FOUR

CAPITAL OF THERIA: VELMORE.

ALPHA ACADEMY: ORIENTATION DAY.

It is finally time.

My car rolls to a stop at the front of the academy. I take one final look in the mirror before stepping out.

I hand the keys over to the valet and pause, taking in the breathtaking castle before me. Beautiful cold stone walls towering into the sky above. The students flocking in spare no look at the architecture like I do as they file in through the massive double door leading into the main hall.

I follow suit.

It’s been a year and two months since I regressed into this world. I’ve been through countless obstacles on my path and right now, it still seems like I’m still on the first step to becoming Alpha of the Fall Moon pack. However, this is different. I’m definitely going to sink my teeth in here.

This will be where I make a dent that will alter my destiny. I refuse to repeat the past and die a horrible death again.

Black and white marble floors stretch across the main hall which currently held over a hundred people shuffling around. At the corner I spot the person directing us into the orientation hall. I can tell it’s a man but he is in his Were form where he stands like a person and dresses casually but is shifted. Wolf head and heavy fur over the places that should have skin. This is usually done to increase a person’s size and intimidate people because you grow a couple feet taller. Though in this case it is likely to draw attention to where to go and prevent for security.

I move to go in that direction when I feel eyes on me. I turn to where I felt it but nothing note worthy was there. Maybe I imagined it?

The orientation hall is massive, it could easily host a thousand people, though I doubt we could fill more than half of the space. I make sure to sit in the middle of the hall. My plan is to not draw attention to myself by being average at everything.

I take note of many familiar faces.

Mostly people I want to avoid or influential people. Aunty made it a necessity for me to know the big names and the current happenings so I wouldn’t be out of touch here. Her tutoring comes in handy when Phineas Parker sits next to me. He is the second son of Alpha Devon Parker, Current leader of the Parker Pack. His Father is on the list of top 20 most influential Alpha’s in the Therian Country. My Father is somewhere at the bottom of the top 40.

“Crazy, right?” He says. Orange eyes scanning the entire room. His voice is firm and deep.

“What is?” I’m shocked at my own voice, the baritone is always baffling. Hopefully I get used to it soon so I don’t make a fool out of myself.

“How many influential families are here. I chose this place out of the others to hide but I think everyone was thinking the same thing.” He laughs, shoulders shaking as he does. His red hair moves as he shakes.

What a fine man. My eyes follow the trail of hair leading down the side of his face to his chiseled jawline and down his thick neck. I forget I’m supposed to be a man when I catch myself slipping “Tell me about it.” I pretend to look around. Phew, that was close. He almost saw me checking him out.

“Phineas.” He introduces himself.

“Eldon.” I shake his outstretched hand.

Soon the chatter dies down and we are addressed by the school’s director. She is an elderly woman, wearing the school’s colors on her robe. The collar of her black robe down to the arms and front length shimmers in gold embroidery.

She goes on to talk about the values of an Alpha and what is expected of the students here but I zone out.

Everyone here is between the ages of 21 and 25. The education lasts for just one year because every family has special teachings they pass down, however, there is specific knowledge that is limited to the Academy.

“And now, I will give the stage to the student representative of the year. Roman Vayne.” We all give a round of applause as the director exits..

“I didn’t even know we had a representative.” I mutter, wondering when this is going to end.

“Really? Your older brother didn’t mention it?” Phineas replies, clapping a little too loud.

“Nah, I’m the first child in my family to attend the Academy.” I recite a prepared answer. “My dad passed away when I was little so...”

“I see. Well, I’ve had a brother go through this so I can tell you anything you need to know.”

“Thank you.”

“Hey, look, it's Roman Vayne.”

“Of course he’s the representative.”

“Wow, I wish I were him.” Chatter erupts around us, drawing my attention to the person who just stepped to the podium.

The man standing before us is striking—but not in the same way Phineas is. Phineas radiates warmth, warm light and color. This man, though… he swallows color whole.

His ruby-red eyes, half-hidden behind tousled strands of jet-black hair, sweep across the room with quiet authority as he steps up to the mic. I can’t look away. Every inch of him demands attention, and I don’t even notice the hall fall into silence until it’s absolute. Not a whisper, not a breath.

Then he speaks. His voice is smooth, rich, and impossibly calm.

“Good day, students. My name is Roman Vayne, and I’ll be your representative for the year.”

My heart?

It did a somersault.

“Wow. Who is that?” I whisper.

At my side, Phineas laughs and smacks my shoulder. Ow.

“That’s the same reaction my sister had when we first saw him at a banquet a few years ago. Apparently that’s the effect Roman has on people… especially ladies.”

I clear my throat. “Well, it looks like the moon goddess took 10 days to make him. I’m not surprised.”

“True. Rather I'm surprised at how you don’t know who that is.”

“I have no words. I guess I’m not as up to date as I thought I was. I grew up away from all this.” I awkwardly scratch my head. In other words, he wasn’t on Aunty’s file.

“No worries. His Family is one of the oldest families in werewolf history.”

“Wait… THE VAYNE?!!”

“So you do know them.” He laughs loudly. “Yeah, that Vayne.”

“What’s he doing here? I heard they have their own Academy somewhere on the continent.”

“Beats me. Maybe he wanted to hide too.”

“I see…” I watch Roman talk for a total of five minutes before he leaves the stage. It wasn’t apparent before when I was gushing over his looks but now that he is out of sight and my head is clear, I feel like I know him from somewhere.

Maybe I saw him in my past life?

Two hours later, the orientation is done. We’re given the keys to our dorm rooms which already have our luggages. I’m on one of the top floors which have single rooms. Aunty wanted to get the one at the very top but that would have drawn too much attention. Even using her last name may draw attention but there is nothing I can do about that since I’m supposed to be related to her brother. I catch my reflection in a glass door on the way to my room. The magic circle on my hip bone could only make me as tall as six foot one from my original 5 '9. It made my hair appear shorter, falling over my eyebrows and stopping at the base of my neck. My biceps look bigger too and I’m glad I learnt how to walk like a guy.

I’m blending in perfectly. I giggle internally.

So far everything is going great. I would really appreciate it if everyday was like this. I turn the key to my room, eager to jump on my bed but before I can close the door, strong arms grab the edge and force it open.

“What the hell?!” I recognize him, he is one of the guys who sat at the back of the hall. I caught him looking at me but I didn’t think much of it. Is he a bully?! My blood boils just thinking about it, even as a man, do I still look that weak?! “Is there a reason you have broken into my room?” My displeasure is apparent.

“Yes, actually.” He leans against the door, brown eyes staring into mine.

“What is it?!” I try to sound as irritated as I feel.

“What is a girl doing in an all boys academy?” He smirks.

My heart sinks.