Chapter 4: New Place

“Aurora!” Mom’s voice suddenly called out, snapping my attention to the window of the train car. She was rushing toward it, looking flustered.

“Take care of yourself,” she said urgently, her voice soft enough that only I could hear. “If anything happens—any changes, or anything at all—come back immediately. Tell me everything!”

Her anxious tone made me frown. She’d already said this at least ten times today, but I still nodded.

“Okay, Mom,” I whispered back, trying to sound reassuring.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my seatmate had gone quiet. He was watching the interaction, his gaze fixed on Mom as she slowly stepped back from the train.

“Is that your mom?” he asked, his tone curious but oddly distant.

“Yup,” I replied, studying him as he continued to stare after her. Something about his expression had shifted, though I couldn’t quite place it.

“Is something wrong?” I asked after a moment.

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head as though brushing off whatever thought had crossed his mind. “It’s just… I think I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

I tilted my head, puzzled. “I doubt it. We’ve lived in Clearwater all our lives,” I said, settling back into my seat.

He nodded, though his thoughtful expression lingered for a few moments longer.

“So,” I began, really curious, “you’re here for the tryouts too?”

He glanced at me, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Me?”

“Yes,” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well… something like that,” he replied cryptically, leaning back in his seat with a calm ease.

Before I could ask what he meant, the train lurched into motion, picking up speed at an almost dizzying pace.

“This has to be a bullet train,” I muttered, amazed at how quickly we were moving.

“It’s okay, Bellissima,” he murmured.

“What does that mean?” I asked, shifting uncomfortably under his steady gaze. He had called me that several times today. 

“It means beautiful,” he explained, a small, teasing grin playing on his lips.

“Oh,” I said, my cheeks heating slightly.

“In a couple of hours, we’ll be at Twilight,” he added casually, gesturing toward the window. “Might as well get comfortable.”

"What's your name?" I asked curiously

“I’m..." he seemed to hesitate for a while, 

"James,"He said with a smile.

“And I’m—”

“Aurora,” he finished for me, meeting my eyes with his piercing blue ones.

I blinked in surprise. “How did you know that?” I whispered.

He gave a light chuckle, the sound warm and unhurried. “Your mom called you just now,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Aurora. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

A smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “Thanks,” I said softly.

James's presence was unexpectedly pleasant, and I couldn’t help but hope the other students at Twilight would be as pleasant as he was.

“What do you think Twilight will be like?” I asked after a moment.

He shrugged, his expression still calm and self-assured. “Ease up,” he said with a reassuring smile. “You’ll be just fine.”

I leaned back against the seat, his words replaying in my mind. I hoped he was right.

The train gradually slowed down, the rhythmic hum of its motion fading into a soft halt. As the doors slid open, we stepped off onto the platform, and my breath hitched at the sight before me.

This was Twilight?!

My lips parted in awe as I took in the towering buildings, their sleek designs shimmering under the golden glow of strategically placed lights. The air was crisp and filled with the faint scent of pine and something else—something that felt powerful, almost electrifying.

A massive wrought-iron gate stood at the entrance, adorned with the Twilight emblem—a silver crescent moon intertwined with a wolf’s silhouette. Beyond it, an expansive courtyard stretched out, leading to the academy’s main structure, which looked more like a grand castle than a school. I could spot few students moving in an orderly fashion. 

I barely noticed that I had been walking in a straight line with the rest of the new arrivals until James's voice pulled me from my daze.

“Well, this is where we part,” he said, glancing at me.

I turned to face him, suddenly realizing that our time together had come to an end.

“Well, see you around,” he muttered, handing me my Twilight-customized bag, it had been sent to me weeks earlier and I noticed now that all students apparently had one.

“The female lodges are over that way,” he added, pointing to a path lined with towering trees that led toward a cluster of buildings. “You’ll need to check in first with your documents.”

Before I could say anything else, he was gone, disappearing effortlessly into the small crowd.

For a brief second, I considered calling out to him—maybe asking for his number—but the moment passed too quickly, and I found myself sighing instead. He was probably the first friend I had ever made, and now he was gone just like that.

“This way, ladies!” A sharp voice called out, snapping me back to reality.

I wheeled my luggage forward, following the line of female students heading toward the reception.

As we walked, I turned to the girl next to me. “Are we tryouts going to be staying together?” I wondered out loud

“Oh no,” she replied with a shake of her head. “We’ll be put in regular dorm rooms with other students. I just hope we get nice roommates and not snobbish bullies.”

That was a valid fear—especially for us from smaller, lesser-known packs. Fitting in at a prestigious place like Twilight wouldn’t be easy.

My new friend introduced herself as Sara and like me she also came from a small unknown pack. 

“Aurora Roy,” a porter suddenly called my name, and I stepped forward.

“Lily Lodge, room 300,” she said, handing me a sleek silver access card.

Taking the card, I muttered a quick “thank you” before heading to the towering building ahead.

Lily Lodge 

As I stepped inside, I was once again struck by the sheer magnificence of Twilight Academy. The interior was even more impressive than the exterior. Thee ceiling was so high up.

The grand lobby was immaculate—a mixture of modern and classic architecture. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting warm light over the polished marble floors. The walls were lined with enormous windows, allowing natural light to spill in and highlight the rich, deep hues of the wooden paneling. A massive crest of Twilight Academy hung in the center, giving the place a regal feel.

I could spot female students bustled about, some already dressed in the academy’s signature uniform, while few others—like me—were still in their traveling attire. Some in casual lounge wears. I spotted different pack insignias embroidered on their sleeves, some more recognizable than others.

Dragging my suitcase behind me, I found the elevators tucked into the far end of the lobby. The golden numbers above the doors indicated which floors they served. I stepped inside and tapped the button for the third floor.

With a soft chime, the doors slid open, revealing a long hallway lined with numbered doors. It didn’t take long for me to find Room 300. Swiping my access card against the scanner, I heard the soft click of the lock disengaging.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

“Hi!”

The cheerful voice made me blink, and as I stepped inside, I was greeted by two identical faces.

Standing in the middle of the stylish, four-person dorm room were two girls with bright eyes and beaming smiles.

“Mirabelle!” one of them hissed, nudging the other before turning back to me.

The second girl immediately perked up and leaned in slightly.

“Hi!” they chorused together, waving in perfect unison.

Twins.

I exhaled smiling back.

“Hi,” I said, stepping fully into the room.

“Sooo… tryouts?” The twin in pink asked curiously.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“What pack are you from?” she continued.

“Clearwater,” I replied, watching as a slight frown crossed her features.

“Never heard of it,” she admitted.

I simply nodded. Of course, she hadn’t. Clearwater was small and insignificant compared to the well-known elite packs.

“What about you?” I asked.

Their eyes lit up.

“We’re from Knox Valley!” they chimed in unison, practically glowing with pride.

That was a name I recognized—Knox Valley was a powerful pack, one of the strongest among the mid-tier regions.

“We’re twins, by the way,” the first girl added with a grin. “I’m Mirabelle, and she’s Annabelle.”

I smiled. “Nice to meet you both.”

I liked them already—they seemed warm, friendly, and easygoing.

Thank the Moon Goddess, I thought. At least I have good roommates.

I looked around. 

The room was nothing short of amazing—a state-of-the-art dormitory, fully equipped with everything one could need.

My gaze landed on a sleek, futuristic-looking heater mounted on the wall. My eyes widened in surprise.

“Is that a Heater 3000?” I asked, barely hiding my excitement.

“Yup!” they replied in sync.

“This place gets really, really cold during certain periods,” Annabelle explained. “So, it’s kinda necessary.”

I nodded, still in awe.

Twilight Academy was already proving to be more than I ever imagined.

Before I could take in more, one of the twins darted toward me. I wasn’t even sure if it was Mirabelle or Annabelle—they were nearly identical.

“This is your bed space,” she announced cheerfully, patting the neatly made bed by the window. “And this is your closet.”

“Welcome!” The other twin suddenly threw her arms around me in an enthusiastic hug. I froze, completely taken aback.

She pulled away just as fast, beaming. I was still too stunned to react.

“Well then, get unpacking!” she chirped, twirling around before hopping onto her own bed.

“Sorry about my twin,” the other one said with an apologetic smile. “She gets… excitable.” She glanced at Mirabelle, who was now spinning in circles as if she were in a world of her own. “She’s a bit much, but you’ll get used to her.”

I exhaled a soft laugh, shaking my head. “She’s really bubbly.”

Annabelle just grinned. “Yeah, that’s one way to put it. Anyway, we’ll let you settle in.”

As they moved away, I sighed and knelt beside my suitcase, unzipping it to start unpacking. The soft glow of the overhead lights bathed my small corner in warmth, and for the first time in a long while, I felt… peace. I had a really good feeling about this place

Classes were to start tomorrow and I was excited. 

I slid open the closet door, ready to hang my clothes, when I froze.

Wait.

I had to secure those essentials mom packed for me. 

She had packed them in a separate bag. 

Frowning, I reached into the Twilight Academy duffel bag, but instead, my fingers brushed against something solid and unfamiliar. 

Wait what?

My heart sank.

I yanked the bag open and peered inside.

This… isn’t mine.

Among the items was a crisp, masculine uniform, the academy crest stitched neatly onto the fabric.

 I dug deeper, feeling the unfamiliar weight of a razor, a black leather wallet, and—a silver wristwatch. 

I groaned, letting myself fall back against my bed. How in the world did I end up with this bag?

James probably handed me his bag instead. Which meant he had mine!

I started chewing on my lips nervously. 

I'd just come and soon I would also be renowned as a weirdo here.

“Something wrong?” Mirabelle asked, suddenly appearing beside me.

I looked up at her, feeling completely defeated. “I—” I sighed. “I must have switched belongings with one of the tryout students. This bag belongs to someone else.”

"Who's bag is that?!" Annabelle suddenly exclaimed, eyes widening as she leaned in for a closer look.

I glanced at her, startled by her reaction.

"Don't tell me…" she muttered, trailing off as if her thoughts were racing.

Then, just as quickly, she shook her head, brushing it off with a small smile. "No, it couldn't be."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "You said it's one of the tryout candidates, right?"

I nodded.

"Then it's probably nothing," she said, though something flickered in her expression before she forced a casual shrug. "Still… should I come with you?"

I hesitated. The offer surprised me. Was this… friendship?

"Nah, I'll be fine," I replied, feeling awkward but oddly touched by her willingness to help. I wasn’t used to people offering to walk with me.

Plus if he had seen what was in my bag and was searching for me, I'd rather the exchange be done without other people being there

So as to keep the contents under wraps. 

"Alright," she said, waving it off. 

"Thanks," I murmured.

You can ask the porters to help you find the owner since you all just arrived, Annabelle had suggested.

But as I made my way downstairs, my plan immediately hit a snag—the porter desk was completely empty.

I hovered there for a moment, shifting my weight from foot to foot. What now?

"Are you supposed to be here?"

A sultry, condescending voice drifted toward me, and I turned to find a tall blonde girl waltzing over with an air of effortless authority.

She probably held some position here, but her expression told me everything I needed to know—she wasn’t friendly.

"I need help," I sighed, deciding to keep things simple.

Her perfectly arched brow lifted slightly. "Help?"

"Yeah," I said. "I need to get to the male lodges. I have someone’s stuff."

At that, a small group of girls—who had been standing around nearby—suddenly took interest, moving in closer.

The blonde girl’s smirk widened, like a predator scenting something amusing.

"Let me guess," she purred. "Some little tryout with big dreams?"

I tensed.

She tilted her head. "Why exactly do you want to go there? Hoping to snag yourself a high-ranking wolf on your first day?"

The way she looked me up and down sent irritation prickling through my skin.

I already didn’t like her.

I took a slow breath, keeping my voice calm. "I just need to return something."

"To whom?" she pressed, still smirking.

I clutched the bag even tighter debating whether to answer, but she waved a dismissive hand before I could.

"Not necessary," she said airily, then crossed her arms, her smirk turning saccharine sweet. "If you're looking for your fellow tryout, go to Preston Lodge."

I hesitated for a moment, and she must have noticed because her smile widened, all sugar and venom.

The way she said it made it feel like a warning. Or a test. The girl standing next to her seemed like she was about saying something but she closed her mouth shut. 

Weird.

"That's where all the tryout males are staying,tryout." She said with a smack of her lips. 

I sighed but didn’t give her the satisfaction of reacting. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked away.

I could still feel their eyes on me, like a pack of wolves circling a lone deer.

********

"I think you went too far this time," one of Chrissy's friends muttered dryly, crossing her arms as she watched the newbie disappear down the hall.

Chrissy just flicked her hair over her shoulder, unbothered. "Please," she drawled. 

"She's looking for high ranking males to rub shoulders with, why not send her to the highest one, the prince himself?" She muttered with an evil smirk. 

"What'd I miss?" The third member of their little group strolled up, curiosity flashing in her hazel eyes.

The other girl gestured in the direction of the retreating freshman. "Chrissy sent a tryout to Preston."

The newcomer blinked. "Wait—and 

 she actually went?!"

"She's not supposed to go there!" another girl whispered, glancing around as if someone might overhear. 

Chrissy's smirk curled at the edges, eyes glittering with something wicked. "I know."

She knew exactly what she was doing.

And she couldn’t wait to watch.