The air was crisp as Lily stepped out of the sleek black car, the engine’s hum fading into the background as she took in the sprawling campus of Moonshine College.
Though it was her sophomore year, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement.
Her freshman year had been spent being homeschooled by Luna Ariel, learning the ins and outs of being a Luna, the responsibilities that came with her position, and all the knowledge necessary to one day lead beside the Alpha twins.
But now, as she stepped onto the campus with Alpha Lucas and Alpha Liam by her side, she felt like she was finally becoming a part of something bigger.
"Are you sure you don’t want us to follow you around with bodyguards?" Lucas teased as he walked beside her, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over her. "It’s not too late, you know."
Liam chuckled beside him, his mischievous grin never far from his lips.
"We would be happy to do it. Just think about it, Lils. We would be with you every step of the way, ensuring your safety while you get used to campus life."
Lily raised an eyebrow, letting her gaze slide from one twin to the other.
She knew them too well.
"I don’t need bodyguards. And you two certainly don’t need to act as my personal escorts. I’ll be fine."
"We’re just looking out for you," Lucas said, his voice light, though she could tell he wasn’t being entirely serious. "You know, it’s a rough world out there. I’m sure you’ll appreciate having us close by."
"I think you two just enjoy playing the hero," Lily shot back with a teasing smile. "But, fine. I’ll take the tour you’re offering. No need to play bodyguard, though. You would only embarrass me."
Liam laughed, a deep, hearty sound that always made her feel at ease.
"Embarrass you? We just want to make sure you’re comfortable, Lils. You’re finally getting your college experience, and we want to make it the best one possible."
As they walked across the campus towards the main building, Lily couldn’t help but feel the weight of the past two years slip away.
Suddenly, her name echoed across the campus, and she turned to see Maya, her best friend, rushing toward her with open arms.
Maya’s long dark hair bounced with each step, and her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.
Without hesitation, they embraced, a moment of pure joy between them.
"Lily! I can’t believe you’re finally here!" Maya exclaimed as she pulled back, her hands still on Lily’s arms as if making sure this was real. "I’ve been waiting for this day forever. We’re going to have so much fun!"
"I can’t believe I’m here either," Lily laughed, her heart swelling at the sight of her best friend. "It feels surreal. I’ve been waiting for this. I’ve missed you so much."
Maya’s smile widened, her energy infectious.
"We’re going to be roommates! Can you believe it?" she said, practically bouncing on her feet. "College is going to be amazing, Lily. We’ll have so many memories. It’s going to be the best time of our lives."
Just then, Maya’s boyfriend, Graham, approached with a smile, his presence steady and strong.
Graham was the Alpha twins’ Beta, always calm, always reliable.
"Hey, Lily," he greeted her warmly, offering a hand. "Welcome to the madness that is Moonshine College."
Lily smiled and shook his hand, grateful for his welcoming presence.
"Thanks, Graham. I’m excited to finally be here."
The Alpha twins exchanged a glance, and then Lucas nudged Lily, his expression turning slightly mischievous again.
"Well, since we’re here and all... maybe we should give you that tour we promised," he said, giving her a wink. "You know, show you the ropes, get you familiar with the layout. It’s not like you’ve been on campus much before."
Lily rolled her eyes.
"You two are unbelievable. Fine, fine. Lead the way." She chuckled, letting herself relax in their company.
Despite her protests, she enjoyed having them around.
They had a way of making everything feel more comfortable, more manageable.
As they walked along the stone pathways, their conversation shifted between the mundane and the exciting.
Maya and Graham talked about the different clubs they were interested in, and how they couldn’t wait to join the student council and other prestigious groups.
The Alpha twins teased Lily about her lack of enthusiasm for those things.
"You know, you could totally run for student body president," Lucas said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the thought. "You’ve got the charisma for it, and the pack will rally behind you."
Lily shook her head, laughing.
"I think I’ll pass. I’m here to focus on learning how to be a proper Luna, not to run a popularity campaign."
"I think you would be amazing at it," Liam said, his voice softer than usual, a hint of admiration in his tone. "You’d have our support, always."
Before Lily could respond, there was a sudden screech of tires and then the unmistakable sound of an engine roaring.
Lily’s eyes widened in horror as a car sped toward her, faster than she could react.
She froze in shock, unable to move, her body refusing to obey her mind.
Then, in a blur of motion, someone grabbed her, pulling her out of the car’s path just in time.
The world spun, and Lily felt herself crash into the ground, the air knocked from her lungs.
A gasp escaped her as she scrambled to push herself up.
"Lily!" Maya screamed, her voice full of panic as she and Graham rushed to her side.
The Alpha twins were immediately by her side, their faces etched with concern.
"Are you okay?" Liam asked urgently, his grip on her shoulders firm as he checked her for any injuries.
Lily, still reeling from the shock, nodded shakily.
"I... I think so. What just happened?"
The girl who had saved her stood a few feet away, her eyes wide with concern.
She was panting slightly, clearly having moved fast to save Lily.
"Thank you for saving me" Lily said, clearly grateful.
"I’m so glad I could help," Lena said with a smile, her voice sweet, though there was a gleam in her eyes that Lily didn’t quite understand. "I didn’t want anything bad to happen to you."
Lily blinked, still recovering from the shock.
"Thank you," she said again.
Lena simply nodded, her expression remaining calm.
"It’s the least I could do."
As Lily processed the moment, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off about the whole situation.
The pieces were starting to fall into place, but Lily couldn’t see the full picture yet.
Lena had just set the stage, and soon, everything would fall into place—just as she had planned.