A Luna Among Alphas

Chapter 3:

Nyra:

The entrance to the academy is packed with teenagers all jostling each other to get in, with my hands wrapped tightly around my bags, I manage to get in. Everyone’s mostly dressed in black T-shirts, leather jackets and scuffed boots, I am really the only one dressed in an oversized hoodie that makes me look like a teddy bear.

The hallway is stretched ahead with a seabody of students, all struggling and elbowing each other to read the room assignment paper labelled on the wall. I sigh before wedging myself through the throng of very annoyed teenagers.

“Room assignments,” I mutter, scanning the paper. My name is far below, but I read it out, “room 217 and my roommate is....”

Before I can say it out, a heavy shoulder slams into me and I nearly tip and fall. I look up at the face of the guy who almost fell me down, he has locks of ginger hair, and his face is unsmiling. Oh boy.

“What’s a wimp like you doing here, who let you in anyways?” He asks, staring at me through squinting eyes but I try to keep my face down, “Kaden Ashford? Damn, it is you. Long time no see.”

I widen my eyes as I look up at him, no hint of familiarity in my eyes, for some unknown reason, my brother somehow knows this guy who I can bet my money on that he’s a bully.

“How’s life, Ashford.” He snickers, seizing me up with his eyes, the crowd are all staring at me, apparently, it doesn’t look like my brother is on good terms with him. “You better watch your back, it’s been three years since camp and you think you can get away with that after kissing my girlfriend?”

I gulp down the lump in my throat, so Kaden’s going around kissing people’s girlfriends now, oh dear goddess, please help me out.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I say, because let’s be really honest here, my brother did that, not me.

“Oh, so now you are going to pretend? I will make this place a living hell for you.” He seems angrier than before, “You stepped on the wrong toes, Ashford.” He growls, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Leave him alone, Kyle.” Comes a calm, almost bored voice behind me, a tall lanky guy with messy ginger hair steps forward. “It’s our first day here, stop being an asshole.”

The guy-which name I just found out is Kyle- glares at the both of us. “Whatever, just tell Ashford to watch out, I ain’t taking it easy on him,” he shoves past me almost tipping me over and his group of friends follow behind him, all glaring at me.

Tough crowd.

“Don’t mind him. I am Jace. Kyle’s my cousin, he’s an asshole to everyone, don’t worry, he’s all bark and no bite,” the guy who just saved my life says, his eyes devoid of any humour, he stares at the assignment. “What a coincidence, looks like we’re roommates, Ash.”

“Ashford.” I correct him.

“Ash seems easier to yell during a fight.” He begins walking and I follow behind him, carrying my bags with me, we walk through the crowded halls and up the stairs. Our room is on the third floor, tucked away in the quieter wing.

Jace opens the door and I step in, there’s two beds, two desks and a window that overlooks the training ground.

“This place is a dump.” Jace snickers, dropping his bags on the floor. “Don’t you agree, Ash?”

“Yeah, if you will excuse me. I have to use the bathroom real quick.”

“Alright,” he says, quite unbothered. “Don’t be late, the strength test and orientation is like in a few minutes.”

I smile and dash to the tight bathroom, before locking myself in it. I ring a call to Kaden while squeezing my face; he picks up on the first ring.

“What’s up, sister? Need my help already?” He asks and somehow, I can imagine him smiling.

“Oh, I don’t know,” my voice drips of sarcasm. “There’s someone here, Kyle or something, apparently you kissed his girlfriend in camp three years ago!” I have to remind myself that Jace is here, so I keep my voice down.

“Right, first of all, that was not his girlfriend, he just likes her so he tells everyone that and second of all, she kissed me. It was literally three years ago, I was literally fifteen at that time, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“You should have seen how huge that guy was, he said he was going to make my life a living hell here.” I breathe in through the phone.

“You can handle him, anyways I have to go now. Catch you later.” Before I can protest, he ends the call.

“Damn it.” I mutter under my breath, before shoving my phone back into my pocket. Coming out of the bathroom, I see Jace tugging at the hem of his dark T-shirt before pulling it above his head, revealing a lean well defined chest.

My eyes linger for a brief moment at his sun glazed skin, he catches me staring but he doesn’t seem to care. He tugs on a hoodie, his ginger strands slightly mused.

“We have to get to the hall for the strength test.” He lamely says, before stepping out. I rush out of our room, pacing beside him. When we get to the large hall, the rows of metal bleachers are already occupied by students, some lounging while some looks tense, some are already whispering to each other so we take a seat at the back, side by side.

My eyes are drawn at the MMA cage in the center with matte black floors, before I can ask any questions. The headmaster- a woman who seems to be in her late forties waltzes in and steps onto the platform, she speaks into the microphone. “Welcome every one of you to the one year program graciously offered by the all males academy, I am headmaster Mcfadden.”

There’s silence everywhere.

“This place is not for the weak or the lazy. We train leaders here- wolves worthy of their pack, worthy of the Alpha title. If you aren’t worthy, I demand you leave right now. Only those who prove themselves worthy of the position will be at the top.”

Jace bounces his leg nervously beside me, murmuring fills the room with students whispering amongst themselves.

“Shall we start the strength test? Each of you will be paired with an opponent in which you will fight with, your strength, attacking and dodging skills will be displayed.” The headmaster smiles briefly, “the names shall be called now.”

The door opens and a hush falls over the crowd. A very tall figure stalks into the hallway- shoulders broad, jaw set, dark hair falling into his sharp silver eyes, everyone stares at him including the headmaster who appears to be stunned.

“What’s going on? Who’s that?” I ask Jace, who apparently can’t seem to take his eyes off the guy, he’s wearing a sweater with the academy logo engraved on it.

“That’s Lucas Carter; his father is the Alpha of shadowfang pack, that pack that’s very powerful. Everyone is like afraid of him; even my own damn cousin is terrified of him. I heard he’s set to become the Alpha once he’s done with the academy.”

I stare at Lucas; his eyes are unbothered as they scan the crowd, I can’t even tell if he seems to like the attention he’s getting or not.

“Mr. Carter, you’re late for the very first session.” The headmaster, after composing herself, says.

Lucas just chuckles, before taking his seat.

“Alright then.” Headmaster Mcfadden steps down the podium, “Let it begin.”

“Starting off...” A man holding a sheet clears his voice. “We have Lucas Carter and uh...Kaden Ashford.”

I snap my head up, “Oh shit.”