Chapter Five

LUCIEN

It was already dusk. Evenings at the pack’s den always felt like the world was holding its breath.

The sky bled silver behind jagged clouds. And the air… the air was always thick with something ancient—older than spells or teeth. I stood alone on the west balcony off North, watching dusk settle like ash over the mountains. From here you could see everything; the wolves having fun in sand, the warriors training. I let my hand rest on the cool stone railing.

I heard footsteps. Someone was approaching. Familiar tread. Steady but respectful.

“Alpha Lucien, you have a letter from the Moonridge council.”

It was one of our guards. We had gotten the annual letter from the Moonridge council. Moonridge Academy; a school for the gifted, it was a school for werewolves, vampires, fairies and other mythical creatures who were accepted annually. They also accept humans as well; only one human per session.

The letter read;

  THE MOONRIDGE ACADEMY COUNCIL

        LETTER TO THE SILVER CLAW PACK.

        To:  Alpha Lucien Thonhart, Silver Claw Pack Territory, Black Hollow Region.

       Subject:  Annual Enrolment Quota and Interview request.

           Honoured Alpha Thornhart,

                                  In alignment with the Academy’s oath to cultivate peace, peace, power, and                                            protection among the rising generation of mythical beings, you are hereby                                            requested to present six (6) eligible candidates from your pack for evaluation                                        and enrolment.

                                  This year’s enrolment holds particular significance due to recent celestial shifts                                      and prophetic indicators detected in our archives. As always, discretion and                                            adherence to the academy’s magical and interspecies conduct protocols are                                            expected without exception.  

                                   All candidates must arrive at the eve of the next lunar cycle. We look forward                                         to the strength, insight, and unity your young wolves would bring to the halls                                       of Moonridge.

                            SELECTION CRITERIA:

                             Each candidate must demonstrate fundamental control over innate supernatural                                   abilities.

                             They should be mentally and physically prepared for advanced interspecies                                           cohabitation and training.

                             At least one member should be part of the Beta or Alpha Blood line.

                            Being our oldest Alpha student, we would also want to invite you to be one of                                      the panel of judges for our interview for our annual human selection. It’d be a                                      great honour to have you in our midst

                                                                                                                                      Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                      MoonRidge Council,

                                                                                                                                      MoonRidge Academy.

The council’s letter lay open on the war table, edges curling in the candlelight like it was trying to fold in on itself. I’d read it three times. The words hadn’t changed, but something in me had.

Celestial shifts. Prophetic indicators. Four students.

They didn’t say it outright, but they never did. That was how the Academy operated. They spoke in riddles and tides, and expected Alphas like me to read between the shadows.

Later that night, the war room filled with the sharp scent of pine, sweat, and leather.

Only five stood before me—Talen, of course, and four elite soldiers I trusted with more than just battle. Marek, broad and brutal. Sora, quiet and quick. Veyla, sharp as flint. And Kael, young, but lethal when cornered.

The parchment from Moonridge sat between us, still faintly glowing under the runes I’d traced over it.

I paced the edge of the room slowly, the weight of leadership curled in my spine.

“The council’s request isn’t just a routine invitation,” I began. “You all know it. You can feel it, can’t you? The air has changed. The moon is shifting in ways we haven’t seen in years.”

Eyes met mine, each one alert. Talen stood beside the table, arms crossed, posture steady.

“They’ve asked for six of ours—six wolves, capable of surviving the Academy, passing its trials, and learning how to live beside vampires, witches, Fae… and worse.”

“But they’re not just asking for strength. They want control, obedience, subtlety. Someone from the Beta or Alpha bloodline must be included.”

I said before turning to Talen.

“Your sister will be the one.”

Talen’s brow furrowed. “Kaia?”

“She’s ready,” I said firmly. “She’s trained for this. Balanced mind. Fast instincts. She’s everything Moonridge expects from a Beta-blooded candidate.”

Talen nodded slowly, then exhaled. “She won’t let us down.”

“I know. But the others… you’ll find them.”

I turned to the rest of the group.

“Marek, Sora, Veyla, Kael—you have until the eve of the lunar cycle to identify and bring me five more. They must meet the criteria: discipline, strength, some supernatural control. I don’t care if they’re quiet. I don’t care if they’re unknown. I want raw potential, the kind we can sharpen into something dangerous.”

Kael smirked. “We’re hunting for wolves like prey.”

“Exactly,” I said. “Discretion is key. No announcements. No pack whispers. We don’t need drama. We need warriors.”

Talen gave a curt nod. “We’ll start at dawn.”

As they filed out one by one, the pressure in the room shifted. I stayed behind, staring again at the parchment.

Six wolves from Silver Claw.

MAYA.

I waited until the house had fully surrendered to sleep.

Uncle’s soft snoring filtered through the thin walls. Aunt Emilia’s lamp had gone out an hour ago. Even the wind had quieted, like the world was holding its breath just for me.

I sat up slowly, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, careful not to let the frame creak. The pendant rested warm against my skin, like it knew what I was about to do and had already made peace with it.

My backpack was already packed. A change of clothes. My sketchbook. I zipped the bag slowly, my heart thudding loud enough I was sure it’d wake the whole block.

By the door, I paused.

There were pictures on the wall—me, Emilia, and Uncle Theo at Coney Island. One from my art showcase in tenth grade. Our little, quiet family. The kind that tucked secrets under casseroles and kisses on the forehead.

“I’ll come back,” I whispered, not sure who I was promising. Them, or myself.

I slipped on my hoodie, shoved my phone into my pocket, and crept down the hallway like a ghost.

The floor betrayed me once—just one sharp creak beneath the third floorboard—but no doors opened. No lights flicked on.

The front door clicked open with a soft sigh.

Outside, the air was cold and sharp with midnight. The streetlights cast long shadows that stretched like fingers across the sidewalk.

I didn’t have a plan.

Just a destination: Moonridge.

And a gut-deep feeling that if I stayed, I’d never find out what I was meant to become.

As I stepped out and pulled the door closed behind me, the pendant pulsed softly against my chest.

Almost like it was waking up.

Almost like it knew—

This was only the beginning.