ECLIPSE BORN

{Liam’s POV}

I was convinced Moonspire Academy existed for one purpose only: to torture me.

General Greybone stood at the front of the lecture hall, droning on about werewolf birth classifications like he was revealing the sacred secrets of the universe. He wasn’t. He was revealing that I should have stayed in bed.

Beside me, Levi elbowed my ribs with the subtlety of a falling tree.

“This is useful, Liam. Try to listen.”

“I am listening,” I muttered. “To myself plotting your death for bringing me here.”

Levi shot me a warning glare— the one he used whenever he remembered I was technically the not-scared of him. “Just… don’t walk out. I actually need the credit from this lesson.”

I sighed dramatically, leaned back in my seat, and folded my arms. “Fine. For your precious assessment, I’ll endure this torment.” I said, not that it helped. 

The only thing more painful than Greybone’s voice was the way half the she-wolves kept sneaking glances at me. Not subtle ones either— the weird, hungry, lip-biting kind. If attention were a crime, they’d be on death row.

Greybone continued stomping through his lecture like a wolf who believed the world rotated around him.

“The rarest birth of all,” he declared, “is the eclipse-born— those born on an eclipse. They are forbidden beings of monstrous power and inherent evil; otherwise called Wargs.” He announced and the hall fell silent. Even I straightened a little.

Greybone’s jaw tightened. “There has only been one known survivor in the last age. His name was Kar. The monster responsible for the Middle East massacre still plaguing the Reigns.”

The room buzzed anxiously.

“But don’t worry,” Greybone added, puffing his chest. “He will be taken down. I would have ended this decades-long cat-and-mouse nonsense myself if the King allowed me to lead the attacks instead of staying here lecturing.”

I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly shifted.

There it was— Greybone’s favorite hobby: worshipping his own reflection.

Levi whispered, “Don’t do it.”

I smirked. “Do what?”

“Whatever you’re about to— Lima, don’t—”

“Why don’t we test your theory then?” I said aloud, rising to my feet.

The hall collectively gasped.

Greybone froze. His eyes cut slowly toward me like he wished murder were legal.

I started to descend the steps now while the entire room parted for me; half awe, half fear. “You say you’re the strongest. I say you’re just loud and weak so let’s put it to rest.”

“I’ve told you before,” Greybone growled. “I will not fight you.”

“Because you’re scared.” I tilted my head mockingly. “Of me.” I added. “You’re frightened I’ll make you look like the old relic you are.”

Another wave of gasps.

Greybone’s face darkened. “Boy—”

“There it is,” I cut in softly, “the tremble in your voice. Greybone, or should I say… Greycoward?”

That did it.

His anger flared, wolf stirring. “You want humiliation? Fine. But when you’re flat on your back in the dust, don’t cry about it.”

“Perfect,” I said, growing a slight grin. “I love when the elderly stretch their joints.”

**

The field outside the Hex was packed— half the Academy circling the combat ring. The air vibrated with adrenaline, gossip, and the promise of violence.

Levi hovered behind me, panicking.

“This is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”

“I disagree. I’ve had way worse.”

“Lima, he’s being a General for far longer than you have lived—”

“But I’ve lived to train also.”

Levi dragged his hands down his face. “Why are you like this?”

I didn’t answer… because I knew why.

Because I refused to become Luke, my dead brother.

And because failure in my family wasn’t just a mistake— it was a prophecy.

Greybone stood waiting at the center, massive, weathered, and radiating confidence.

“The rules,” he barked, “are simple. First wolf whose back hits the ground loses.”

“Good,” I replied, shifting partially— claws out, muscles coiled. “You won't be standing for long.”

The fight erupted in a storm of movement.

I struck fast— right, left, hook, each powerful enough to break a jaw but Greybone dodged everything with infuriating ease.

While momentum threw me off and I crashed into someone in the crowd; a girl who grabbed my shoulders, winked, and very boldly licked her lips.

I shoved away immediately.

Perfect. Witnessed by the entire school.

Rage flared hot in my chest now as I lunged at Greybone again. My claws slashed, my strikes sharper, faster, more vicious, but he evaded effortlessly again.

Then pain burned across my jaw, his claws slicing me open. Gasps rippled through the crowd at once.

He smirked at me.

I tasted blood.

Good.

Because anger sharpened me.

I pounced now— fast enough to make air split, swiping viscously at him. He dodged the first, second, third slash, but he didn’t anticipate what came next.

I dropped low.

Swept his legs out.

His eyes widened— and I grabbed his shirt mid-fall, yanking him down hard.

He hit the ground.

On. His. Back.

Silence.

Then the Academy exploded.

“YEAHHHHHHHH!”

It was loud and Levi barrelled into me from the side also. “LIMA. YOU DID IT! YOU ACTUALLY FREAKING DID IT!”

“Of course I did,” I muttered, wiping the blood on my jaw with the back of my hand.

The cheers were deafening now— intoxicating, and I let myself absorb it, the sweet satisfaction of victory.

“Now you know I’m the absolute best!” I declared to the roaring students, throwing my arms wide. “So anyone else who thinks they can beat me— step forward!” I announced and…

Silence.

Not a single brave soul moved.

I smirked. “Thought so.”

But then—

“I will.”

A voice sounded— steady. Unafraid.

The crowd parted in shock.

I turned… and I froze.

A girl stepped into the ring; small, composed, unassuming. But there was something in her eyes.

Something sharp. Something disturbing.

And for the first time that day…

I felt my confidence shift.

Just slightly.

But just enough to recognize something I hadn’t expected:

I was being challenged by a girl I had never seen and something about that troubled me.