fire,” Hayley told her with a snort. “But they are all off the market,” Hayley finished.

“They have girlfriends?” Avery asked with wide eyes.

“Nope. Samantha and her clique have an unspoken rule; no one goes near the top dogs. Trust me, you don’t want to be at the receiving end of one of her many raging tantrums,” Hayley warned her.

As Hayley continued to describe the boys, Avery couldn’t help but feel a strange pull toward them. Her heart raced as Hayley talked about Adrian, with his chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes. She found herself captivated by Caleb, with his muscular build and charming smile. Eli had a calming presence that drew her in, while Finn had a raw magnetism that intrigued her.

Avery didn’t understand the intensity of her attraction toward them. She felt a strange, inexplicable urge to be near them, to feel their warmth and strength. It was as if a spark had been ignited within her, a pull she couldn’t resist.

Unbeknownst to her, Avery was experiencing the beginnings of a bond, and her body was reacting to the presence of the boys, their pheromones.

The feelings were confusing and overwhelming, and Avery didn’t know what to make of them. Instead, she was torn between wanting to get to know the boys better and fearing rejection and ridicule.

As the lunch bell rang, Avery and Hayley gathered their things to head to their next class. Avery couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted inside her.

As they were leaving, Avery’s eyes locked onto the group of boys; she felt a sudden jolt of electricity running through her veins. It was like a magnetic pull, drawing her toward them with an intensity that she couldn’t explain. She felt a deep, unexplainable connection with them, as if they were somehow a part of her. It was a strange and unsettling feeling but also exhilarating at the same time.

As they looked at her, Avery felt like she was drowning in their gaze, unable to look away. She felt like they could see right through her, into the very depths of her soul. It was as if they were studying her, analyzing her every move and thought.

The frown on their faces only added to her confusion and frustration. Why were they looking at her like that? What was it about her that had caught their attention? Avery couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and excitement simultaneously. It was like she was on the verge of discovering something incredible yet dangerous.

Avery was left with a lingering sense of longing and desire as the boys turned away. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was meant to be with them, that they were somehow her destiny. It was an inescapable urge that she couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard she tried.