جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

Luna stood in her bedroom staring at an empty duffel bag.What do you pack when you're leaving your entire life behind?Her father had said not much. They'd provide everything at Silverwood. But she couldn't just leave with nothing. She couldn't walk away from sixteen years with empty hands.She grabbed a hoodie from her closet. Miguel's hoodie, actually. He'd left it here months ago and she'd never given it back. It still smelled like him. Like his cologne and laundry detergent and something else that was just Miguel.She folded it carefully and placed it in the bag.A knock at the door."Luna? Can I come in?" Her mother's voice. Soft. Broken."Yeah."The door opened. Her mother looked like she'd aged ten years in the last hour. Her eyes were red. Her hands twisted together."I brought you some things. Basics. Toiletries. A few changes of clothes."She set a small pile on the bed.Luna picked up a framed photo from her nightstand. Her and Miguel at homecoming. Both of them smiling. Bo

Orientation lasted two hours.Luna sat in the Great Hall with the other first years while Headmaster Sterling explained rules, schedules, and expectations.Don't shift without permission.Don't leave campus without authorization.Don't enter the forbidden forest.Don't challenge students above your rank.The list went on.Luna's head spun trying to remember everything.Nova sat beside her, taking notes frantically. "This is insane. How are we supposed to remember all this?""I have no idea."Sterling dismissed them at ten. "First years report to the training grounds. Your physical assessment begins in fifteen minutes. Don't be late."Students filed out of the Great Hall. Luna followed the crowd toward the back of the building.The training grounds were outside. A massive open field surrounded by forest. Equipment scattered across the grass. Obstacle courses. Climbing walls. Fighting rings marked with white chalk.And professors. Lots of professors. All of them watching as students gath

Luna hadn't been asleep long when the bell rang.Not the curfew bell. Something different. Deeper. More resonant.It echoed through the building, pulling her from uneasy dreams.Nova sat up in bed. "Moon Circle.""What?""The ceremony. It's tonight. I completely forgot." Nova scrambled out of bed and started pulling on clothes. "We have to go. Now. It's mandatory for all students."Luna's body felt heavy. Exhausted from training and stress. "Can't we skip it?""No. Absolutely not. Missing Moon Circle means automatic detention. And detention here is brutal."Luna groaned but dragged herself out of bed. She dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and a hoodie.Her mark tingled. Warm beneath her sleeve.They left the dorm and joined the stream of students heading downstairs. Everyone moved in silence. Some looked excited. Others looked terrified."What exactly happens at Moon Circle?" Luna asked."Ritual. Transformation practice. The full moon amplifies our wolf side. Makes it easier to shift.

Luna made it back to her dorm without getting caught.She collapsed into bed still shaking from the forest encounter. Nova didn't wake. Luna didn't sleep.By morning, her body ached. Her mind raced with images of red eyes and golden eyes and creatures that shouldn't exist.She said nothing to Nova about where she'd been.Training started at six AM as usual.Luna dragged herself to the grounds. Ryder was already there. Waiting."You look terrible," he said."Good morning to you too.""I'm serious. What happened?""Bad night. Couldn't sleep."Ryder studied her. His eyes narrowed. "You went into the forest."Luna's stomach dropped. "What? No. I—""Don't lie to me. I can smell it on you. Pine. Earth. Something else. Something that doesn't belong on campus." He stepped closer. "What did you encounter out there?""I don't know what you're talking about.""Luna." His voice went hard. "The forbidden forest is forbidden for a reason. Students die in there. First years especially. What were you

Luna gave up on sleep around two in the morning.She sat up in bed and stared out the window. The forest was dark. Silent. No golden eyes tonight. No shadowy watchers.Just trees and moonlight."You okay?"Nova's voice came from the other bed. Soft. Concerned."I thought you were asleep.""I was. Until you started crying."Luna touched her face. Her cheeks were wet. She hadn't even realized."Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.""Don't apologize." Nova sat up and turned on the small lamp between their beds. Soft light filled the room. "You were crying in your sleep. Having nightmares?""Not exactly. I had a dream about Miguel. My boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. I don't even know what he is anymore.""The human boy from your birthday?""Yeah." Luna pulled her knees to her chest. "It felt real. Like we were actually talking. He told me things are happening back home. People going missing. Weird animal behavior. He thinks it's connected to me. To my mark."Nova was quiet for a moment. "Dream-links