THE FIRST LESSON
1449 Words
Ayla
The gymnasium fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned to stare at me.
“Why her?”
“Did you see that? The professor picked her himself.”
My legs felt like jelly as I stood up. I grabbed my whiteboard with trembling hands and walked toward Professor Arkon. Each step felt impossible.
He watched me approach, his expression completely blank. Like last night never happened.
But his eyes… those amber eyes burned with something mischievous.
“Everyone else, begin with basic defensive stances,” he called out. “I want to see what you remember from last semester.”
I stepped onto the mat, my heart hammering.
He circled me slowly. “Show me your defensive stance.”
I hesitated. I had practiced at home, watched videos but never had formal training.
I shifted my feet apart, raised my hands, and tried to remember what I'd seen in the videos.
“Your feet are too close together. Shoulders too tense. You'd be knocked over in seconds.”
Heat crept up my neck.
“Here.” He moved behind me, and suddenly his presence was overwhelming. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, he smelled so good that I almost leaned on him.
“Feet wider.” His foot tapped mine, nudging it outward. “Knees slightly bent.”
His hand touched my shoulder, adjusting the angle, and that same electricity from last night shot through me. I gasped silently.
His hand stilled. His fingers pressed harder, like he felt it too.
Then he stepped back quickly. “Better.”
A crash echoed across the gym. A student had fallen, holding his nose.
“Stay here,” Professor Arkon ordered, then strode toward the commotion.
Sienna rushed over, eyes wide. “They said he has never paired with a student before. Ever. What's going on?”
I shook my head, writing, “I don't know.”
“Miss Thorne!” Professor Arkon's voice cut across the gym. “I believe you have a partner waiting.”
Sienna ran back to her spot.
Professor Arkon returned to me, keeping more distance this time.
“We'll try something simple. I'm going to move toward you slowly. I want you to block and redirect.”
He demonstrated, his movements were serious and controlled.
We repeated it. Again and again. Each time, I got a little better, but frustration was building.
“Stop.” His voice was gentler now. “You're overthinking. Combat isn't just about technique. It's about instinct.”
I grabbed my whiteboard: “I can't shift.”
“I know. But you still have wolf blood. Still have those instincts buried inside you.” He moved closer. “Try again. But this time, close your eyes.”
I stared at him.
“Trust me. Close your eyes and feel instead of thinking.”
I hesitated, then let my eyelids fall shut.
“I'm going to come at you now. Don't think. Just react.”
I heard the whisper of his movement, felt the air shift. Something inside me twitched, like an animal waking up.
My hands moved on their own, blocking, redirecting.
“Good. Again.”
This time I felt it stronger, that instinct rising. My body knew what to do.
We went through the drill five more times. Each time, that buried instinct grew stronger.
“Excellent.” There was approval in his voice. “Open your eyes.”
I did, and found him standing close. Those amber eyes studied my face with an intensity that made my breath catch.
“You have it in you, Ayla. The wolf. Just because you can't shift doesn't mean it's not there.”
For a moment, the whole world narrowed to just us.
A phone alarm beeped.
Professor Arkon stepped back abruptly.
“Class dismissed,” he called out. “Same time Wednesday.”
As we headed toward the door, I felt eyes on me. I looked back.
Professor Arkon stood completely still, watching me leave. Our eyes met across the gymnasium, and that electric feeling sparked again.
---
Magical Theory passed in a blur. I couldn't stop replaying the training session in my head.
“Ayla? You're doing it again.” Sienna stared at me across the cafeteria table. “Spacing out. This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain gorgeous professor, would it?”
My face must have given me away.
“Oh my god, it is! But seriously, be careful. Professor Arkon has a reputation.”
I grabbed my board: “What kind of reputation?”
“He's only been teaching here one semester. Some say he's the Alpha's secret son. Others say he killed someone. And everyone says he ruined all the ladies he has been with.” She leaned closer. “So whatever I think might happen between you two? It's either good or really, really dangerous.”
Before I could respond, a shadow fell over our table.
“Well, well. The mute wolf.”
I looked up to see three girls. The blonde one had a practiced sneer, a smaller one had ginger hair, and of course, there was Veronica Blackwood.
“You're in my seat.”
Sienna rolled her eyes. “There are no assigned seats, Veronica.”
“I wasn't talking to you.” Veronica's eyes stayed on me. “I'm talking to the charity case who can't even shift. Tell me, how does it feel knowing you'll never be a real wolf?”
My hands clenched under the table.
“Hey, back off.” Sienna stood up.
“At least you can shift. This one?” She pointed at me. “She's just taking up space that should go to real supernatural students.”
Something hot and angry flared in my chest. I grabbed my whiteboard.
“I earned my spot here just like everyone else.”
Veronica laughed. “Earned? They felt sorry for you. Is that why Professor Arkon picked you today? Pity for the…”
“Miss Blackwood.”
Everyone froze.
Professor Arkon stood a few feet away, his expression was scary.
“My office. Now.” Veronica's smirk faltered. “But I was just…"
“Now.”
The command in his voice made several students flinch. Veronica walked toward the exit, face red.
Professor Arkon's eyes swept the cafeteria. “Does anyone else want to discuss other students abilities? No? Good.”
But before he left, his eyes found mine. Just for a second, concern flickered across his face.
Then he turned and walked away.
“Okay,” Sienna whispered. “That was definitely not normal. Professors don't intervene in student drama.”
I nodded, still staring at the doorway where he'd disappeared.
Later that night, I couldn't sleep again. The day kept replaying in my mind, his hands on my shoulders, his voice telling me the wolf was inside me, the way he had defended me.
Around midnight, I heard it. A howl. Long and mournful, coming from somewhere outside.
I went to the window and looked out.
A massive black wolf stood in the courtyard below, illuminated by moonlight. It was huge, bigger than any wolf I'd ever seen. Its fur gleamed like midnight, and even from this distance, I could see the power in its frame.
It looked up.
Directly at my window.
And its eyes glowed amber.
My heart stopped.
The wolf held my gaze for a long moment, then threw back its head and howled again. The sound pierced straight through me, it was beautiful and terrifying all at once.
Then it turned and disappeared into the shadows near the hedge maze.
I should have stayed in my room. I should have pretended I saw nothing.
Instead, I grabbed my robe and slipped out the door.
The academy was silent as I crept down the stairs, my bare feet padding against cold stone. Every logical thought screamed at me to turn back, but something deeper that I couldn't control pulled me forward.
I ran across the grass toward where I had seen the wolf disappear, toward the towering bushes that marked the entrance to the back field.
“Professor Arkon?” I wanted to call out, but no sound came. It never did.
I reached the hedge line, looking into the shadows between the carefully trimmed walls. Nothing. Just darkness and the whisper of wind through leaves.
He was gone.
I felt disappointed. Well… What did I expect? That he would….
Suddenly, a hand tapped my shoulder and I jumped back in fear. My legs gave out, knees buckling, and I pitched backward with a silent gasp.
“Easy.” His strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.
- Writer
