Darius's POV: I sat on the couch in my estate, watching the holographic screen in front of me. Thora's file rolled across it over and over again. "Thora, 16 years old. Student at Astralis College, the top academy in the Astralis Empire." Everything was there—from her admission papers to her training records. Videos, photos, even notes from her instructors. That's when my beta, Carl Reynold, came in to report. "Alpha, the photos have been delivered." I made a small sound of acknowledgment, my eyes still on the screen. "She looks completely different now from the girl in these files." On the screen, the only impressive thing about Thora was her title as heir to the Silverleaf Pack. Everything else looked terrible. "Combat Class: three semesters in a row with a D, the lowest grade. Physical tests: always dead last." "Pack Theory: barely passing. Her grasp of Pack Laws and Wolf Spirit Awakening Texts was worse than that of a regular freshman." At the end of her record, the instructor's note read: "Mixed-blood defect. Wolf spirit not awakened. No battle instinct. Recommend withdrawal." Carl spoke from the side. "She hasn't awakened her wolf spirit yet. By college standards, a werewolf without an awakened wolf spirit will always be weaker in combat. Poor grades are normal." "Normal?" I gave a short laugh and tapped my finger on the photo from her last physical test. In the picture, Thora was bent over, gasping for breath. Her face was pale. She looked weak.She didn't look anything like the girl who had just crawled back from a cliffside injury, yet still had the guts and instincts to push a lagging racecar past everyone else and take the win. "Carl, Astralis College starts in a week?" "Yes, Alpha." I smirked and drummed my fingers on the coffee table. "Perfect. Let's go there on opening day. We're going to talk about funding their new combat training rooms." "What? But you turned down that investment last time ... " I gave him a flat look. Carl instantly switched gears. "Yes, Alpha. I'll arrange it." As he left, I heard him mutter under his breath, "Just say you want to see Ms. Green. No need to be so roundabout ... " I pressed my jaw and stayed quiet.Yes. I wanted to see Thora. It hadn't even been half a day since we parted, and I already wanted to see her again. Once the thought appeared, it was like a craving I couldn't suppress. I didn't just want to see her. I wanted to keep her by my side forever. Mixed blood? No wolf spirit? So what? I'm the Alpha of the Nightclaw Pack. I don't care about that. I only know that since I met her, no other female has caught my eye. Whether she's my fated mate or not, she's the only one I'll ever accept as my Luna. "I support your decision!" Lorcan, my wolf, wagged his tail in my mind. "Too bad she's underage, or we could just propose already!""No rush. Once we choose someone, they're not going anywhere," I answered him. Then I sent a message to my mother, who was traveling the world. "Mom, I've found a girl I like. Tell the elders to stop introducing me to other females." Thora's POV: "Achoo!" I sneezed while digging through the original Thora's belongings in my room. I rubbed my nose and glanced at the thermometer. The temperature was fine. Is someone talking about me behind my back? Just then, a venomous mind-link shot into my head. "Come out. I'm waiting for you in the left hallway." Hazel's voice. She cut the link right after sending the command. I narrowed my eyes coldly. I hadn't even gone after her yet, and she was already coming for me. If she's in such a hurry to die, then fine. I'll go meet her. I left my room and headed toward the left hallway she mentioned. The hallway was narrow and dim, a place hardly anyone ever used. And now, in the middle of the night, it was empty. As soon as I stepped into the dark hallway, I reached for the light switch on the wall. The lights didn't work. Someone had cut them in advance. The next second, I heard the rush of air—an iron bar swinging straight toward me ...