CHAPTER 1 – THE GIRL WITHOUT A WOLF
"Did you see her? The wolfless one?"
The laughter hit Lyla before she even reached the gates.
She stopped walking, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. Two girls stood near the stone archway of Blackmoon Academy, not bothering to lower their voices.
"I heard she's never shifted. Not once. Eighteen years old and nothing."
"Poor thing. At least she's got the body for eating her feelings."
Lyla kept her eyes forward. Don't cry. Not here. Not on the first day.
She had promised herself this year would be different. She'd survive it quietly. No attention. No target on her back.
That plan lasted exactly four minutes.
"Well, well." A new voice, smoother, colder, cut through the noise. Selena Cross stepped into Lyla's path like she owned the ground beneath her feet because at Blackmoon, girls like Selena did. "The wolfless girl decided to show up after all. Brave of you. Or maybe you just didn't get the memo that this academy is for wolves."
Students nearby slowed down to watch. Lyla felt her face burn, but she didn't look away.
"I'm still a werewolf," Lyla said quietly. "Even without a wolf voice."
Selena's smile sharpened. "Are you? Because from where I'm standing, you just look like a girl who eats too much and shifts too little."
A few laughs rippled through the crowd. Lyla's chest tightened, but she refused to let it show. She had learned a long time ago that tears were currency here and she wasn't giving anyone a single coin.
"Enjoy the ceremony tonight," Selena said, already turning away. "Try not to embarrass yourself. Oh wait too late."
She walked off, her friends trailing behind her like a wave of perfume and cruelty.
Lyla exhaled slowly. Her hands were shaking. She hated that they were shaking.
"Don't listen to her." A girl appeared beside her, dark curls bouncing, grinning like she hadn't just watched a public humiliation. "Selena's been practicing being awful since birth. It's basically her only talent."
Lyla blinked. "You don't have to"
"I'm Maya." The girl held out a hand like they were old friends already. "And trust me, I don't do anything I don't want to do. Come on. I'll show you where the dorms are before you get cornered by anyone else's inherited personality disorder."
For the first time since arriving, Lyla felt something loosen in her chest. Just slightly.
"Thank you," she said.
Maya waved a hand. "Don't thank me yet. Wait till you see the food here. Then thank me."
The academy grounds stretched wide and ancient, stone towers rising against a darkening sky. Lyla had read about Blackmoon Academy her whole life the most prestigious training ground for future Alphas, Lunas, and warriors in the kingdom. She'd never imagined she would actually walk through its gates.
She'd also never imagined how much it would hurt to be here.
"Moon Ceremony's tonight," Maya said as they crossed the courtyard. "Every new student gets presented under the full moon. It's tradition. Pack alliances, future mates, all that dramatic stuff."
Lyla's stomach twisted. "Do I have to go?"
"Everyone has to go." Maya glanced sideways at her. "Hey. You'll be fine."
Lyla wasn't sure she believed that. A room full of powerful wolves, watching her, judging her, waiting for her to prove she belonged. She'd spent her whole life proving she belonged nowhere.
"There he is," Maya muttered suddenly, nodding toward the far end of the courtyard.
Lyla followed her gaze and forgot how to breathe.
A tall figure moved across the stone path like he was carved from something colder than the rest of the world. Dark hair. Sharp jaw. Eyes that looked like they'd never once softened for anyone. Students stepped aside without being asked, heads bowing slightly as he passed.
"Kaiden Blackwood," Maya said. "Alpha heir. Future king of literally everyone here. Also, in case you couldn't tell terrifying."
"He looks like he hates everyone," Lyla murmured.
"Pretty sure he does." Maya smirked. "Don't worry. He won't even notice you exist."
Lyla told herself that was fine. Better than fine. The last thing she needed was the attention of the most powerful person at this academy.
But as they crossed the courtyard, their paths angled closer.
Ten feet.
Five feet.
Lyla kept her head down, focused on the ground, on anything except
Kaiden stopped walking.
It happened so suddenly that a student behind him nearly collided into his back. He didn't seem to notice. His entire body had gone rigid, his gaze snapping toward Lyla like something had physically pulled it there.
Lyla froze too, unsure why her heart had suddenly slammed against her ribs.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Gold. Sharp. Burning with something she didn't understand.
Inside him, a voice ancient, primal, undeniable rose from somewhere deep in his chest and roared a single word through his mind.
Mate.
