Lyra's POV
The school was enormous, far bigger and more impressive than anything I'd seen before. The glass windows sparkled under the sunlight, and the stone walls bore intricate designs that made the whole building seem alive. It was overwhelming in the best way possible.
Back in my former pack, our school had been tiny and overcrowded. The classrooms were barely big enough to hold everyone, and the air always felt suffocating. But this? This was a dream.
I adjusted my uniform, still getting used to how different it felt from my usual clothes. At least it helped me blend in. No one would look at me and instantly know I didn't belong.
As I walked down the hallways, trying to find my class, I couldn't stop staring. Everything was so polished, so modern. I could hear laughter and chatter all around me, but it wasn't the kind of noise that grated on my nerves. It felt… welcoming, in a way.
I turned a corner, and that's when I saw him.
The Beta.
He was leaning against the wall, his posture relaxed but his presence anything but relaxing. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and focused—until they landed on me.
I froze.
The way he looked at me was intense, like he was searching for something, though I had no idea what. My heart started racing, and a strange shiver ran down my spine.
Why was he staring at me like that? And why did he feel so familiar?
Before I could figure it out, his lips curled into a smirk. Then, without warning, he grabbed the arm of a passing girl and pulled her close.
My breath hitched as he kissed her—hard and passionate, like he didn't care who was watching. I stood there, stunned and confused, before quickly looking away. My cheeks burned, and I couldn't get away fast enough.
Why would he do that? Was it because of me? No, that didn't make sense. He didn't even know me… did he?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I focused on finding my class. After a few more wrong turns and a lot of muttered apologies to students I bumped into, I finally found the right room.
The moment I stepped inside, the chatter stopped.
Every pair of eyes in the room turned to me, and I felt like a spotlight had been shoved in my face. My palms were sweaty, and I fought the urge to run back out.
A girl waved me over, breaking the silence. "Over here!" she said cheerfully, pointing to an empty seat beside her.
I hurried over, grateful for the escape.
"I'm Ava," she said as soon as I sat down. Her voice was bright and bubbly, and her smile was infectious. "You're Lyra, right? I heard you just joined the pack."
"Y-Yeah," I said.
Ava leaned closer, her voice dropping a little.
"They say you can't shift and that they found you wandering in the woods. Is that true?"
I stiffened. My heart pounded so hard I was sure she could hear it.
"I…" I started, but she didn't give me a chance to finish.
"How'd you survive out there if you don't have a wolf? I mean, there are rogues everywhere! You must be really lucky."
The questions kept coming, faster than I could process. Each one felt like a punch, and I could feel the panic building. My breaths quickened, and I lowered my head, trying to steady myself.
Just when I thought I might lose it, a deep, commanding voice cut through the noise.
"Don't you have anything better to do than chatter away?"
I looked up, and there he was—the Beta.
His presence filled the room, and everyone seemed to shrink under his gaze. Ava, however, didn't back down. She scoffed, crossing her arms.
"What are you doing here? This isn't your class, and you never come to my class," she said, her tone almost teasing.
He didn't answer her. Instead, he glared, his dark eyes sharp and unyielding.
"Leave her alone," he said quietly but firmly before turning and walking out.
Ava rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as he left. Then she turned back to me, her bright smile returning like nothing had happened.
"That was my brother, Kellan" she said with a laugh. "He's the Beta of the pack. Intimidating, huh?"
I nodded, still trying to calm my racing heart. "I've already met him once," I said softly.
"Yeah, he tends to make an impression," Ava said, grinning. "He's eighteen, by the way. Arden—you've met him too, right?—he's also eighteen. I'm seventeen, and so are a lot of us in this grade."
I hesitated. "How old is the Alpha?"
"Kael? He just turned twenty," Ava said, her eyes lighting up. "He's the youngest Alpha we've ever had, but he's amazing. Everyone respects him."
She tilted her head, studying me. "What about you? How old are you?"
"I'm seventeen," I replied quietly.
Ava squealed, clapping her hands together.
"No way! We're the same age! This is perfect—we're going to get along so well. I can already tell!"
Despite myself, I smiled. Ava's energy was overwhelming, but it was also comforting in a strange way. Maybe school here wouldn't be so bad after all.
The teacher walked into the classroom and I froze in my seat. My heart thumped harder than it ever had. I had hoped to get through my first day without any big moments, but of course, the universe wasn't on my side.
"Everyone, we have a new student joining us today," the teacher announced, her voice cheerful. I sank lower in my seat as all eyes turned to me.
"Come up here and introduce yourself," she added, motioning me to the front.
Great. Just great. With shaky legs, I forced myself to stand, my cheeks already heating up.
I stumbled to the front of the class, barely meeting anyone's gaze. "Uh, h-hi," I began, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm Lyra."
That was it. That was all I could manage.
There was an awkward silence, and I prayed it would be over soon. But then someone at the back snorted loudly and said, "Omega."
The word hung in the air like a dark cloud, heavy and suffocating. My chest tightened, and I stared at the floor, wishing it would swallow me whole. Why couldn't I catch a break?
Before I could even react, Ava whipped around in her seat and glared at whoever had said it. Her eyes blazed with fire.
"Care to repeat that?" she challenged, her tone sharp and dangerous.
The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat but managed to glare back at her. Ava leaned closer, her voice dropping but still loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Say it again, and I'll roast your wolf and snack on it while I watch a movie. Don't test me."
The class erupted into low murmurs, but no one dared say anything further. The teacher cleared her throat, obviously uncomfortable but choosing not to address the incident.
I blinked at Ava in disbelief. No one had ever stood up for me before. I didn't know whether to feel grateful or embarrassed.
"Thank you," I whispered as I returned to my seat. Ava just grinned, her confidence practically radiating off her.
"Stick with me, Lyra," she said with a wink. "I've got your back."
For the first time in a long while, I felt something warm flutter in my chest—hope. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.