JEOPARDY: The Cursed Soldier.

22. A startling realization.

The phone was heavy in her pocket.

It wasn't even on. But Kayla felt like it would suddenly vibrate or ring and expose her.

Despite the nervous chitters crawling in her belly, she marched through the palace halls and into the dining hall with her head high. Several werewolves stared at her, others greeted her tenderly, while others cocked their heads at her in respect.

It had been like that since she defeated Ji-won. It was like she had been upgraded to the same status as Alex and her group... but some hated her for it. Probably thinking that she needed to do more than win a duel to earn their respect.

Kayla didn't care. Not really. As long as none of them dared to challenge her or dig up on her. She was fine. Especially now that she had her little bubble of control.

"—heard it's still a debate." Eliezer grumbled in a mouthful as Kayla settled down across him and placed her plate of food on the table.

Kayla's eyes roamed over the five plates on the table. They were all heavily filled with a variety of meats, a moderate amount of carbohydrates, and barely there vegetables. Ji-won's was the only one with a healthy amount of greens.

"Uncle Landon might let her." Alex muttered after swallowing whatever had been in his mouth. "Whatever Angela wants, Uncle Landon lets her have it and we all know whatever Uncle Landon wants..."

Kayla was half-listening to their conversation as she had been doing every day since she had started eating with them. But when a twinge of bitterness whiffed its way from Alex's words into her, she paused mid-chewing and glimpsed a look at his face.

He was shoving a forked piece of beef and tomato into his mouth. Handsome, chiseled face, disgruntled. Kayla spied a subtle look at her other eating companions and they all spotted similar faces.

Her curiosity peaked.

"What are you guys talking about?"

Eliezer's eyes bulged out, while Jiwon's and Markos' spoons paused mid-air and Alex turned to gape at her because that was the first time she had made effort to take part in any of their discussions.

"Angela. She wants to go to one of those human colleges after she graduates," Ji-won answered her.

Kayla's face drew in a frown. She didn't understand what the problem was.

Alex's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "Alphas don't go to college. Or high school, for that matter. Future Alphas learn all they need right here. At the pack. From the current Alpha and the elders of the pack. But Angela wants to study fashion or something along those lines."

Kayla nodded. Most of the werewolves in Lunarheart didn't go to human schools, they didn't need to. They all ended up working at the pack, so all the knowledge they needed was taught right there in the pack school.

Kayla had never seen that school, but her father had told her all about it. Every werewolf born in the pack passed through that school. How Angela had gotten away with not going to that school, she didn't know. But since they were on the subject, she might as well ask, and she did.

"Alex had a first-hand experience of the story. Tell her, Lex." Ji-won responded.

Since Kayla had beaten her, Ji-won had been civil with Kayla. Not as friendly as she was with the boys. But there wasn't any animosity between them. It was like Ji-won had needed Kayla to prove herself, and now that she had, she was cool with her.

All eyes shifted to Alex as he took his time chewing. But Kayla could tell he was stalling. Buying time and hoping someone else volunteered to do the honors. Kayla watched his friends and saw that none seemed to notice what Alex was doing.