#Chapter 12: Selection
Lyra & Kael
Lyra
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“Lyra, I am so sorry.”
Bianca swept into the room and shut the door behind her, leaning against it. It didn’t take a genius to know that her apology was bullshit. The way her eyelashes fluttered, the way she bit her lip….
As if she gave a shit what had happened. Or rather, what would have happened if Kael hadn’t stepped in and fought those
males off. I could still feel their hands on me, could still hear their disgusting comments in my ear. I didn’t even want to entertain the notion of what they were planning to do with me in that closet.
“It’s fine.” I shrugged from where I was sitting on my bed.
“No,” Bianca said, pushing away from the door and crossing the room to sit on the end of my bed uninvited, “it’s not okay. I was too busy dancing with Kael when I should have been by your side. We’re friends, after all, and I know being wolfless isn’t
easy around here.
I glanced up at her through my brows. Yeah fucking right. As if she had any idea what it was like to be wolfless.
“But you
you’re not,” Jade chuckled “You’re more powerful than most of the Alphas here. Once we can shift, they’ll all know
“Yeah, well, that’s a long way off
“It’s really fine,” I repeated
Blanca sighed. “Still But I do have to ask. She fluttered her lashes “You’re not mad that I’m trying to get closer to Kael, are you? I know he’s your foster brother, but I’ve also heard some tumors…
“That I’m obsessed with him?”
Bianca stiffened, but nodded sheepishly.
I shrugged despite the pang I felt in my stomach Tm not interested in him. We’re not biologically related, but he’s still family. It would be weird if I was into him, wouldn’t it?”
Of course, Bianca’s face split into a grin at that. “No, not at all,” she said, and bit back a scathing retort. I knew she would say anything right now to appease me so she could get closer to Kael. Regardless, he would still choose her, just as he had in his
past life. So it didn’t matter to me.
I didn’t want to be his stepping stone again. She could have him.
The following morning, which was the Sunday before classes officially began, was course selection day. Every freshman was expected to take core classes–math, science, reading–but there were plenty of options for electives
In my past life, I picked all of the safe electives that I could get good scores in without being able to shift–creative writing. philosophy, anything that would keep me behind a desk and ensure that I would be placed in at least Beta designation in the second semester based on good performance.
I was looking through courses, trying to decide if it was better to play it safe this time around at the risk of potentially not being placed as Alpha next semester, when an email from Kael suddenly came in.
“Here’s a list of courses I think you should take,” it read. “You won’t be designated as an Alpha, of course. But your chances of accomplishing that as a wolfless are slim to none, anyway”
My lip curled as I read through Kael’s list. Just as I had done in my past life, he suggested every class that wasn’t based on physicality.
But I was an Alpha The heir to Silvercrest, in fact, And if I didn’t get designated as such next semester, then there was
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chance I could never avenge my pack.
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No. I needed to take Alpha courses, whether Kael thought I should or not. Even if it was a bad idea for a wolfless to take such classes–even if it was almost a guaranteed fail since I couldn’t shift like the others–I had to try.
Ignoring his email, I signed up for the classes than an Alpha should. At the top of the docket was a simple sparring course for first–years. My heart pounded as I clicked enroll
The following morning, I woke bright and early and pulled on my athletic wear. It was just a simple pair of leggings and a tank top, as I would only receive an official uniform later on.
I made my way to the training center before class began, unsurprised to see other students already stretching out on the mats and chatting as I entered. Several heads jerked up as I stepped into the room, clearly not expecting me to be there.
But it was Kael, standing at the end of one of the mats in a teaching assistant’s uniform, that caught my eye
Kael
“What are you doing here?” I kept my voice low as I stormed up to Lyra. She was already the smallest in the class, and with
no woll, she wouldn’t stand a chance against the other students. It was a recipe for disaster, and my mother was going to kill
me if she got injured.
Lyra lifted her chin. I’m attending the class I enrolled in ”
o you didn’t follow the course list I sent you‘
“So
“No, I didn’t.”
I pursed my lips. She was clearly defying me–again–and for what? Was she really that angry with me over what had happened at the party?
“Listen,” I said quietly, “you need to drop this class. It’s not safe for you. You won’t stand a chance against the other students who have wolves.”
Lyra looked unbothered. “But I read the syllabus. Shifting is forbidden in this class, I can still hold my own.”
“Lyra, this is a class for those trying to be designated Alpha next semester. You can’t-
“Tin not dropping out, Kael. I’m an official student here at Ravencrest, wolfless or not, and I have the right to take any I want.” She pulled her shoulders back. “And besides, who says I can never be an Alpha?”
classes
My jaw ticked as I realized that she technically wasn’t wrong. Everyone was allowed to take the electives they wanted at Ravencrest regardless of birth status. Even an Omega could become an Alpha someday with good enough grades in the right courses. Not that I was particularly happy about Lyra putting herself in danger, but I couldn’t officially stop her from taking this class.
So, with a grunt of disapproval, I turned away and clapped my hands to gather the class’s attention.
“Everyone, I’m your teaching assistant this semester, Alpha Kael Draven. We’re going to start with a simple spar to test everyone’s skills,” I said, ignoring Lyra as she took her place alongside one of the mats. “Everyone pair up and find a mat. Keep in mind that shifting is forbidden throughout this course”
“That’s good, considering that some of us can’t shift,” a male student snorted, looking at Lyra, but snapped his mouth shut when I shot him a withering glare.
While the students paired up, I mindlinked Cassidy to partner with Lyra. At least Cassidy knew Lyra better than the others and wouldn’t intentionally hurt her. She wasn’t thrilled about it, and her mental groan was nothing short of exasperated, but she didn’t protest
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As the students sparred, some of them trading careful blows while others who were clearly more experienced battled ruthlessly on the mats, I made my way over to Cassidy and Lyra’s mat. They were circling each other, stances low.
I stood by the mat, ready to intervene, watching as Cassidy made a jab at Lyra. To my surprise, Lyra ducked the jab with ease and landed a blow on Cassidy’s side. Cassidy let out a surprised grunt, although she recovered quickly and swept Lyra’s leg out from under her, sending her to the mat
I half expected Lyra, who had never fought as long as I had known her, to tap out then and there. Hell, I hoped she would tap out, learn her lesson and drop the class before it was too late
But she surprised me once again when she rolled backwards and landed back on her feet with the grace of someone who
done this before.
Before I knew it, the two of them were trading blow after blow, eventually grappling each other to the mat in a series of complex holds. Whenever Cassidy seemed to get one over on Lyra, Lyra would use her small size or flexibility to her advantage, and Cassidy could never keep her pinned for long.
The fight went on and on like this. Eventually, the other students finished their spars and began to gather around the mat to watch in awe as the wolfless girl held her own against a fully–fledged she–wolf.
Interesting. I didn’t know Lyra had it in her. She certainly wasn’t the most skilled fighter, but she was lasting a lot longer than I expected.
And apparently she was stronger than she looked, too–because finally, she hooked her legs around Cassidy and flipped them so she was on top and Cassidy was on her belly. She looped her arm around Cassidy’s neck while her knee drove into Cassidy’s back, effectively pinning her to the mat with no way to get out that wouldn’t be painful and dangerous.
“Yield,” Lyra said, out of breath but calm.
Cassidy just grunted and struggled against her grip
“Yield,” I told Cassidy through the mindlink. “You’re going to hurt one or both of you.”
Cassidy gritted her teeth. “I will not yield to a wolfless!”
The crowd gasped as the sharp points of fangs extended from Cassidy’s mouth–a partial shift that was completely off–limits. She went to bite Lyra, and that was when I stepped in, clapping my hands loudly.
“That’s enough. Class is over.”
Cassidy quickly retracted her fangs as Lyra released her and stood. The other students sighed and walked away, gathering their things to leave. Cassidy scrambled to her feet and scurried away. Lyra shot me one last look before she went to join the others.
“Not you,” I said, stepping in her way. “You’re staying after class.”
