A Luna Among Alphas

Chapter 4:

Nyra:

There’s no way in hell that I am wrestling against Lucas Carter, and for goddess’ sake, while he looks like that.

“Damn it, Ash.” Jace replies beside him. “I don’t think today is your lucky day at all.”

My legs are wobbly as I manage to get up, from the corner of my eye, I see Lucas already stepping into the ring, my heart is beating twice as fast. Kyle sees me and snickers, his eyes telling me, ‘You aren’t going to survive that,’

Everyone’s all staring at me like I’m going to get eaten up, the man hands over the gloves to me as I get into the ring. Across the ring, he is already waiting; the world seems to fade away as the only thing I can seem to stare at is his face and those eyes, why does it look like those eyes are hiding countless of things?

“Ready?” The man announces and the whistle goes off.

He launches at me immediately, he’s damn fast. His fist comes aiming for my face but I dodge immediately and a scream comes from the crowd. Seriously? Are people really enjoying this?

When he’s close enough, I duck my palm into his solid muscle and he barely flinches, of course. Damn it.

He spins, catching my wrist and twisting it with just enough pressure to say ‘I could break this if I wanted to’ I whimper loudly, and I can feel him smiling, I let him feel like he has the upper hand before I drive my heel into his thigh, he releases me and I stumble.

Cheers and shouts blurs around us. My lungs burns, sweat drips from my temple, but I don't stop moving, I can’t afford to stop. He lunges again, faster this time and before I can make sense of what is happening, he clips my ribs.

Pain booms from every corner, my head thumps loudly, I grit my teeth and twist midair, elbow catching his chin.

The crowd gasps.

He wipes the blood away from his lips and stares at me, in what I can’t tell is amusement or disdain, his eyes narrow at me- like as if he can see I’m not who I am making out to be. To be honest, I’m a bit intimidated by his stare, and it makes me feel uncomfortable that a guy is making me feel this way.

The bell rings, our match is over.

I come out of the ring, bloody, hands trembling while the next names are being called, I really don’t think this academy cares about the health of their students.

I return to my seat, literally shaking.

“Ash, that was incredible.” Jace looks at me squarely.

“He almost killed me.” I place a hand gently on my face and I wince, I am absolutely going to need painkillers, “It was like I wrestled with the beast.”

“Everyone is surprised you made it out alive, where did you even learn to fight like that?” Jace asks.

Countless hours of training with my father, but instead, I just say, “regular training.”

He nods his head as we both watch as other people’s names are called, brutal fights and bloodied sessions, soon it is Jace’s turn and I wish him luck. He fights like a pro up there, swinging his fists like he has mastered every single skill; I can almost say I’m impressed.

From the corner of my eye, I feel Lucas’ eyes on me and I gulp, during my six months stay here before Kaden can come and claim back his identity, I want to stay as hidden as possible, but unfortunately I have caught Kyle’s attention and now it seems, I am catching Lucas’ attention too.

Goddess, I really don’t want any of this. Can’t I just remain invisible for the rest of the six months?

When the fighting session is over, I retire to my bedroom; Jace says he’s going to join me later, so it is me all alone in the room. My phone rings with a call from my mother and I hurriedly decline, what do I even tell her? Besides, I don’t have the heart to talk to her right now, even dad couldn’t reach out.

My cellphone rings but it’s from Mirae, my best friend.

I pick up the phone, wincing. “Hello?”

“Hello to you too,” Mirae yells over the phone, “What in the hell did you do, Nyra? Do you believe I had to ring a call to Kaden to ask where you have been, since I couldn’t find you anywhere in the pack-house?” Kaden and Mirae are on rough terms ever since her sixteenth birthday, where he crashed on her six layer cake.

Mirae is the beta’s daughter; we basically grew up together doing the same stuffs, however Mira is all gloss and glitter, she likes being around dolls and braiding hair while I prefer punching bags and breaking bones. We are both different in many ways, yet we bond so well.

“Kaden told me that you were in the all males academy pretending to be him, you are going to get killed in there,” she says softly, and I know she really cares about me. “It was wrong of your father to pull such a move, I mean, literally denying you your right.”

“I know, Mira.” I sigh, seating on the bed. “But I got this. You know this is my only chance to prove to my father the capability that I’ve got.”

“Alright, just please don’t forget who you are while trying to pretend to be him, okay? I trust you.” Mirae says and I can almost feel her smiling, “however, are you sure that you’re going to pull this off, I mean. How are you going to do it?”

“Well, there’s a bathroom, I just have to make sure I am careful around my roommate.”

“Oh, is he handsome?” is the first question Mirae asks; of course, she has always been the one to believe in the prince charming tale, mate bonds and stuffs.

“I am not having this conversation with you.” I say playfully. “But he has got some rock solid abs.”

“Oh my goddess!” Mirae basically shrieks into the phone. “Tell me more about this roommate of yours, I want to search him up.”

“No way, anyways, I need you to cover up for me in case my parents are trying to like snoop around for me.” I tell Mirae, if anything, she will always cover for me, it’s why we’ve been friends for so long.

Mirae sighs into the phone, “I am clearly not in support of what you are doing because I don’t want you to get hurt but I know you have to do what you have to do. Alright, I’ll cover up for you. Okay? Bye.”

“Bye, I’m forever grateful to you.” The moment I end the call with Mirae, Jace comes into a room, holding a bottle of medication; he tosses it over to me, going to his side of the bedroom.

“Those are painkillers,” he gruffly says, removing one of his boots. “They will help you sleep without feeling pain. You should probably take one now before you go to bed.”

“Okay...thanks.” I don’t bother asking where he got the medication from, seems like he isn’t going to tell anyways. I walk to the water dispenser and pour myself a cup of water, before taking the medication. I sit on the bed, feeling the throbbing headache reduce.

It’s still six in the evening, so if I sleep now, I’m probably going to miss dinner, however I rest on the bed and I don’t know when sleep pulls me away. Nine hours later, I open my eyes. s**t. I must have overslept, the bottle of pills he got me is still resting on my nightstand, I sit upright and stare at Jace, who is snoring softly.

Damn it, what’s the time right now? I quickly check my phone and realize it’s three in the midnight. Standing up, I walk out of the room and into the dim hallway since almost everyone in campus is asleep.

I hear something, the soft sound of a piano. Someone is playing music right here in campus, I shouldn’t have, but I did. I follow the direction of music even though my wolf is screaming for me to get back to my dorm.

But it’s something like a pull, it’s rentless.

I keep on following the direction of the music, up the staircase until I reach the last floor. The old library room turned music hall. The door is slightly open and then I see him.

His back is facing me, he’s seating down. Tousled dark strands falling over his face, muscles shifting under a loose black shirt, long fingers playing over the keyboard. I just stand there, watching as he play and then, the air shifts.

My heart starts pounding loudly, blood rushing to my ears. Then, the scent hits me something like wild pine mixed with after rain.

‘Mate! He’s our mate!’ My wolf, Zara, screams wildly inside of me.

My hand flies to my chest.

No. No, no, no, no.

This isn’t supposed to happen. Not here and certainly not now. He turns slowly and his eyes snap towards me. I am sure he felt the mate bond. Slowly, he stands and starts walking my way.

Oh s**t. This is bad, really really bad.