Silver Ridge Academy

Chapter 2: The Ultimatum

POV: Lyra

​The principal’s office felt smaller than usual, probably because Ren was radiating enough heat and anger to fill the entire room, and he hadn't stopped pacing since Mr. Thorne told us to sit down. I kept my eyes on my scuffed shoes, trying to ignore the way the sunlight hit the mahogany desk, because I knew whatever was coming wasn't going to be good for me.

​"I’m not sitting through a lecture about my GPA again, Thorne, so just tell my father I’ll handle it and let me get to practice," Ren said, his voice grating and harsh as he finally stopped moving.

​Mr. Thorne didn't look up from his computer, but his voice was flat and final. "Your father is the one who called me, Ren, and he’s decided that since you can't manage your own time, the school will manage it for you, or you can kiss the championship and your inheritance goodbye."

​Ren let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "And what’s the 'management' plan? More Saturday detentions?"

​"No, it's a full-time academic shadow," Mr. Thorne said, finally looking at me and then back at Ren. "Lyra is the top-ranked student in this academy, and since she already lives on your property, she is the most logical choice to ensure you don't fail your finals."

​I felt my stomach drop and I finally looked up, my voice catching in my throat. "Wait, you want me to be his tutor? I already have a full shift at the house every night."

​"We aren't asking for your permission, Lyra, we are adjusting the terms of your scholarship," Thorne said, leaning back and folding his hands over his stomach. "The Alpha has agreed to pay you a weekly stipend that is triple your mother’s current wages, provided Ren’s grades improve by at least two letter grades by next month."

​Ren slammed his hand onto the desk, making the pens rattle in their holder. "You’re paying a human maid to sit in my room and watch me study? That’s insulting even for my father."

​"What’s insulting is your current transcript, Ren," Thorne snapped back, his eyes flashing with a bit of his own wolf-temper. "And for you, Lyra, if he fails, your scholarship is revoked immediately, and your mother’s employment at the estate will be terminated, so I suggest you take this very seriously."

​I looked at the principal, realizing they had just tied my mother’s survival to a guy who looked like he wanted to break my neck. "So if he decides to just not study, it’s my fault?"

​"That is exactly how the Alpha sees it," Thorne replied, looking back at his screen. "You start tonight at six, and Ren, if I hear that you’ve skipped a session, I’ll be calling your father personally."

​Ren didn't say another word, he just turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door so hard the glass vibrated. I stayed in the chair for a moment, feeling the weight of the silence, until Thorne looked at me over his glasses.

​"You’re a smart girl, Lyra, so don't be stupid enough to think you can say no to this."

​I walked through the back entrance of the estate an hour later, my head spinning with the math of it all, and I almost collided with Leo who was lounging against the kitchen counter.

​"You look like you've seen a ghost, or maybe just a very angry Alpha heir," Leo said, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched me set my bag down.

​"Not now, Leo, I have enough on my plate," I muttered, heading for the sink to wash my hands.

​"I heard about the tutoring deal, and honestly, it’s a bold move by the old man," he said, following me. "But you should be careful, because Ren isn't himself lately, and he doesn't like people seeing him when he’s vulnerable."

​"He’s never vulnerable, he’s just a jerk," I said, drying my hands on a rag.

​"Is that what you think? Just keep your eyes open, Lyra, because there are things happening in this house that don't show up in your textbooks, and you might find that Ren’s 'cruelty' is actually just a very loud way of hiding how much he’s hurting."

​"Why do you care?" I asked, turning to face him.

​Leo just shrugged, his smile fading into something more serious. "Let’s just say I have a vested interest in how this bloodline handles its problems, and if you're going to be in the middle of it, you should know which way the wind is blowing."

​I left him there and went to find my mother, who was already in the laundry room looking like she had been crying. She didn't even let me speak before she grabbed my shoulders. "The head housekeeper said you're to go to the library, Lyra, and that I'm not to interfere, what's happening?"

​"It's fine, Mom, I'm just helping Ren with school so we can get more money," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just stay in the servant's quarters tonight, okay? Don't come looking for me."

​I walked up the grand staircase toward the library, my heart thudding in my ears. When I pushed the heavy doors open, the room was dark except for a single lamp on the central table. Ren was slumped in a chair, his back to me, his breathing heavy and ragged.

​"I’m here, Ren," I said softly, stepping into the light.

​He didn't turn around at first, but when he did, I saw it—the collar of his shirt was soaked in sweat, and a dark, pulsing vein was climbing up the side of his neck, glowing with a faint, metallic silver light. He looked terrified, his eyes wide and bloodshot as he gripped the edge of the table.

​"Get out," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Lyra, get out right now."

​Before I could move, he let out a choked sound and collapsed to the floor, and as I ran toward him, I saw a small, ancient book fall from his lap, its pages covered in a language that definitely wasn't on the school curriculum.