The first class of the day was Werewolf History — one of the only classes Aira didn't hate. It was a subject soaked in legends, moonlight, and ancient truths. Things that made her feel… connected. To her kind. To her past. To her mother.
Aira and Lila walked quietly into the classroom, slipping into their usual seats by the window. The sky outside was now clear and blue, but her mind was still heavy with clouds.
The door creaked open as Mr. Streford, their history teacher, walked in carrying a thick, rune-covered book that looked centuries old.
"Settle down, everyone," he said in his deep, commanding voice. "Today, we begin our first unit: The Origin of the Wolves."
The chatter died immediately. Even the loudest students leaned in.
Mr. Streford placed the book on the desk and opened it gently, as if it contained real magic.
"Long before packs, before alphas and omegas, before territory and trials—there was only one.""Selene. The Moon Goddess. Our mother. Our beginning."
Aira's breath caught. The name struck her in the chest like a soft bell.Her mother's name was Selene, too.
"Selene was not just divine… she was power woven in silver. Born of starlight, cloaked in wisdom. She created us not from earth, but from her own breath, molding wolves to guard the realms of dusk and shadow."
"To every Alpha she created, she gave a Mate. Not a gift. A purpose.""For it is the love between fated mates that fuels an Alpha's true strength. Without a mate, even the strongest Alpha becomes a hollow crown."
A hush fell over the class.
Even the rowdy boys in the back were quiet, drawn in by the tale.
Mr. Streford's voice dropped lower.
"And so she gave each wolf a mirror of their soul. But she also gave us a choice. Fate is strong… but free will is stronger."
Suddenly, a hand shot up from the back.
A boy. Arrogant. Confident. Talon Redgrave, the Delta's son.
"Sir… what happens if a male wolf rejects his mate?""What if he… doesn't want her?"
The class gasped.
Even Mr. Streford blinked in shock, as if he hadn't expected the question. He shut the book slowly.
"That," he said, "is a question rarely asked aloud."
"If a male wolf rejects his mate, and he is strong—especially an Alpha or warrior-class—and the female is weak, like an omega…""It can… kill her."
A hush swept through the room like a sudden winter wind.
"Because mates are connected by soul, not just instinct. If one breaks the bond forcefully… and the other is too fragile to withstand it… the pain becomes more than emotional. It becomes fatal."
Aira felt something tighten inside her.A silent string pulling taut across her chest.
She looked at Lila. Lila looked back. Neither spoke. But their eyes were full of unspoken questions.
The bell rang, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Aira gathered her books slowly, her fingers shaking just a little. She couldn't explain why the idea of rejection felt so personal. So terrifying.
Later: Girls' Locker Room – Training Grounds
The mood was lighter in the locker room. Lila was pulling her curly hair into a ponytail while Aira quietly slipped into her faded black sports gear. The room echoed with lockers closing, laughter, and the sound of boots hitting the tile.
"So…" Lila started, fastening her top. "What do you think it'll feel like?""Finding your mate?"
Aira blinked. "I… I don't know. Peaceful? Powerful?"
Lila smiled. "Will they love us, you think? Just… instantly?"
Aira stared at her reflection in the metal locker door for a second too long.
"Why wouldn't they?" she said quietly. "Mates are made to love each other."
But her voice cracked.
Because love wasn't always enough. She had seen it—once, in her parents. Her mother's laughter. Her father's quiet affection. The way they danced in the kitchen when no one was looking.
And then… she saw what love looked like when it was ripped away.
Now, Kael Moonstone didn't dance. He didn't smile.He barely spoke. Except when he was yelling at her.Her father's soul had died with her mother — and everything that remained blamed Aira for surviving.
"Hey," Lila said gently, touching her shoulder. "You okay?"
Aira nodded with a weak smile.
"Yeah. Just… thinking about training."
But Lila saw through it. She always did.
They walked out to the training grounds side by side, boots crunching on gravel, the sound of wolves shifting and sparring in the distance.
Today would be another test.
And though Aira didn't know it yet, soon… someone would be watching her.Not as an omega.But as something else entirely.