Astrid's voice rang through the hall, sharp and unyielding.
"You are not here for a leisurely education," she declared, her gaze sweeping across the room, making me feel as though she was staring directly at me. "Lunar Crest Academy is designed to mold the strongest of our kind, to refine your instincts, to shape you into something more. Every class, every trial, every test, will push you beyond your limits. Only the worthy will be abld to endure."
Her red gown hugged her body like liquid fire, every step she took radiating dominance. She didn't need to raise her voice. The sheer weight of her presence commanded silence.
"There are several types of classes you will be taking during your time here." She raised a hand, and a massive screen behind her flickered to life, displaying the courses in bold, ancient script.
Combat Training. My stomach twisted. "Strength is everything," Astrid continued. "You will train daily in both human and wolf form. Those who fall behind… well, I wouldn't recommend it."
Survival and Strategy. "You will learn how to outthink, outmaneuver, and outlast your opponents. The weak will always be prey. Your goal? Don't be weak."
Pack and Political Studies. "Understanding pack dynamics and the governing structures of our world is key. Some of you will lead one day. Others…"—her lips curved into a smirk—"…will serve."
Enhanced Abilities. "Lycans and high-ranking wolves possess gifts beyond raw strength. You will be tested. You will be trained. If you have potential, it will be dragged out of you, whether you like it or not."
General Education. "Combat isn't everything. Those who lack intelligence are nothing more than disposable pawns. You will study languages, sciences, history, everything necessary to function in our society."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the hall. Some students looked eager. Others, nervous.
I just felt sick.
There is no class on surviving as the weak. No class on escaping.
Astrid let the murmurs die before she spoke again. "That is the foundation of your time here. Now, let's move on to your accommodations."
Astrid let the murmurs settle before speaking again, her sharp gaze cutting through the silence.
"There is one more thing you all need to know."
The massive screen behind her flickered once more, revealing a number: 100.
"Each dormitory starts with a total of 100 points," she announced, her voice calm but laced with something dangerous. "Consider it a privilege. A privilege that can be lost."
A ripple of confusion passed through the hall, but Astrid wasn't done.
"Every infraction, every broken rule, every act of defiance, every failure, will result in a deduction of points from your dorm's total."
The weight of her words settled like lead in my stomach.
"If a dormitory's points drop to zero…" She let the words hang, her lips curling into a slow, cruel smirk. "You will be thrown out."
A low murmur spread across the room.
Thrown out?
I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. What does that mean?
"No second chances. No exceptions," Astrid continued, her voice like steel. "If your dorm loses all its points, you will have no roof over your head. No protection. Nowhere to stay."
Cold dread clawed at my insides.
The Lycans in the front didn't look concerned. The Elites barely reacted. The Nobles exchanged wary glances. But the Ferals?
I felt Callum go rigid beside me. The others with purple collars stiffened, their eyes widening with horror.
This is why no Feral has ever survived this place.
It wasn't just about the combat, the hierarchy, or the cruel rules.
This was a slow hunt.
We were the weakest prey, and they had just told us exactly how they planned to break us.
A quick death would have been kinder.
Astrid raised her hand, and four men stepped onto the stage. Each was dressed in a sharp black suit, but their ties were different, one red, one blue, and two green.
I scanned them quickly, my stomach twisting. There was no purple tie.
"These men," Astrid said, "will be your dorm masters. They will oversee your housing, enforce discipline, and ensure that the rules of Lunar Crest are followed. You will follow them now to be settled into your dormitories. In your rooms, you will find everything you need, including your first monthly allowance of 200 Lunars. Classes begin tomorrow at sunrise and I'd advise you all to not be late to avoid any consequences."
200 Lunars? My fingers curled into my lap. I had no idea how much that was worth, but something about the way she said it made my skin crawl.
At her command, the officials moved.
The red-tied man spoke first. "Lycans, with me." The red-collared students rose in perfect synchronization, moving like a singular, disciplined unit. They followed him out without hesitation.
The blue-tied official was next. "Elites, this way." The blue-collared students stood, their expressions calm, confident, some sneering as they walked past.
Then one of the green-tied officials stepped forward. "Nobles, follow me." The green-collared students rose, their movements orderly, refined, as though they already knew their place here.
That left us.
The final official, the last man in a green tie, stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping over us. I recognized him immediately, the same man who had come to fetch me this morning.
He didn't bother with introductions.
"Ferals. Let's go."
A cold shiver ran down my spine as I rose to my feet. The others around me moved hesitantly, their shoulders hunched, eyes lowered.
And that's when I realized it.
There was no purple-tied official. No one from our packs designated to oversee us.
Because we weren't worth an identity.
Because we weren't even supposed to be here in the first place.
The walk to the dormitory was silent, heavy with the weight of everything we had just learned. Callum stayed close, his face pale and his fists clenched at his sides. The other Ferals looked just as shaken, their purple-collared uniforms marking them as the lowest of the low.
But when we reached the dorm, I stopped short.
It was… beautiful.
The entire place was designed with a rich, deep purple color scheme, from the walls to the plush carpeting beneath our feet. The common area was massive, with sleek black couches arranged neatly around a wide television screen. Soft golden lights illuminated the space, giving it a warm glow, almost deceptive in its comfort.
To the right, a hallway stretched toward the boys' rooms. To the left, the girls' side.
Our dorm master turned to face us.
He was of an average height, strict-looking, and wore a crisp black suit with a green tie. His eyes were cold and unreadable.
"My name is Silas Raine, and I will be your dorm master," he said in a low, firm voice. "Everything you do here falls under my jurisdiction. You will follow my rules, or you will suffer the consequences. Do I make myself clear?"
A weak murmur of "yes" rippled through the group.
His eyes darkened. "I said, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," we all echoed, louder this time.
Silas nodded approvingly.
"Good. Now, the rules."
He began pacing in front of us, his steps slow and deliberate.
"First and foremost, lights out is at exactly ten o clock every night. If any of you are caught wandering the halls or outside your beds after curfew, you will face brutal consequences. There will be no warnings."
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
"Second, there is a kitchen area available for your use. However, if you expect cooked meals, you will need to hire a chef using your lunars. The same rule applies to cleaning. Either you clean up after yourselves, or you pay someone else to do it for you. If this dorm is found in an unacceptable dirty condition at any time, points will be deducted. And I don't think I need to remind you what happens when your points hit zero."
A heavy silence settled over us.
"Now," he said, gesturing to two containers in front of him, one placed before the boys and one before the girls. "It's time to assign your roommates."
Inside each container were smooth black tablets, each marked with a number.
"There are two people per room," Silas continued. "The number you pick will determine your roommate. You'll be sharing a space for the rest of the year, so choose wisely. Or don't. It doesn't matter, just know that there will be no changing roommates, ever."
He gestured toward the containers. "Step forward."
The tension was thick as the first students hesitantly moved to pick a tablet. My pulse quickened.
Who would I be stuck with?