The crowd pushes past me, rushing out of the hallway in which I'm standing, dazed and freaking out.
This can't be happening to me.This can't be real.I can't be in Lycan School.Did the Grand Mistress make a mistake? I've never heard of such a mistake being made in all of my history lessons on the portal. It takes you where the Goddess wills you to be.I...I can't be here right now. I need to be at the Academy with Aria, Trinity, and Thorne.I spin in a circle. The hallways are awfully lit with electronic devices from the human world. There are thin lockers lining the walls and I see a few people pulling out scrolls and books from them.I need to find the Grand Master of Lycan School. Surely, he can help me reach my father and mother, and procure a way back to the right school.Straightening, I follow the crowd to this assembly they speak of, looking around as I do. The vast white corridors seem to stretch on forever, with doors (too many doors) that possibly lead to classrooms and offices.Soon, a pair of double doors that are tall enough to reach the high ceilings come to view. It is written boldly at the top brick above the door, "The Lycan King's Hall."Someone shoves me forward and I stagger forward into the hall, nearly toppling over. I am suddenly being shoved left and right and the sound of shoes squeaking on marbled floors fills the air. By the end of the ruckus, I find myself standing in a long arranged line."...wonder how many will be expelled this year. They all look like a whole bunch of doofuses," a dark haired female chuckles in front of me."Heard Chancellor Vesper reduced the hours on combat classes for this set. I think it's unfair. We'll have a lot of weaklings dwindling around this year," the male is conversing with replies."Who is Chancellor Vesper?" I blurt, and the two of them turn to me, staring at me like I have grown another head.Forest green eyes observe me from head to toe. "You're new here?"I mirror her degrading look. "Yes. I am." Her lips part to reply me, but her nostrils suddenly flare, and her eyes are suddenly filled with alarm. "You reek of wolf."I growl. "I am a wolf."Her eyes widen, and her companion is about to speak when a bell suddenly rings, rendering the entire hall silent."Students."One word. It is only one word, but somehow, the sheer dominance in it has my knees buckling. Sweat breaks on my forehead and it takes all of my will not to fall to my knees in subservience.I struggle to raise my gaze to the stage, and atop it, there stands a man with a black cane. He is in a white tuxedo and a pair of glasses sit upon his arrogant nose as he observes the crowd below the podium. There is an air of authority about him that freaks the hell out of me and I can't tell if he is frowning or sneering. His stern appearance is made all the more stark with his shaved head.There are others on the podium, all dressed in official robes, but the spotlight is his."Greetings to all of our esteemed students of this, old and new. I must welcome you all to this new session. I am Chancellor Vesper, and I expect nothing but excellence from each and every one of you," he pauses, walking down the length of the stage, staring at each face with dark intense eyes. "This is not a place for the weak, the timid, or the foolish. This is a place for those who are strong, determined, and willing to work hard."Here at the Lycan School, you will learn to control your powers, hone your skills, and become the best versions of yourselves. But make no mistake, this will not be an easy journey. You will face challenges that will test your limits, and push you past them."But fear not, for we will be here to guide you every step of the way. You will have the best instructors and the finest facilities at your disposal."The rules remain the same, and your schedule will be communicated with you by the guide tutors assigned to you. Look up the board on your way out to find yours. You are not allowed out the school gates for the rest of the session. If you are found in the wilds beyond the gates, you will be expelled. "Communication outside the walls of these schools are prohibited, and as such, the network connections have been cut off from the outside. Should you attempt to reach the other realms by any means, you will be expelled."You may tarry on with each other in whatever relationships you wish, but should you take in with child, you will be expelled. If you are found outside past curfew, you will be expelled. If you are to be found cheating in any of your exercises, you will be expelled. Should your grades be subpar at the end of the session, you will be expelled."Every time he says expelled, I flinch. Too many rules. Way too many rules."May the moon goddess guide you on your path to discovery. If you have any questions, pass them across to your guide tutors. This concludes--""Excuse me!" I yell, tumbling out of the line.As one, the entire hall turns to me, staring at me with disbelief like I have done something despicable.I walk to the front of the line, ignoring the many eyes on me. Their stares feel like being pricked by the edge of daggers. As I reach closer to the podium, I suffer the realization that I'm the one who smells wrong in a room filled with Lycans. Not them.There are steps that lead up to the top of the stage, and I take them, stopping only when I am before the Chancellor.This close to him, he is way taller than me. Six foot four perhaps. Nearly as tall as the idiot prince, and the aura around his is something formidable. Lycans do not have Alphas, Betas or Omegas in their hierarchical systems.They are like a horde of lone Alphas (if that makes any sense), each of them possessing strength and auras that match an Alphas. Or exceed."You have a question?" His voice cracks like thunder and I resist the urge once again to bow or kneel before him.Instead, I stand my ground, staring into his dark eyes. "No. I have an order. I'm in the wrong school. Send me back to Wolvendom immediately."Waves of horrified whispers race through the rows of students below the podium. The Chancellor's dark gaze flicks over my form briefly before returning to my face. His eyes are an abyss, without depth and filled with nothing but cold darkness. The fine air on my skin rises and I realize I am in front of a lycan. All it takes is one snap of my neck and I am dead.Still, I am the princess of a realm. I cannot be treated as less. Or be killed for giving orders. It is within my rights. Plus, I am well acquainted with the Lycan King and Queen. I am just as powerful in this realm."An order?" He asks. "And who might you be?"I square my shoulders with pride and lift my chin in the way I have been taught. "I am Astrid Blackwood, daughter of Alpha King Ronan Blackwood, and I demand that I be sent back to the right place. I should not be here. Obviously. I am a wolf."He merely blinks and waves his hand in a dismissive gesture.Two male Lycans in black uniforms suddenly appear at either sides of me and grab my arm, pulling me off the large stage.What in the actual fuck?"Have you lost it?!" I scream, struggling and clawing at the huge arms that are carting me away. "Do you have any idea who -- get your filthy hands off me! How dare you touch me?! My father will have your heads for this!"They laugh.It begins as a choked sound, but soon the entire hall begins to laugh at me and soon there are camera flashes here and there.Enraged, I cuss out loud, swearing at the males, the Chancellor and the stupid students who have the audacity to laugh at me!I am dumped on my ass at the back of the hall and the Chancellor continues his speech. I can barely hear a word past my shallow rapid gasps for breath and my thundering heartbeats.I lunge forward for the stage but the men hold me in place. The bigger one whispers in my ear. "Hierarchy outside the school has no value within the gates of the school. It is the first rule. Do well to note this if you do not want to get sentenced to the student dungeons for a fortnight, wolf. You are merely Astrid Blackwood. You are no princess here."After the assembly, the men drag me across the hallways, stopping in front of an iron door that is at least ten foot tall.The door suddenly swings open, even if there is no one behind it.I am thrown in by the men, and the door shuts the moment I'm inside the office.I whirl around in the space that looks to be an office. I am immediately struck by the sheer size of the room. The high ceilings seem to stretch up into infinity, while the walls are lined with tall bookcases filled with ancient-looking tomes. The scent of old leather and paper fills my nose, and it reminds me of the library in the castle.In the center of the room, a large oak desk dominates the space, with a high-backed chair behind it. The desk is cluttered with papers and stacks of books, but everything seems to be in perfect order, as if each item has been placed with utmost care.Behind the desk, a tall window offers a view of the sprawling grounds outside. The sunlight streams through the glass, casting a warm glo
The Dining Hall is noisy and filled with people holding trays and speaking into their gadgets. My stomach growls as the smell of chicken teases my nostrils.I pass by a group of people and they laugh at me. I know. I look like crap.I skipped dinner last night, crying and punching the stupid mattress. Then I'd slept rather roughly.I couldn't find anything to comb my red hair with this morning and I have terrible bed hair. I lost my cosmetic bag at some point in the portal so my skin is dry like desert sand. My eyes are dark and haunted and my uniform doesn't fit.Worst first school day ever. Can it get any worse?I follow the crowd and get in the line where I see the chicken being served. More funny looks are tossed in my direction, but I'm in a piss poor mood, and I don't wish to speak to anyone. Not that they even want to speak to me either. Good.I soon reach the head of the line and I extend my food tray to the lunch lady. Her face, while undeniably beautiful, is twisted into a
I stare back at my reflection. Somehow, I have gone from being special to being scum. My icy blue eyes are red rimmed and tired. I clutch the sink and spit into the ceramic bowl before turning off the faucet. I'm gonna survive the shit hole and return where I am meant to be. Fuck Rune and the rest of the stupid students here. I am Astrid, and no one, absolutely no one can trample on me. I'll fight every one of them if I have to, and it doesn't matter if they are Lycans are naturally stronger than me. I'll win. Why? Because I am Astrid Blackwood, daughter of the Alpha King. I'll thrive in the godsdamned school. ******* I'm late. I know this because I can hear the sounds coming from the halls. It was hard locating my classroom. I have walked through three different halls, trying to figure out where Lycan History is holding. My fingers squeeze around the only note in my hands as I try to take in deep calming breaths. I'm ner
Master Kaelan has a couple of Star Students demonstrate what we ought to have learned by the end of this session before the hall. Picking weapons begin in the second year. By then, I'll be gone from here. It doesn't stop me from watching in pure fascination as Darian and Raven go at each other, swiping and slashing. They move like the wind and I have never seen anything like it in my entire life. Raven dodges Darian's powerful blow with such ease that it seems like she is dancing. Darian follows up with barrages of kicks and blows that are easily deflected-- from what I can see, because their movements are too fast fast to follow and it's like watching a blur of motion. They seem to move in perfect synchronization, each move countering the other in a never-ending dance. Their feet barely touch the ground as they glide around each other, exchanging blows that seem to come from nowhere. Not even the best sentinels in Wolvendom move like that. They don't eve
A body was found in school this morning.Mangled. Mishapen. Broken beyond recognition. But somehow, someone had placed a face to the body.Alaric Grimshaw. A first year student, and Rune's distant cousin.I didn't see the body when it was brought in, but a couple of students did and it's all they have been talking about since. They seem pretty shaken up. There is fear in their eyes as well.The schools are fortified and happen to be safest places in all realms, guarded by the Goddess's magic herself.How could this happen?Some say Alaric was seen in the cameras trying to escape the premises and he fell in the void beyond. Some say the darkness took him. Some say there was a man covered in the darkness. Regardless of what truth it is, none of them are great.The school has been in a tizzy since the body was brought in and unorthodox communications have been made to the realms beyond, reaching out to the King and Queen of the Realm of Lycans.Everyone's in a fix and agitated, and Run
"Just a couple of bruises. She's already healing. It might take a while since she's a wolf but she should be fine by tomorrow," the nurse says to Darian.She's nice, which is plenty weird for her race. She shifts her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and squints down at the bruise on my neck. "Does this hurt?" She asks and I wince when she prods the column of my throat."Yeah," I whisper. My throat still feels sore. Her warm brown eyes flick swiftly over my form and she pulls a note out of her white coat, turning away from me as she scribbles something on it. Darian shoots me an apologetic look, and I avoid his gaze, looking out the window instead. He is leaning lazily against the wall, watching my every move. He has been doing that for the past hour, scanning me as the nurse treated me, offering me water and speaking softly like...like I'm something to him.I'm not sure how lycans woo their women, but that isn't how it is done in Wolvendom.Admittedly, Darian is the hottest guy
Three years ago:I clocked eighteen today. Everyone's dancing. I am too, and Goddess knows I have never been this drunk in my life."Astrid, careful," Thorne says, hands circling my waist when I keel over, nearly falling into my huge birthday cake.I giggle, though nothing is particularly funny. I lean into him and lick his neck that is slick with sweat from dancing so hard. He groans and I giggle at the sound of it."I'll take you to your room," Thorne mutters, grip around me tightening."Don't wanna..." My voice trails off into an unintelligible slur and I inch out of his arms when I see another untouched glass of alcohol in the hands of a passing woman. "Give that here," I tell her.Thorne swivels, muttering an apology to the woman and he throws me over his shoulder, taking the stairwell that leads to my room.It is safe to do so. Father and mother have retired to their chambers and the people left in the hall are too drunk to notice Thorne Nightshade kidnapping their princess.I
The meeting with both our parents ends up making me feel sick. The Hekate has found a way to get his men through the veil, and the rot has begun. Rather than attack the people first like we anticipated, he comes for the schools. He should not even know the school's exist. They are hidden deeply, and the only way to get into them is through the portals, two of which exists in my realm and the other in the realm of lycans. The gates that lead to these portals are heavily guarded, not even leaving out the fact that the portals can only be opened by the Grand Mistress. It's impossible for the dark army to have gotten past the gates and through the portal. And the most aggravating question of them all. Why the schools? I blow out a breath, threading my fingers in my hair as the harsh smell of bland shampoo fills my nostrils. I really miss home. I had spoken to my father and mother alone after the meeting and it had gone nowhere. I can st