CHAPTER 1

Elena Hayes knew she did not belong in that hall long before anyone said it. The way people looked at her made it obvious, their eyes sliding past her like she was not worth noticing. Even standing next to her own sister felt wrong, like she was in a place that was never meant for her.

The two girls stood in the center while the nobles gathered around them, whispering softly but without kindness. Elaine held her head high and met every stare without hesitation, as if all the attention belonged to her. Elena kept her eyes down, her shoulders tense, already expecting something to go wrong.

Elaine looked completely at ease, like confidence came naturally to her. She showed no doubt, no hesitation, not even for a second. Elena felt the opposite, a tight pressure in her chest as her fingers curled against her palms.

If she stayed still enough, maybe no one would notice her and everything would pass without her being seen. But the silence stretched too long, and something about it felt off, like the moment was building toward something she could not stop.

A young woman stepped forward, and the room went quiet at once. “The goddess has spoken,” she said clearly. “The goddess has chosen both of you as candidates to marry the prince.”

The room reacted immediately, voices rising in surprise. Two girls from the same family had never been chosen before, and no one tried to hide their curiosity. Most of them were already looking at Elaine, as if the choice had already been made.

“Silence,” the priestess said, and the room obeyed. “Only the prince will decide.” Her eyes moved over both girls, but paused on Elena for a moment, making her chest tighten.

Then she began to chant in a low, unfamiliar language, the words sounding strange and almost alive. “Helium cranthos.” A few elders stiffened, recognizing it as part of an old ritual where lies could not exist.

When the priestess finished, her expression turned cold and unreadable. This time, she looked directly at Elaine, and the shift, though small, was noticed by everyone in the room.

She raised her hand and pointed. “You have something that belongs to your sister,” she said clearly. “Return it.” For a second, Elaine did not react, and although she still looked confident, something small changed in her expression. Elena noticed it, and a cold feeling settled in her chest as the whispers started again, louder and sharper than before.

“Elena, my child,” the priestess said, her voice softer now but still firm, “your path will not be easy, but if you endure it, you will win.” The words felt heavy as they settled in Elena’s chest, and before anyone could respond, the priestess turned and left, leaving the room to erupt into noise.

People began talking over each other, confusion quickly turning into judgment as the moment spread through the crowd. Elena lowered her head as the stares returned, stronger than before, and this time it felt like people were not just looking at her but deciding something about her. The accusation had not stayed with Elaine, and somehow that made it worse.

“Mum,” Elaine said, sounding surprised, “that was the Moon Priestess, wasn’t it?” She let out a small breath and gave a faint smile. “She said both of us might marry the prince, but I’m the only werewolf here, so the choice is obvious.”

The whispers shifted immediately as people began speaking more openly. Someone called Elena human, another called her weak, and the words spread quickly until they sounded less like opinions and more like facts.

Elaine gave a small, dismissive laugh and turned her gaze fully on Elena. “What could I possibly take from you?” she asked. “If I wanted something, I wouldn’t need to take it from you.” A few people laughed quietly, and just like that, the tension eased as everyone leaned toward the explanation that was easier to accept.

Elena felt the shift happen without anyone saying it directly, the blame moving away from Elaine and settling somewhere else. She stood still, her fingers tightening around her sleeve as the familiar pattern repeated itself in a way she could not stop.

Rumors spread quickly across the duchy, carried by messenger birds and glowing rune-slates. Within days, everyone had heard the story, though each version was different, and by the time it reached the outer courts, no one questioned it anymore.

Elaine enjoyed the attention, accepting praise as if it had always belonged to her, her confidence never shaken. Elena stayed in her room, the silence pressing in around her until it felt heavier than the crowd ever had.

She traced faint lines of light along the stone windowsill, watching them glow softly under her fingers. This time, the light stayed longer and curled slightly against her skin before fading, making her freeze as her breath caught at the strange response.

“ELENA HAYES, OUT. NOW.” Clara’s voice cut through the quiet, sharp and sudden. Elena hesitated before opening the door, her hand tightening slightly on the handle as she stepped out.

Each step toward the sitting room felt heavy, as if she already knew what waited for her there. “Planning to hide forever?” Clara asked sharply, and Elena lowered her eyes, unable to answer.

Elaine leaned back, her voice calm with a hint of amusement as she spoke. “She’s just embarrassed,” she said. “You can’t blame her.”

Elena stepped forward slowly, her fingers curling into her sleeve again. “Why did you call me?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper but still heard clearly in the silence.

Clara handed each of them an envelope, her movements precise and controlled. “Your acceptance letters,” she said, her tone firm, and then added, “Remember your duty. Protect the prince’s mate, no matter what,” words that felt too familiar to Elena.

Elena opened the letter carefully, her hands unsteady as the words blurred before coming into focus. A small smile appeared on her face despite everything. “I got in,” she whispered, the words soft but real.

“I got in,” Elaine said at the same time, her voice confident and certain, and Clara’s expression softened immediately as she looked at her with clear pride. “I expected nothing less,” Clara said, her attention staying on Elaine.

“I got in too,” Elena added more quietly, but no one responded, and the moment passed as if she had said nothing at all. Clara simply nodded once and said, “Good. Stay close to her and do what you’re meant to do.”

Elena turned slightly, her jaw tightening as the familiar feeling settled in again. No matter what she did, it never changed anything, and she was always present but never chosen.

Her father had never treated her that way, and the memory of him standing in front of her, protecting her without hesitation, remained clear in her mind. It reminded her that there had been a time when she mattered.

Elena looked down at the letter again, holding it tighter as her thoughts turned. Lycoria Academy was not just a school but a place where people were tested and changed, where mistakes were not forgiven and futures were decided.

The priestess’s words returned to her, quiet but impossible to ignore. She had pointed at Elaine, clear and certain, yet the feeling had stayed with Elena instead, heavy and unshakable.

Elena stood still, her thoughts restless as the question refused to leave her mind. If Elaine had taken something, why did it feel like she was the one carrying it, and if nothing had ever been hers, why did it feel like she was about to lose something anyway?