Hekate’s Bride

The crowd pushes past me, rushing out of the hallway in which I’m standing, dazed and freaking out.

This can’t be happening to me.

This can’t be real.

I can’t be in Lycan School.

Did the Grand Mistress make a mistake? I’ve never heard of such a mistake being made in all of my history lessons on the portal. It takes you where the Goddess wills you to be.

I… I can’t be here right now. I need to be at the Academy with Aria, Trinity, and Thorne.

I spin in a circle. The hallways are awfully lit with electronic devices from the human world. There are thin lockers lining the walls and I see a few people pulling out scrolls and books from them.

I need to find the Grand Master of Lycan School. Surely, he can help me reach my father and mother, and procure a way back to the right school.

Straightening, I follow the crowd to this assembly they speak of, looking around as I do. The vast white corridors seem to stretch on forever, with doors (too many doors) that possibly lead to classrooms and offices.

Soon, a pair of double doors that are tall enough to reach the high ceilings come to view. It is written boldly at the top brick above the door, “The Lycan King’s Hall.”

Someone shoves me forward and I stagger forward into the hall, nearly toppling over. I am suddenly being shoved left and right and the sound of shoes squeaking on marbled floors fills the air. By the end of the ruckus, I find myself standing in a long arranged line.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

“… wonder how many will be expelled this year. They all look like a whole bunch of doofuses,” a dark haired female chuckles in front of me.

“Heard Chancellor Vesper reduced the hours on combat classes for this set. I think it’s unfair. We’ll have a lot of weaklings dwindling around this year,” the male is conversing with replies.

“Who is Chancellor Vesper?” I blurt, and the two of them turn to me, staring at me like I have grown another head.

Forest green eyes observe me from head to toe. “You’re new here?”

I mirror her degrading look. “Yes. I am.”

Her lips part to reply me, but her nostrils suddenly flare, and her eyes are suddenly filled with alarm. “You reek of wolf.”

I growl. “I am a wolf.”

Her eyes widen, and her companion is about to speak when a bell suddenly rings, rendering the entire hall silent.

“Students.”

One word. It is only one word, but somehow, the sheer dominance in it has my knees buckling. Sweat breaks on my forehead and it takes all of my will not to fall to my knees in subservience.

I struggle to raise my gaze to the stage, and atop it, there stands a man with a black cane. He is in a white tuxedo and a pair of glasses sit upon his arrogant nose as he observes the crowd below the podium. There is an air of authority about him that freaks the hell out of me and I can’t tell if he is frowning or sneering. His stern appearance is made all the more stark with his shaved head.

There are others on the podium, all dressed in official robes, but the spotlight is his.

“Greetings to all of our esteemed students of this, old and new. I must welcome you all to this new session. I am Chancellor Vesper, and I expect nothing but excellence from each and every one of you,” he pauses, walking down the length of the stage, staring at each face with dark intense eyes. “This is not a place for the weak, the timid, or the foolish. This is a place for those who are strong, determined, and willing to work hard.

“Here at the Lycan School, you will learn to control your powers, hone your skills, and become the best versions of yourselves. But make no mistake, this will not be an easy journey. You will face challenges that will test your limits, and push you past them.

“But fear not, for we will be here to guide you every step of the way. You will have the best instructors and the finest facilities at your disposal.

“The rules remain the same, and your schedule will be communicated with you by the guide tutors assigned to you. Look up the board on your way out to find yours. You are not allowed out the school gates for the rest of the session. If you are found in the wilds beyond the gates, you will be expelled.

“Communication outside the walls of these schools are prohibited, and as such, the network connections have been cut off from the outside. Should you attempt to reach the other realms by any means, you will be expelled.

“You may tarry on with each other in whatever relationships you wish, but should you take in with child, you will be expelled. If you are found outside past curfew, you will be expelled. If you are to be found cheating in any of your exercises, you will be expelled. Should your grades be subpar at the end of the session, you will be expelled.”

Every time he says expelled, I flinch. Too many rules. Way too many rules.

“May the moon goddess guide you on your path to discovery. If you have any questions, pass them across to your guide tutors. This concludes–”

“Excuse me!” I yell, tumbling out of the line.

As one, the entire hall turns to me, staring at me with disbelief like I have done something despicable.

I walk to the front of the line, ignoring the many eyes on me. Their stares feel like being pricked by the edge of daggers. As I reach closer to the podium, I suffer the realization that I’m the one who smells wrong in a room filled with Lycans. Not them.

There are steps that lead up to the top of the stage, and I take them, stopping only when I am before the Chancellor.

This close to him, he is way taller than me. Six foot four perhaps. Nearly as tall as the idiot prince, and the aura around his is something formidable. Lycans do not have Alphas, Betas or Omegas in their hierarchical systems.

They are like a horde of lone Alphas (if that makes any sense), each of them possessing strength and auras that match an Alphas. Or exceed.

“You have a question?” His voice cracks like thunder and I resist the urge once again to bow or kneel before him.

Instead, I stand my ground, staring into his dark eyes. “No. I have an order. I’m in the wrong school. Send me back to Wolvendom immediately.”

Waves of horrified whispers race through the rows of students below the podium. The Chancellor’s dark gaze flicks over my form briefly before returning to my face. His eyes are an abyss, without depth and filled with nothing but cold darkness. The fine air on my skin rises and I realize I am in front of a lycan. All it takes is one snap of my neck and I am dead.

Still, I am the princess of a realm. I cannot be treated as less. Or be killed for giving orders. It is within my rights. Plus, I am well acquainted with the Lycan King and Queen. I am just as powerful in this realm.

“An order?” He asks. “And who might you be?”

I square my shoulders with pride and lift my chin in the way I have been taught. “I am Astrid Blackwood, daughter of Alpha King Ronan Blackwood, and I demand that I be sent back to the right place. I should not be here. Obviously. I am a wolf.”

He merely blinks and waves his hand in a dismissive gesture.

Two male Lycans in black uniforms suddenly appear at either sides of me and grab my arm, pulling me off the large stage.

What in the actual fuck?

“Have you lost it?!” I scream, struggling and clawing at the huge arms that are carting me away. “Do you have any idea who — get your filthy hands off me! How dare you touch me?! My father will have your heads for this!”

They laugh.

It begins as a choked sound, but soon the entire hall begins to laugh at me and soon there are camera flashes here and there.

Enraged, I cuss out loud, swearing at the males, the Chancellor and the stupid students who have the audacity to laugh at me!

I am dumped on my ass at the back of the hall and the Chancellor continues his speech. I can barely hear a word past my shallow rapid gasps for breath and my thundering heartbeats.

I lunge forward for the stage but the men hold me in place. The bigger one whispers in my ear. “Hierarchy outside the school has no value within the gates of the school. It is the first rule. Do well to note this if you do not want to get sentenced to the student dungeons for a fortnight, wolf. You are merely Astrid Blackwood. You are no princess here.”