The Reborn Luna of SilverCrest Academy

The gates of Silvercrest Academy stood before me, tall and gleaming like they were daring anyone unworthy to enter. Students whispered that this was the kingdom of Alphas and Nobles, where the rich and powerful strutted like kings and queens. And then there was me—a scholarship omega, fragile and overlooked… At least, that’s what I wanted everyone to think. I held my scholarship letter tight, my knuckles white. I looked nervous on the outside but inside I was buzzing with excitement. Today wasn’t just any day. Today was the first step toward something I had been waiting for my whole life. Revenge. I took a deep breath and forced my shoulders to slump, my head tilted slightly down. By now I was used to it. Being reborn as an orphan, I was used to pretending. I was meek, fragile, and completely underestimated. Just perfect. A laugh drifted across the courtyard, cutting through my concentration. Two girls, perfectly coiffed with designer bags, were staring right at me. “She looks like she’s about to cry,” one whispered. “Or maybe she sells cookies for tuition money,” the other added, smirking. I pressed a hand against my chest to hide the laugh threatening to escape. Let them think that. Let them underestimate me. Every second they spent laughing at me made me sharper and stronger in the shadows. Because I wasn’t here to fit in. I wasn’t here to make friends or form connections. I was here for him. The name echoed in my head, a ghost from a life I barely remembered. Caelan Draven. I was fifteen when the memory of my first life came back to me in a dream so real that I woke up screaming. The night I was killed along with every member of my family and left to burn. Right now I could see my parents’ faces in the flickering fire, hear their cries loud and clear, and feel the heat burning my skin. He was always there, a man standing in the shadows, his smile cruel as he whispered my parents’ names. I woke up gasping, drenched in sweat, as my wolf thrashed inside me. There and there, I knew that it wasn’t just a dream. It was a memory. My past life bleeding through to this one. That night, I swore vengeance. My life would not be about survival. It would be about ending him. I kept my head down as I walked across the courtyard, pretending to shrink from the sharp eyes following me. My wolf, however, was thrilled. It sniffed the air, noting the scents of hundreds of students—Alphas with their pride, Betas with their cunning, and Omegas too naive to notice danger. “Hey, new girl!” a cheerful voice called out behind me. I turned to see a girl jogging toward me, her auburn hair bouncing in the sunlight with an infectious grin. “Don’t tell me you’re wandering around like a lost little lamb. I’m Mara—your unofficial tour guide and, probably, your sanity for the next year.” “I’m Lyra,” I said, keeping my voice low, timid. “Nice to meet you.” Mara raised an eyebrow. “Nice to meet you? That’s it? Come on, you’re the new scholarship girl! Everyone’s talking about you. Some are sympathetic, most are… well, let’s just say jealous. You want me to give you the real lowdown?” I forced a smile. “I’d appreciate that.” “Okay, first things first—you look way too calm for someone about to step into Silvercrest. Relax, breathe. And second—don’t let anyone see how excited you are.” She winked. “They’ll eat you alive if they smell ambition.” “I… I can handle it,” I said, forcing my shoulders to stay slumped. “Sure you can. Come on, I’ll show you to your dorm and then the principal’s office. If you don’t have a roommate yet, you can come to my dorm. I'm so lonely!” she drawled forcing me to laugh. As we walked, Mara jabbered about students, professors, and rumors floating through the academy. “Watch out for the golden Alphas—they strut like they own the sun. And the Betas? Some are sweet, most are plotting. The professors… oh, don’t get me started on Professor Draven. He’s untouchable. Everyone whispers about him, but no one dares cross him. Treat him like a volcano—admire from a distance, or get burned if you go too close.” I nodded, though I barely heard her. My mind was elsewhere, picturing Draven’s face from the dream—his sharp smile, the fire, the whispered names. Every step toward Silvercrest’s heart was a step closer to him. We reached the dorm, a stately building with polished floors and tall windows that reflected the morning sun. Mara swung open the door. “Here we are! Bed by the window is yours if you want. View of the courtyard. Perfect for… watching people.” I laughed softly. “Sounds good.” She clapped her hands. “Excellent. Now, we can hit the principal’s office before the chaos of the day starts. Trust me, it’s easier when you don’t have a dozen of gossiping Alphas in your face.” The office was a short walk from the dorms. A secretary sat at a front desk, typing rapidly. She glanced at me briefly as I handed over the envelope. “Here you go,” I said softly. “Thank you, Miss Veyra,” she said, returning a polite smile. “The headmaster will see you shortly.” I nodded and turned toward the doors marked with silver runes. Mara leaned close and whispered, “Brace yourself. He’s… something else.” Taking a deep breath, I pushed the doors open. Once inside, a strange feeling crept all over me. There was something off about this place. The energy in the room seemed to make me tensed. I ignored the weird feelings and looked around. The office was a mix of warm light and shadows. A massive desk sat near the back, cluttered but imposing. And behind it, Dorian Hale. Broad-shouldered, silver-streaked hair, golden eyes that pierced like sunlight through glass. Even in the calm of his office, he radiated authority. And somehow, there was amusement in the way he looked at me—as if he already knew a secret I hadn’t discovered myself. “Lyra Veyra,” he said, standing smoothly. His voice was low and velvety, like it could comfort or command with the same ease. “Welcome to Silvercrest.” “Thank you,” I whispered, offering the scholarship letter. Our hands brushed as I passed it to him and a shock ran through me, so intense I nearly dropped the envelope. My wolf roared inside me, claws scraping at my ribs but I suppressed it. His lips curved in a slow, deliberate smile. “Interesting,” he murmured. I stepped back, trying to steady myself. My pulse was racing. This wasn’t fear. It was… something else. Something dangerous and thrilling all at once. “Take a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the chairs. “We’ve been waiting for you.” I swallowed and forced a polite smile. “I appreciate that, but I… I have a lot to do today. Orientation, dorm setup…” I wanted to leave before this… pull or whatever it was, could root itself deeper. Dorian tilted his head, studying me as though I were a puzzle. “Of course. But remember, Lyra… Silvercrest has a way of revealing truths. Some you’re ready for, others… not yet.” I nodded mutely, trying to keep my composure. As I left his office, my wolf still thrashed, furious and alive, craving what I didn’t yet understand. Outside, Mara waited, her grin wide. “So? Did he scare you?” I shook my head, forcing a laugh. “Not… exactly.” I was lying to her and to myself. I was damn scared for the first time. Not scared of him, not really. But scared of what his presence did to me. Of the strange pull I felt towards him when our skin touched. She raised an eyebrow. “Oh. That’s code for ‘I might have just met my nightmare disguised as a human but also kind of fascinating’? Don’t worry, I get it. You’ll survive—and maybe even enjoy it a little.” I smiled faintly, but my mind was elsewhere. Caelan Draven. The reason I’d returned. The fire in my chest, the memory of that night—they were all leading me here. Every glance, every shadow, every surge of instinct was a reminder: that silvercrest was just the beginning, and Professor Caelan Draven was the end. As we walked toward the courtyard, a shadow shifted at the edge of my vision. Someone was watching. I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to. My wolf already knew. And I knew, too: this place was about to change everything.