Jade couldn't keep her eyes shut anymore when she felt the car begin to move again.
They opened involuntarily, just as they had closed earlier.
Beyond the tall iron gates, a long, wide driveway stretched inward, paved with smooth, pale stones that reflected the fading light of the afternoon sun.
The path looked endless, drawing the eye deeper into the grounds as though inviting anyone who entered to forget the world beyond it.
Near the entrance, an expansive parking area spread out, every space occupied by sleek, expensive cars.
Black dominated.. polished, spotless vehicles that spoke of wealth without needing to announce it.
The driveway curved gently, bordered on both sides by perfectly trimmed hedges and tall decorative trees. Their leaves were sculpted into careful shapes, not a single branch out of place.
Stone lanterns stood at measured intervals beside sleek modern lights, blending ancient prestige with modern luxury.
Students moved along the paths in neat groups, their uniforms crisp, their posture confident. They laughed freely.
Everything about them suggested privilege, children who had never doubted their place in the world, who had never questioned whether they belonged.
Tall buildings rose proudly against the sky, constructed of glass and pale stone. Entire walls were made of glass, reflecting the grounds like mirrors.
Silver and gold accents traced the edges of the structures, catching the light and making the buildings glow.
Wide staircases led up to grand entrances.
Still seated inside the car, Jade noticed a vast green field stretching out nearby. Some students lounged lazily on the grass, basking in the warmth of the setting sun.
Others sat on benches placed neatly around the area.
Some chased each other around.
It was beautiful.
And Jade refused to admit it even to herself.
No matter how breathtaking the place looked, she already knew that this beauty was not meant for her. Behind the polished walls and flawless paths, her life here would be a living hell.
There was no doubt.
The car followed the curved roads deeper into the grounds before finally coming to a stop in the parking area.
Jade's heart began to race.
She tried to appear calm, unbothered.. just as she always did, but for the first time, she couldn't.
Her fingers curled tightly in her lap, her breathing shallow.
For the first time since they had entered the car, Alpha Norman cleared his throat.
The sound alone made her tense more.
He instructed the chauffeur to step outside. The man obeyed immediately, closing the door behind him.
For a second, silence fell heavy inside the car. Then Alpha Norman's gaze met Jade's through the rearview mirror.
"As I told you yesterday," he said, his voice unchanged from the night before, "do not let me be summoned to this school as well.. because of the same foolish behavior you displayed in those other schools."
Jade said nothing.
"If you let your uncontrollable heat take over you around boys again," he continued, "the first person to receive that report will not be me this time, it will be the Emperor himself."
Her heart raced.
"You know very well that there is no law in this Empire that permits men to love men," Alpha Norman added. "And even though you are not a man, everyone believes you are. That is how they will see it, how the Emperor will see it. And the punishment will be severe."
His voice hardened, it sounded threatening than it had never been.
"It could include exile. You could be sent away to live as a rogue."
The word landed like a blade. "Do you understand?" he demanded.
Jade had promised herself she would remain silent. She had sworn she wouldn't talk back, or argue, or refuse anything.
But the irritation burned too deeply when she was reminded of how trapped she was, how small her world had become. Her life felt pathetic, everything felt unbearable, she found herself speaking without giving herself permission to.
"So what do you expect me to do, uncle?" she burst out, unable to stop herself. "Be with girls? Pretend to like girls? Ask them out?"
She turned slightly, her frustration spilling over. "This is a high school where everyone seems to be learning things and experience. Dating, falling in love, making friends.. And I'm supposed to lock myself away in my room and pretend I don't exist?"
Her voice trembled, and she hated that it did.
"I'm human too," she continued, "I have feelings. Emotions. Needs. I feel everything you tell me to ignore. How long is this supposed to last? What about my future?"
A lump formed in her throat.
She swallowed it down immediately.
Crying had never been an option for her. She had never allowed herself that weakness.
She told herself that tears solved nothing.
And even as she spoke, she knew her pain and frustration wasn't just about dating or desire. It was the crushing pressure of everything, the lies, the fear, the isolation, and now being thrown into an enormous unfamiliar place where she would be watched constantly.
She had someone who should have been like a sister.
Instead, she knew Aria would do everything in her power to make Jade's life miserable.
Alpha Norman's expression did not soften.
"I told you already," he said, "Do whatever you must, but I should never hear that someone has discovered you are a girl and not a boy."
His tone dropped.
"If that happens, you will wish you had been more careful."
With that, he opened the door and stepped out of the car.
Jade didn't move. Her body felt heavy, frozen in place.Only when Alpha Norman knocked sharply on her window did she finally force herself to step out.
She blinked several times, forcing her focus back into place.
A man in a formal uniform hurried toward them, as though he had been waiting nearby all along. He bowed slightly when he reached them.
"Greetings, Alpha Norman," he said respectfully. "I've been sent to escort you to the principal's office."
"Thank you," Alpha Norman replied calmly.
They followed the man toward the administration building.
Jade kept her head straight, eyes forward, expression carefully neutral. Her steps were steady, even though her heart pounded painfully in her chest.
As they approached the entrance, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly broken by hurried footsteps and soft laughter echoing from around a nearby corner.
As they turned, she noticed someone moving backward in her path, already too close.
She caught only a glimpse of a broad back before the person bumped into her. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs. She staggered backward, for a second she thought she might fall.
But then ..strong fingers closed around her wrist.
The person had spun around, pulling her forward to steady her.
But because she was already off-balance, she crashed directly into his chest, her forehead pressed against warm, solid chest, through the fabric.
Her breath hitched.