– First Day Trouble

Selene's POV

My eyes were stung with a flash of light, and I growled, rolling over away from it. My peace was ruined. "Moon Goddess, come on?" I growled. I opened one eye slowly, hoping against hope to see some miracle—a flat chest, zits, maybe a beard. No such luck. My mom stood over by the window over near the far side of the room, smiling tightly as she opened the curtains.

"Good morning, my love," she gasped,

I rubbed my face. "Mum, am I a boy?"

Her eyes flew wide in shock. "What?"

"Nothing," I covered quickly, pushing her away. "Forget I said anything mum."

She gave me a soft smile , and said nothing more. "I've come to help you pack your things, sweetie."

"No, no, no. I'll do it myself don’t worry ," I told her, already on my feet. "Just… go get me my favorite breakfast. I'll be downstairs in a bit."

She smiled wearily at me again. "Okay. Take your time."

After she'd left, I limped into the kitchen mirror. Same brown eyes. Same long black hair. Same bloody curves. "Still the same old Selene," I said to myself, exhaling. "Oh goddess do something."

I opened my closet and started stuffing my backpack with nothing but tomboy attire. Hoodies. Loose shirts. Loose jeans. If I was going to pull this off, I had to look like a boy. I could just get the rest from Liam anyways.

By the time I'd climbed down, I'd had a bundle hugged to my shoulder. I'd descended in a plain dress so no one would have any clue as to what was happening. Mom was setting out plates and Dad was sitting at the table, looking even paler, coughing into a handkerchief. His face was paler than yesterday.

"You’re dressed already?.”

"Yeah," I said, a smile slipped out of my lips

Mom looked at me. "Eat something, ."

"I will." I sat down, ate in silence, and got up when I'd finished. "Okay, I should be going father and mother ."

"Wait," Dad said, eyes narrowing. "You're not going on your own, are you Selene ?"

"Mum, Dad, for goodness' sake," I complained. "I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself."

"But it's your first day, Selene," Mom said softly. "At least let us—"

I'll be okay," I interrupted roughly. "I've got this mum , I promise."

They glanced at each other, and for a moment I experienced a stroke of guilt.

Dad finally nodded. "Okay. Just… be careful."

"I will," I told him, and pecked Mom on the forehead. "I'll make you proud I promise ."

And then I ran out before they change their mind.

As soon as I was outside, I went the opposite way to Liam's cabin.

⸻

I knocked on his door so hard the trees shook. "Liam! Open the bloody door!"

It creaked open, and he stood there—hair disheveled, sleep-crease lines on his face, bare chest. "Selene? You again ?"

I shoved him aside. "Your bloody spell didn't work !"

He rubbed his eyes. "Wait, what?"

"I said it didn't work! "I still have boobs. A sodding good one, too. What hell am I supposed to do now?"

He smiled, leaning against the wall. "Maybe the goddess likes you better this way."

"Don't play games with me, Liam. Not today."

He flung both arms out in front of him. "Okay, okay. Okay. Relax. Let me think."

He paced back and forth across his messy cabin, muttering to himself. "We need something quick… straightforward. Maybe—"

"Maybe what?" I prompted.

"Maybe we cloak you."

"Disguise?" I asked.

"Yup. If the spell's not caught up to us yet, we pretend until it does."

I crossed my arms. "And how, exactly , do we do that?"

He smiled, his eyes twinkling. "What makes you look like a girl ?"

"My brains?"

He chuckled. "Sense of humor. No, I mean looks."

I scowled. "My hair, I suppose."

"Yep!" He vanished off to look for scissors.

My eyes went wide. "Oh no. No way, Liam."

"Chill, it's just shoulder-length. You'll still be gorgeous," he taunted.

"Cut it and I swear I'm going to kill you."

"Too late." He cut before I could get out of his way.

"Liam!" I screamed, pulling out a clump of my freshly cut hair. "You psycho! That was my favorite part!"

"It'll grow back, sweetheart. Now stop being such a princess."

I glared. "You'd better hope so."

He just ignored me and said, "What else makes you look… girly?"

"My boobs," I said bluntly.

He grinned. "Exactly."

"Don't you even think—"

"Calm down! I'm not cutting them off!"

"Good, because I'd kill you."

"We'll just tie them up," he said, throwing a white cloth at me.

I glared at him. "We?"

He turned around in a flash. "Fine. You tie them up."

"Better," I snarled, tying them up securely. I tied them up and then looked at myself in his broken mirror. My chest was smooth, my hair short, and his tattered shirt had me smelling of him—smoke and herbs.

I loomed over him. "How do I look ?"

He looked me up and down, laughed so hard he was about to fall well not bad "

I threw his hat at him. "Shut up."

He ducked under, laughing. " You'll be fine. Just recall—don't swing your hips, don't talk too quickly, and walk like you despise life."

"Walk like Liam the great ," I growled, screwed up my face.

"Right," he said with a grin.

He filled a little bag with some spare clothes for me and handed them over. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "No need. Just threaten that old bat—if she messes this up, I'll haunt her myself, even if I am dead."

He grinned. "You're insane ."

"Screw you, I'm crazy," I retorted, and walked away. "Later, troublemaker."

I was jumpy when I drove up to Alpha Academy. Wolves were guarding the building—giant, muscle-bound ones, some half-shifted already, cracking their knuckles. I was gangly in comparison.

The gate guards spotted me. "Name?"

"Liam Damfort," I said hastily, attempting nonchalance, voicing softly.

A boy raised an eyebrow and sniffed. "You smell funny."

I shrugged. "Awful morning bath."

He inspected me up and down for a moment before flinging out his arm. "Next!"

I breathed a relieved sigh. "Close call."

Inside the academy, it was gigantic—stone buildings, training grounds, flags flying high. I couldn't turn without running into one of the strutting arrogant alphas posing like owners. I insisted on doing the same.

A woman behind the registration counter bellowed, "Next!"

I approached, handed her my letter. She read it and frowned. "You stink. strangely."

"Long story," I replied. "Had a rotten morning."

She wasn't playing like she was doing it seriously but didn't care enough to complain. "Cut your hand. We need a drop of blood for verification."

I growled. "Blood?"

"Yes. Everyone does it."

I pretended to cough. "Uh, yeah, about that—I'm kinda allergic to blood."

She blinked. "What?"

"Yeah. I pass out when I even glance at it."

She scanned my profile , releasing a breath. "Why isn’t it stated here ."

"Gotta have been a mistake. My mom mustn't've said it."

She glared at me but finally waved me away. "Tomorrow. Fine."

"Thanks, nice lady," I said, backing up in case she changed her mind.

Bag check next. The guard there looked at me suspiciously. "Strip."

I was flabbergasted. "Come again ?"

"Clothes off. Group ritual bath. It's tradition."

"WHAAT!!"

"Relax, it's optional."

"Oh, bless the goddess," I grumbled. "I'll pass."

He raised an eyebrow. "You’ve got nerves ."

"Get used to it," I grinned.

They laughed, shaking their heads. "You'll do just fine."

At last, they shoved me over to the board. "Go and get your room number and roommate information. Welcome to Alpha Academy."

"Thanks," I grumbled, standing up. My palms were sweaty as I scanned the list of names.

"Come on, where is it…" I growled, tracing my finger along the page.

And then I looked.

Liam Damfort – Room 204

Roommate:

My heart dropped when I saw the name at the end.

I hung up the phone. My chest felt tight. "You have got to be kidding me," I spat.

I held the edge of the board, not wanting to scream. "Why him?"