Ezra watched the gates of Nobilis Academy roll into view. Forty thousand acres dedicated to the education of the noble class for five years of their lives. At sixteen, Ezra was entering late.

The gates that surrounded the property was black gothic gates, meant to represent the death of something or the other once you entered. Ezra rolled her eyes at the melodrama of it all.

Her car followed a procession of cars to a building front of center of the property. Boys were lined up, socializing within their lines or yelling across.

The driver stopped at the end of a line and got out. Ezra straightened her suit and kept her face blank as he walked over to open her door. The boys in the line turned their attention to the car, anticipation building in their eyes. They all knew each other from the day they entered the school two years ago. Ezra merely stepped out the car and a hush spread through the line and seemed to expand across the courtyard. Ezra kept her eyes forward, taking her place in the line.

A boy broke out of the line and stood in front of her. He was taller but stick thin, like a puppet without strings. His face was dotted with acne but his mouth was set in a stern line. “Who are you?”

Ezra stared straight ahead without giving him the impression that she was seeing him. “Ezra Ketea.”

“Ketea,” the boy huffed a mocking laugh, “They allowed you in? And this school claims to have high standards.”

Ezra dipped into her memory and pulled a name. “Guine Reborsi. It offends me to know that you were the one chosen to give this lecture.”

There was a bark of laughter off Ezra’ left. A young man was approaching, blonde hair rolling down his shoulder. His too wide grin seemed more predatory than welcoming. “Ezra Ketea. Welcome.”

Ezra’ mind supplied this name, unbidden. It was only natural, seeing how Davi Leuris was heir to one of the most powerful houses in the kingdom. “Thank you, Mr. Leuris. It’s a pleasure to be here.”

“Please, call me Davi,” Leuris clapped her shoulder in what he probably thought was a friendly manner but his grip was far too tight and his dark gaze drilled into her. “Why haven’t I had the pleasure sooner? I’m starting to think I’ve missed out.”

“My health hasn’t been the best these past couple years,” Ezra gave him the practiced story with an unconvincing, flat voice. “My dear mother wanted to keep me close. For her peace of mind.”

“I see. What was the problem?”

“Pardon me?"

“What was the problem with your health?” he clarified.

“Weak bones,” said Ezra, looking bored. “Every time someone touched me, something broke.” She glanced at where his hand remained and leveled him with a desert dry stare.

There was a stunned second where Leuris didn’t say a word but he quickly recovered and uttered a shallow laugh. “Alright, wouldn’t want to break you,” Despite his words, he clapped on the her back a few more times before leaving. “Look after the newcomer, Guine. He has a lot to catch up on.”

Ezra held back a grimace at how much the claps stung.

Stolen novel; please report.

When she looked back at Guine, he was staring at Leuris’ back, visibly confused.

“Is there a problem?” Ezra asked.

Guine snapped to attention and glared at Ezra. “Davi wants me to catch you up so listen closely. Little jokes like that are going to get you in trouble the next time around. He was just in a good mood today.”

“A good mood,” Ezra echoed. She didn’t get that impression. She was more of the opinion that he didn’t know his own mood. “He's a strange character.”

Guine didn't respond. Instead, he turned his back on Ezra and ordered, “Follow me,” before marching to the front of the line.

Ezra didn't move an inch, but as her eyes flickered to the boys around her. While taking in their looks of shock and jealousy, it dawned on her that something strange had happened. A split second decision had her following Guine.

He stopped at a circle of boys, “This is the second year wolves. Wolves, this is Ezra Ketea.”

The first boy to step forward was eyeing Ezra like she was a gold mine. He was tall with fiery red hair and an unruly beard. He was also twice Ezra size. He put out an cheerful hand, “I'm Hayes.”

Ezra shook his hand but asked Guine, “What do you mean, wolves?”

“The Leuris' family crest is a wolf,” Guine explained, “As his closest allies, we're allowed to call ourselves wolves.”

Ezra’ eyes narrowed, “Why are you introducing me?”

“I don’t know,” Guine’s stark answer had the ring of truth. “Davi assigned me to get you caught up. He wouldn’t have said that if you weren’t a potential wolf.”

“You’re absolutely dripping in potential. Come on, Guine, don’t tell me you don’t see it,” Hayes asserted, grabbing Guine’s shoulder to make sure he was looking. “Doesn’t he look like someone with potential?”

“What are you,” Guine stopped when he finally caught on and scowled at Hayes, “Those are just rumors.”

“I merely couldn’t help observing that this gentleman has plenty of potential,” Hayes winked Guine, not trying to hide just how sleazy the comment was. “But that’s inconsequential. Let me catch him up.”

Guine almost squawked, “No, certainly not, you can’t be trusted with potentials. You’ll make them vagrants like you.”

“You call me a vagrant, I call myself higher on the hierarchy.” He wasn't wrong. Hayes Demorye was from a far more prominent family.

Guine’s jaw clenched, “Fine, but I’ll be sure to report this change.”

“Make sure you do,” Hayes said smugly. He threw an arm around Ezra’s shoulders and led her away from the group, “You and me are going to get along quite well, my friend.”

Ezra sneered, “Even if I find you appalling?”

He shrugged, dripping a disgusting amount of ego, “I’ll grow on you. Besides, if you want to survive here, you don’t want our dear Captain Rule-Enforcer,” he jabbed a thumb in Guine’s direction, “He’s a fantastic choice when you’re already leading the pack. You, though, are struggling to grasp even the lowest ring of the hierarchy. The Ketea family’s name has withered and died and you’re expected to revive it. Whether you adore or despise me, I can help you make it to graduation.”

Ezra had to bite her tongue as she reflected on his speech. He was right in all respects. “Why would you help me?”

Hayes’ grin was large and vicious, “The moment you showed up, Leuris named you a potential and showed very clearly that you unsettle him. You, my friend, have the potential to ruin him and I’d be remiss if I left you on lonesome, potential unexploited.”

Ezra eyed Hayes, “You’re not very loyal, are you?”

“This school is a giant chess game,” Hayes informed her, “If you make it out of here King then you’ll have the run of the land.”

And he expected her to be his pawn. Considering her situation, she couldn’t argue. It was a better deal than she would have expected if she had known how politically driven the school’s social structure was. She picked up his arm and removed it from her shoulder and stated, “I don’t like being touched.”

Hayes held his hands up in surrender despite the laughter in his eyes. “Fine. Anyway, we have rules. Most of these goes for every family and their allies. Number one is simple, just be the best in your classes but especially better than the other houses. Two, do what you need to do but don’t get caught by the teachers.”

“What would I need to do?”

Hayes just smirked, “Three, obey your alpha. For now, it’s Leuris but also me, just for the record. Four, try not to associate with the competition. Anyone catches you intermingling without insults being thrown and you’re immediately labeled a traitor.”

“That’s a hasty judgment to make.”

“No one wants to risk having a spy in their mists.”

Ezra wondered for a second, who else had secrets that would ruin them.