Page 12 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos (The Rossi Legacies #7)

Sienna

T he room becomes silent as everyone turns their undivided attention to the professors.

There’s Alpha Matherson, who teaches Strategy and Tactics, Professor Bree, who heads Tracking and Scouting, and Alpha Victor, whom I haven’t had a lesson with since he only teaches Combat for Wolves in Shifted Form.

Professor Syldora teaches Offensive Magic and Control, and Professor Dane is our Weaponry Master.

I shouldn’t be here.

Everyone knows I got in because of who my dad is- was. Everyone knows I failed the entrance exams, but I was enrolled by the order of the King.

A favour and a curse.

The looks I’m getting from those around me are proof of that.

“Alright! Everyone here is going to be put into divisions!” Alpha Matherson’s loud voice tears me from my thoughts.

“For the next six months, you will work together, and some of you may be put into these very divisions upon graduation! So, work well together. Each group will be made to balance one another!”

The Strategy Master’s voice booms across the large hall, crystal clear.

I shrink into my hoodie, wishing I weren’t here. I don’t deserve to be here. Everyone knows it. All I do is hold people up, and if I let my powers out, I’m dangerous. I could kill someone.

After a quick look around, I spot Anna standing there with a look of confidence on her face. She’s ready for this. Everyone here is.

This is the first time I’m being put into a division, no doubt another favour by the King. Why else would I be? I haven’t proven myself, and he was here just the other day.

His words still sting; his cold eyes held no sympathy as he looked me over. I can still feel them, those pale eyes that reminded me of the coldest winter frost.

“We will start with the three divisions that will have a new leader since theirs have left! Division Twenty-Four, Lamar Patrick! Congratulations! You are the new leader of Twenty-Fourth Division!”

Everyone claps and cheers as Lamar stands and takes an exaggerated cocky bow.

He’s a sixth-year, competitive, strong and from an international pack.

“Hayley Schwimmer! Congratulations, you are the new leader of Seventeenth Division!”

I look up as a tall girl in her fifth year stands up and gives the professors a polite bow of her head. I’ve seen her around. She’s on a lot of the sports teams. The kind of girl who knows what she wants and works hard to achieve it… Then there’s me.

“And finally, Ninth Division! Your new leader is Jayce Westwood!”

The crowd erupts, and not all of it is excitement. It’s covered with shock, too.

“He’s only a fourth year!”

“A fourth year doesn’t make leader, no matter how good they are…”

“Not surprised. He’s a Westwood, and his father is known as the Deimos Prince. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s one of the prophesied rulers.”

“He’s the strongest here.”

My heart skips a beat as it lands on Jayce’s side profile. They aren’t wrong. He might be the youngest division leader, but his talent and skill have made him one of the deadliest around.

He shows no emotion, so I have no idea what he’s thinking. His black hair is messily brushed back as if he just ran his fingers through it after his post-training shower. His sharp, green eyes are almost as callous as those of our King’s.

He isn’t just the top in every subject; he’s captain of the football team, too. He’s also the undefeated champion in combat. I’m not surprised he’s been chosen. I’m sure by next year, all the Westwoods could be division leaders.

“Alright, everyone, settle down. We can all agree that Westwood has earned it despite his age! Now let’s move on! Shahira Muhammed, Verdantia, Ninth Division…”

I zone out as everyone is put into divisions.

“He is so fucking hot. Whenever he wants me, I’m always down, even if he isn’t offering more.” The whisper and the giggles that follow make me glance at the girl who spoke.

What more can I expect?

All the girls love him and want to get into his bed. The boys either fear him or want to earn his favour. And me? I just want to hide from him because every time I’m in front of him, he makes me feel like I’m worse than the dirt beneath his shoe.

“Sienna Electra Kendall Rossi!”

A few heads turn my way, and I want to shrivel into the ground. It’s my turn already?

My heart thuds, fear enveloping me, and I wonder which division I’m going to be put into, or more like who I will be put under.

My eyes skim the groups, wondering where I’ll be placed. The look in some of their eyes is obvious. They don’t want me.

Please… anyone but him… please, anyone but-

“Aetheris, Ninth Division!”

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.

No! Not…

My mind goes blank as I feel the familiar prickle on my skin when his gaze turns upon me, and I make the mistake of looking up at him.

Our eyes meet, the coldest green against my own, which are shadowed by my hoodie.

That rage in his…

I shouldn’t be here, and he thinks so, too.

Damn.

My division leader is Jayce Westwood.

His hatred is so intense I feel as if it burns through me; as if he can see how pathetic I am on the inside, too.

This is my future, a living nightmare because, unlike everyone else who whispers behind their hands and tries not to say too much openly, he doesn’t hide his contempt. He doesn’t make his disdain that I shouldn’t be here subtle. He knows it, I know it, and everyone else knows it, too.

But here I am, placed under the leadership of Jayce Westwood himself.

The one man who hates me more than anyone in this entire world.

Great. Just great.

“Move!” Alpha Matherson thunders. A few kids snicker, and I look down as I slowly make my way over to Jayce’s group.

“Welcome to the best division!” Renji says, offering me a hand so I can skip over the bench in front of me, and I take it, not expecting him to lift me one-handed and place me in front of him.

I feel Jayce’s surge of irritation, but don’t look at him.

“Thanks…” I say quietly. I look at the other new girl, and she gives me a small smile.

“Hey. Shahira,” she whispers, offering me her hand.

I nod. “Sienna, hey.” She’s the daughter of Alpha Junaid of the Full Moon Pack; he’s on the King’s Council.

I skim over the rest of the members. Each division has between eleven to fifteen members, depending on those who graduate or die.

Ours currently has thirteen members, seven boys and six girls.

A quick skim of everyone’s uniforms, excluding Jayce, who I dare not look at, tells me we have four Aegis, three Luminara, two Noctaris, two Verdantia and two Aetheris, or should I say one, since I don’t count.

The girl Jayce was talking to in the hallway that day is in our division, too.

I sigh softly as Alpha Matherson finishes telling everyone their divisions.

A few times, I feel that intense glare, but refuse to look at him. I can feel his irritation, his annoyance, and no matter how much I tell myself at least Renji is here, I know it won’t help.

“Alright, and with that, we have our divisions! Now you all know what this means,” Alpha John says, his face now serious.

“You all know why we are here. We are preparing for a war that is to come! We’ve seen the ever-growing threats to our world.

We train and become warriors to protect those who can’t protect themselves!

Everyone in this room comes from powerful bloodlines.

You are the cream of the crop, and I will unashamedly admit that you will be moulded into the perfect killing machines. ”

There’s a moment of silence before he nods more to himself, clasping his hands behind his back.

“But in that, you have to keep your integrity, your morals and your values. We fight together in the name of the gods on our side and our King! We fight for a world where we can live safely. You all chose to be here. You all fought your way to the top to be the leaders of the next generation. If a day comes and we aren’t here, it is you!

You, who will lead your generation to victory. ”

I didn’t choose to be here, and I feel like even more of a fraud as signs of approval flit through the room.

“Remember, your division is your pack right now. You fight together, you protect one another, and you train together.

“And what if someone shouldn’t be here?” one of the girls in my group asks. “I mean, what if there’s a liabil-”

She stops abruptly, and I turn to see her staring at someone behind me: Jayce. I’m not sure what happened, but she’s changed her mind.

“Miss Sato, I think we are more fit to make that decision. There is no one here who is a liability. I assure you, sometimes power just takes time to awaken or control. Don’t speak of which you know nothing,” Professor Syldora states, her voice crisp and firm as she looks at the girl who had spoken.

She purses her lips but doesn’t respond. “Well, if we’re clear – dismissed!” Alpha John says.

I’m about to walk away when Jayce speaks. “We train every night at nine, in North Star. It’s reserved for our division, which continues. Everyone is to be there, no excuses.”

More training.

Great.

“See all of you there. Don’t forget to get your badges from Path Coordinators,” Artemis says to me and Shahira. “Plus, you’ll probably have to move dorms to our quarters. Exciting, right?”

“We will, and it is, yeah,” Shahira says with a small nod and a smile.

“Quick introduction, Valerian Welbourn, Aegis, final year. Artemis Nicholson, Verdantia, fourth year. Brock Vincent Aegis, fifth year. Allison Falls, Luminara, fifth year.” Renji introduces my new team members.

Allison, so that’s the name of the girl Jayce was flirting with. I glance at Artemis. It’s not often you’ll find a werewolf in Verdantia; they make up only 30 percent of the Path, but it means in a worst-case scenario, if there’s no magic, she’ll be able to deliver medical aid.