Chapter 5: You Have No Right to Speak Here!

Briony's POV

In the changing booth, I peeled off my training clothes carefully. The mirror showed exactly what I expected - fresh silver burns crisscrossing over old scars. Blood still seeped from the newest ones.

I pulled out the small container of herbal ointment Luna Isabella had secretly given me. It barely touched the burning, but it was better than nothing. I slathered it on quick, then got dressed, making sure every mark stayed hidden.

When I came out, Layla was already changed and waiting.

"Let's go," she said. "History's next."

History class dragged like always, especially after training. But today felt different - I could feel eyes on me from all directions. The sparring match had definitely gotten people's attention.

"So the Moon Goddess really picks mates for everyone?" Layla whispered.

"Yeah. But you gotta wait till the first full moon after you turn eighteen to actually sense it."

"That's so romantic."

For someone like me, there probably won't be any romance. Who'd want a mate everyone else hated?

I could feel Victoria sitting ahead of us, her shoulders rigid. Today's training had pissed her off big time. I knew payback was coming.

The dismissal bell finally rang. Students started packing up, ready to bolt.

"Today was awesome!" Layla stretched. "The training here's no joke."

"You did great."

"Still nowhere near your level though." She grinned.

We headed to our lockers together. That's when I heard the click of heels on linoleum.

"Stop right there!"

Victoria's voice cut through the hallway noise like a blade. I stopped walking, bracing myself.

She marched over with Zoey and Chloe trailing behind. Her usual perfect mask was gone - pure rage twisted her features.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She planted herself in front of me, voice shaking with anger. "Showing off like that, trying to get attention?"

I knew what this was really about. The triplets had all watched our sparring match. In Victoria's twisted world, that made me a threat.

"I didn't-"

"Shut up!" Her scream echoed down the hallway, making other students stop and stare. "You murderer! Stop acting like you're somebody special just because you know how to throw a punch!"

That word hit like a physical blow. Murderer. Yeah, that's what most people saw when they looked at me.

"You should be like your dead mother and just disappear," Victoria spat. "The world doesn't need trash like you-"

"That's enough." Layla stepped between us, her voice calm but deadly. "Are you done?"

Victoria froze. Nobody ever stood up to her in public.

"What are you supposed to be?" She recovered fast, turning her venom on Layla. "You don't get to talk here, new girl!"

"Is that right?" Layla tilted her head, amber eyes flashing. "Pretty sure bullying isn't allowed anywhere."

"Bullying?" Victoria sneered. "I'm keeping order! Some people need to know their place-"

"And some people," Layla cut her off, "use bullying to hide how empty and insecure they really are."

Victoria's face flushed red. "How dare you-"

"I know exactly where I stand." Layla's voice got sharp as a knife. "I'm Dr. Harrison's daughter. My family just officially joined the Polaris Pack. In your little hierarchy, nobody outranks me except Alpha Adam's family. So maybe you should think real hard about what you're doing here, Victoria."

The hallway went dead silent. Dr. Harrison's name hit like a bomb, draining all color from Victoria's face. As one of the pack's top scientists, his status trumped most traditional nobles.

"And one more thing," Layla continued. "Who I'm friends with is my business. I don't need anyone's permission. Got it?"

Victoria's lips trembled. She wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Zoey and Chloe looked like they wanted to crawl under a rock.

I stared at Layla in shock. Nobody had ever defended me like this. The feeling was so foreign my eyes started watering.

"What's going on here?"

My heart sank. Noah and his friends appeared at the end of the hallway, walking our way. Ethan was in the lead, obviously drawn by the commotion.

Victoria immediately switched masks, forcing out a fake smile. "Nothing! We were just chatting."

"Chatting requires screaming?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on Layla. "Half the school could hear you."

Victoria's face went red again, this time from embarrassment. Losing it in front of her "princes" was the ultimate humiliation.

"Maxwell," she spun toward the eldest triplet, scrambling to save face. "We were just discussing... girl stuff."

Maxwell frowned, clearly not buying it. His eyes swept over my swollen cheek, and his expression went cold.

"Doesn't look very friendly to me," Christopher said. The usual joker wasn't smiling.

Benjamin stayed quiet, but his dark eyes moved between me and Victoria like he was analyzing everything.

"We were just leaving," Victoria said through gritted teeth. She shot me a look that screamed this isn't over before clicking away with her followers.

The crowd started breaking up. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"You okay?" Layla asked.

"Yeah. Thanks. But you shouldn't have-"

"Don't." She shook her head. "That's what friends do."

Friends. The word made my chest warm and worried at the same time. Victoria wouldn't let anyone close to me off the hook.

"Well said," Maxwell walked over, his voice gentle but firm. "Nobody should be treated like that."

The other guys came over too. Noah hung back, his expression complicated. He looked like he wanted to say something but just... didn't.

Classic Noah - always choosing silence when it mattered.

"Actually, we were looking for Layla," Christopher said, breaking the tension. "About tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night?" Layla looked curious.

"Yeah," Noah finally spoke, still avoiding my eyes. "Alpha Adam and Luna Isabella are throwing a welcome dinner for your family joining the pack."

"Oh!" Layla's eyes lit up. "That's awesome! My parents will be so excited."

"About that..." Ethan scratched his head, stealing glances at Layla. "Your parents got called to the research institute tomorrow. Might not make it. But Alpha Adam said the dinner should still happen, so..."

"They want you to represent your family," Maxwell finished.

Layla nodded. "No problem. I'd be honored."

"Also," Noah suddenly looked at me - first time all day he'd actually made eye contact. "You should come too."

"What?" I blinked.

"Layla needs someone with her," he explained, his tone stiff. "Since you're friends, it makes sense for you to come together."