Moonlight spilled softly across Selene's dorm room, bathing her pale skin in silver as she sat on the edge of her bed, replaying everything in her mind. Kyren Blackthorn had defended her. In front of everyone. The same boy who'd coldly rejected her before was now standing up for her like a possessive Alpha. And Lucien—always teasing, always watching—had looked ready to tear Kyren apart.
Selene let out a shaky breath. "What are they doing to me?" she whispered, clutching the small wolf pendant around her neck.
Lucien had walked her home after the cafeteria incident. His usual playful sarcasm had returned, but behind his smile lurked something darker—jealousy. She felt it, and it made her heart race.
Her head hit the pillow, but sleep refused to come.
---
She dreamed of the forest again. Towering trees whispered in the wind like a haunting song. She stood barefoot in the middle, shivering. Then a low growl echoed through the shadows.
Ancient golden eyes blinked open, piercing through the darkness.
"You are not weak."
Selene froze.
"You are not his. Not theirs. You are ours."
The dream shattered, and she woke with a gasp. Sweat clung to her shirt, her breath came fast, and her heart thundered. Then she saw it—in the mirror across the room, her eyes flickered gold.
"No…"
She rushed to the sink, splashing cold water on her face. When she looked again, her eyes were back to soft hazel. But the sensation remained—something inside her had changed.
Her wolf had spoken.
---
The next morning, Selene headed to the training fields behind the academy. Lucien had offered her a personal session to "shake off yesterday."
Of course, that meant he was going to throw her around the forest until she begged for mercy.
"You're late," Lucien smirked, arms crossed, sword strapped to his back. "Sleep through all that drama, or were you dreaming about me again?"
"In your dreams, maybe," Selene muttered, rolling her eyes.
He grinned. "Well, you're not denying it. Let's go."
The sparring began light—dodging, weaving. But Lucien gradually ramped up the pressure. Selene felt faster today, lighter on her feet. Her reflexes sharpened overnight. When Lucien lunged, she flipped him onto the ground.
He laughed from the dirt. "Okay, wow. Who are you, and what have you done with the shy girl who couldn't throw a punch last week?"
She offered her hand. "Guess I'm evolving."
He took it, but didn't let go. Their eyes locked. Heat bloomed between them.
"I like this version of you," he said quietly.
Before she could reply, a cold gust swept through the trees.
"There you are," a low voice said.
Kyren.
He emerged from the forest edge like a shadow, eyes sharp, jaw clenched.
Lucien stood. "We're busy. Come back later."
"I wasn't talking to you," Kyren snapped.
Selene stepped between them. "Stop it. Both of you."
Kyren looked at her—not with disgust, not with anger, but something dangerously close to longing.
"I need to talk to you. Alone."
Lucien clenched his jaw but backed away. "Fine. But I'll be right there."
Kyren waited until Lucien was out of earshot, then said, "I was wrong."
Selene blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I didn't know who you were. I still don't. But you're not just an omega. That's clear."
She swallowed. "So what? You regret humiliating me in front of everyone?"
He hesitated. "I regret not trusting my instincts. Your scent... it's not normal. It pulls at something ancient inside me. And I know I'm not the only one who smells it."
Selene looked away. "That doesn't mean you can waltz back in like nothing happened."
He stepped closer. "Someone left a note on your door yesterday. I found it. They want to hurt you."
Her heart skipped. "What note?"
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Monsters should stay buried.
Selene's hands trembled.
"Stay close to me, Selene. I don't know who you really are yet, but they do. And they want to kill you."
---
That night, back in her room, Selene stared at her mirror, her heart pounding from the day's encounter. She reached for her pendant, grounding herself.
Then she saw it—written across the glass in red:
"This academy isn't big enough for all of us."
"You should have stayed dead."
Her wolf growled deep inside her chest.
For the first time, Selene didn't feel afraid.
She felt ready.
The evening shadows stretched long as the academy's ancient halls whispered secrets from ages past. Selene sat alone in a quiet corner of the library, the dim candlelight flickering against the cracked spines of dusty tomes. Her heart still raced from the morning's confrontation, and the sharp sting of Talia's venomous words lingered like a bitter aftertaste.
Just then, a familiar voice broke the silence, teasing and impossible to ignore.
"Are you really going to spend the whole night burying yourself in old stories, or will you let me drag you out for some fresh air?" Lucien's grin was wide, his bright eyes sparkling with mischief.
Startled but relieved, Selene looked up. "I—I thought I'd try to understand more about the ancient wolves. Maybe there's something in these books that can help me control... this," she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest where her wolf's pulse still thrummed.
Lucien pulled a chair beside her, his tone softening. "You're stronger than you think. And you don't have to face it alone."
For a moment, the weight of her secret felt lighter, warmed by his easy presence. Yet beneath the comfort, a flicker of doubt remained—how long before the others saw her as the threat she was becoming?
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the stillness as the library doors burst open. Kyren's commanding voice cut through the corridor like a knife. "Talia, enough."
Lucien's eyes darkened, a flash of jealousy sparking as Kyren stepped inside, his imposing figure radiating cold authority.
"Are you bothering her again?" Kyren's sharp gaze swept over Selene's pale face and the faint glow surrounding her.
Selene swallowed hard but forced herself to meet his eyes. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice trembled.
Kyren's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Lucien's voice broke the tension—low, protective.
"Let's get out of here. You both need some air."
As they left the library, the secrets of Nightbane Academy deepened. Selene's journey toward power and survival was only beginning—and the danger closing in was closer than ever.