LUNAR ACADEMY

CHAPTER 13

We got to a clearing in the woods and Seth halted. I opened my mouth to ask why we stopped but before I could get the words out, he yanked on a rope that I didn't even know was there and a hut popped out of the clearing.

I look at him, astonished "How did you do that?"

"A magician never reveal his tricks." He winked at me. I look around and I noticed that there is a waterfall close by. It's pretty big and the water seems neat. I walk over to the edge and dip my hands into it. Seth came to stand beside me.

"It's warm." I say surprised because it's about 9 degrees tonight.

"Yes. Nobody knows how it's possible but it's always warm. Even in the dead of winter when all the lakes are frozen. Some people say it is a gift from the Moon Goddess." I agree with that. It indeed seem holy.

"Let's go inside. It's freezing." Seth tells me. His cheeks are already pink from the cold and he looks like he is going to be sick. I barely feel the cold though. I feel like just being close to him is enough to warm me up.

"Wow" I breathed as we enter the hut. It looks very well kept. There is a large painting on the wall. In the painting, I see two wolves, one black and the other silver. There is something familiar about the silver wolf but can't put a finger on it now. They are both grinning that wolfish grin that only they possess and I find myself cooing at how adorable they look.

My wolf stirs in my chest, I don't push her down. I don't want to deny her the chance to meet our mate but she simply yawns and go back to sleep. I am disappointed but I just shrug it off. Maybe another time.

Seth is looking at me curiously as I stare at the painting. He doesn't say what's on his mind. He simply walked up to a cooler I haven't noticed yet and took two sodas out. He handed one over to me. I tell him a 'thank you'. There is a big couch in the middle of the room. The hut seem like somewhere I can stay forever. "

"This place is really nice." I tell him because it really is.

"Yes. My brother and I built this place. One day, we were playing and got this far. We saw the waterfall and thought it had be a great place to hang. We started bringing some of our stuff from home here; video games, clothes. We started building the hut when the stuff we brought in became too much." He sounds so wistful and I swear he looks like he is back there, reliving the memory.

"When we started spending too much time here, my dad had one of his guards trail us back here. He ordered the hut destroyed. We fought him on that. Got our mom involved and he eventually backed down. This place is really dear to me. You are the first person asides my brother and I to see the hut." He smiles at me. I can feel a strange fluttering in my belly. I feel special. He must be really tight with this brother of his.

"So this brother of yours. Where is he? I don't suppose he is also in the Academy."

"He is not. He kind of --uhm ran away some years back." Run away? I wonder if there is more to the story. He seem hurt over his brother running away so I don't push it.

***

Seth and I spent over an hour just talking, getting to know each other. He seem funny, smart and I indeed feel lucky to have him as my mate. I can see myself falling in love with him.

We hear the loud beating of drums. "The ceremony is about to start." Seth gets up from the couch he had been sitting on. His eyes suddenly turn white and he seem to be communicating telepathically with someone.

"Sorry." He says, running his fingers through his curls. "My dad wants me back home. He wants us all to arrive at the ceremony together. He says it will show a 'united front'." I don't want to be separated from him just yet and he looks remorseful about having to leave. I feel like we still have a lot to talk about.

He gives me an apologetic smile and offers to walk me back to campus grounds. I refuse to delay him further. His eyes turn a milky white again and I assume it is his father telling him to hurry up.

We left the hut and he led me out of the woods where we parted ways. He left with a promise to meet me when the party is over.

I arrive at the ceremony grounds just in time. The venue is a huge clearing in the center of the campus. There is a podium where I assume we will be addressed on. Werewolves love the outdoors so it makes sense for the ceremony to take place here. Besides, if we were indoors, how will the bonfire be lit?

Mandy finds me almost immediately and she hooks her arm with mine. She introduced me to some of the people here. I got to meet Alfred's daughter, she seem very nice. I recognize her from class. She isn't taking Mechanics of Elemental Magic so I assume she has found her element. I also got to meet some of Mandy friends from high school. I notice she avoids Natasha's group.

I swear, Mandy seem to know everyone. They all seem to like her vibe too. How can you not? She is so full of life. She is the type of person that walks into a room and right away, she lights up the mood of the room.

I also got to meet James' brothers Tyler and Jason. They seem cool with Mandy, surprisingly. I mean James seem hell-bent on hating her, I assume the brothers feeling the same way. I told her that and she merely laughs. "We go way back. I actually rejected James because Tyler and I had something going on." I will never have guessed that. Tyler..... Wait

"Isn't he the one that found his mate two years back?" I ask, remembering what James told me.

"Yes, that one. He dumped me like garbage as soon as he found his mate." I wince. "That's the thing about werewolves. They stop caring about anything else once they meet their mate. Their world suddenly revolves around them. I get that's the point but it's brutal to those on the sidelines. I have sworn off dating. Can't be building with someone knowing it's temporary." Mandy sighed.

I nod at her. I get that. Some werewolves actually swear off romantic relationships to avoid that. It doesn't matter what you think you have with someone. Once you find your mate, they are all you can think about. Your body and soul yearns for them. There is a restlessness within me that started the second Seth left. There is this urge I get to be near him at all times. It is something better experienced than explained.

"That sucks." I tell her because it really does. I open my mouth to spew more encouraging stuff - that I'm definitely bad at. Thankfully she speaks before I have to.

"Enough of this. Tonight is for good thoughts only." She lean in to whisper. "I know where we can get alcohol. It's totally against the school the rules, let me warn you." I giggle at that.

I don't know what came over me but I followed Mandy and she led me through the crowd that have quickly gathered to a little kiosk off the perimeter of the ceremony. There is a huge sign that reads "BUY YOUR LEMONADE HERE .. $2"

I recognize Daniel, the guard I met the first day I came handing out drinks in red plastic cups that I'm sure isn't lemonade.

"Hello Mandy. Nice of you to stop by. For a moment there, I thought you've forgotten your favorite boy. That would have hurt me real bad." He placed his hand over his heart. I laugh at his antics. I like him already. Mandy just roll her eyes at him.

"Hey you are that French chick. Alexandrè, right? Big ups to your pops. He is a real one." I smile at him. He seem nice.

Mandy placed our order and he hands them to us. He told her to call him.

"He has been trying to get into my pants for two years now." Mandy told me after we have walked far away from the kiosk.

"He seem very determined."

"That he is." She lifts up her drink for a toast. I lift mine up but before we could make the toast, someone slammed their body into mine, making me spill my drink.

"What the f**k?" Mandy ask Natasha as she comes to stand in front of us. "What was that for, Natasha?"

Natasha directs a hateful glare at me. I'm shocked at the intensity of it.

"I saw you run off with Seth, Liar." Liar? What the hell is this about? And what's her deal with Seth.

Mandy moves to stand in front of me and I appreciate the thought even though I'm sure I can hold my own if it comes to a fight.

"Stay away from Seth. You don't belong here." She turns to Mandy. "You too. Both of you don't belong here." Her eyes look crazed. She look different from the girl I know. The one who always seem put together. Her wolf is on the edge of coming out and I wonder what she have with Seth that have her like this.

She leaves, walking faster than she usually does and I just stare after her.

"What got into her? What's her deal with my mate?" I almost growl the last bit out. Mandy look as clueless as I feel.

"Everyone Assemble. The Ceremony is about to begin." I hear a loud voice call out. We walk back to the venue, my drink gone. Mandy offers to share hers but I refuse, no longer excited about drinking.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Let's Welcome our leaders Alpha Darcus Davidson and Luna Joanne to give the annual speech and to officially kickstart the ceremony." There is a loud applause from the crowd as the Alpha and Luna walked out.

Seth looks like a younger version of his dad. The resemblance is uncanny. The blonde hair seems to be a marker of the Davidson line. His mom also has blonde hair, not white blonde like Seth's and his dad's but tilting a bit towards red.

"Good day everyone. It is always a pleasure seeing so many young wolves gathered together without tearing one another apart. It shows how far we have come as a people. It shows our Unity as a community. This academy is proof that our fathers didn't fight in vain. That all their efforts were not wasted......" The Alpha drone on and on about werewolves evolution and I instantly get bored until he gets to the part about me.

"This Academy was built with the intention of fostering relationships. Camille Alexandrè is proof that we are doing something right. My friend and fellow Alpha, Nathaniel called me one afternoon and told me he has finally found his daughter who ran away years ago."

I can see a few students, looking around, probably wondering who I am. A few recognize me from class and are already gawking at me. I try not to shrink from the attention. I feel Mandy move closer to me, acting like a shield. I feel such an immense gratitude towards her at that moment that I almost weep.

"I was personally honoured that Nathan trusted his daughter in our hands and immediately took her in even knowing she lost her wolf." If all eyes weren't on me before,they certainly are right now.

While everyone is too busy staring at me, I notice something odd happening on the podium. The Luna's eyes turn black.

It meant only one thing. I see someone in the crowd notice it too and he gasp. The gasp caught the attention of the crowd and soon enough, everyone is staring at the Luna. White fumes begin coming out of her mouth as she gasps, struggling to breathe. No one approach her as we all wait to hear from the Fates.

"The wolfless girl brings you doom. War looms on the East coast. Our prophecy told three thousand years ago, will come to pass now. The players have been born. The stage have been set. BEWARE OF THE LIONS."

A chorus of voices began chanting the prophecy, one I've heard so many times before.

"The liar and the thief meets

The earth will turn to ashes if they do kiss

Blood and gore shall run

On grounds that legends were supposed to be born

Listen to the wolves-hunter

The real foes you foster

The myth refuses to burn

As the great evil sees Dawn

Once again it is left to five

To make sure the world thrive"

The Luna's eyes return back to their normal color and just when I thought it was all over, there is a loud c***k and the Luna's head rolled to the floor.