Alina felt a sharp pang in her heart. She thought of Boo, always hanging back. Of Sable, who looked like he would break at the slightest touch. Of Kelpie, who flooded a room just because someone called him dumb. And of Luna, always pretending she wasn't soft, even though she was.
"That's… awful," she whispered. "They deserved better."
Gabriel nodded gently, watching her with calm understanding. "And now they have you."
Alina looked up, her eyes wide.
"They're lucky," he said. "You care."
Her throat tightened a little, but she smiled anyway.
"I hope I can give them what they need," she said softly.
And in that moment, she meant it with all her heart.
"Thanks, Grabiel. My class is about to start," Alina said as she stood up and picked her file and bag. She smiled warmly at him.
"Alright, good luck," he replied, his expression calm and reassuring. "I've got a short break before my next class."
As he leaned back in the chair, the soft glow around him made her pause. For a moment, she could swear she saw a golden aura shimmer faintly around him, like sunlight passing through mist. Maybe it was just her imagination or maybe being an angel really did come with divine lighting.
Still smiling to herself, Alina hurried out of the staffroom. She didn't want to be late, not when the kids had already been through enough inconsistency. Her steps quickened, and as she reached the classroom door, a familiar warmth filled her chest.
She gently opened the door, and her eyes immediately softened at the sight.
The little monsters babies were already waiting.
Luna was curled up on the soft bean couch near the corner, her tiny wolf body rising and falling in slow breaths. She was fast asleep, one paw over her face, looking more like a baby cloud than a fearsome werewolf.
Lucian was seated at his desk, a small frown creasing his chubby forehead as he flipped through a picture book. He wasn't grumpy, just extremely focused, as if trying to understand something beyond the pages.
Sable and Rocky were silently sitting next to each other. Sable hugged his knees close while Rocky sat stiffly, like a tiny statue. The contrast between their energies made her smile, they looked like mismatched but inseparable puzzle pieces.
In the back, Kelpie sat beside Felix. The air around them was humid, just slightly as if Kelpie was holding back his natural water energy. Felix, meanwhile, had his hands behind his head, pretending to look bored, but his ears twitched now and then with quiet amusement. Typical fox.
Drake sat proudly at his desk, kicking his legs, looking like he'd already claimed himself as class leader. And Vlad Jr… Alina's gaze softened further when she saw him. He sat quietly, his red eyes lowered, his fingers fiddling with a small ribbon from his bag. Something about him looked off. A little sad.
She took a quiet breath.
Alright, Miss Hart, she told herself. Time to make their day better.
With that, she stepped inside, closing the door gently behind her.
Alina blinked a few times, genuinely surprised by the calm atmosphere in the classroom. After everything that had happened earlier—the flooding, the chaos…she had expected a room full of grumpy little faces and tired complaints. But no, they were peaceful. Quiet. Even composed in their own way.
It warmed her heart. Maybe they were more mature than she gave them credit for.
She stood at the front of the classroom and quietly observed each little one. The way Luna was still sleeping like nothing ever happened, the way Lucian sat deep in thought, the way Sable's small frame leaned gently toward Rocky as if he found comfort just being near. Even Kelpie looked more at ease now, his wet eyelashes no longer trembling.
"They're so well-behaved when cared for properly," Alina thought to herself. And that was true. Beneath all their supernatural quirks and magical powers, they were still babies, just little souls who wanted love, guidance, and safety.
She glanced at the schedule pinned beside the blackboard. Only two more classes left for the day. The next one was art, and after that came nap time. Normally, they would've had more structure, but the earlier events had thrown everything off. Still, she was grateful. It meant they could ease into the rest of the day and end things on a softer note.
"Alright, my little sunshines," she said, clapping her hands gently to catch their attention. "Next up is art class. Who's ready to make something magical?"
A few sleepy faces lifted. Drake immediately raised his hand. Luna let out a soft yawn. Felix stretched his arms like a prince awakening from slumber. Even Vlad Jr. looked up with mild curiosity.
Alina smiled. They were exhausted, yes. But they were still her brave, strange, beautiful little class.
Alina's heart swelled as she looked around at the tiny faces turning toward her with sleepy eyes and curious expressions. She loved them—truly loved them. Each one so different, so magical, and yet still so childlike. They were her little monsters, and she already couldn't imagine a day without them.
With gentle warmth in her voice, she clapped her hands softly. "Alright, my darlings, come on. Let's all sit at our desks, okay?" she said, motioning them one by one.
Rocky moved like a slow pebble rolling downhill, while Sable shuffled quietly beside him. Felix jumped into his chair with flair, giving a sly and wierd look, and Kelpie blinked, still looking dazed but calm. Luna stretched before hopping onto her seat, while Vlad Jr. fixed his posture like a little gentleman. And Lucian didn't say a word, but he was already seated, big cute eyes quietly watching her every move.
Alina carefully took out a bundle of blank white papers she had saved in a folder and began placing one on each desk.
"We're going to do something really fun today," she said cheerfully. "We'll learn about shapes… through art!"
She turned back to the blackboard and picked up a piece of white chalk.
"So today… we'll draw shapes! And color them too!" she said, sketching a large circle on the board. "This is a circle. Can anyone tell me what else is shaped like a circle?"
Drake shouted, "My cookie!"
Felix added, "Mom's mirror!"
Kelpie softly said, "Bubbles…"
Alina chuckled. "Yes! All of those are circles. You're all so smart."