Lexi adjusted her glasses for what felt like the hundredth time, watching people rush past.
The train station was busy, footsteps echoed, luggage wheels rattled, and announcements crackled over the speakers. Everyone seemed to have somewhere important to be.
She sat on a worn wooden bench, her hands resting on her bag. The noise and movement felt like a river she couldn't step into.
"Here."
A cup was placed in front of her. She looked up to see Logan standing there, a small smile on his face.
"Thanks," she said, taking the coffee. Her lips curved into a small, grateful smile.
Ever since their parents had died, Logan had been the one constant in her life, her brother, her guardian, her anchor.
Her father had been a warrior, strong and unyielding, respected across their pack. Her mother had been the pack doctor, brave and skilled, always at his side even on the battlefield. Lexi had been quiet young, quiet, and curious, watching the pack move with discipline, loyalty, and an intensity she didn't fully understand at the time.
And then the fire had come.
A raid, a battle, a clash that left their pack in ruin. Both her parents were gone. The chaos, the smoke, the cries… Lexi had hidden, trembling, wishing she could do something, anything.
Logan had found her amid the destruction, his hands firm but gentle as he carried her away from the ashes. Since that day, he had raised her, taught her, and shielded her from the world, but he never tried to make her someone she wasn't.
Lexi stared at the steaming coffee. The warmth seeped through her fingers and into her chest, like a small comfort from a life that had been taken too soon.
Logan sat beside her. For a while, neither of them spoke. The hum of the station, the footsteps, the distant squeal of brakes filled the silence.
Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet.
"Lexi… do you really want to go to Shadowcrest Academy? I mean… there's still time. You could change your mind."
She looked straight ahead, gripping the strap of her bag. "This is what I want," she said firmly. "I've always wanted this. I need to prove I can survive. I need to prove I can rise."
Logan let out a slow sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I just… I worry about you, that's all. Shadowcrest isn't like anything you've seen. It's… harsh."
Lexi adjusted her glasses again, glancing at him. His eyes were full of concern, the way he always looked at her when he wanted to protect her from the world.
"Are you mad at me for wanting to go to Shadowcrest?" she asked.
Logan shook his head.
"Mad? No. I just…" He paused, swallowing hard. "I just… I don't want you to get hurt. Father and mother… they're gone. You're the only family I have left."
Lexi gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I won't get hurt," she said softly, though her stomach still twisted with nerves.
A train hissed suddenly, cutting through the station noise.
They both turned toward the sound.
"The train is here," Lexi said, her voice barely steady, heart hammering in her chest.
Logan let out a long, tight sigh and rose to his feet. He stepped closer, his gaze sharp but soft at the same time. "Lexi… promise me you'll be careful. This isn't just a trip. It's the first time the world will test you, and I… I can't lose you too."
"I'm not going to get lost," Lexi said firmly, meeting his eyes. Her fingers tightened around her backpack strap. "I won't fail. I'll survive this… and I'll make you proud."
He gave her a faint smile, tinged with worry, and nodded. "You'd better. You're the only family I have left… and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified already."
"Hurry," he added, his voice softer now, almost teasing, "before the train decides it doesn't have time for stubborn little omegas."
Lexi rolled her eyes but smiled. "Then you better stop worrying and wave me off properly."
She hoisted her backpack and waved at him. Logan waved back with one hand, the other slipping into his pocket, fingers brushing something unseen, a reminder of the life they had lost, the memories they carried.
She turned and walked toward the train, stepping inside with a mix of nerves and determination. Sliding into a window seat, she pressed her forehead lightly against the cool glass and watched Logan standing there, framed by the bustling station.
The train whistle blew again, and slowly, it began to move.
A single tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away and shoved in her headphones, letting the music drown out the station, the memories, and the flutter in her chest.
Lexi exhaled slowly, gripping her bag strap. This was it, her first real step into a world that would judge, challenge, and maybe even break her. But she wouldn't let it. Not now, not ever.