Chapter 2
liselle
The ride to the Academy was silent, save for the low hum of the car’s engine. Ethan’s mood was thunderous, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he tried to figure out how to protect me from what lay ahead.
I had my own thoughts–namely, Nathaniel.
The last time I’d seen Nate was two years ago, on… that night. He hadn’t said a word. Just disappeared, leaving behind confusion, heartbreak, and a thousand unanswered questions.
Now, we were heading straight for the place where he’d been hiding from me. I didn’t know what I expected–apologies? Answers? Or maybe just the satisfaction of showing him I wasn’t the fragile girl he’d left behind.
We had been travelling for exactly 13 hours and 20 minutes, and I was over it. An hour by car to the airport from home, 12 hours on flights and the last 20 minutes sitting in yet another car. The Academy was local on the secluded isle of Irandor–where the werewolf council existed too.
Most of it was forest and the reception was shit. I was trying to get my last few minutes of cell time, but it was no use. It made me wonder if they purposely didn’t invest in proper cell signal, considering the alphas in training had no communication with the outside world.
But, let’s just say, when my phone rang and I realised my parents had found the note I left, I wasn’t complaining about the bad signal.
I’d see them again, I told myself and also them. I had to.
When the Academy’s towering gates came into view, a mix of fear and exhilaration churned in my stomach. The wrought iron bars were adorned with silver etchings of wolves mid–shift, and the emblem of the moon rested proudly at the top. Beyond the gates, the sprawling campus loomed, its stone buildings surrounded by dense forest. It was both beautiful and foreboding.
The driver parked the car and Ethan turned to me, his expression dark. “Last chance to back out.”
“Not happening.” I said, grabbing my bag.
The gates groaned open as we approached, and the weight of what I was about to face settled heavily on my shoulders. But amidst the anxiety, one thought burned brightly:
What will Nate think when he sees me?
The Academy’s orientation was a whirlwind of introductions and regulations. No communication with the outside world. No leaving the grounds until graduation or otherwise permitted. Bi–weekly challenges designed to weed out the weak. The reality of it all was suffocating, but I held my head high, determined not to let my nerves show.
There were a few females here and there, though not half enough compared to males.
Ethan’s presence was a small comfort, though he was quickly swept into the crowd of seasoned trainees. Meanwhile, I was left to navigate on my own. That’s when I saw him.
Nathaniel Morningstar.
He stood across the training yard, his tall frame as imposing as I remembered. Dark hair fell across his forehead, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the crowd with the precision of a predator.
How the hell was it possible that he was more beautiful now than he was two years ago? He had a few scars now, a few on his arms, one across his check, and his once fair skin was warmer–smoother.
He had his arms crossed over his chest as he spoke to a few people I assumed were first years like me, considering they had the same look of excitement that second, third and fourth years didn’t. I don’t think I have ever seen so much muscle on one person. And maybe it was because he was my mate, and my wolf had finally stirred from being so sad the past two years, but my knees instantly became jelly, and my eyes slightly watered.
Nate was… perfect.
As if finally sensing me in the sea of people, his head snapped around the courtyard, his eyes wide and alert.
When his gaze landed on me, his entire body stiffened. For a moment, neither of us moved. It was like the hundreds of wolves around us ceased to exist, and it was just us in that moment.
Chapter 2
Maybe I imagined it, and I’m sure that I did, but the emotions that flickered across his face caused my feet to twitch, and I took a step forward.
Then his expression hardened, and he turned away as if I didn’t exist.
The ache in my chest was sharp and immediate, but I pushed it down.
Fine. Let him pretend, I thought bitterly. Let him act like that night never happened. I thought he was just a confused kid back then. But now he was a man–2 years of alpha training already embedded in him.
If he wanted to play stubborn, we’ll play stubborn. We both knew that he’d be stuck with me for the next two years until he graduated, anyway.
I was already in, so there was no way out except in a body bag, or as an Alpha.
“Are you on Silver Claw dorm?” A voice said from behind me, startling me with a jump.
I swerved around, seeing a beautiful, tall girl standing behind me, her brown eyes wide and expectant, but also looking bored out her mind.
“Um. sorry?” I questioned, unsure of her query.
She gestured to the silver key card I had clenched in my hand that we received after registering. I didn’t pay enough attention to see that it had the dorm and room number on it too. It was a multipurpose key, for class and dorms.
Oh,” I said as I glanced at it, realising that other wolves around had other colour cards. “Yes.”
“Good,” she mumbled dryly as she grabbed it, reading its contents. “Jiselle, nice to meet you. I’m Eva.”
“Nice you meet you, Eva.” I said with a genuine smile as her lips twitched a little upwards.
“Likewise,” she muttered. “I’m happy to see at least a few females in this sexist as hell school. And lucky for us, we’re roommates,” she announced, showing me her card with the same room number as mine.
I breathed a breath of relief. I was half terrified that I’d have to room with someone unbearable, but Eva seemed… nice, despite her… unique personality.
She looped her arm in mine, pulling me towards the line that went directly into the school, with wolves with huge boxes collecting our devices, watches–anything to connect us to the outside world.
Gosh, what is this, military school?” I scoffed as Eva snorted.
“More likea prison. I can’t believe people are actually excited to be here.”
I glanced up at her. “Why did you come then?” I didn’t mean it offensively, and I’m glad she didn’t take it as such. She smirked, popping her gum.
“To show my asshole brothers that I’m not some weak, feeble female whose only goal in life is to find her mate and make babies.” She rolled her eyes. “i have seven, three are already here, two graduated, two younger than me and starting next year.”
I laughed. “My brother is here too. He’s my twin. I sort of came for the same reason,” I semi–lied. But sure, a part of me wanted to prove them all
wrong.
She tilted her head, examining me. “Twin huh? If you’re such a snack, maybe he’s-”
“Gosh, please don’t.” I laughed. “That’s my brother, ew!”
She joined in my laugh and hers was beautiful. I could already tell we’d be good friends.
“Don’t worry, Jiselle. We’ll be fine and prove all of these assholes wrong.”
