Chapter 3

Time flew by.

Soon, it was time for my Undergraduate Academy entrance exam.

I'd always been a good student in my previous life. After studying everything all over again in this one, I performed better than before on the Undergraduate Academy entrance exam.

With a score of 745, I aced the interview and got accepted into Harvard.

I was the only Undergraduate Academy entrance exam candidate from North Pack Territory to be admitted by Harvard.

The media from all over the pack territory swarmed in to cover the story.

I instantly became the hottest topic on social media.

All the clans in the pack territory were cheering for me.

Griffin was happy for me.

"El, you're amazing," Griffin said. For someone who would usually keep his feelings to himself, I was surprised he said something like that.

My parents were completely stunned when they found out about my score.

After I moved in with Griffin, they ignored me and focused all their attention on Noemi.

On top of that, I always kept things to myself, never sharing my grades or any good news.

So it was hardly surprising they overlooked me.

They never expected that their quiet, overlooked eldest daughter would get into Harvard, one of the world's top Undergraduate Academies.

They were always so vain, and now they insisted on throwing a celebration banquet for me.

Without asking, they brought Griffin and me straight to their place.

Then they spread the word to all the members of their circle, inviting everyone from both the small packs and the big packs to come over.

Since I'd been living with Griffin and always kept things low-key, barely anyone in any pack knew I existed.

But after I stole the spotlight on the Undergraduate Academy entrance exam, their curiosity was off the charts. Everyone rushed to the North Pack house for my celebration banquet.

*****

The North Pack house was jam-packed, overflowing with people and buzzing with excitement.

Everyone loved a winner. Now, the Lunas of the top Alphas, who used to ignore Noemi no matter how hard she tried to impress them, were suddenly eager to get close to me.

"Eleni, how are you so amazing?"

"Eleni, I'm thinking of having my son repeat a year. Would you be willing to tutor him?"

"Eleni, do you have a boyfriend? I think you and my son would make a great couple. Would you be interested?"

My dad, seizing the moment, rushed to my room and brought out the painting I'd just finished.

"Eleni is not only a top student but also has real talent for painting, too," he said.

My mom chimed in proudly, "That's right. My dad has been teaching Leni to paint, and she's so hardworking that she picked up his style."

Everyone was blown away when they saw my painting.

"Leni, your painting skills are next level."

"Eleni, how are you so good at everything? You're a genius!"

"Eleni, you're incredible. If my daughter were half as talented as you, I'd be happy."

Everyone was showering me with compliments.

Noemi, on the other hand, was so jealous that her eyes were blazing.

After the celebration banquet, Noemi came to my room.

"Why? Why did you still steal my thunder in this life? What do I lack compared to you?" she demanded.

She was fuming, her heart full of resentment.

I stayed calm and replied coolly, "I never wanted to compete with you. That's exactly why."

People who were always obsessed with winning would usually end up losing.

But the ones who didn't care about winning would end up winning without trying.

But Noemi, being so shallow, would never understand that.

Sure enough, she rolled her eyes. "Who would buy that crap?"

"Believe whatever you want," I said.

She was fuming. "I'm not losing to you again in this life. Wait and see."

*****

I didn't accept any of the invitations from the Alphas' Lunas.

Ignoring my parents' objections, Griffin and I left for Meriboro early.

One reason was to get a head start on adjusting to life over there.

The other was to escape my parents hovering over me.

Once we got to Meriboro, everything felt peaceful.

I settled in quickly and got used to life there in no time.

Soon, a year had passed.

It was time for Noemi's Undergraduate Academy entrance exam.

Noemi had sworn to my parents that she'd follow in my footsteps and get into Harvard.

But she only scored 600. Harvard wasn't on the table for her.

My parents were very disappointed in her.

According to the servants at the North Pack house, my parents locked her up in the punishment room for three whole days and nights.

She almost starved to death.

I couldn't be bothered to rub it in.