The Girl with Sapphire Eyes

Chapter 3 - Royal Musings

Eric's POV

I couldn't focus during History class. My mind kept drifting back to those blue eyes—a shade so similar to my own that it was unsettling. I'd never seen another wolf with eyes that color outside of my immediate family, yet there she was. Lyra Stone, the new girl, with eyes that spoke of royal blood and a mental barrier stronger than any I'd ever encountered.

"Your Highness? The answer, please?"

I blinked, realizing Mr. Blackwood was staring at me expectantly, along with the rest of the class. I hadn't heard the question.

From the seat beside me, Nathan Edwards subtly slid his notebook into my line of sight, his answer underlined twice.

"The Treaty of Moonhaven, sir," I replied smoothly. "Signed in 1742."

Mr. Blackwood nodded, satisfied, and continued with his lecture. I shot Nathan a grateful look, which he acknowledged with a slight nod and an amused smile.

Nathan had been my best friend since we were cubs. His father was the current Beta to my father, and Nathan was being trained to serve as second-in-command to whichever of us twins became the next Alpha—most likely Zander, as he was the firstborn, though our father had yet to make an official decision.

Unlike many who hung around us because of our royal status, Nathan's loyalty was genuine and unwavering. He was the levelheaded mediator who smoothed over the increasingly frequent disagreements between my brother and me, and the only one besides our younger sister who treated us like normal wolves rather than royal heirs.

When class finally ended, Nathan gathered his books and leaned closer to me. "You were completely zoned out there. Still thinking about the new girl?"

I frowned. "Was it that obvious?"

"Only to someone who's known you since you ate paste in kindergarten." His dark eyes twinkled with mischief. "Though I suspect Zander noticed too, given the glare he's been aiming at the back of your head for the past twenty minutes."

I glanced over my shoulder to see my twin indeed watching me with narrowed eyes from across the classroom. Alissa hung on his arm, whispering something in his ear.

"Let's get out of here," I muttered, shouldering my bag.

We left the classroom, weaving through the crowded hallway toward the cafeteria. Nathan kept pace beside me, his tall frame and confident stride creating a natural buffer between me and the other students who might otherwise have swarmed around me. Being one of the princes had its perks, but privacy wasn't among them.

"So," Nathan said once we were relatively alone, "what's the deal with the new girl? You tried to link with her during Bio, didn't you?"

I stiffened. "How did you know?"

"I didn't, but thanks for confirming." He grinned, then grew serious. "Seriously, though—linking with someone you just met? That's not like you."

I ran a hand through my hair, a habit my mother was constantly trying to break me of. "I don't know what came over me. There's just something... different about her."

"Different how?"

"Her eyes, for one thing. Did you notice them?"

Nathan shook his head. "I have Advanced Calculus during first period. Haven't met her yet."

"They're blue. Royal blue."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Like yours?"

"Almost exactly like mine," I confirmed. "And when I tried to establish a link, she shut me out completely. Not just refused the connection, but blocked me entirely."

"Interesting." Nathan's tone was thoughtful. "Not many wolves can do that, especially against an Alpha-level link attempt."

"Exactly." I pushed open the doors to the cafeteria, the noise level rising as we entered the large space filled with students. "And there's something else. When we first met, I caught her scent—"

"Please tell me you didn't creepily sniff the new girl," Nathan interrupted with a grimace.

"Of course not," I rolled my eyes. "But when she stumbled into us in the hallway, I caught it. And it was... I don't know how to describe it. Like a forest after rain, but with something else underneath. Something wild and unfamiliar."

Nathan was quiet for a moment as we got in line for food. "You know what this sounds like, right?" he finally said, keeping his voice low.

I grabbed a tray. "What?"

"You think she might be your mate."

The tray clattered against the counter louder than I intended, drawing curious looks from nearby students. "That's not—I never said—"

"You didn't have to," Nathan replied calmly, selecting an apple from the fruit display. "The fascination with her eyes, the impulsive linking attempt, the fixation on her scent... classic signs of potential mate recognition."

"We've barely exchanged two sentences," I protested. "And besides, Zander and I have always believed we'd share a mate, like our grandfather and his twin did."

"Which could still be the case," Nathan pointed out. "Has Zander met her properly yet?"

"Briefly, this morning. He didn't seem to have the same... reaction."

"Well, he's been joined at the hip with Alissa for so long, maybe it's dulled his instincts." Nathan had never been Alissa's biggest fan, though he was diplomatic enough not to say it outright.

I glanced across the cafeteria to where Zander and Alissa were already seated at our usual table, surrounded by their usual group. "Maybe."

We paid for our food and headed toward them. On the way, I spotted Lyra sitting at a far table with the red-haired girl from Biology—Mia Winters, the headmistress's niece. They were huddled in conversation, and Lyra seemed more relaxed than she had been all morning.

"That's her," I murmured to Nathan, subtly nodding in Lyra's direction.

Nathan followed my gaze, studying her for a moment. "Hmm, I see what you mean about the eyes. Even from here they're striking. But why is she wearing that awful wig? It's clearly not her real hair."

I blinked in surprise. "A wig?"

"Obviously," Nathan said. "I can see where it doesn't sit quite right at the temples. My cousin wears one sometimes—I know the signs."

I looked more closely. Now that Nathan mentioned it, the brown hair did look slightly off, like it didn't quite belong on her head.

"Why would she wear a wig to school?" I wondered aloud.

Nathan shrugged. "Ask her yourself. But maybe not while your brother and his girlfriend are watching your every move."

We reached our table, and I took my usual seat across from Zander. Nathan sat beside me, nodding politely to the others already gathered there.

"Nice of you to finally join us," Zander said, his tone light but with an underlying tension only I would notice.

"Had to swing by my locker," I lied easily. No need to tell him I'd been discussing the new girl.

"Hmm." Zander clearly didn't believe me, but he let it drop. "Alissa was just telling us about her plans for the Winter Formal committee. She's been nominated to chair it again this year."

Alissa beamed at the recognition. "It's such an honor. I was thinking we could do a 'Moonlit Forest' theme this year. What do you think, Eric?"

"Sounds great," I said automatically, barely listening. My gaze kept drifting back to Lyra's table.

After a moment, I felt a sharp kick under the table and looked up to find Nathan giving me a pointed look. I realized Alissa had asked me another question that I'd completely missed.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked, trying to sound engaged.

Alissa's smile tightened almost imperceptibly. "I was asking if you and Zander would perform the traditional royal dance this year. Your father mentioned he thought it was time for you both to take on more ceremonial duties."

The Winter Formal was one of the most significant social events of the year at Moonlight Academy. Traditionally, the king and queen opened the festivities with the Royal Moon Dance, a choreographed waltz that dated back centuries. In recent years, my parents had performed it, but apparently my father was planning to pass the torch.

"Of course," I replied, though the thought of dancing in front of the entire school made my stomach churn. I wasn't nearly as comfortable with public attention as Zander was. "Though I'll need some practice."

"I can help with that," Alissa offered sweetly. "I've been taking ballroom dance since I was six."

"Thanks, but I'll probably just ask Mom for some pointers," I said, not missing the flash of annoyance in her eyes. Alissa had been trying to get closer to our family for years, positioning herself as Zander's inevitable mate despite the fact that neither of us had officially recognized a mate connection with anyone.

The conversation moved on to other Winter Formal details, but I found myself drifting again, my attention repeatedly drawn to Lyra. There was an air of isolation around her—not quite loneliness, but a deliberate distance, as if she were holding herself apart from everyone. I recognized it because I often felt the same way, even surrounded by people as I was now.

"Earth to Eric," Nathan's voice broke through my thoughts. "You're staring again."

I quickly averted my gaze. "No, I wasn't."

"You absolutely were," he replied under his breath. "And your brother noticed."

Indeed, when I glanced at Zander, he was watching me with a curious expression, his eyes flicking between me and Lyra's table. There was no hostility in his gaze, just the same intuitive awareness that we'd shared since birth. As twins, we had always been able to sense each other's thoughts and emotions, even without the formal pack link. Right now, I could feel his curiosity and concern washing over me through our bond.

"Maybe you should introduce me to the new girl," Nathan suggested, raising his voice enough for the others to hear. "Since I'm the only one who hasn't met her yet."

It was a clever move—framing my interest as simply helping out a friend rather than any personal fascination.

"Good idea," I agreed, grateful for the excuse. "I can introduce you on the way to class."

Zander's eyes narrowed slightly, but he couldn't reasonably object to such an innocent suggestion, especially with others listening.

The rest of lunch passed in a blur of meaningless conversation. When the bell finally rang, Nathan and I disposed of our trays and headed toward Lyra's table. She was just standing up, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Miss Stone," I called, approaching her. "Allow me to introduce Nathan Edwards, a friend of mine."

Lyra looked up, surprise evident in her expression. Those blue eyes widened slightly, then became guarded. "Your Highness," she acknowledged with a small nod. "And Mr. Edwards, nice to meet you."

"Please, just Nathan," he replied with an easy smile. "I don't stand on ceremony like these royal types."

A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "Then just Lyra is fine too."

Mia, who had been watching this exchange with undisguised curiosity, suddenly grinned. "I'd better get to Calculus. See you in Gym, Lyra." She gave a quick curtsy to me, nodded to Nathan, and hurried off.

"May I escort you to Literature?" I asked, trying not to sound too eager.

Lyra hesitated, her eyes darting around the cafeteria where several students were openly staring at our interaction. Zander and Alissa among them.

"I wouldn't want to impose," she said carefully.

"It's no imposition," Nathan assured her. "We're all heading in the same direction."

After another moment's hesitation, she nodded. "Thank you."

As we walked through the corridors, Nathan carried most of the conversation, asking general questions about her previous school and how she was finding Moonlight Academy. When we reached a hallway junction, Nathan paused.

"I need to head to Advanced Political Science," he said to me. "Different direction from Literature. Nice meeting you, Lyra."

"You too," she replied with a small smile.

Nathan gave me a meaningful look before departing, leaving me alone with Lyra for the remainder of the walk to class.

I noticed she kept a deliberate distance between us, never getting close enough for accidental contact. The conversation felt easier now, just the two of us.

"It's very... different," she replied diplomatically when I asked how she was finding the school.

"That's code for 'pretentious and overwhelming,'" I said with a laugh. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. And not everyone here is obsessed with social hierarchy and royal protocol."

"Just most people," I added dryly.

She glanced at me, a flicker of genuine amusement in her eyes. "I'm surprised to hear that from you, Your Highness."

"Eric," I corrected her. "And believe me, no one is more tired of royal protocol than those who have to live by it every day."

We reached the Literature classroom, and I held the door open for Lyra. As she passed by me, I caught that strange, wild scent again, and felt an inexplicable urge to lean closer. I restrained myself, aware of the curious eyes of our classmates.

Professor Matthews was already at his desk, arranging papers. The elderly wolf had been teaching at Moonlight Academy for over forty years and was notorious for his strict seating arrangements.

"Ah, Miss Stone," he called as she entered. "Please take the empty seat in the third row, beside Mr. Marshall."

The seat was on the opposite side of the room from mine. I felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly suppressed it. What was wrong with me today?

As Literature class began, I tried to focus on Professor Matthews' discussion of gothic symbolism in nineteenth-century werewolf literature, but my mind kept wandering. There was something about Lyra Stone—something beyond the unusual color of her eyes or the strength of her mental barriers. Something that called to the wolf inside me in a way I'd never experienced before.

And I was determined to figure out what it was.

Halfway through class, a folded note landed on my desk. I carefully opened it, shielding it from the professor's view.

*You might want to be more subtle with the staring. Even Prof. M has noticed, and he's practically blind. Also, she seems nice.*

- *N*

I smiled slightly, realizing Nathan must have slipped the note to someone to pass to me before he left for his Political Science class. Trust him to still be looking out for me even from across the building.

"Perhaps Prince Eric would like to share his thoughts on the symbolic meaning of silver in Thornton's 'Moonless Night'?" the professor asked, his bushy eyebrows raised expectantly.

I straightened in my seat. "Silver represents both danger and purity in Thornton's work," I answered, grateful for having actually done the reading. "It's a threat to the werewolf protagonist's physical existence, yet also a metaphor for the unattainable purity he seeks in his quest for redemption."

Professor Matthews looked impressed despite himself. "Well articulated, Your Highness. Though I would appreciate your visual attention as well as your mental engagement."

"Yes, sir," I replied, determinedly fixing my gaze to the front of the room.

But as the class continued, I couldn't help noticing when Lyra raised her hand to answer a question about the text's historical context, speaking confidently about the political climate that had influenced the author. Intelligence combined with that quiet strength—she was becoming more intriguing by the minute.

When class ended, I deliberately took my time gathering my books, hoping for another chance to speak with her. But by the time I made it to the door, she had already disappeared into the hallway.

I pulled out my phone and texted Nathan: *Thanks for the note. You're right, she does seem nice.*

His reply came quickly: *Told you so. Now try not to get yourself in trouble over her.*

As I headed to my next class, I couldn't help glancing down the hallway where Lyra had disappeared. Despite the potential complications, I knew with absolute certainty that I would be seeking out Lyra Stone again.

The question was whether that would prove to be the wisest course of action for any of us.