The Bewitching Doctors second chance romance

Friends and studies

Seryna stepped out of the car, her heart fluttering with anticipation as she looked up at the elegant arches and ivy-draped towers of the prestigious university, Luminaris Academy. Nestled between enchanted cliffs and a shimmering lake said to hold ancient water spirits, Luminaris was considered the finest school for magical and shifter studies in the world. The campus buzzed with energy—students of every supernatural lineage walked the cobbled paths, dragon shifters hovered overhead, and spell-lanterns floated lazily in the air. The scent of fresh-cut grass, magical incense, and new books filled the breeze.

For the first time in her life, Seryna felt like she belonged. Here, she wasn’t the poor girl from the edge of the pack. She wasn’t the daughter of a drunk or the target of cruel boys. She was simply Seryna Vale—a future healer.

She had barely settled into her dorm when the door creaked open. In stepped a girl with cocoa-brown skin, sea-blue eyes, and long curls that shimmered with every movement. She was curvaceous and carried herself with effortless grace.

"Hi! "I’m Nerissa," the girl said with a wide smile. Future doctor. Mermaid—obviously. Don’t worry, I only bite in saltwater. You must be Seryna"!

Seryna blinked in surprise. The warmth in Nerissa's voice chipped away at the protective shell she had worn for years. "I am. It’s really nice to meet you."

"Don't forget about me!" chimed another voice. Floating behind Nerissa was a girl with platinum-blonde hair and luminous violet eyes. Her wings, resembling those of a lunar moth, retracted neatly onto her back as she hovered to the floor.

"I’m Liora. Fairy. Nature studies, but also healing minor. I’m your new roommate, too."

Instantly, Seryna felt the tension in her shoulders ease. These two were nothing like anyone she’d known before—friendly, curious, and kind. She realized she had been bracing for cruelty and found kindness instead. They took her under their wings—literally in Liora's case—showing her around campus, pointing out their favorite cafés and hidden study nooks. They showed her the cool hidden spots they had discovered on campus, like a secret room that would only reveal itself at sunrise, or the lake in the werewolf woods that parted on a full moon, revealing a tunnel into town.

They also took her to the Tower of Whispers, where old prophecies were archived in living crystal, and visited the Sanctuary of Threads, a mystical cloth shop where future paths were sometimes glimpsed in the weave of silk.

Later that week, in their shared dorm, Nerissa sat cross-legged on her bed, talking about her underwater hometown while Liora braided her hair with strands of glowing grass. Seryna laughed more than she had in years, the sound feeling foreign but welcome.

Here, she wasn’t strange or unwanted. She was just another student chasing her dream.

Maria, too, had found her footing in the nearby town of Valehollow. As a skilled healer, it hadn’t taken long to find work, and her presence was already beloved by locals. She kept a modest apartment just a short walk from campus, allowing Seryna to maintain independence while still staying close. Sometimes, Seryna would stop by unannounced, just to breathe in the familiar scent of rosemary tea and reassurance. Maria would pour two cups, and they would sit and talk about their lives.

Originally, Caius had planned to enroll at university himself to keep watch over Seryna. But when the former king—his father—grew gravely ill, Caius was forced to stay behind to govern and prepare for succession. The illness had come suddenly, a mysterious poison no one had seen coming. With no time to waste, Caius made a swift decision.

It was Lucan who took his place, swearing an oath to protect her in Caius’s stead. He traveled in secret, enrolling as a new student under an alias, blending into university life with practiced ease.

On the first day of classes, he walked up to Seryna, feigning confusion.

"Hey, sorry to bother you, but do you know where the Advanced Healing Principles class is?"

She looked at his schedule. "You’re in all of my classes, actually. Come on, I’ll show you."

He smiled and followed her, quickly integrating into her circle of friends. He laughed at Nerissa’s jokes and listened earnestly to Liora’s theories about moonlight and potion efficacy. All the while, he kept one eye trained on Seryna, silently promising Caius that she would come to no harm.

Seryna didn’t notice the protective stance he often took when strangers approached or the subtle way he watched the crowd in every room they entered. She only saw the kind, slightly awkward guy who had somehow become part of her world.

Here, for the first time, she was happy. She had a social life. She had friends.

Bond of Wolves

There was a forest nestled behind the campus, specially designed for the university's werewolf students. It was a wild, expansive space—dense with ancient trees that whispered secrets in the wind, streams that shimmered under moonlight, and hidden paths perfect for midnight runs. Wards of protection and illusion veiled the area, ensuring safety and privacy. It quickly became one of Seryna’s favorite places.

One evening, under the soft silver light of the moon, she shifted into Rose. The silver-furred wolf with glowing citrine eyes raced through the trees, her paws barely touching the ground, her spirit liberated and wild. The wind whispered through her fur, cool and exhilarating.

From the shadows emerged another wolf—a large dark grey beast with brown eyes and a lean, powerful frame. Lucan’s wolf.

The two wolves paused, eyes meeting. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, they ran together.

They raced beneath the canopy, dodging branches, leaping fallen logs, and stirring up a flurry of leaves that glowed faintly with lingering magic. Lucan’s wolf marveled at Rose’s strength and grace. She moved with a power and agility he rarely saw, even among the most seasoned warriors.

When they paused at a brook to drink, his wolf bumped shoulders with Rose playfully. She responded in kind, her tail wagging. In that moment, a bond formed—not the romantic kind, but a kinship forged in the thrill of the run, in mutual respect and admiration.

Their connection would grow, and though neither Seryna nor Lucan spoke of it in their human forms, their wolves had already decided—they were allies. And for now, that was more than enough.

Studies of the Arcane and Practical

Their studies at the university were no joke. There was a laboratory for potion-making, gleaming with rows of ancient ingredients and modern tools. Vials fizzed and herbs pulsed with inner light as they learned to brew everything from healing elixirs to temporary strength enhancers. A warded garden called the Grove of Remedies allowed students to harvest magical plants that responded to touch and intention.

Mystical Anatomy was another challenge—where their diverse professors taught them about the inner workings of various magical beings, from dragon shifters to sylphs. It was complex, fascinating, and sometimes even a little gross.

They also had endurance training, a required class for all healing majors. Professors believed a doctor couldn’t save lives if they couldn’t stay awake through a three-day emergency or run through magical battlefield terrain. Seryna often woke sore but proud, her limits slowly expanding.

Then came clinical rotations. Seryna, Nerissa, and Liora were assigned to different medical sites—hospitals, care centers, and elder homes. Each site was filled with mystical creatures of every imaginable kind: vampires needing blood regulation, trolls with joint decay, elves recovering from magic burnout.

Lucan struggled more than they did, not having the same background in healing. But he endured, hiding his purpose while Seryna and the others teased him and offered to help. Grateful for their friendship, and for the cover it provided, he accepted their help with a smile—always watching, always protecting.

Meanwhile in the Werewolf Capital

Far from the university, in the opulent castle of the werewolf capital of Thalosar, tragedy struck. The king passed away in the arms of his only son, Caius. With tears staining his cheeks and a roar stuck behind clenched teeth, Caius held his father's hand as the older man whispered his final apologies for not having more time, for placing such burdens on his young shoulders. Then he was gone.

The grief hit like a blow to the chest, knocking the air from Caius’s lungs. The ache didn’t pass—it hardened. Heavy with sorrow, he was crowned king. He had failed to protect his father, and now that pain burned into a vow. He would avenge him. The traitors who had aligned themselves with dark forces would pay. He did not publicly announce how the king had died or that he had caught the treacherous servant who had poisoned him too little too late—left hanging from the walls of his room, rotting and decaying.

In the solitude of his chambers, Caius turned to the enchanted mirror, where Lucan’s face appeared. They spoke regularly now, Lucan reporting updates on Seryna’s well-being and confirming that no further k********g attempts had occurred.

"She’s thriving," Lucan said with a grin. "Made friends with a mermaid and a fairy. She’s more radiant every day." he aimed the magic mirror at Seryna who was laughing with her friends.

Caius chuckled, the sound bitter and soft. "She’s going to make a wonderful queen one day."

He stared into the mirror long after Lucan’s image faded. The silence of the chamber pressed in, filled only with the memory of Seryna’s laughter—bright and untouchable. For all the years he’d mocked the mate bond, the irony wasn’t lost on him. Now, he longed for her—mind, body, and soul. And until the time came when they could meet again, protecting her from the shadows was his only solace.