Wildborn

Lunebrook

The next morning, Bri woke and rolled over, catching the Lunebrook Academy packet resting on her nightstand. Last night, their dinner arrived; stew and some of the best smelling sourdough bread she had ever encountered. Bri had eaten last. She always did.

Before she ever touched her bowl, she’d made sure her mom had at least taken a few real bites instead of pushing the food around. She’d gently pulled her up from the spot on the couch where she’d been sitting most of the day, coaxing her toward the table, pressing a glass of water into her hands.

Lena had been easier. Bri had helped her eat, wash up, guided her through brushing her teeth, made sure she’d changed into clean pajamas. She’d checked the temperature of the bathwater herself. Braided Lena’s hair back from her face while listening to her chatter about nothing important, because nothing important felt safer.

Only when her mom was lying down in her room instead of staring into the fire or out the window, and Lena was tucked in and breathing evenly, had Bri finally sat at the table. The stew had gone lukewarm by then. She’d eaten anyway. Quietly.

By the time she climbed into the comfortable bed, exhaustion had settled deep into her bones. She barely remembered pulling the covers around her before sleep claimed her.

Sitting up, she grabbed the material and really looked at it for the first time. The crest on the front of the folder seemed to shimmer when Bri tilted it back and forth in the sunlight. She finally flipped open the thick packet, greeted immediately by a letter embossed with silver:

Welcome to Lunebrook Academy.

"Founded 1533, Lunebrook Academy was the first educational institution established for Moonbound wolves in the New World. It was the vision of the Romano family, direct descendants of Lumen Primus himself — Romulus, the first Alpha and original wolf-shifter.

The Romanos were joined in their mission by four families of the Seven Pillars of Luna: the Valerios, the Varro, the Sforza, and the Colonna families. These families came to the new world aboard the vessels of Christopher Columbus himself, blending in with explorers and settlers, ever watchful of new territory where their kind could thrive."

Just as Bri furrowed her brow, trying to digest the grandeur of it all, a soft knock came at the door.

“Come in,” she called.

Grandma Riona stepped inside, wrapped in a wool shawl, her eyes already narrowing at the packet in Bri’s hands. “Is that the Lunebrook material?” she asked, voice edged with amusement.

Bri nodded. “Yeah. Just started reading about the academy’s history. It’s… impressive.”

Riona chuckled dryly and sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers brushing the paper like it might disintegrate under scrutiny. “Impressive, sure. Glossed over? Absolutely.”

Riona stood near the window, morning light tracing the silver in her dark hair. To anyone else, she would have looked like a formidable but aging grandmother, sharp-eyed with a sharp tongue. But Bri knew better. It wasn’t something openly discussed, not in specifics. Age among the women in her family was… fluid. Quietly guarded. Still, if Bri had to guess, her grandmother had seen more than two centuries pass. Maybe more.

Bri’s eyes slanted in suspicion. “And you know the full story…”

Grandma Riona sat in the desk chair and leaned back, folding her arms. "Shortly after landing in 1492, the five families began their true quest, splintering off from the colonizing efforts. They had no interest in empire or conquest, not the humankind, at least. While ships stayed relatively coastal and flags were planted in fertile soil, our kind turned the other direction.”

Her gaze drifted slightly, as if she could still see it.

“We sought the places humans would not. The unforgiving mountains. The deep forests choked with old growth and predator scent. The frozen northern stretches where survival itself was a test. Lands too harsh for settlers in that time to tame. Too remote to govern. Too dangerous to desire.”

She uncrossed one arm, tapping her finger lightly against the wood of the desk.

“Their quest was to carve out territories beyond the reach of human expansion. Places our packs could claim without interference. Where we could grow strong. Multiply. Govern ourselves under the moon without church or crown pressing at our borders. They set off on their own expedition across the vast, unclaimed wilderness of North America. They traveled light and fast, leaving false trails, living off the land, and building outposts in some of the most beautiful and remote corners of the continent.

The Romano family eventually founded the Umbral Dawn Pack, planting their roots deep in Bitterroot Valley, Montana. The Valerios found refuge in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota, their pack known for their deep spiritual practices and friendly relationships with the indigenous peoples. The Colonna's established a stronghold in the thick forests of the Pacific Northwest, known for their scholars and seers. The Varro claimed the jagged majesty of the Rocky Mountains, carving a fortress from stone and storm. And the Sforza settled near the Coeur d'Alene National Forest, drawn to the stillness of the pines and the mirrored lakes.

Their numbers grew quickly, strengthened by more Moonbound who traveled with explorers such as John Cabot and Juan Ponce de Leon. Wolves chose wolves, and in some cases, wolves chose mates among the Indigenous peoples of North America.

As the next generation was born and began to grow, it became clear: their children needed guidance.

With the advancements in weaponry, science, and expansion, the Moonbound realized both the new and the old ways needed to be preserved and taught. And so, forty years after the first packs took root in the wilds of the New World, Lunebrook Academy was raised; not merely as a school, but as a citadel of knowledge, strength, and sacred tradition. Built in an untouched corner of Montana, shielded by near-impossible terrain and natures obstacles, it became a sacred space where knowledge, tradition, and strength passed from elder to pup."

Bri’s eyes widened, the folder feeling heavier in her lap now. “They left all that out.”

"I'm sure the printing company charges per word," Riona mused. "I have a meeting with the Alpha. I'll leave you to it."

Bri made herself comfortable and continued down the rabbit hole of materials. Half of Lunebrook appears, to human eyes, as a prestigious boarding school. Should a non-supernatural wander too close or intentionally visit, they’d see ivy-covered brick buildings, manicured lawns, and bell towers.

The illusion was seamless.

According to the packet, the Veil was a natural camouflage of waterfalls and sheer cliffs. Through a narrow ravine marked only by moonlight lay the true grounds of Lunebrook, hidden from human sight. Stone circles for rites and rituals. A massive open training arena ringed with obsidian pillars. Pools and lakes fed by glacial runoff, forest paths that whispered the names of wolves long gone, and caves carved with the history of their kind beckoning students to study.

Bri frowned slightly as she read.

Natural camouflage.

Her grandmother’s voice drifted through her memory, Impressive, sure. Glossed over? Absolutely.

The words in the packet suddenly felt… careful.

Because a veil wasn’t just a place. It was a thing. Something laid over something else.

Something made.

Bri traced her finger along the page, her mind wandering to the old stories Riona had told her as a child. Stories of older magic that had once lived in the deep places of the world. Magic that didn’t belong only to wolves.

The Folk.

They had faded centuries ago.

But maybe they had left things behind.

Protections.

Doors.

Bri looked back down at the description of the ravine and waterfalls.

Suddenly it felt less like geography… and more like a secret.

It felt alive. It was sacred.

And it was about to be hers.

Bri turned the page to the "Modern Curriculum" section and leaned forward.

We believe in balance, it read.

With the rise of industrialization and the web of technology encasing the human world, Lunebrook adapted. The school now presented a dual face. To the outside world, it appeared as a private charter school hosting upper-class high school students ages 16-18 considered intellectually gifted, with an accelerated college continuation program for students 18-22.

The high school students rotated through classes like mathematics, sciences, literature, and even music or art.

They had clubs. A student council. Yearbook committee.

And sports.

"Wait," Bri murmured. "They have basketball?"

You’re smiling, Eira noted.

I miss it, Bri admitted. It made me feel powerful even before I knew I really was.

Then we play, Eira said simply.

Apparently, Lunebrook’s teams even competed with local non-magical schools, their gifted speed and strength masked just enough to pass. Missoula, Kalispell, even some out-of-state rival wolf schools were regulars on the schedule.

On alternating days, students immersed in werewolf-specific studies. Bri flipped to the next page:

- History of the Moonbound

- Rune Reading & Lunar Glyphs

- Healing with Herbs & Ritual

- Combat Tactics (Traditional & Modern)

- Pack Law and Inter-Pack Diplomacy

There was mention of a placement exam held during the first few weeks of Year 1, or Junior Year in Hollow Pines. Those who passed would gain access to the pathed courses within the Veil.

I need to ask about the placement test, Bri thought.

You’ll be ready, Eira assured her.

Another knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.

"Come in," she called.

The door creaked open, and Grandma Riona stepped back in.

"Alpha Marcos sends his regards."

"Everything go okay?"

Riona nodded, lips pressed in a knowing smile. "Better than expected. Seraphina’s waiting in the living room for you."

Bri stood, her heart skipping for reasons she couldn’t name.

She found Seraphina seated cross-legged on the couch, flipping through a large book. She glanced up with a warm smile.

"Hey, Bri."

"Hi, Seraphina," Bri said politely, the name feeling formal but respectful.

Seraphina tilted her head with a playful grin. "My friends call me Sera. You should too."

Bri smiled, something in her chest softening. "Alright, Sera."

Sera closed the book with a soft thump and leaned forward. "Mind if we do something a little fun before the meeting with Beta Antonio?"

Bri arched an eyebrow. "Define fun."

"Shopping," Sera replied, grinning. "Phone, clothes, toiletries, you kind of left everything behind, right? But mostly, I figured it’d be a good excuse to hang out. Get to know each other."

Bri nodded slowly, the gesture somewhere between surprise and gratitude. "Pretty much, and sounds good."

At that moment, Bri’s mom stepped in from one of the bedrooms with Lena in tow, her backpack already slung over one shoulder.

"Luna Isabella is taking your sister to enroll in the elementary school here," she said. Her voice was tired, but her smile seemed genuine. "You should go with your grandmother and Sera. Enjoy a little girl time."

Riona chuckled. "Alpha Marcos was generous with a welcoming stipend. Might as well use it."

Sera winked. "Trust me. Bitterroot doesn’t have a mall, but I can show you how to spend it."

Bri hesitated only a moment longer.

"Alright," she said. "Let’s go."