His ACADEMY’S LUNA

2

JASMINE

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The door creaked open, and she strutted in. Her gold hair pulled into a tight bun.

My eyes drifted to the corners as I followed her movements.

She dropped the tray of food on the dresser beside the bed like she was throwing food at a dog.

She turned, her green eyes shooting me a glacial look. “Don’t take this as an act of kindness,” she spat, “Dad forced me to bring the food, I couldn't care less whether a half breed likes you to eat or die.”

I rose to my feet and brushed the dust off my body.

She scoffed. “Oh please, the floor is cleaner than you.”

My lips pressed into a thin line. I knew her type. I’d encounter them in high school. The ones that walk around thinking the world owes them.

She closed the space between, and she was just an inch taller. She used it, tilting her chin down, like she was measuring my worth.

“If you know what is good for you,” she said, “you should leave. Crawl back to whatever dark hole you came from. I hated half breeds like you.”

The feeling was mutual, I hated her kind.

She exhaled. “I mean I couldn't believe he would ruin my life like this,” she muttered, more to herself than to me. “I had waited for this moment all my life. My time in Blackthorne Academy, and now he ruins it by bringing you in.” Her sharp gaze returned to me. “Do you really have to go to Blackthorne Academy with me?”

A shiver tore my spine. Blackthorne. It was an Elite boarding school where werewolves attend before going to college. I only knew about it, because we were plotting to attack it.

I spun around and marched out of the room. My eyes swept across the hallways, and as soon as I saw the stairs, I descended.

I followed the noise and found myself standing in the dining area. My father sat at the head of the table, and a blonde woman, around my mother’s age sat at the other end.

“You’re sending me away,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’ve barely been here, and you’re sending me off.”

My father's eyes snapped to my half-sister, who was now standing behind me. “Charlotte, I thought I told you to keep your mouth shut.”

Charlotte shrugged and sat beside her brother, who looked the same age as her, the resemblance uncanny.

And then I saw it. The full picture of his happy family. All the time, I thought he was dead—all the time other kids talked about their father, while I cried and mourned a man I had never met—he was here, eating dinner with them.

“Are you sending me off, because you think I’d ruin your family,” I gritted.

The air turned cold, everyone’s eyes boring into my skin.

The chair creaked as my father rose. “Jasmine, study now.”

Before I could argue, his hand clamped around me. His grip—neither hard nor soft. He pulled me through the hallways and into a room.

As he shut the door, I told him. “I’m not going. I’m not going to a school full of wolves.”

“Why?” My father stared at me. “Because you hate wolves.”

My stomach twisted, and I took an inch back.

“Do you hate me, Jasmine?”

His question was like a slap to my face. Ignoring all the conflicting sting it stirred, I held his gaze. “I’m a hunter. Hunters are like day and wolves are like the night—they can never co-exist,” I quoted.

“You’re not a hunter—not anymore.” A vein bulged at his temple. “You’re one of us. You’re my daughter.”

The air trembled in my lungs.

“That’s why I’m sending you there,” he said, “so you can mingle with other wolves. Undo the brainwashing those people had done.” He drew close, his voice softening. “So you can learn to accept yourself.”

Accept myself for who I am?

I shook my head.

“The arrangements had been made, In two days you’ll be leaving.” His tone was final.

I clenched my fist so hard plain flared. “Fine, have it your way.”

I stomped out, past the dining area, up the stairs two steps at a time.

Entering my room, I crawled into the bed and tugged the blanket over my head.

A prickling heat swelled in my chest and I began to cry again.

I hated this house. I hated him. I hated the wolves at Blackthorne Academy.

Most of all I hated myself.

I felt her presence, the wolf, comforting me. ‘We would be fine,’ she said.

I should’ve felt awful, but somehow I didn’t feel alone.

—————————

Two days passed and the day arrived. It didn’t matter if I was ready or not, the sun still rose, the car still drove and I found myself standing in front of the Blackthorne Academy’s administration block, clutching the hand of my luggage.

The school had informed us not to bother bringing clothes, that they’d provide them.

‘Don’t you feel excited, I feel excited,’ Nyra, my wolf said, swirling in me. ‘This is it. This is where we find our mate. Our true love…”

‘So excited I could die,’ I said flatly, dragging my feet down the hallway.

Two days, and I was already getting used to her voice constantly yapping in my head. I had also named Nyra, but that didn’t mean I had accepted her.

‘Wait, what? No. You can’t die,’ she said, ‘we haven’t had our first kiss. Hold hands and go on dates. Eat chocolates—”

‘First of all, you don’t have hands. Secondly, wolves are allergic to chocolate.’

‘Thanks for alerting me, smart head, I’ll experience them through you,’ she purred like she was bored. ‘What sin did I commit to end with a buzz kill like you?’

‘The feeling is mutual.’

The hallways opened into a large hall. Sunlight filtered through, falling on the sea of students—Wolves.

The contrast was jarring. While Nyra was excited, snapping at any voice she heard, my stomach twisted with unease.

Across the hall, I saw charlotte. Girls surrounding her like she was their sun and they were orbiting planets.

‘Let’s go and say hi,’ Nyra urged.

‘She warned me not to come near her; she didn’t want anyone to know we were related.’

‘And that’s why we should do it.’

Ignoring her, I kept scanning for the healers' track registration desk.

My plan was, once I enrol I’ll find the right herb and get rid of this parasite in me.

‘Ugh. You’re the most boring person I have ever met. No wonder you haven’t had your first kiss. Who’d wanna kiss an uptight brick like you?”

I frowned. ‘Enjoy your time, I’m getting rid of you.’

She snorted. ‘Oh please, if I could I would have packed my furs and ghosted you.’

I turned sharply and bumped into someone, my shoulders hitting solid muscles.

“Sorry,” I muttered, crouching.

His papers were scattered across the space between us. When I reached out to help, my fingers grazed his.

It was just a touch, yet a sizzling current sparked through me and I froze.

Our eyes locked, and my heart thudded. So loud, I feared he might have heard.

Was this—

Was this our—