Arrival at Silverwood

 

The carriage stopped.

Luna had been staring at the window, watching shadows move between the trees, when the wheels quit turning and everything went still.

Too still.

The breathing sounds from the forest had stopped. The rustling had ceased. Even the horses had gone quiet.

"We're here," Professor Thorne said.

She opened the carriage door and stepped out. Professor Ashwood followed.

Luna grabbed her duffel bag and climbed down after them.

The first thing she noticed was the smell.

Pine and earth and something else. Something that made her mark tingle. Magic maybe. Or power. She couldn't tell the difference yet.

The second thing she noticed was the building.

Castle didn't quite cover it.

Silverwood Academy rose from the forest like something out of a dream. Or a nightmare. Stone towers stretched toward the sky. Gothic arches framed massive wooden doors. Windows glowed with warm light from within.

But it wasn't welcoming.

It was imposing. Intimidating. Built to make you feel small.

"Holy shit," Luna whispered.

"Language," Thorne said without looking back. "You're not in the human world anymore. Different rules here."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. Just remember. Come on. Headmaster Sterling is waiting."

They walked up a stone path toward the main entrance. Luna's legs felt shaky. Her heart pounded too fast.

The doors opened before they reached them.

A man stood in the doorway. Tall. Silver hair. Eyes that looked ancient despite a face that seemed middle-aged.

"Luna Eclipse." His voice carried across the courtyard. "Welcome to Silverwood Academy."

"Thank you?" It came out like a question.

"I'm Headmaster Aldric Sterling. I've been expecting you. Your bloodline is well known here."

"My bloodline?"

"The Eclipse family. Your grandmother attended Silverwood. So did her mother before her. You come from a long line of marked wolves. Powerful ones."

Luna clutched her bag tighter. "No one told me that."

"Your parents probably hoped to spare you the burden of expectation. But you're here now. And expectations will follow whether you want them to or not."

He stepped aside. "Come. I'll show you to your dormitory. Classes begin tomorrow morning. You'll need rest before then."

Luna followed him through the doors into an entrance hall that stole her breath.

The ceiling stretched three stories high. A massive chandelier hung from iron chains, its crystals catching light and throwing rainbows across stone walls. Staircases curved upward on both sides. Doorways led to halls that disappeared into shadow.

And students.

Everywhere.

They filled the space. Talking. Laughing. Moving with a grace Luna didn't possess. Some looked her age. Others looked older. College-aged maybe.

All of them stopped when she entered.

Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes tracked her movement across the floor.

Luna felt their stares like physical weight.

"Don't mind them," Sterling said. "New students always draw attention. Especially Eclipse bloodline. They're curious. Nothing more."

A girl near the stairs whispered something to her friend. Both of them looked Luna up and down. Their expressions weren't friendly.

"Is there a problem?" Sterling's voice cracked like a whip.

The girls flinched and looked away.

"No, Headmaster," one of them muttered.

"Good. Then get to your dorms. All of you. Curfew is in twenty minutes."

The crowd dispersed. Students filed toward the staircases and various hallways. But Luna still felt eyes on her. Watching from the shadows. Judging.

"Your dormitory is in the east wing," Sterling said. "Third floor. You'll be sharing a room with another first year. She arrived this morning. I think you'll get along."

He led Luna up the right staircase. The steps were worn smooth from years of use. Centuries maybe.

"How old is this place?" Luna asked.

"The original structure was built in 1692. We've added to it over the years. But the bones are old. Very old."

They reached the third floor and turned down a hallway. Doors lined both sides. Some had names written on small plaques. Others were blank.

Sterling stopped at a door near the end. Room 347.

"This is you. Your roommate's name is Nova. She's Omega rank. Anxious but kind. Try not to let her nervous energy overwhelm you."

"What's Omega rank?"

"You'll learn tomorrow. During orientation. For now, just know that rank determines hierarchy. Alphas at the top. Omegas at the bottom. Most students fall somewhere in between."

"Where do I fall?"

Sterling studied her. "That remains to be seen. Eclipse bloodline usually manifests as Alpha. But the mark chooses. Not the bloodline."

He pushed the door open.

The room was small but not cramped. Two beds. Two desks. Two wardrobes. A window overlooking the forest.

A girl sat on one of the beds. She jumped up when they entered.

She was tiny. Maybe five feet tall. Dark curly hair pulled into a messy bun. Big brown eyes that looked permanently worried.

"Luna, this is Nova Branch. Nova, Luna Eclipse."

"Hi." Nova's voice came out too high. Too fast. "I'm Nova. Obviously. You already knew that. The Headmaster just said that. I'm babbling. Sorry. I babble when I'm nervous. And I'm nervous a lot."

Luna couldn't help it. She smiled.

"It's okay. I'm nervous too."

"Really? You don't look nervous. You look calm. Collected. I wish I looked like that. I probably look terrified. Do I look terrified?"

"A little."

"Great. That's just great. First impression ruined."

"I like honest better than calm anyway," Luna said.

Nova's expression brightened. "Really?"

"Really."

Sterling cleared his throat. "I'll leave you two to settle in. Luna, orientation is tomorrow at eight in the morning. The Great Hall. First floor. Don't be late."

"I won't."

"Good. Welcome to Silverwood, Miss Eclipse. Try not to die in your first week."

He left before Luna could ask if he was joking.

The door closed.

Nova flopped back onto her bed. "He says that to everyone. Morbid sense of humor. But also kind of true. Three students died last year. Training accidents. Rogue wolf attacks. One kid tried to run away and something in the forest got him."

"That's comforting."

"I know, right? Super reassuring." Nova sat up again. "So. Luna Eclipse. That's a cool name. Very mysterious. Very destined-for-greatness vibes."

"I don't feel destined for greatness. I feel like I got pulled out of my normal life and dropped into something I don't understand."

"Same! I was literally eating breakfast one morning. Cereal. Normal cereal. And then boom. Mark appears. Parents freak out. And now I'm here sharing a room with a stranger."

Luna set her bag on the empty bed. "When did your mark appear?"

"Three days ago. Yours?"

"This afternoon."

Nova's eyes widened. "Wait. This afternoon? As in today? As in hours ago?"

"Yeah."

"That's insane. Most people get a few days to adjust before they ship you off. You must have a really strong mark."

Luna pulled up her sleeve. The crescent moon and shadow pattern glowed faintly in the dim light.

Nova leaned closer. "Whoa. That's beautiful. And terrifying. Mine's just a basic wolf paw. See?"

She held up her wrist. A simple paw print marked her skin. Four pads and claws. Nothing fancy.

"Paw prints usually mean Omega," Nova said. "Which explains why everyone's already treating me like I'm fragile. What do you think yours means?"

"I have no idea."

"We should ask someone. Maybe Professor Cael? I heard she's the magical theory teacher. She might know."

"Tomorrow. Tonight I just want to sleep and pretend this is all a weird dream."

"Fair."

Luna unpacked her duffel. She set Miguel's hoodie in her wardrobe. Placed the framed photo on her desk. Put her toiletries in the small bathroom they apparently shared.

When she came back out, Nova was watching her.

"Boyfriend?" She nodded at the photo.

"Yeah. Miguel."

"Human?"

"Yeah."

"That's rough. Human relationships don't usually survive the academy. Not trying to be depressing. Just honest."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because it's true. But hey. Maybe you'll be different. Maybe you'll be the exception."

"Maybe."

Luna touched the charm around her neck. The metal was warm against her skin.

Always yours.

She hoped Miguel meant it.

A bell rang somewhere in the building. Deep and resonant.

"That's curfew," Nova said. "Lights out in ten minutes. Professors do room checks. If you're not in bed, you get detention. And detention here means running laps around the forest. In the dark. Where things live."

"Noted."

Luna changed into sleep clothes in the bathroom. When she came out, Nova was already under her covers, curled up like a cat.

"Hey, Luna?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you're my roommate. I was scared they'd pair me with someone mean. Someone who'd make fun of me for being Omega."

"I don't even know what Omega means yet."

"It means weak. Bottom of the hierarchy. Easy target."

"You don't seem weak to me."

Nova smiled. "Thanks. You're nice. I like you."

"I like you too."

Luna climbed into her bed. The mattress was firmer than her bed at home. The pillow smelled like cedar. Everything felt foreign.

She closed her eyes.

Tried to sleep.

Couldn't.

Her mark pulsed. Gentle but persistent. Like a heartbeat under her skin.

She heard voices in the hallway. Footsteps. Doors closing.

Then silence.

Luna rolled onto her side and stared at the window. The forest beyond was dark. Impenetrable. She couldn't see anything except shadow and the vague shapes of trees.

But she felt it.

Something out there. Watching. Waiting.

The same presence from the carriage ride.

She pulled the blanket up to her chin and tried to ignore the fear creeping up her spine.

Tomorrow she'd learn what she needed to survive this place.

Tonight she just needed to make it until morning.

Hours passed.

Maybe.

Time felt strange here. Stretched and compressed at the same time.

Luna must have dozed eventually because she jolted awake to sunlight streaming through the window.

Nova was already up. Dressed. Bouncing on her toes.

"Morning! Breakfast is in thirty minutes. We should go early. Get good seats. Avoid the scary upperclassmen."

Luna groaned and sat up. "What time is it?"

"Seven. I've been awake since five. Couldn't sleep. Too nervous. Are you nervous? You should be nervous. First day is always intense. That's what my sister told me. She went here three years ago. Graduated last spring. Said first day sets the tone for everything."

Luna dragged herself out of bed and got ready. She pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. Ran a brush through her hair. Stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

She looked the same as yesterday.

But she felt different.

Like something inside her had shifted. Rearranged. Woken up.

"You ready?" Nova called from the doorway.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

They left the dorm and headed downstairs. The hallways were crowded now. Students everywhere. Some walking in groups. Others alone. All of them moving with purpose.

Luna tried not to stare.

But it was hard not to notice how different they all looked. How graceful. How confident. Like they belonged here.

She felt like an imposter.

They reached the ground floor and Nova pointed toward a set of double doors. "That's the Great Hall. Where we eat. Where orientation happens. Basically where everything important happens."

Luna followed her through the doors.

The Great Hall was massive. Long tables filled the space. A high ceiling stretched overhead with exposed wooden beams. Windows lined the walls. And at the far end, a raised platform held a single long table where faculty sat.

Students filled the benches. Talking. Eating. Laughing.

Luna's mark tingled in warning.

"There's a spot." Nova grabbed Luna's arm and pulled her toward an empty section of bench near the back.

They sat down.

Immediately, the students around them went quiet.

A girl across the table looked Luna up and down. "You're new."

"Yeah."

"First year?"

"Yeah."

"Eclipse?"

Luna froze. "How did you know that?"

"Everyone knows. Word travels fast here. Especially when it's Eclipse bloodline." The girl leaned back. "I'm Jade. Second year. Alpha rank. You're going to have a rough time if you're not careful."

"Why?"

"Because Eclipse wolves are either heroes or disasters. No in between. And everyone's going to be watching to see which one you are."

"I'm just trying to survive."

"Good luck with that."

Jade turned back to her food.

Nova leaned close to Luna. "Don't listen to her. She's bitter because she barely made Alpha rank. Half the school thinks she should be Beta."

"What's the difference?"

"Power. Respect. Hierarchy. I'll explain later."

Food appeared on the table. Literally appeared. Like magic. Plates of eggs and toast and fruit and bacon materialized in front of them.

Luna stared. "How—"

"Kitchen staff are witches," Nova said casually. "They handle all the food. It's actually pretty good."

Luna picked up a fork.

Before she could eat, movement caught her eye.

A group of students entered the Great Hall. Four of them. All tall. All moving with the kind of confidence that demanded attention.

The entire hall went quiet.

Nova sucked in a breath. "Oh no."

"What?"

"That's Darius Kane. Fourth year. Alpha. One of the most powerful students here. Also one of the biggest jerks."

Luna looked at the boy in front. He was tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Strong jawline. Handsome in a way that probably got him whatever he wanted.

His eyes swept the room.

And stopped on Luna.

He stared at her. Really stared. His expression wasn't friendly. Wasn't curious.

It was disdain.

Pure. Cold. Disdain.

Like she'd personally offended him just by existing.

Nova grabbed Luna's arm. "Don't look at him. Seriously. Don't."

But Luna couldn't look away.

Darius's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.

Then he turned and walked to a table near the front. His group followed.

But Luna felt his attention linger.

Like a target on her back.