A Luna in Disguise

Chapter 3.

The air reeked of smoke and sweat.

We rushed out into the chaos, boots pounding against the packed dirt, the shouts of Enforcers echoing through the night. My legs ached from the day's drills, but adrenaline had its own kind of fuel. Every part of me was wired, alert, ready.

And terrified.

The training yard was a warzone. Cadets scrambled into line, half-dressed, wide-eyed. Instructors barked orders while others grabbed weapons from the armory racks.

My eyes shot toward the north wall. The massive wolf was gone.

But the scent lingered.

Not Academy.

Foreign.

Someone had infiltrated the grounds, and that was a direct threat to the bloodline heirs training within these walls. Including Kael. Including me.

“Form ranks!” shouted Head Enforcer Riven, his voice like a blade slicing through the confusion. “Check scroll IDs, count heads. If anyone’s missing, speak up!”

I slipped into formation beside Kael, my pulse still thudding hard in my ears.

“Did you see that?” he whispered.

“The wolf?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I saw it.”

“That wasn’t one of ours.”

“No,” I said, glancing around. “It wasn’t.”

My fingers curled into fists. I wasn’t just afraid. I was suspicious.

Why now? Why tonight?

The Enforcers fanned out, scanning scrolls and checking cadets. I kept my head down, heart hammering. What if Riven took this opportunity to pull me aside? What if my scroll triggered something again?

But he passed me by with only a glance.

Still watching, but not pouncing.

Not yet.

After a tense thirty minutes, the Head Alpha himself stormed into the yard, silver hair blowing like a battle flag.

“This is a direct violation of our territory,” he growled. “Whoever this rogue is, they knew exactly where to hit. And that tells me they had help.”

His eyes scanned the rows.

A chill crept up my spine.

“We’ll find them,” he said. “Even if we have to tear this place apart.”

With that, he turned and strode toward the tower.

The yard began to quiet, but the tension was thick, like we were all waiting for a second strike.

Kael exhaled beside me. “Someone just declared war.”

I swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Let’s get back inside,” he said.

As we walked, my eyes darted toward the scorched edge of the wall. That fire wasn’t random. It was a message.

But who was it for?

Me?

No. That was paranoia talking. It had to be. Still, something felt off—too targeted, too precise.

We returned to our room in silence. Kael collapsed onto his bed, arms behind his head.

“What if this keeps happening?” he asked the ceiling.

I didn’t answer right away.

Because I didn’t know.

“Then we adapt,” I finally said, climbing onto my bed. “Survival’s what we’re here for, right?”

He grunted in agreement.

But deep inside, I knew this wasn’t normal. The Academy was a fortress. Someone breaking in was a big deal. And if someone was after someone inside…

It narrowed the possibilities.

And none of those possibilities were good.

Sleep didn’t come easily. I kept replaying the image of that shadowy wolf, massive and silent, the way it disappeared like smoke. Rogues didn’t act alone. Not usually. Which meant there was a bigger plan behind that appearance.

The next morning, security was doubled. Enforcers patrolled every hallway. The tension was thick enough to taste.

Training resumed like normal, but nothing about it felt normal.

Today’s schedule was combat-focused. Pair sparring, obstacle courses, reaction drills.

“Partner up,” the instructor barked.

Kael nodded at me. “Let’s go, Rory.”

I hesitated.

I’d spent years learning to fight, but never against someone like Kael. He was faster, stronger, and well-trained.

But I didn’t back down.

We stepped into the ring. Cadets formed a loose circle around us, eyes already lighting up with anticipation. Apparently, Kael didn’t go easy on anyone.

I squared my stance. Hands up.

Kael raised a brow. “Sure you’re ready?”

“Hit me and find out.”

He smirked—and lunged.

I dodged his first swing, pivoted low, and aimed a kick at his knee. He blocked it with surprising grace and came at me again. This time, he was faster. I barely managed to duck.

The third strike hit my side, knocking the air out of me.

But I recovered fast and caught his wrist, using his momentum to spin him halfway before he broke out.

The circle of cadets started cheering.

It wasn’t about winning. It was about surviving.

“Not bad,” Kael said between breaths.

“You’re slowing down,” I teased.

He charged again, but this time, I met him halfway. Our arms locked, muscles straining, balance shifting. I could feel the heat of his breath, the tension in his grip.

Then, suddenly, I overbalanced.

And we both went down.

I landed on top of him, face inches from his.

Silence fell over the circle.

His eyes searched mine—for something.

“Break!” the instructor shouted.

I scrambled off, face burning. That was too close. Too risky.

I avoided Kael’s eyes as I stepped back into line.

He didn’t say anything either.

After training, we cleaned up and headed to the mess hall, but the mood had shifted. Cadets whispered in corners. Rumors of the rogue had already spiraled into full-blown conspiracy.

“Someone said it was a spy.”

“I heard it was a test from the Head Alpha.”

“They think someone in our ranks helped them.”

My stomach churned. That last one felt too close to the truth.

Kael sat across from me, stirring his food. “You think they’ll catch him?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“But you have a guess,” he said, watching me closely.

I didn’t answer.

Because I did.

And I hated that I did.

That night, I left the room once Kael was asleep. I crept through the halls, sticking to the shadows, until I reached the armory. There was something I needed to see for myself.

The guards were still posted outside, but I wasn’t going for the weapons.

I needed access to the central records.

Every cadet had a file—training progress, scroll ID, territory of origin. And I needed to know if mine had been flagged again after last night.

I took a hidden stairwell to the back archives.

The file room was dark, cold, and lined with rows of glowing scrolls. I moved quickly, pulling the one marked "Rory Winters."

It opened with a soft pulse.

Basic info. Shadowclaw pack. Admitted on merit. No red flags.

I scanned further. No mention of Aria.

I exhaled. Maybe Riven hadn’t logged it.

Or maybe…

“Looking for something?”

I froze.

That voice.

That damn voice.

I turned slowly.

And there he was.

Riven.

Standing in the doorway, arms crossed, face unreadable.

My heart dropped straight to my boots.

“Care to explain why a second-term cadet is digging through restricted files at midnight?”