007: Under False Skin

Lyra’s POV.

The moment I stepped inside the dorm room, my heart slammed in my chest like a prisoner desperate to escape. Three guys were already there, sitting on the bunks and trunks like they owned the place. The room was small and stuffy, heat sticking to my skin, making the bandages around my chest feel like they’d snap under the pressure. I swallowed the urge to breathe through my mouth and forced myself to stay calm.

I pulled the hood lower, hiding as much of my face as I could without looking like I was ready to bolt.

“Hey,” said the tallest one, a broad-shouldered guy with dark hair and eyes sharp like knives. “You’re Rowan, right? From Blueclaw?”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough and low. I tried to keep it steady, but the words felt foreign in my throat.

He grinned, showing teeth that were too white for this place. “I’m Eryk. Alpha heir of Shadowpine. Just got here myself. Heard Blueclaw’s been... rough lately.”

I nodded, forcing a casual shrug. “Yeah. Tough times.”

The second guy, shorter, stocky with sandy curls and a quick smile, jumped in. “Name’s Dax. Grayfang. Looks like you’re gonna have to keep up, Blueclaw.”

I glanced at them all, trying to memorize their faces. Eryk with his cool confidence. Dax with his easy charm. And the last one, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, silent, but with eyes that never blinked. I figured he was the quiet type. He finally spoke, voice low but not unfriendly.

“Call me Jase. Frostpeak. Don’t like wasting time.”

I nodded again, trying to find a place to put my bag down without drawing too much attention. My wolf inside was screaming. Every instinct telling me I was out of place. These boys smelled like pack strength and power. Their wolves were calm, balanced. They carried the pride of generations. And me? I was pretending to be my broken brother, hoping no one figured it out.

“Looks like we’re roommates,” Eryk said, tossing a smirk my way. “Lucky you.”

Lucky? I wanted to laugh, but it would’ve given me away.

“Yeah,” I muttered, pulling off my hoodie and tossing it on the trunk. The heat hit me full force. Sweat already clung to my skin. “Hot in here.”

Dax laughed. “Welcome to the Academy. Not enough breeze in here. No mercy.”

My wolf cringed inside. ‘We’re sweating like a dog in heat, and you’re saying this like it’s normal?’

I forced my lips to twitch. “Right. Normal.”

Jase just watched me. Like he was waiting for me to slip up. Maybe he smelled something. Maybe my voice cracked when I said “right.”

I cleared my throat. “So, uh... training tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Eryk said, stretching his arms above his head. “They’ll tear us apart if we don’t show them we’re serious. But it’s all fun once you get the hang of it.”

“Fun,” Dax repeated, grinning like he was daring me to laugh.

I shook my head, pulling on Rowan’s old jacket. It hung loose on my frame, sleeves brushing my knuckles. The clothes smelled like him. Familiar, but wrong.

I kept my voice low, trying to sound deeper, rougher. “I’m ready for it. Not like I’ve been slacking.”

Jase raised an eyebrow. “You seem a little... quiet. Not the usual loudmouth we get from Blueclaw.”

I swallowed. “Quiet’s good. Means I listen.”

“Or you’re scared,” Eryk teased, nudging Dax.

“Maybe both,” Dax added with a grin.

I clenched my jaw but smiled faintly. “Maybe.”

The room felt like it was shrinking. The heat, the sweat, the pressure of being watched like a hawk. I felt my wolf shrinking, trying to crawl into a corner of my mind and hide.

‘You sound like a scared kid,’ she whispered.

‘Shut up,’ I thought back. ‘Not now.’

Eryk leaned forward, eyes sharp. “So, Rowan, you got a mate?”

I froze. The question hit like a punch. My throat closed.

“Uh...” I forced a laugh, “Not yet.”

Dax laughed. “You don’t look like the type to be worried about that.”

“Yeah,” Jase said, voice low. “Some of us have mates knocking down the door already.”

I wanted to say something clever. Something to show I wasn’t an idiot. But my brain stalled. I swallowed, then said, “I’m focused on training.”

Eryk smirked. “Sounds like someone’s got something to prove.”

I blinked, then said, “Maybe.”

They all laughed, but I could see they were sizing me up. Trying to figure out if I was bluffing, weak, or just another lost kid.

Suddenly, Dax’s grin faded as he caught sight of my hands. “Hey... what happened here?”

I looked down. The knuckles of my left hand were scraped raw, bleeding just a little. I blinked fast, hoping no one noticed.

“Training injury,” I said quickly, flexing my fingers. “Got careless.”

Jase nodded. “Better watch out. Injuries here don’t heal easy.”

“Yeah, you gotta keep up,” Eryk added, eyes narrow. “We don’t go easy.”

I nodded, swallowing the burn in my chest. “I’m not planning to.”

There was a pause. Then Dax said, “So, Rowan, you got any special moves? Like those spins and dodges the capital heirs do?”

I forced a smile. “I’m working on it.”

Jase scoffed. “You gotta be faster. Smarter.”

I nodded again, heart hammering. ‘I’m smart,’ I told my wolf inside. ‘I’ll figure this out.’

They talked more, trying to fill the silence with small talk about packs, training, and fights they’d had. But I was focused on every word, every glance, every breath. I had to stay perfect. Not slip. Not show the girl behind the mask.

At one point, Eryk joked, “Hey, if you fall asleep during training, we’ll just drag you out.”

I laughed, but it came out too high. My wolf groaned. ‘Seriously?’

I cleared my throat. “Not planning on falling asleep.”

Dax nudged me again. “You’re tougher than you look.”

I wanted to say, ‘You have no idea.’ Instead, I smiled and said, “Thanks.”

Then Jase leaned back and said, “We’ve got to watch out for each other here. This place chews people up and spits them out.”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “I’ll watch your back.”

They looked surprised. “For real?” Eryk said, eyes sharp.

“Yeah,” I said. “This isn’t just about strength. It’s about brains.”

They laughed again, but this time it felt different. Like they were starting to accept me... or at least not hate me.

Suddenly, the door slammed open. A tall instructor stepped in, looking around with a scowl. “Lights out in ten. Everyone back in your rooms. No exceptions.”

They all groaned. I nodded, heart pounding. This was just the beginning.

As they left, Eryk tossed me a grin. “You’re not half bad, Rowan. Don’t let the heat get to you.”

I forced a grin back, sweat dripping down my neck. “I’ll survive.”

The door closed behind them, and I was left alone.

My wolf whispered in my mind, voice rough with sarcasm. ‘Well, you didn’t get caught. Yet.’