The next day Nyra wakes up feeling much better than yesterday. Her wolf is still quiet, but she knows it hasn’t entirely disappeared.

She sighs in relief, picking her phone from the bedside table. There are so many notifications as usual, but she ignores the other messages, calling Julian first.

He tells her he’ll come pick her up in an hour.

She texts her friends next, and they all agree to meet during a free period-- since they’re all in different majors.

Right on cue, Luna Selene’s three custom knocks come at the door, before it slowly opens without waiting for a response.

The older woman comes in with a smile and a pile of of clothes in hand. "I sent the maids to get these.." she says quietly, "I hope you find something you like to wear to school today."

When Nyra doesn’t respond, she sighs and drops the sets of clothes on the edge of the bed. "You’ll go right? It’s going to be test week soon. You can’t afford to miss classes."

"I will." Nyra knows it’s true. "I’m just really tired."

"Ohh...my dear daughter." Luna Selene says painfully, before pulling her into a hug.

Daughter?

Even her own mother has never called her that before.

Nyra blinks back the tears and hugs back, letting herself be held closely by the only mother figure she’s ever had.

"You’ll be okay. Just be strong okay?"

Nyra forces a weak smile. "Thank you so much."

---

At the academy training room, Adrian has been on edge all morning. John and the guys noticed, and all the other combat fighters could see how distracted their captain has been lately.

Today is the first day of combat practice for the new gaming season, and it’s the absolute worse timing for Adrian with everything that has been going on.

"Hey man, you okay?" John asks first, breaking the silence in the changing room.

"Yeah, you look like shit." Another one of his friends add.

Adrian shrugs, taking his shirt off to change into his combat Jersey. "I don’t know. Maybe?"

John comes closer so only Adrian can hear his next question. "And Anna? Have you confirmed if--" the words die on his tongue the moment Jason walks in.

Jason is the second in command of the team. But Adrian and Jason aren’t speaking, so everyone had noticed.

They were supposed to be working on the drug case together with Jason’s father, but Jason has refused to even tell Adrian anything since the screenshots leak, and Adrian hasn’t tried to talk to him either since their fight in the woods either.

None of the other members know what happened, but the tension is palpable between them.

Jason doesn’t even glance at Adrian as he greets a few of the guys. He pulls out a pair of combat Jersey from his locker, before he disappears into one of the bathroom stalls.

John sighs. "Still not on talking terms?"

Adrian ignores the question, tying his shoe lace. Thankfully, before John can pester him further, the coach’s whistle blows outside, announcing the start of the practice.

Once they’re all outside, the coach announces the rules again even though they’ve already heard it a thousand times.

"As usual you’re not allowed to hit the the back of the head, the groin, and the spine to avoid fatal injuries!" Coach announces, "After a knockout, if you cannot get up before the countdown is over, your opponent is officially the winner."

The middle aged man then proceeds to assign everyone partners from the weakest (substitutes) to the strongest players.

By the end of the list, all the players are exchanging awkward or excited looks.

Adrian and Jason.

Neither of them blink when they’re names are called together, but everyone knows the fight is about to get bloody.

The first two substitute players climb the ring. Surprisingly, one has gotten much better and beats the other within three minutes.

His friends cheer, while the coach nods and writes things down. He doesn’t smile-- coach never smiles no matter how good you are.

One by one, each pair climbs the ring. Some are uneventful, others are very intriguing. At some point some of the team mates even start betting on who would win until the coach’s glare cuts it out.

Finally, it’s Adrian and Jason. The entire training room falls entirely silent as they climb the training ring.

By now, a few students, both juniors and seniors, have gathered to watch the boys fight. Somehow, the crowd only seems to increase when it was their turn.

By the rules, they circle each other for a few seconds, the tension palpable in the air. Both boys look like they’re about to tear each other apart.

Adrian’s strategy has always been to wait. He would let his opponent think they have a chance, let them throw the first punches and hits while he ducks until they’re weak and exhausted. Then he would strike and win within minutes.

But with Jason, all his strategies are thrown out of the window.

The moment the whistle blows, Adrian shocks everyone by attacking first.

He rushed toward Jason, and punches him hard across the face. The sound of his nose cracking is loud enough that some of the other guys gasp from the sidelines.

As usual, the girls are screaming Adrian’s name, rooting for him, but he doesn’t even glance at them.

He attacks Jason again, punching him across the temple. This time Jason doesn’t take it, he hits him back, using the distraction to kick Adrian right in the balls.

"Shit!" Adrian growls, falling to his feet.

"That’s for being such a jerk." Jason mumbles, circling him.

That it. Adrian gets up before anyone can blink, and starts raining punches on Jason-- his ribs, his face, his neck until blood is pooling from lips and nose.

Jason punches back just as hard, and just like that, the fight has turned very, very bloody.

Mid-fight, Adrian shifts into his big black wolf. Jason doesn’t hesitate to shift too-- his brown and grey wolf is not as big as Adrian’s, but it is still bigger than the average wolf.

The two big wolves crash into each other, using their teeth and claws to tear into each other.

This isn’t how the combat is supposed to go...

There’s so much blood in the sand now that even the coach starts to panic.

"Stop!" He yells, running into the ring with the other trainers. "If you don’t break apart right now, neither of you will be allowed to compete!"