After Refusing to be Luna, I Marked the Alpha's Shadow Chapter 4

His tone was gentle and firm—the most sacred promise a werewolf gives to a mate.

I suddenly wanted to laugh, but bitterness surged from the bottom of my heart.

Liam's honest words were a hundred times more moving than the false vows he had sworn to me.

After speaking, Liam seemed to remember something and looked at me, adding a sentence.

"Student Chloe is so outstanding, anyone would want to marry her. Besides, you're Harper's sister."

Chloe glanced at me too, the corners of her lips curving up slightly.

"Thank you for comforting me, Liam. I know I can't compare to my sister..."

I didn't want to watch this clumsy play anymore. I interrupted them. "The taxi is here. I'm leaving."

Without looking at Liam again, I turned and got into the cab.

As soon as I returned to school, I received a text from my father.

"I found the special training team you asked for. Don't forget our agreement."

I looked at the contact info he sent, didn't reply, and directly contacted the admissions instructor for the Royal Academy.

"Hello, I want to enter the Enforcer Academy with the top score of 'Alpha Prime' in this year's selection trials. It doesn't matter how full the schedule is."

The next day, the instructor called me to his office.

"The National Youth Werewolf Fighting Tournament you participated in two years ago has changed its rules this year. You need straight A's in cultural studies and tactical theory to participate."

And each class only had one straight-A slot.

I whispered, "I know."

This tournament didn't add points to the selection trials, but it was important to me.

I had been the champion for the past two years. I made a pact with someone that I would see them in the arena again this year.

I didn't want to break my promise.

Back in the classroom, I continued studying tactical theory.

Liam walked to my desk, his gaze falling on my holographic tablet. He asked abruptly, "Why are you working so hard suddenly? Do you want straight A's?"

I replied casually, "Yeah, I want straight A's."

Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone turning colder. "Chloe always gets straight A's."

Was he implying I was trying to steal Chloe's thunder?

My hand paused. I looked up to meet Liam's dark gaze, my heart prickling with pain.

I spoke softly but enunciated every word clearly. "But I want it."

Liam squinted at me, then curved his lips into a smile.

"Then you'd better work hard."

A few days later, the test results came out.

I just got my report card when Chloe leaned over.

"Sister worked so hard, the straight A's this semester must be yours."

Before I could answer, the surrounding werewolf students immediately started mocking.

"She's a half-breed. How could she beat you?"

"A half-breed constantly thinking about snatching things meant for noble bloodlines. Shameless."

Although my father took me back into the family, he publicly claimed I was raised in the human world and my bloodline was impure.

As an outsider, it did look like I was stealing Chloe's things.

It seemed normal for them to insult me.

I just looked at the report card.

First subject, second subject, third subject... I got an A in every one.

Until I saw the last line. Tactical Simulation. Behind it was a glaring D!

I was stunned.

Impossible. Since I started school, I had never received such a low score!

Students around me deliberately raised their voices.

"Chloe got straight A's again! So amazing. Looks like someone's hard work was useless. No matter how much a coyote howls, it won't become an Alpha."

I ignored them and walked straight to the instructor's office.

"Instructor, was there a mistake with my tactical simulation score?"

The instructor pushed up his glasses. "No mistake. The version submitted at first was decent, but the revised version had all the friend-or-foe identification data reversed."

"Revised version?" I froze. "But I didn't revise it..."

Mid-sentence, I stopped.

No, it was revised.

This subject was the only partner collaboration course. I did it with Liam.

It was Liam...

I clenched my fists, a sharp pain hitting my chest.

He knew how important grades were to me, yet he tampered with my report.

He knew how much time and energy I put into this test, yet he still wanted me to lose.

I walked back in a daze.

Before I went far, I saw Liam and Chloe talking on the balcony.

Liam smiled at Chloe. "Congratulations, straight A's again."

Chloe looked shy. "Actually, I thought it would be my sister's this time."

Liam gazed at her gently. "You are more outstanding than her. Even the Moon Goddess favors you."

It wasn't the Moon Goddess's favor; it was Liam's disgusting bias.

I couldn't listen anymore and walked straight down the stairs.

Hearing footsteps, Liam turned to look. Seeing my back, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

I walked forward expressionlessly.

Two steps later, my phone received an encrypted message.

Only one short sentence: [I'm waiting for you in the arena.]

My nose stung. I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions, wanting to reply that I couldn't go.

But after typing a line, I deleted it character by character with shaking hands.

I hate people who break promises the most, yet I became the one breaking a promise.

My eyes reddened. I clenched my fists tight. Just as I was about to leave, Liam chased after me and grabbed my arm.

"Harper, I was just congratulating Chloe normally."

I didn't turn back.

Liam walked in front of me, about to speak, but looked down and saw my red rimmed eyes.

His eyes flickered. "You're crying?"

I looked away. "No."

Liam looked down at me for a moment, lowering his stance, half-apologetic and half-coaxing.

"Sorry, I miscalculated the data for the simulation, which caused you to miss straight A's. Blame me however you want, I accept it."

I shook my head, my tone calm. "I don't blame you."

The corners of Liam's lips lifted slightly, probably thinking I predictably wouldn't blame him.

Just as he wanted to gloss over the matter, I looked up at him and spoke coldly.

"I only blame myself for being blind."

Liam's smile froze.