•Chapter Three - The Academy Of Dark Arts

•Serena's POV•

The Academy of Dark Arts.

The Academy was made out of dark stone. Aged bricks bearing the weight of the massive structure. The long yards of plush white carpeting, overlaid by Tibetan rugs clashed with the newly designed crystal chandeliers.

The Academy also had a prison where guilty witches and warlocks await their punishment. They were to serve us and make us more powerful and dominant over every other pack in the realm.

It wasn't like a normal high school. Yes, we had subjects such as English, Mathematics, and history but they all were altered according to our pack's rule. The main focus of our curriculum was Herbalism and Latin. We were taught to make our potions and we learned spells but we did not have to power to actually use them all on our own. We needed witches and warlocks to help implement the spells. The potions worked as long as they were brewed by the witches themselves. 

The sounds of my footsteps echoed against the white walls, shattering the silence. It was a long corridor to reach the middle of the Academy where the statue of the moon goddess resided. All of the students were to mark their attendance under her statue every single day make a short prayer before we could continue with our days. The corridor was also decorated by the heads of our enemies. These were the decapitated heads of the people who had challenged our Alpha and had died a painful death. Their pale, perfectly preserved faces mounted on the wall, were a constant reminder for everyone in the academy to never go against our Alpha.

Walking forward, I could smell the fear emitting from the passing bodies. They all bowed their head in respect of Blaze and me. They weren't afraid of Blaze, everyone knew he would never even hurt a fly, they were afraid of me. And I revelled in the feeling of being the feared one.

Reaching the moon goddess' statue, Blaze and I respectfully kneeled before it. Intertwining our hands before ourselves, sending a short prayer her way.

I closed my eyes as I replayed the Alpha's conversation earlier.

If Blaze were to die... Out of unforeseen circumstances. I shall take you as my bride. You will rule beside me... With me

"Please, don't let any harm come to Blaze's way. I do not wish to be his bride. I seek your help, Selene. Please, give me the power to protect him... And myself" I prayed under my breath.

Once we were done, we moved to the main hall where all the students were immersed in mixed chatter. We met up with two of our childhood friends, Iris and Jennifer.

"What's everyone talking about?" I asked as I looked around all the students.

"Something about three new students attending our school. They aren't even from our pack." Iris answered

This was new. No one was allowed to enter our pack's territory without Alpha's written permission and we have never heard someone from another pack attending our school.

I turned towards Blaze. "Do you know anything about them?"

He also looked confused and conflicted. "No..."

"The Alpha didn't mention anything?" I enquired.

"Not that I know of" he shook his head. "It's not like father has ever told us anything about his plans before"

I nodded. It was true, we might live in the same castle. He might be the son of the Alpha and I, daughter of the Beta but we were oblivious to every single decision they made. They never included us in anything. The Blaze wasn't even trained like an Alpha, recalling the conversation Alpha and I had earlier, I think I know why he never trained Blaze like an Alpha because he was never going to let him be an Alpha.

An overpowering sense to protect Blaze again washed over me as I held his hand, intertwining our fingers.

Jennifer glanced at our intertwined hand and looked away immediately. She always had a crush on Blaze, she never tried to hide it. She hadn't found her mate yet, but it was clear how much she wanted him. She was jealous of us and honestly, it was pathetic. I pitied her because why would Blaze ever want someone like her. A plain jane.

She wasn't beautiful, she was just average in looks. She doesn't really stand out in a crowd. There is nothing unique about her, she isn't interesting or memorable. Everything about her was boring from her clothes to her personality. She was the type of girl you would forget as soon as you walk away from her. And to top it all off, she was incredibly meek, cowardly, and innocent.

In a world like ours, they were no place for someone like her. The only reason she survived was that she knew us personally, we grew up together and that made people not bash her or bully her. She wouldn't withstand a day without me and to think she has eyes for my betrothed made my blood boil sometimes.

It sometimes felt like she wanted to challenge me for a place in Blaze's life. I glanced at Blaze and he was staring at Jennifer. I tugged our intertwined hands and he immediately turned his attention back to me.

"What?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.  "Nothing..." 

I looked back at Jennifer, who seems to be avoiding my gaze. I glared at her hard letting her know to not step into dangerous territory. I could make her life a living hell. She wouldn't even know what had hit her.

I turned Blaze to face me, getting on my tiptoes, I placed a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. He reacted back almost immediately, letting his hands encircle my waist.

We were only allowed to get intimate with our fated mates but Blaze and I aren't allowed to be with them. We could do whatever we wanted. As betroths, we could kiss and caress one another anytime we liked.

Pulling away, I smiled at Jennifer, hoping she understood what that kiss meant. She seemed confused as she tugged her hair behind her ear, she looked down at her feet constantly just to avoid making eye contact with me.

The bell rang, indicating, it was time for the first class. Blaze turned to me and kissed my hand that was intertwined with him.

"I have English, I'll see you after class"

I nodded and smiled before he made his way towards the classrooms. Once, Blaze was out of sight, I gripped Jennifer's arms as she was about to follow him.

"Where are you going?"

Her eyes widened and she winced as my nails dug into her flesh. "To class, I have English as well"

I slammed her into a nearby wall and faced her. A light scream erupted from her as she held the back of her head.

"Jennifer, I know about your little crush on Blaze. It was sweet when we were kids but now it's starting to annoy me. If you know what's better for you, you will leave him alone. He is mine!"

I slammed her back into the wall once again, a little harder this time. I gripped her neck and deliberately let my nails dig into the sides of her neck.

"If I saw you making eyes at him again, I will rip your eyes out, and then I'll take you to the Alpha. Let's see what he thinks about your little crush on my betrothed. The betrothed he gave me himself"

Tears leaned out from the corners of her eyes as she pathetically cried. "I'm s-sorry" she croaked out as her face turned bluish-red as I choked her.

I let her go and she slid down the wall, sobbing and coughing as she greedily inhaled and exhaled. "I'm so sorry, Serena... It wasn't my intention to---"

I cut her off. "I don't care what your intention was! I will destroy you even if you think about him again!"

"I won't" she cried

I crossed my hands across my chest and smiled. "You may leave for class now, Jennifer"

She immediately scurried past me. I turned and saw all the students frozen in their position. They all immediately busied themselves in whatever they were doing. No one here had the guts to mess with me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Blaze looking at me wide-eyed, disappointment clear on his face. He shook his head and walked to where he was going.

I rolled my eyes, I can deal with him later...

He wanted me to be merciful, sweet, and gentle but what he doesn't understand, all these traits were the of the weak. And I will not be weak!

Suddenly, Ashlyn started to fight for control. She got restless and anxious.

"Serena, I feel something..." she voiced in my head.

My breathing suddenly got heavier and my heart hammered against my chest.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"I don't understand but it's too strong"

My body felt a sudden pull. I needed to be somewhere... I don't know where. I couldn't understand this feeling but I needed to be somewhere. I dug my feet into the ground, trying to avoid the pull I was feeling. It was a weird feeling. I have never felt such a strong involuntarily pull over my body. My feet moved forward, I staggered over my feet.

What was wrong with me?

I involuntarily walked towards the long, corridor from where I walked in. The strange sensation stayed with me the whole way down. Then I saw someone there. Someone I have never seen before. Maybe, they were the new students everyone was talking about earlier. They were three, two male and one female wolf. They were not from our pack, I could see that much...

My feet took me towards one of them. The tallest one, his gaze was stuck on some decapitated head mounted on the wall but all I could see was him. Everything faded around me as I took him in. His face whiplashed towards me and I felt like the very breath got sucked out of me.

He was handsome with his caved-in cheeks, ocean blue eyes, chiselled face, and muscled body. I had the strongest urge to feel his lips on mine. I have never felt such strong emotion for anyone not even Blaze. I wanted to tear off all of his clothes and tackle him to the ground. I bit on my lower lip to suppress my lust.

The unknown guy stepped a little closer to me, he had a shocked and horrid expression on his face. He seemed out of his wits. He squeezed his eyes shut and took a step back but then his feet stopped midway and his eyes showed a devilish golden glint.

My mind reeled and my stomach churned as Ashlyn fought to take control over my body. The next second, he was standing right before me, only inches apart. I could hear his heavy breathing that matched mine.

That is when my feelings changed. Instead of lust, I now felt warmth spread through my body with his proximity. I wanted to sink my claws into him and never let him go. I felt an unbearable need for him, the need I have never felt for anyone else.

Could he be my mate?

But that can't be...

I wasn't of age yet...

I have never even experienced my first shift yet...

What was this feeling inside of me?

I glanced back at the handsome Greek god before me and saw his eyes warped into an evil black. He pulled out something from his pocket. My eyes involuntarily followed his every little movement.

It was a vial of some kind. The kind I have never seen before. He drank it in a single go and his face twisted slightly as if to tolerate the bitter taste.

The next second, my body jerked and I felt all the emotions washing away little by little. Then a bolt of blinding pain went through me. It went away in a flash and I snapped out of the daze I was in.

I looked around confusedly. What just happened? I glanced back at the guy before me. he seemed normal... Did I hallucinate or something? Was I under a spell? Was anyone here trying to make fun of me?

The guy gave me a gentle smile. "Hello, are you okay? You seem troubled"

I took a step back immediately. "I'm fine..."

The guy and girl behind the handsome greek god stepped forward and the girl held onto his arm and smiled at me. "We're new here"

"Oh, welcome to the Eclipse Pack. Which pack are you from?"

"We were rogues but now we are a part of the Eclipse Pack. We are incredibly grateful to your Alpha. He is a very generous man"

I smiled at them with the utmost difficulty. "He is... I'm Serena Black, the future Luna of the Eclipse Pack"

Their smile faltered but they immediately covered it up or maybe I was just imagining things... I offered a hand for a handshake and he took it firmly, his grip tight, almost punishing.

"Zeke..." His voice, hard, deep, and utterly husky.

"Xyla," the girl said

"Aiden," the other guy said, he was slightly shorter than Zeke but still he was also very handsome.

I pulled my hand away and intertwined my hands behind my back. I shifted my weight from one foot to another as I felt uneasy under his gaze. I was confused and I have never been this confused in front of anyone.

"Now if you excuse us, we need to go and collect our schedule," the girl named Xyla said.

A feeling of dread settled in the pit of my belly as they walked past me. There was something odd about that guy and his two friends who had been with him. I couldn't pinpoint what exactly was wrong with them. But my gut told me they were trouble and I believed it.