My Pianist Goddess, My Female Alpha

LYRA’S POV - 10 years ago / age 13 My fingers glided effortlessly over the piano keys, tinkling of music playing throughout the room. I closed my eyes, letting the music flow from my body and soul, ignoring the aching feeling in my fingers that had begun to set in for overuse. I wanted to get this piece down perfectly before I called it a night. I often found myself practicing well into the night, only to oversleep the next day for class at the elite Arkwyn Conservatory, where I was a student. But with my performance in the music hall and competitions against the state for music tournaments, my teachers often turned a blind eye. Arkwyn was known for favoring its students in the arts. I hit the last note and tilted my head in satisfaction, keeping my eyes closed. Clapping had me jumping up, the bench toppling behind me. My eyes widened as I saw a figure materialize from a dark corner of the room. Thorne Valebryn stood there, his eyes boring into me. As a thirteen-year-old girl, it was hard not to take notice of Thorne in school. His dark hair he kept in permanent bedhead fashion, his dark, brooding eyes, and full lips. He was devilishly handsome and every teenage girl’s dream crush. He wasn’t an art student, but he did play in sports. All of the sports. And he was damn good at them. And at only thirteen, he was built much more like an older teenager due to the constant physical activity. I had a silent crush on Thorne that I wasn’t ashamed to admit. To myself at least. I wouldn’t dare speak a word to anyone else. Being a broody loser was a blessing sometimes. Because if Thorne knew how I felt now, he wouldn’t be standing there staring at me in the darkness. I gulped and turned around to right the bench that had fallen, not acknowledging his presence. I didn’t want to face the handsome devil head-on. If he wanted to speak to me, he could come to me and say something. I wasn’t going to fall over myself or this bench to get a conversation in with him. As I finished, I saw that he had crossed the distance of the room to be even closer to me, only an arm’s length away, when I straightened up. I jumped back, startled at his proximity. Still not saying a word. Classmates often mocked me for being silent. I was the quiet girl. But I knew I played beautiful music, and that’s where I let my words and feelings flow. Beautiful music was my communication. If only Thorne had taken me at that and wasn’t here standing like a creep in front of me. “You’re the girl who doesn’t like to talk,” he said, finally breaking the awkward silence. In response, I nodded. I wouldn’t break my code of silence now. I could speak, but I would only talk when I felt entirely comfortable or when it was demanded of me. “Why?” I shrugged. A smile lifted the corner of his lips, a small dimple appearing. I knew that dimple and had mapped it out in my mind many times over. “Is your voice as elegant as your music?” I shrugged again. I wouldn’t, couldn’t speak. Not to Thorne. His smile dropped. “I know I’m just making an ass of myself. Watching you in the dark at this hour of night. But I have a gift for you.” I arched an eyebrow at him, confused. For a moment, I considered opening my mouth and asking what he meant when he grabbed my hand and shoved a small wad of paper into it, then released my hand just as quickly and took a step back, watching me expectantly. I looked down at my palm, examining the piece of paper. It was simple white tissue paper. I squeezed it and realized something hard was nestled inside. He nodded his head at me. “Open it.” I slowly peeled the paper apart and saw a silver band ring. I gingerly removed the piece of jewelry and discarded the paper on the floor as I examined the piece. I looked at him, confused. “Look inside the band.” I did as he said and saw an inscription in cursive writing. “Let the moon hear you, my Luna.” My mouth fell open, wanting to thank him for the deeply thoughtful gift, but it snapped closed just as quickly. I was at a loss for words, even in my mind. Why was he giving this to me? “I think you’re beautiful,” he admitted sheepishly. I smiled softly at him. I wanted to thank him. The words were almost on the tip of my tongue. Thank him and tell him how wrong he was. I was just an awkward teenager who hadn’t grown into quite a woman yet. At all. I was anything but beautiful. Ratty blonde hair, eyes too large and too pale blue, and I was as flat-chested as the bench I’d toppled over. Nothing about me was attractive. However, people say not to argue compliments; accept them graciously. I could do so when it came to my music, but not when it came to me in any other area. Even when my teachers complimented my work, I had a massive case of impostor syndrome and thought I was only fooling them to believe I was remarkable or intelligent. I looked back down at the ring, then at him. Thorne sucked in a breath, like he was wishing now would be the moment for him to hear me speak. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, and then a loud thud had us both jumping away from each other and staring in the direction of the sound. “What are you two doing in here?” a harsh voice called out from the now open door. I could see the shadow of the night janitor, whose name I’d never bothered to learn since I was usually sneaking around his back to play music. I took one last glance at Thorne and then darted to the door off to the side of the classroom that would lead to the hall to the dormitories. I didn’t wait to see if he followed me, seeing as his dormitory would be on the other side of the school with the other boys. If I had known it was the last time I saw Thorne Valebryn, I may have said something. I didn’t see Thorne for the next few days in school. I wondered if he was suspended for the late-night exploring he had done in the music room. The janitor was an asshole. But he never caught me. I’m sure he knew who I was and when he’d gone to get me in trouble, nothing had come of it. But I wasn’t sure Arkwyn would turn a blind eye to Thorne. They treated their jocks well but I wasn’t sure how well. I wasn’t on that side of the social class in school. When I was called to the principal’s office before lunchtime, I realized that maybe my time was up, having practiced late into the night. I’d stayed awake the night I got the ring from Thorne and missed half the school day. Then I tossed and turned every day since late. Perhaps my teachers had finally had enough and reported me for poor attendance. But looking down at my fingers, where the simple, plain band Thorne had given me, I felt a sense of strength I hadn’t had before. I wasn’t sure what the gift meant, but it didn’t keep me from fantasizing about getting married and starting a family with Thorne when we were both old enough about us being fated mates. I squared my shoulders and walked confidently to the principal’s office. When I arrived, I was surprised to see a few kids already in line to speak with him. What shocked me was the cop I saw standing in the office with our principal, both of whom seemed to be deep in discussion. Was someone getting arrested? Principal Heart looked up then and, seeing me, he hurried over to his door and gestured for me to come inside. The other kids on the bench, waiting, looked at me, some smirking. So I was the one getting arrested? I lowered my head as he ushered me inside and shut the door behind me. The cop, the tag reading Billworth, stood there with a grim expression on his face. He didn’t say anything as Principal Heart lowered the blinds in his office, effectively shutting out the judging glances from my classmates. When he was done, he turned around with a somber look. “Lyra, I’m so sorry to bring you here under these circumstances.” “What circumstances?” I squeaked out in a tiny voice. My palms were sweating, and I wiped them on the skirt of my school uniform. Maybe I was getting arrested. I racked my brain, trying to think what I could have possibly done to warrant an arrest. Sure, I played music all night, was late to class, but I did nothing else. I was a good student and a good kid, or so I thought. Officer Billworth stepped forward. “Lyra, I’m Officer Billworth.” As if I couldn’t read his tag. I caught myself from rolling my eyes. I may have been a pretty good kid, but I was still an angsty teenager. “Nice to meet you.” He gave me a small, still sad smile. “Nice to meet you, too. I’m here today because something has happened to your father.” I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He continued. “Your father has been murdered. There was a coup…well, I’m not sure if you understand what that means. But rebels…attacked your home. And your father…is no longer with us.” He swallowed hard, fidgeting with the collar of his uniform shirt. I stood there dumbly. I felt like my entire world had just exploded, and I was hearing so many sounds all at once. The ticking of the clock on the wall, the shuffle of Officer Billworth’s shoes, the sweaty rubbing of Principal Heart’s palms. I dropped to my knees and vomited.