Nyra walks through the academy hallways the next morning with her head slightly lowered. Other trainees have been giving her looks since the press conference yesterday.

Some students are still saying she stole her sister’s boyfriend and blame her for coming between a two-year-old relationship.

But some students’ tone has shifted after yesterday’s press conference. Some students glance at her with open curiosity now, others with reluctant respect.

She and Adrian had somehow managed to present themselves as the perfect mates yesterday, and somehow a few people simply accepted that this is how it would look from now on.

It feels surreal, really being the center of attention like this after years of being almost invisible.

Nyra almost wishes someone else would do something that would take the attention off her and the entire Adrian mess for a few days.

Sbe still feels the bond humming quietly beneath her skin, unwantedly reminding her of Adrian’s presence somewhere on campus.

He had been cold and distant this morning in the condo. Setipusly, he has two bikes and a car and he just drove off without a second glance while she struggles to find a cab to school.

Jerk.

"Nyra!" The familiar deep voice cuts through the hallway noise.

She turns to see Julian jogging up, dark hair bouncing with each step, a Bugatti key hanging from his designer belt.

The nerve of him to say he isn’t rich.

There’s a genuine smile on his face, though. Julian falls into step beside her without hesitation, shoulder bumping hers. "There you are. I was hoping I’d catch you before the first period."

Nyra returns the smile, genuinely happy to see him. "Hey. Perfect timing, I was just about to text you."

They walk together toward the main academic wing, the crowd parting slightly around them, surprised to see the new transfer student hanging out with her.

Julian, however, seems completely unfazed, chattering animatedly about how his cousin brought random people to his swimming pool without asking first.

Again, crazy rich.

"So... I saw the press conference last night. You looked incredible up there. That green dress? Absolutely stunning, girl!"

He pauses, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Why didn’t you tell me you were the infamous future Luna everyone’s been gossiping about for weeks? I was genuinely shocked when your face popped up on the feed. Like, ’Wait, that’s my diner buddy?’"

Nyra lets out a soft laugh, warmth spreading through her despite everything. It feels good to have someone speak to her without the usual mockery or pity.

"Yeah, I honestly thought you knew and were just toying with me," she responds honestly.

Julian holds his chest in mock offense. "I’d never do that! I genuinely didn’t know it was you."

Nyra shrugs, trying to brush it off casually. "Yeah? Well, I’m still processing it myself. Half the time, I feel like I’m playing a role someone else wrote."

Julian nudges her playfully. "Well, you nailed that press conference. Have you even seen the comments yet?"

Nyra shakes her head shyly, ashamed to admit that she’d been scared.

Julian just hums. "You should. The people love you!" He nudges her again, "as they absolutely should!"

Thankfully, since Julian is also a major in art training, they have the same first class. They reach the classroom and slip into seats near the back, and for the first time, Nyra has someone to talk to in class.

Throughout the lecture, Julian leans over occasionally with whispered jokes about the teacher’s monotonous voice or to mock the drawing of the girl next to them.

Nyra finds herself smiling more than she has in days.

The happiness must radiate through the bond because she feels it flicker faintly, Adrian is questioning what’s making her so happy. Nyra ignores it, pushing it aside and focusing on the easy conversation.

When the break bell rings, they head to the cafeteria together. The large hall is alive with noise--young werewolves laughing, trays clattering, the scent of fresh food and wolf energy thick in the air.

Nyra and Julian grab trays loaded with sandwiches, fruit, and drinks, then claim a table near the tall windows overlooking the training fields.

As they settle in, Julian takes a bite of his sandwich before smiling excitedly.

"Okay, so there’s this big arts contest coming up in a couple of weeks. Painting, sculpture, mixed media--the entire package. You name it. I saw your sketches, and girl, you’re so good! You should totally join. I think you’d crush the competition."

Nyra pokes at her food with her fork. She remembers how her parents had mocked her for being into art, while Anna did something more "conventional," like health.

She’s lost count of how many drawings her mum has thrown out, not to mention the time Adrian literally tore her drawing in front of the entire school.

Talking about the devil...

The cafeteria suddenly falls quiet, eyes drifting toward the entrance. And Nyra already knows who it is before they even walk in.

She rolls her eyes as Adrian strides in, tall and commanding in a plain black tee and jeans. Anna hangs off his arm like the entire press conference meant nothing, her body pressed flush against his side.

She’s wearing a short red pleated skirt and a fitted top that accentuates her curves, looking every inch the perfect couple with the Alpha heir.

From the entrance, Adrian sees them together. Nyra, sitting closely with... His eyes narrow. It’s the new rich dude everyone’s been talking about--Julian Ashford, whose family moved here two weeks ago.

His parents were often over at the Blackwood mansion before they finally moved into Moon-Crest, as they needed the approval of the Alpha before they could be admitted into a new pack.

He instantly decides that he dislikes the Alpha for some reason.

Definitely not because he’s being so cozy with his mate. Definitely not that.

Nyra tears her gaze away from Adrian, determined to ignore the sharp spike of jealousy Adrian is letting through their bond.

"What are you getting for lunch, babe?" Anna’s high-pitched whine reaches Nyra from across the cafeteria.

Adrian mumbles something in response, and instead of heading toward their usual loud table with John, Jason, and the rest of the group near the center, he guides Anna deliberately toward the table next to Nyra and Julian’s.

Anna assumes it’s to rub their relationship in Nyra’s face, so she plays along, draping herself across his lap once they sit, feeding him a piece of food.

"Perfect," Nyra mutters under her breath, gripping her fork tighter.

Julian glances over, eyebrows raised. "Is that... your sister? Wow. Bold."

"Yeah," Nyra says tightly, forcing her eyes back to her food. "Ignore them. It’s what they want."

But ignoring Adrian proves more difficult than she would like. He keeps pretends to be engrossed in the conversation with Anna, but Nyra can feel the heat through their bond, making her wolf restless.

Anna’s loud laugh isn’t helping either, calling him "babe" every other sentence.

Julian tries to steer the conversation back. "Anyway, about the contest..."

She sighs. "I-I don’t think I want to do it."

"Why!?" Julian almost yells. "I saw your sketches. They’re so good."

She shrugs. "I actually wanted to enter, but the art director always gives my slot to the more popular art students." She is staring down at her tray, weight of years of maltreatment pressing down on her.

"He always says competition is not just about talent; good PR matters too... I don’t exactly have a good name going for me."

Julian frowns, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "That’s complete bullshit, Nyra. And now you’re the future Luna. They can’t keep pushing you out forever. Let me talk to the guy. We can figure something out."

Nyra shakes her head. "It’s fine, Julian. Really. I’m used to it. Plus, I don’t really want to deal with any of that drama. It’s really okay."

Besides them, on the next table, Adrian overhears every word, a small tug in his chest as his wolf stirs protectively despite himself. He had no idea even the teachers bullied her too.

Meanwhile, after the final bell, Adrian slips away from Anna with a vague excuse about practice. But instead of going down to the field, he turns in the opposite direction, toward the art studio.

He catches Mr. Harlan, the arts contest organizer, in his small, cluttered office. The middle-aged man looks up from his desk, surprised to see the future Alpha in his office.

"Young Alpha," Mr. Harlan says, straightening slightly. "What can I do for you today?"

Adrian doesn’t sit. He leans against the desk, letting his Alpha pheromones roll off him in waves.

"My mate’s name was removed from the arts contest list. Put it back. Today."

Mr. Harlan shifts uncomfortably, adjusting his glasses. "Ah... Nyra Hale. That’s because there were many strong applicants this year. We had limited spots and had to make difficult cuts--"

"Put. It. Back." Adrian’s voice drops low as he cuts him off. "She is the future Luna of this pack. Do you really want to explain to my father... or the entire council... why you personally denied the Goddess-chosen Luna a chance to participate? Or should I mention how you only seem to pick certain types of--"

Adrian cuts himself off, but the message is clear. He had done a little bit of findings himself only to realize Mr. Harlan liked picking popular blonde girls specifically for things like these.

The man pales visibly, hands trembling slightly as he reaches for his laptop. "Of course. My deepest apologies. I’ll reinstate her immediately. It was an oversight."

Adrian straightens, his wolf purring in satisfaction. "Good. And keep it quiet. She doesn’t need to know how it happened. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha heir. Absolutely."

Adrian leaves the office without another word. It’s not until he’s completely out of the office that he freezes.

What the fuck did he just do...?

Why does he even care. It was not supposed to be his business!

He growls low in his throat, tugging at his dark strands. This bond’s definitely toying with him, because there is no way he really came all the way from the senior section, just to fight for her--

He runs a hand through his dark strands. No one must know. Ever. Especially not Anna.

---

Later that evening, Adrian sits in the living room, laptop perched on his lap, working on his assignment.

Nyra comes out of the bathroom and freezes when she sees him--or, more accurately, sees him in his glasses.

Adrian wears glasses?

His full brows are pinched in concentration, the glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose. His sharp jawline is illuminated by the laptop screen, dark hair falling slightly messy across his forehead.

He looks... hot. Stupidly, unfairly hot. Like a brooding scholar who could ruin her with a single glance.

Her wolf purrs in response. And unconsciously, her faint scents starts to leak. But it is thicker this time, responding to Adrian in a way she hasn’t before.

Adrian’s head snaps up when he smells it, nostrils flaring. His silver eyes narrow as her scent hits him.

"What are you doing...?" He questions with a frown. "You know that I’m an Alpha--an Alpha almost in rut, he wants to add-- right!?"

The last word dies in his throat as her scent slams into him with full weight. He’s never really smelled her before, at least not this raw--and damn, she smells so sweet, and far too potent for the shitty ventilation.

His nostrils flare as his wolf answers it’s mate immediately, fully awake, his own darker pheromones starting to leak too, mixing with her sweet scent in the air.

Fuck. His rut is due in two more days. And he has already planned everything; he and Anna were supposed to book a room in some fancy hotel nearby, while he avoids this condo.

But just one whiff of her scent and his wolf is already fucking betraying him.

God knows Adrian tries. He tries to hold it back, but it’s useless--his wolf has already decided it wants to claim it’s mate, right now.

"Adrian..." She swallows, hating the way her body melts as the masculine scent of him mate wraps around her. "Your scent..."

His hand is shaking as he takes off the reading glasses, his silver are dark and heavy when it lands on her.

"Nyra, go to your room and lock the door."

His cock throbs painfully against his sweatpants. "Right now!"