Selene's eyelids fluttered, heavy as if weighted by the night itself. A dull ache pulsed behind her temples, and the faint scent of damp earth filled her nostrils. Slowly, the shadows around her sharpened into shapes—rough stone walls encasing her like a cage.
She tried to sit up, but a firm hand pressed gently on her shoulder, holding her steady.
"Easy, you're safe," a deep voice said.
Kyren.
His silver eyes met hers—intense, unreadable, but there was relief buried beneath the cold exterior.
"Where… where are we?" Selene whispered, her voice raw.
"Underground. A safe place. The rogue wolves who attacked us won't find you here," Kyren replied, scanning her face for any sign of injury.
She frowned, pressing a hand to her throat. "My wolf… it's stirring again. I can feel it."
Kyren's gaze darkened. "I knew from the start you were different, Selene. That wolf inside you… it's ancient, powerful. That's why I rejected you. I was scared."
His words hit her like a cold gust. "Scared? You left me humiliated. You broke me."
He swallowed hard. "I thought I was protecting you—from yourself and from what everyone feared you might become."
Selene's heart hammered. "Maybe I needed you then. Not your fear."
Before Kyren could answer, the door to the chamber burst open.
Lucien strode in, fiery-eyed and furious. "Kyren! Why didn't you tell anyone you took her? The whole academy's on alert. Someone leaked her bloodline status."
Kyren stiffened. "We had no choice."
Lucien's eyes flicked to Selene. "You're in danger. More than you know."
Outside the chamber, a shadow melted into the darkness, lips curling into a sinister smile. "She's awakening faster than expected. Soon, she'll be unstoppable."
Selene's breath hitched as her vision blurred. Memories she didn't recognize flickered before her—flames, blood, and a woman with glowing red eyes whispering a chilling warning.
"You were never meant to be theirs…"
Her body flared with heat. Her eyes snapped open—golden, fierce.
Selene's golden eyes glowed in the dim chamber light, sharp and wild—something fierce and untamed had surged to the surface. The ancient power within her stirred, threatening to break free from years of slumber.
Kyren took a cautious step forward, his voice low and steady. "Focus, Selene. You're stronger than you know, but you have to control it. If the wolf takes over completely, it could consume you."
Lucien's gaze was fierce, his usual teasing spark replaced with concern. "You're not alone. We'll help you."
Selene clenched her fists, breath coming in shallow bursts. Memories continued flooding her mind—visions of a forgotten battle, a powerful ancestor, and a prophecy whispered by the moon itself.
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why am I the one with this... power?"
Kyren's eyes darkened. "Because you carry the blood of the ancient Alpha, one thought lost to history. That power chose you."
Suddenly, a sharp knock echoed through the chamber door.
"Talia," Kyren growled under his breath. "She found us."
Selene's heart pounded. The girl who had humiliated her, who'd mocked her in the halls, was now standing outside with a posse of sneering students.
Lucien stepped beside Kyren, fists clenched. "Let them come. We'll show them what happens when you mess with the Luna."
The door creaked open, and Talia's cruel smile slipped inside.
"Well, well, look who's hiding in the dark," Talia sneered. "The rejected little wolf with her two knights. Think you're special now? You're nothing but a freak."
Selene rose slowly, golden eyes blazing. "I'm not afraid of you."
Talia laughed, but it was cut short as Selene's wolf growled low—a sound that shook the room.
Kyren and Lucien exchanged a tense glance. This was only the beginning.
Talia's smug expression faltered as Selene's growl deepened, echoing through the chamber like a rumble of thunder. The other students who followed her hesitated at the door, sensing the shift in the air.
"You think your wolf scares me?" Talia taunted, stepping forward, her voice dripping with venom. "You're just a lost little omega playing at power. Nobody here believes you're anything special."
Selene's gaze hardened. The ancient strength beneath her skin was clawing its way out, but she forced herself to breathe, to keep the wildness in check. She wasn't going to let this moment slip away—not again.
Kyren moved beside her, his presence steady and commanding. "You want to test her?" His voice was low, dangerous. "Come closer and find out why she's the true Alpha's mate."
Lucien cracked his knuckles, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a fierce protectiveness. "Don't say we didn't warn you."
Talia smirked, unfazed. "This will be entertaining."
But before she could take another step, a flash of golden light burst from Selene's eyes, illuminating the chamber like a beacon. The wolf inside her roared, a sound that shook the very walls.
The students stumbled back, fear flashing in their eyes.
Selene took a deep breath, the power now coursing through her veins instead of threatening to consume her. "I'm not afraid of you," she said firmly, her voice steady and strong. "And neither should you be."
Talia's face twisted with fury. "This isn't over, wolf. I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."
With that, she stormed out, her followers scattering behind her.
Kyren exhaled slowly, turning to Selene. "You did well. Controlling that was no small feat."
Lucien grinned, the teasing light returning to his eyes. "I knew you had it in you."
Selene allowed herself a small, triumphant smile. For the first time, she felt like she belonged—like she was more than just a scared girl with a secret.
The tension hung thick in the air as Talia's retreating footsteps echoed down the long corridor. The other students, still wide-eyed and whispering, slowly resumed their places, but the atmosphere had shifted irrevocably. Whispers of Selene's sudden power and the fiery warning she'd just unleashed began to ripple through the crowd.
Kyren's dark eyes locked onto Selene's, his usual stoic expression softening just a fraction. "You're stronger than I thought," he said quietly, stepping closer. "That strength… it's not just from your wolf. There's something ancient within you."
Selene swallowed hard, the weight of his gaze making her pulse quicken. "I don't know what it means yet. But I'll find out."
Lucien elbowed Kyren lightly, flashing a teasing grin. "Looks like she's making you nervous, Prince."
Kyren smirked, but his eyes never left Selene. "She has my attention."
The moment was broken as the academy bell rang sharply, signaling the end of the day. Students began to file out, but Kyren and Lucien stayed by Selene's side.
"Walk with us," Lucien said. "You need to learn the rules here. And who your real enemies are."
Selene nodded, feeling a strange mix of comfort and excitement. For the first time since arriving, she felt like she wasn't alone in this strange new world.
As they stepped into the fading sunlight outside, a shadow watched from the tower above — eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. Someone who had been waiting for this moment… waiting for Selene's power to reveal itself.
The game was just beginning.
As the academy bell's sharp ring faded into the distance, the courtyard began to empty, students hurrying away with hurried conversations about the day's explosive events. Selene, Kyren, and Lucien remained standing in the soft glow of the setting sun, their shadows stretching long and dark across the stone path.
Kyren's gaze was steady, but there was a new fire in his eyes—a recognition of something rare and powerful. "You need to understand, Selene," he began, voice low and deliberate, "this school is not just a place for learning. It's a battlefield. Every student here has a secret, and many have agendas that will collide with yours."
Selene looked up at him, heart pounding. "I'm ready," she said firmly, though uncertainty still lingered beneath her words.
Lucien chuckled softly, nudging her playfully on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. But don't think you can face this alone. You'll need allies… and maybe a few enemies too, to sharpen your claws."
She smiled faintly, feeling the warmth of his teasing confidence. "You'll be my ally, right?"
"Always," Lucien replied, his grin widening.
They began walking slowly toward the academy's massive gates, the air cooling as twilight descended. Around them, the towering walls and spires of Nightbane Academy took on a more ominous silhouette. Selene's mind raced with questions about her past, the strange power bubbling just beneath her skin, and the path ahead.
Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from the shadows near the tower. A pair of piercing amber eyes blinked once, then disappeared.
Unseen by the trio, a figure cloaked in darkness watched from the battlements, lips curling into a cruel smile. "So, the ancient wolf has finally awakened," the voice whispered, barely audible over the evening breeze. "Let's see how long she can survive the games to come."
Selene shivered, unaware that her every step was being observed — and that the true battle for her soul was about to begin.