2

Chapter 2

The morning breeze whispered through the trees, making them bow gently as if in greeting. Birds chirped overhead, their wings flitting through beams of sunlight that danced across the shack’s weathered roof.

Talia lay still on a hard wooden bed, her lips cracked, her skin pale. The red dress clung to her like a second skin.

Beside her sat a boy with bushy hair, an uneven beard, and ocean-blue eyes sunken into bony cheeks. His clothes were stained with dirt and dried blood, like he’d worn them through a war and back.

Suddenly, her eyes shot open. She gasped and bolted upright, her body trembling as if it remembered death before life.

"Talia! You're awake! Oh, thank the moon goddess!" the boy breathed, pulling her into a shaky hug. His lashes fluttered, trying to blink back tears clinging to the corners of his eyes.

“Lucien?” she choked out. “It worked? You found me?”

He nodded, and she clung to him, overwhelmed. He had kept his promise.

“Everything went just like we planned,” he said, pulling out of the hug.

“At one point, I really thought you were... dead. Talia! You were out cold for six hours!”

He tossed supplies into a bag made of animal hide. 

“Six hours?!” she gasped, hand flying to her mouth.

“The grave diggers came just like we arranged. And as we guessed, your uncle didn’t want anyone knowing it was a suicide.”

Lucien paused, facing her now.

“He told them to bury you in secret… in the woods.”

“They buried an empty coffin. We received your body,” Lucien said quietly.

Talia slid off the bed and rushed into his arms. He stumbled back a little, nearly tripping over a wooden chair. After a brief hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her as she pressed her head to his chest.

His cheeks flushed tomato-red, and his heart thudded hard beneath her ear.

“Come on... we must hurry. The carriage will be here soon,” he mumbled, trying to mask how flustered she made him.

She stepped back slowly, giving him space. He rummaged through the clutter, fingers twitching with urgency until he found a dagger and motioned for her to sit.

She obeyed, sitting still as he began cutting her hair.

"Talia, I told you before, that if you're caught, faking your death to escape your fate, you'd..." he paused. 

"Be executed" she finished for him and sighed. "I know... I signed up for this. I'd rather die than be Alpha Creed's luna"

Lucien didn’t respond. He just kept trimming in silence.

Talia exhaled deeply. A strange weight sat on her chest. She’d planned this for months, but now that it was happening, something inside her trembled.

“You’ll take the identity of Sage Storm,” he said finally. “You’ll enroll at Alpha Crest Academy--”

She spun around to face him, brows furrowed. “What?”

Their eyes locked, which made him nervous and he quickly looked away. 

“Isn’t that the school for the Elite? I’m an omega, Lucien. That’s suicide. Real suicide.” Her voice wavered as a cold breeze crept through the shack.

The same academy Alina was supposed to go that made her uncle sell her off to Alpha Creed. 

“It’s the only place they won’t think to look for you,” Lucien said. “You can’t stay here with us. We’re rogue outcasts. The Council will kill us on sight.”

He looked her in the eyes. “That school... it’s your only chance.”

Talia clenched her fists, trying to reach out to her wolf, but there was nothing. 

“I can’t feel her,” she whispered. “Titi’s gone.”

“She’s still there. It’s the potion. It numbs the bond for a while. She’ll come back.”

She nodded faintly, watching strands of hair fall to the ground like dead leaves. Her fingers twitched. Doubt clawed at her chest.

Was this really the right path?

“What about my omega scent? I’ll be exposed the second I walk in there.”

“Wolfsbane. I’ll give you enough to mask your scent. When you run out, send a letter. Quietly.”

He paused. “But you have to be careful. You’re not just hiding-- you’re taking someone’s life. Sage Storm is the Beta’s son from Blue Claw Pack.”

“Where is he?” she asked.

“No one knows. He rebelled and disappeared. His father thinks he’s at Alpha Crest, but he never went. We’ve kept eyes out for him.”

“And if he comes back? If someone finds out I’m a fraud?”

“He won’t,” Lucien said with a wink. His smile was crooked, revealing a few blackened teeth. “And if he does… we’ll handle it.”

Just then, the door creaked open and a scruffy boy peeked inside.

“Master Lucien, the carriage is here,” he said.

“Thanks, Oscar,” Lucien waved him off, then turned to Talia. “Your clothes are in that bag. Get dressed.”

He stepped outside, giving her a moment alone.

She muttered a silent prayer to the moon goddess while taking off the red dress.

A few minutes later, Talia stepped out of the shack with the animal-skin bag slung over her shoulder.

She was dressed in a loose checkered shirt and faded knicker shorts, her chest tightly bound beneath the fabric. The belt cinched her waist just enough, but from a distance, she could pass as a wiry boy.

"Perfect," Lucien said with a proud smile, walking up to her. A few rogue boys stood nearby, watching in silence.

"My mother’s locket... I can’t find it." Her voice cracked. She lowered her gaze, chewing the inside of her cheek. "It’s the only thing I have left of them."

Lucien’s smile faltered. “Talia... you can’t go back. It’s too dangerous.”

"But--"

"You’re already dead, remember? Going back now would undo everything.”

Talia clenched her jaw. She knew he was right. Still, the ache in her chest only deepened.

He helped her onto the carriage, steadying her as she climbed in. The moment her foot hit the wooden floorboard, something inside her shifted. 

This was it. No turning back.

"Alpha Crest Academy isn’t far from town," Lucien said, avoiding her eyes now. "The driver knows what to do."

“Good luck, Talia,” he muttered. “Or… Sage.”

The carriage jerked forward, wheels creaking against the forest path.

Talia leaned out one last time. Lucien gave her a small wave, and she raised her fingers in return. 

*.*

ALPHA CREST ACADEMY

The office smelled like old paper and something minty. Talia stood there, sweat rolling down her spine, trying not to fidget under the sharp eyes of the woman behind the desk.

Mrs. Doris looked over the letter slowly, lips pursed like she'd just bitten into something sour. Her eyes flicked up, scanning Talia from head to toe.

“You were supposed to be here two weeks ago,” she said finally, her voice flat.

“I--uh-- got lost ma'am” Talia said, forcing her voice deeper. It sounded wrong in her own ears.

Mrs. Doris didn’t blink. “Call me Mrs. Doris.” She handed Talia a small card. “Wing E. That’s your dorm. Your uniform will be sent there.”

Talia nodded quickly. “Thank you, Mrs Doris”

Mrs. Doris narrowed her eyes slightly, sniffed the air like she smelled something off, then muttered, “Odd… no scent.”

Talia’s heart jumped. Did she notice? But the woman just waved her off, but her gaze remained on Talia, trying to figure out something. 

“Assembly starts in two hours. Derek, the Wing Prefect, will take you there.”

Talia stepped back, trying to breathe normally. She’d done it. Her hands were cold and clammy, and her chest ached from the tight band.

"If I fooled her, maybe I can fool the rest too..." Talia let out a small grin, her first real one in days. She was still riding the relief when she almost collided with someone just outside the office door.

“Whoa-- careful,” the boy said, steadying himself. He looked about her age, maybe a little older, with a friendly face and an easy smile.

She blinked up at him, still trying to get her footing.

“Hi. I’m Derek,” he said, offering a handshake.

She stared at his hand for a second too long before snapping back. 

Right. Boys shake hands. She took it quickly and muttered, “I’m Ta-- Sage. Sage Storm.”

He chuckled. “New kid nerves. No worries.”

His grip was firm, but not rough. Talia tried to focus on his face, and not on how much she was sweating under her disguise.

“Come on, Sage. I’ll show you to your dorm,” Derek said, already turning down the hall.

She followed, as she gaped around, the towering stone walls, the metal trim, the way sunlight filtered in through high arched windows. 

Ivy crept along the edges outside, and somewhere across the courtyard stood a tall wolf statue, proud and weathered by time.

A few boys passed by, either chatting in low tones or glued to their own thoughts. No one paid her much attention, and for once, that was a good thing.

“Here we are,” Derek finally said, stopping in front of a door. A metal plaque read Wing E. The he knocked twice and waited. 

They heard footsteps approached, and the door creaked open. 

A tall boy stood in the doorway, towel wrapped around his waist, water dripping from his dark hair. His chest was bare and broad, with faintly visible abs.

His eyes barely flicked to Talia before turning to Derek.

Talia froze, with her heart slamming against her ribs. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, but not before stealing one last glance.

“You coming in or what?” he said flatly, then disappeared into the room, walking straight to the bathroom. 

His voice rattled her, his aura and the way he walked was intimidating. 

“Who was that?” she asked quietly, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door. 

Derek smirked. “Damon Creed. Son of Alpha Talone Creed.”

Her blood ran cold and her throat went dry as she stood motionless at the mention of Alpha Talone Creed. 

“Lucky you huh? He's the alpha's heir” Derek said cheerfully, and gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder. 

She winced but quickly masked it, turning her face away so he wouldn’t see the flash of pain.

“He’ll be your roommate,” he added casually with a shrug as she turned swiftly to look at him. 

“What?!” Titi screamed in her head, finally surfacing.