Mooncrest

‎

‎Lena

‎

‎The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was that I wasn't in my old room.

‎For a few seconds, I simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above me, my mind still caught between sleep and reality.

‎Then everything came rushing back.

‎The mansion.

‎The move.

‎My mother's marriage.

‎Alpha Alexander.

‎My new life.

‎I slowly sat up on the bed and looked around the room.

‎It was beautiful.

‎Almost too beautiful.

‎The curtains were made from a fabric I couldn't even name, the furniture looked like something from a luxury magazine, and the large window gave me a perfect view of the endless forest surrounding the estate.

‎In my old room, I could hear the sound of my neighbor's dog barking every morning.

‎Here, the only sound was the gentle breeze moving through the trees.

‎It was strange.

‎Quiet.

‎Different.

‎I hugged my pillow for a moment and sighed.

‎"Okay, Lena. New house. New life. Don't panic."

‎I said the words to myself like they were a reminder.

‎My mother had finally found happiness.

‎That was the most important thing.

‎I couldn't spend my time feeling uncomfortable just because everything was unfamiliar.

‎With that thought, I got out of bed and started preparing for the day.

‎Today was my first official morning as part of the Alexander household.

‎And somehow, I had a feeling it was going to be unforgettable.

‎When I walked downstairs, I immediately realized just how different my old life and my new one were.

‎The dining room was enormous.

‎A long table stretched across the room, with more chairs than my entire house back home had furniture.

‎There were plates arranged perfectly, glasses shining under the morning light, and servants quietly moving around.

‎I suddenly became very aware of myself.

‎Back home, breakfast was usually my mother and me sitting at our small kitchen table while she complained about how I never ate enough vegetables.

‎This felt like I had stepped into another world.

‎"Good morning, Lena."

‎I looked up and saw Alexander my mother's husband standing near the table with a warm smile.

‎Unlike his intimidating presence when I first met him, he always seemed different around my mother and me.

‎More relaxed.

‎More human.

‎"Good morning," I replied with a small smile.

‎My mother was already seated, and the happiness on her face made me feel better.

‎She looked like a woman who had finally found something she thought she lost forever.

‎I sat beside her.

‎"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

‎I nodded.

‎"Surprisingly, yes."

‎She smiled.

‎"Good."

‎I looked at the amount of food in front of me.

‎"Although I think your new kitchen is trying to feed an entire army."

‎My mother laughed.

‎Alexander chuckled.

‎"I'll tell them to prepare less next time."

‎I smiled.

‎For a moment, it felt normal.

‎Not like I was sitting in a stranger's mansion.

‎Not like my entire life had changed overnight.

‎Just a family having breakfast together.

‎Then Alexander placed his cup down and looked at me.

‎"Lena, I have some good news for you."

‎My curiosity immediately grew.

‎"Good news?"

‎He nodded.

‎"I've arranged for you to attend Mooncrest Academy."

‎I blinked.

‎"Mooncrest?"

‎Even I had heard of that school.

‎Everyone had.

‎It wasn't just a regular school.

‎It was the most prestigious academy in the region.

‎Only students from powerful families, influential backgrounds, and exceptional talents attended.

‎The kind of place I never imagined I would enter.

‎"Wait... I'm going there?"

‎Alexander smiled.

‎"Yes."

‎A smile slowly appeared on my face.

‎I couldn't help it.

‎For the first time since arriving, something felt exciting.

‎A school meant a fresh start.

‎New people.

‎New friends.

‎A chance to create my own identity instead of being known as the daughter of my mother's new husband.

‎"That's amazing."

‎My mother reached over and squeezed my hand.

‎"I knew you would like it."

‎I nodded happily.

‎"I really do."

‎Maybe this wasn't the end of my old life.

‎Maybe it was the beginning of something better.

‎I had spent years in a small town where everyone knew my name.

‎Maybe now I could discover who I really was.

‎I didn't notice the footsteps coming from the hallway.

‎I didn't notice someone standing there for a brief moment.

‎But Alexander did.

‎"Adrian."

‎The name caught my attention.

‎I turned slightly.

‎But before I could see who it was, the footsteps disappeared.

‎Alexander sighed quietly.

‎"That boy..."

‎My mother gave him a knowing look.

‎"He needs time."

‎I looked between them curiously.

‎Adrian.

‎The name was unfamiliar.

‎But judging by their expressions, whoever he was, he was important.

‎I didn't get the chance to ask.

‎

‎---

‎Adrian

‎

‎I had no interest in meeting my father's new family.

‎It wasn't because I hated them.

‎I didn't know them well enough to hate them.

‎I simply didn't care.

‎My father had made his choice.

‎He was happy.

‎That should have been enough.

‎But that didn't mean I wanted to sit at a breakfast table pretending we were some perfect family.

‎I preferred distance.

‎It was easier.

‎So instead of walking into the dining room, I took the back door.

‎The morning air hit my face as I stepped outside.

‎I adjusted my uniform and headed toward my car.

‎The driver opened the door, but I paused.

‎Something felt strange.

‎My wolf stirred.

‎Again.

‎I frowned.

‎Ever since last night, he had been restless.

‎And I knew exactly why.

‎Lena Whitmore.

‎My father's new daughter.

‎I didn't even know what she looked like.

‎I didn't know anything about her.

‎Yet my wolf reacted as if she was someone important.

‎Someone familiar.

‎Someone who belonged to me.

‎I hated the thought.

‎I didn't believe in things I couldn't control.

‎Especially something as unpredictable as fate.

‎I got into the car and closed the door.

‎Whatever was happening, I would figure it out.

‎But first, I had school.

‎And I had no idea that somewhere inside Mooncrest Academy...

‎A girl of whom I had no idea of was about to walk into my world.

‎And ruin the peaceful life I had built around myself.

‎

‎

‎Lena

‎

‎

‎By the time breakfast was over, I was still trying to process everything.

‎Mooncrest Academy.

‎The name alone sounded like a place that belonged to another world.

‎And apparently, I was going there.

‎I expected to spend the rest of the morning worrying about what I would wear or whether I had everything I needed, but when I returned to my room, I found everything already prepared.

‎A neatly arranged uniform was waiting for me.

‎Beside it were books, school supplies, and everything else a student could possibly need.

‎I stared at the items in surprise.

‎My new stepfather had thought of everything.

‎I still wasn't completely used to calling him family, but I had to admit one thing about Alpha Alexander.

‎He was thoughtful.

‎He wasn't just trying to give my mother a better life.

‎He was trying to make sure I had one too.

‎A small smile appeared on my face.

‎"Maybe this new life won't be as scary as I thought."

‎I quickly changed into my uniform and looked at myself in the mirror.

‎The girl staring back at me still looked like the same Lena Whitmore from the small town.

‎Same face.

‎Same personality.

‎Same dreams.

‎But everything around me had changed.

‎Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and prepared myself for my first day.

‎The moment I arrived at Mooncrest Academy, I understood why everyone talked about it.

‎The school was massive.

‎Not just big.

‎Massive.

‎The grand building stood proudly in front of me, with beautiful architecture that made it look more like a royal palace than a school.

‎For a moment, I simply stood there, staring.

‎Students filled the entrance.

‎Some arrived in expensive cars that probably cost more than my entire childhood home.

‎Others walked in groups, wearing confidence like they belonged there.

‎Everywhere I looked, I saw signs of wealth and power.

‎This was nothing like my old school.

‎This was a completely different world.

‎I tightened my grip on my bag.

‎For a second, doubt tried to creep in.

‎Would I fit in here?

‎Would people look at me and immediately know I didn't belong?

‎I pushed those thoughts away.

‎I had come this far.

‎I wasn't going to turn around now.

‎I took a deep breath.

‎"New school. New beginning."

‎I whispered the words to myself.

‎Then I stepped forward with determination.

‎