The cold room beneath the servants' quarters was suffocating. Selene shivered under the thin blanket as the first rays of dawn sneaked through the cracks in the wooden door. Her body ached—the bruises from yesterday's humiliation still fresh—but her mind was sharper than ever.
Rejected.
The word echoed inside her, sharper than any blade.
She closed her eyes, feeling a strange warmth stirring in her chest. It was faint, almost teasing, but undeniable. Her wolf—the ancient wolf—was waking.
---
The stone halls of Nightbane Academy buzzed with murmurs and whispers as Selene was dragged from the cold cell and pushed into the bustling corridors. Students glanced at her with a mixture of pity, disdain, and curiosity.
That's the omega Kyren Blackthorn rejected.
Poor thing.
She kept her head low, trying to disappear, but their gazes stung like icy needles.
Her footsteps faltered near the grand entrance, where a crowd had gathered.
From the mass of bodies emerged a striking figure—tall, with dark hair like Kyren's but smoother, eyes sharp emerald green gleaming with mischief.
Lucian.
The new Alpha transfer.
---
His gaze swept the crowd before pausing on Selene.
A slow smile curled his lips.
He stepped forward, weaving easily through the students, until he stood beside her.
"Well, well," he said softly, voice smooth as silk but edged with teasing amusement. "What do we have here? The infamous rejected omega?"
Selene blinked, startled by the warmth in his tone.
He wasn't mocking her like the others.
Lucian's eyes twinkled. "You know, if I were you, I'd hold my head a little higher."
Selene wanted to pull away, but something in his easy confidence and playful grin stopped her.
"Why would I?" she whispered.
"Because, Luna," Lucian lowered his voice so only she could hear, "every storm hides a spark of fire. And you, my dear, are about to burn the whole pack down."
He winked, then before Selene could respond, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving a swirl of whispered speculation behind.
---
Classes began, but Selene found it impossible to focus. The scent of her wolf grew stronger, pulsating in her veins with every heartbeat. She was no longer just the shy, quiet girl who had been discarded.
Inside her stirred something wild and powerful—a force that refused to be ignored.
During history class, the elder professor spoke of ancient wolf legends, prophecies whispered only in hushed tones. Selene's ears perked up at the mention of a Luna with the power to shift the balance of the supernatural world.
Her heart thundered.
Could it be her?
---
Later that day, as the students gathered in the courtyard, Selene sat alone on a stone bench, her thoughts tangled.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her.
"Lost in your thoughts, Luna?"
She looked up to see Lucian, his usual teasing smile in place, holding two steaming cups of herbal tea.
"Thought you might need this," he said, offering one cup.
Selene hesitated but accepted. The warmth spread through her hands, then her chest, calming the storm inside.
"You really don't have to be so… cruel to yourself, you know," Lucian said softly.
"I don't have a choice," Selene whispered. "Kyren rejected me. The pack won't accept me. I'm just a joke."
Lucian's eyes softened.
"Maybe Kyren is the one who's lost, not you," he said, sitting beside her. "You're not a joke. You're the secret he's too afraid to face."
Selene stared, surprised by his words.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked quietly.
Lucian grinned, that spark of mischief returning. "Because teasing you is the only way I can keep from falling for you."
Selene blinked, heart skipping a beat.
---
As days passed, Lucian continued to tease and challenge her in class, always pushing just enough to bring out her hidden strength. His presence became a bright spot in her dark world.
But Kyren's cold gaze never left her, a silent reminder of the battle yet to come.
---
That night, alone in her small room, Selene touched her chest where the fire still burned. Her wolf was awakening, and so was a new determination.
They had rejected her.
They thought she was weak.
They hadn't seen the real Luna.
And soon, they would all know.
The flicker of candlelight danced against the cracked walls of Selene's room. Shadows stretched and twisted like silent watchers, but she barely noticed. Her fingers traced the faint pulse beneath her skin—the ancient rhythm of a wolf awakening after a long slumber.
You are stronger than they know.
Her breath caught as warmth spread through her chest, fierce and alive. It wasn't just the wolf; it was something deeper—a promise whispered through the ages.
Selene's eyes snapped open. The girl who had been silenced, rejected, and humiliated was fading away, replaced by someone sharper, stronger. Someone who would fight.
A quiet knock on her door startled her.
"Selene?" Lucian's voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Her heart pounded. She quickly wiped the flush from her cheeks.
"Come in," she whispered.
The door creaked open, and Lucian slipped inside, closing it gently behind him.
"I thought you might still be awake," he said, stepping closer, the scent of pine and smoke surrounding him.
Selene shifted on her bed, suddenly shy under his gaze.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you."
"No," she said quickly. "I was… just thinking."
Lucian sat on the edge of her bed, close enough to see the faint scar on his cheek catching the candlelight.
"Thinking about what?" he asked, teasingly arching an eyebrow.
She hesitated, then whispered, "About who I am… and who I'm supposed to be."
Lucian smiled, a little sad but warm.
"You're more than what anyone says. More than the whispers and stares. You have fire inside, Selene. And I want to help you light it."
Her breath caught again.
"Why?" she asked, voice trembling.
He grinned, mischief returning.
"Because it's not every day I meet someone who can match my wit—and make me laugh."
Selene blinked, surprised laughter bubbling up.
For the first time since arriving at Nightbane Academy, she felt something like hope.
Lucian reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Sleep well, Luna. Tomorrow, the world changes."
With that, he slipped from the room, leaving behind a warmth that chased away the cold.
---
The next morning, the academy buzzed with rumors about the new transfer Alpha, Lucian, and the mysterious bond forming between him and the rejected omega.
Selene's heart raced as she entered the great hall for breakfast. Eyes followed her, but this time, a quiet confidence steadied her steps.
Lucian waited by the long wooden table, a cheeky smile playing on his lips.
"Good morning, Luna," he said loudly enough for those nearby to hear.
Some students snorted or rolled their eyes, but Selene met Lucian's gaze and smiled back.
For the first time, she belonged.