Chapter 7

The following morning, I woke before sunrise, craving a few moments of peace before the academy came fully alive. The dormitory was still quiet, and the faint glow of dawn painted the sky in soft pinks and golds. I dressed quickly, slipped on my boots, and headed toward the training fields, hoping the early hour would grant me some solitude.

That hope vanished the moment I arrived. Hundreds of students were already gathered for our first official combat class. The field buzzed with nervous energy and excited chatter. Unlike the brutal, punishing training I had endured back home under Alpha Magnus, the academy instructors stood at the front with calm authority. One of them, a tall woman with sharp features, addressed the group.

“Strength here is not measured by raw power alone,” she announced. “We value discipline, intelligence, strategy, and teamwork just as highly. Your wolf is only one part of who you are.”

Her words eased something tight in my chest. For the first time since arriving, I felt like I might actually belong somewhere that I wouldn’t be judged solely on whether or not I could shift. The class began with basic physical exercises stretching, running drills, and balance work. Then the instructor started pairing students for hand-to-hand combat practice. When my name was called, many students snickered openly, convinced I would lose within seconds because I had never transformed.

My opponent was a sturdy boy from one of the lesser packs. He smirked as we faced each other. But years of forced training under Alpha Magnus had taught me more than I realized. I moved with speed rather than brute force, dodging his heavier strikes and using his own momentum against him. When he lunged again, I swept his leg out from under him, sending him stumbling to the ground. The instructor nodded approvingly.

“Excellent quick thinking and footwork, Ashwyn. Well done.”

The crowd grew noticeably quieter. A few students even looked at me with new respect. It wasn’t much, but it felt like a small victory. During the short break that followed, Adrian strolled over with his usual carefree smile.

“Did you secretly train with elite warriors back home?” he asked, teasing.

I rolled my eyes. “Surviving my adoptive father’s training was punishment enough.”

He laughed, but the sound faded for a split second when his gaze dropped to the faint bruises still visible on my wrists. I quickly tugged my sleeves down and changed the subject before he could ask. He let it go, though I could tell the question lingered behind his bright eyes. The second exercise involved climbing a towering obstacle wall designed to test agility and endurance. I was halfway up, muscles burning, when one of the girls above me “accidentally” stepped hard on my hand. Pain shot through my fingers. My grip slipped, and I fell several feet.

A collective gasp rippled through the class. But before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me effortlessly. I looked up into Kael’s piercing emerald eyes. For a brief, charged moment, neither of us spoke. His expression remained unreadable, but his hold was steady and careful.

I quickly regained my footing, dusting myself off. “Thank you,” I mumbled without quite meeting his eyes.

Adrian immediately teased from the sidelines, “Nice reflexes, Kael. Didn’t know you were playing hero today.”

Rowan, standing nearby, quietly observed the wall. I noticed him frowning slightly at the loose stone near where my hand had been. It hadn’t broken naturally it looked like it had been deliberately kicked loose.

After class ended, the instructor made an announcement.

“Every first-year student must choose at least one club by the end of the week. The academy offers combat clubs, strategy societies, healing classes, tracking units, herbology, moon studies, and many more. Explore your options.”

Excited chatter filled the courtyard as students began discussing their choices. Emma found me almost immediately, looking shy and hopeful.

“Would you… maybe want to join the same club?” she asked, stammering slightly. “I’m scared of ending up alone.”

I smiled warmly at her. “Of course. We can explore the booths together before deciding.”

We wandered through the bustling campus, where colorful club booths lined the pathways. Students demonstrated talents sparring matches, intricate spellwork, healing demonstrations, and more. The energy was infectious. Adrian appeared out of nowhere, as usual, enthusiastically trying to convince me to join the riding club.

“It’s way more fun than sitting in classrooms all day!” he insisted.

I shook my head immediately. “I’d rather survive the academy first before trying to ride anything that could throw me off a cliff.”

Rowan joined us a short while later and recommended the strategy society. “I think you’d enjoy solving complex problems,” he said thoughtfully. “You have a sharp mind for it.”

Kael appeared last, walking with his usual quiet intensity. He didn’t push any particular club. Instead, he simply said, “Choose whatever you genuinely like. Don’t follow other people’s expectations.”

His words surprised me. For someone so cold and distant, it felt oddly sincere.

As we continued walking, I caught myself smiling genuinely smiling without forcing it. Between Emma’s quiet companionship, the lively atmosphere of the campus, and even the constant, annoying interruptions from the three Alpha princes, the Royal Werewolf Academy was beginning to feel less like a battlefield and more like a place where I might finally breathe.

I still didn’t trust it completely. The poisoning incident with Emma lingered in the back of my mind, and I knew danger could strike again at any moment. But for today, surrounded by new possibilities and reluctant company, I allowed myself a small sliver of hope. Maybe this place really could become something more than just an escape.