Luna stood in her bedroom staring at an empty duffel bag.

What do you pack when you're leaving your entire life behind?

Her father had said not much. They'd provide everything at Silverwood. But she couldn't just leave with nothing. She couldn't walk away from sixteen years with empty hands.

She grabbed a hoodie from her closet. Miguel's hoodie, actually. He'd left it here months ago and she'd never given it back. It still smelled like him. Like his cologne and laundry detergent and something else that was just Miguel.

She folded it carefully and placed it in the bag.

A knock at the door.

"Luna? Can I come in?" Her mother's voice. Soft. Broken.

"Yeah."

The door opened. Her mother looked like she'd aged ten years in the last hour. Her eyes were red. Her hands twisted together.

"I brought you some things. Basics. Toiletries. A few changes of clothes."

She set a small pile on the bed.

Luna picked up a framed photo from her nightstand. Her and Miguel at homecoming. Both of them smiling. Both of them normal.

"Can I bring this?"

"Of course, mija. Bring whatever makes you feel less alone."

Luna wrapped the frame in a t-shirt and tucked it into the bag. She added her phone charger. A journal she'd barely written in. The necklace her abuela had given her before she died.

"How long will I be gone?"

Her mother sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't know. It depends on how fast you learn control. Some students come home for holidays. Others stay for years."

"Years?"

"The academy is strict. The training is intense. They don't let students leave until they're sure it's safe."

Luna's hands stilled on a sweater. "What if I can't learn control? What if I'm stuck there forever?"

"You'll learn. You're strong. You're smart. You'll figure it out."

"I don't feel strong. I feel terrified."

Her mother stood and pulled Luna into a hug. "I know. But you're braver than you think. You always have been."

Luna pressed her face against her mother's shoulder. She wanted to cry. But the tears wouldn't come. Everything felt numb. Distant.

"Will you tell people where I went?"

"We'll say you transferred schools. Special program out of state. No one will question it."

"What about Miguel?"

Her mother pulled back. "What about him?"

"He knows the truth. He saw the mark. He heard everything."

"He'll keep quiet. He has to. It's safer for everyone if he does."

"He won't understand. He'll think I abandoned him."

"Then you explain when you can. But Luna, you need to prepare yourself. Human relationships don't usually survive this. The distance. The secrets. The changes. Most marked wolves leave their human lives completely behind."

The words settled in Luna's chest like ice.

"I don't want to lose him."

"I know. But you might not have a choice."

Another knock. Quieter this time.

"Luna?" Diego's voice from the hallway.

"Come in, mijo," her mother called.

The door cracked open. Diego peeked around it. He'd been crying. His eyes were puffy and red.

"Are you really leaving?"

Luna nodded.

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know yet."

"But you are coming back, right? Eventually?"

"I hope so."

He ran across the room and threw his arms around her waist. "I don't want you to go. You're my sister. You're supposed to be here."

Luna hugged him back. "I know. I don't want to go either. But I have to."

"Why?"

"Because if I stay, I might hurt someone. And I'd never forgive myself if I hurt you or Mamá or Papá."

"You wouldn't hurt us. You're not a bad person."

"I know. But the mark makes things complicated. I need to learn how to control it first."

He pulled back and looked up at her. "Promise you'll come home. Promise."

"I promise I'll try."

"That's not the same thing."

"It's the best I can do right now."

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and ran from the room.

Luna's mother sighed. "He doesn't understand."

"Neither do I."

"You will. Once you get to Silverwood. Once you meet others like you. It'll make more sense."

Luna zipped the duffel bag. It looked pathetically small. Her entire life reduced to one bag.

"They'll be here soon," her mother said. "You should go downstairs. Say goodbye to your father."

Luna picked up the bag and followed her mother down the stairs. Her father stood in the living room looking out the front window. His posture was rigid. Military.

"They're almost here," he said without turning. "I can see the car."

"Already?"

"They don't waste time. The mark appeared. They respond. That's how it works."

Luna set her bag by the door. Her hands felt empty. Wrong.

"Papá, I'm scared."

He finally turned. His eyes were wet. She'd never seen her father cry before.

"I know, mija. But you're going to be okay. You're an Eclipse. We've survived this before. You will too."

"What if I don't? What if I can't handle it?"

"Then you fight harder. You don't give up. Ever. No matter how hard it gets. You understand me?"

She nodded.

He pulled her into a hug. Brief. Tight. Then he let go and stepped back like it hurt to hold her too long.

A knock at the door.

Three short raps.

They were here.

Luna's wrist burned. The mark flared bright enough to see through her sleeve.

Her father opened the door.

Two figures stood on the porch. A woman and a man. Both tall. Both dressed in dark clothes. Both watching Luna with eyes that caught the light wrong.

"Luna Eclipse?" the woman asked.

"Yes."

"I'm Professor Thorne. This is Professor Ashwood. We're from Silverwood Academy. Are you ready to leave?"

"No. But I don't think I have a choice."

"You don't. Get your bag."

Luna picked up the duffel. It felt heavier now. Like it was pulling her down.

"Wait."

A voice from behind her. Miguel's voice.

She turned. He stood in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. His hair was messy. His eyes were red. He looked like he'd been running.

"I need to talk to her. Before she goes. Please."

Professor Thorne looked at Luna's father. "Two minutes. That's all."

Her father nodded.

The professors stepped outside to wait.

Miguel crossed the room and grabbed Luna's hand. The one without the mark. His fingers were cold.

"I'm sorry. For earlier. For how I reacted. I was scared and I said things I didn't mean."

"It's okay."

"It's not okay. You needed me and I ran. That's not what you do when you love someone."

"Miguel-"

"Let me finish. Please." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small leather cord with a silver charm dangling from it. "I bought this for you. For your birthday. Before everything went crazy. I was going to give it to you after cake."

The charm was simple. A crescent moon with a tiny star beside it.

"It's beautiful."

"I had it engraved. Look at the back."

She turned it over. Two words were scratched into the silver in small letters.

Always yours.

"I know you have to go. I know there's some academy and some mark and some world I don't understand. But I need you to know something. This doesn't change how I feel about you. Distance doesn't change it. Time doesn't change it. Whatever you're becoming, whatever you turn into, you're still Luna. And I'm still yours. Always."

He fastened the cord around her neck. The charm settled just below her collarbone.

"I don't know when I'll see you again," Luna whispered.

"Then I'll wait. However long it takes."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do. Because you're worth waiting for."

He kissed her. Soft and quick and desperate.

When he pulled back, tears were running down his face.

"Go. Before I do something stupid like try to follow you."

Luna picked up her bag. Her mother was crying. Her father had turned back to the window. Diego was watching from the stairs.

She walked to the door. Professor Thorne and Professor Ashwood waited on the porch.

"There's a car at the end of the street," Thorne said. "Not a car exactly. You'll see. Come on."

Luna followed them down the walkway. She didn't look back. If she looked back, she'd never leave.

The street was quiet. Empty except for a vehicle parked under a streetlight.

Except it wasn't a car.

It was a carriage.

An actual horse-drawn carriage with a black cab and two massive horses stamping their hooves against the pavement.

"You're kidding," Luna said.

"We don't kid about transportation," Ashwood replied. "Get in."

Luna climbed into the carriage. The interior was plush. Red velvet seats. Small lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It smelled like leather and something else. Something wild.

Thorne and Ashwood climbed in after her. Thorne rapped twice on the ceiling.

The carriage lurched forward.

Luna pressed her face to the window. Her house rolled past. Miguel stood on the lawn now. Watching. His hand raised in a wave.

She waved back.

Then he was gone. The street disappeared. The neighborhood vanished.

Trees rose on both sides. Thick and dark. The road narrowed to a dirt path.

"Where are we?" Luna asked.

"Between your world and ours," Thorne said. "The in-between. The path to Silverwood."

"How long does it take?"

"As long as it needs to. Could be hours. Could be minutes. Time works differently here."

Luna leaned back against the seat. The charm Miguel gave her pressed against her skin. Warm despite the cold.

She closed her eyes.

The carriage rattled over uneven ground. The horses' hooves created a steady rhythm. Clip-clop. Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

Something rustled in the trees.

Luna's eyes snapped open. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Ashwood asked.

"That sound. In the forest. Like something moving."

Thorne and Ashwood exchanged a glance.

"You heard that?" Thorne leaned forward. "Already? Your senses are developing faster than normal."

"Is that bad?"

"It's unusual. Most marked ones don't start sensing the forest until they're closer to Silverwood."

Another rustle. Closer this time. Something keeping pace with the carriage.

"What's out there?" Luna pressed her face to the window. The trees were too thick. Too dark. She couldn't see anything.

"Could be lots of things," Ashwood said casually. "Rogue wolves. Forest spirits. Creatures that don't have names. The in-between isn't empty."

"Are we safe?"

"Safe enough. The carriage has protections. Nothing can touch us while we're moving."

"What if we stop?"

"Then we'd have problems."

The rustling grew louder. Multiple sources now. Coming from both sides of the path.

Luna's wrist burned. The mark pulsed in warning.

"They're following us," she whispered.

"They always do," Thorne said. "The forest watches. Especially when fresh blood passes through."

"Fresh blood?"

"You. New marked ones draw attention. Everything in these woods can sense power. And you, Luna Eclipse, you're radiating it."

Another rustle. This one so close Luna could hear breathing. Heavy and deep and wrong.

She pulled back from the window.

"How much longer until we reach Silverwood?"

"Soon," Ashwood said. "Just keep your eyes forward. Don't look directly at anything in the trees. And whatever you do, don't open that window."

Luna hadn't been planning to.

But now that he'd said it, she couldn't stop thinking about it.

The breathing in the trees grew louder.

Closer.

Following.

The carriage stopped.

Luna had been staring at the window, watching shadows move between the trees, when the wheels quit turning and everything went still.

Too still.

The breathing sounds from the forest had stopped. The rustling had ceased. Even the horses had gone quiet.

"We're here," Professor Thorne said.

She opened the carriage door and stepped out. Professor Ashwood followed.

Luna grabbed her duffel bag and climbed down after them.

The first thing she noticed was the smell.

Pine and earth and something else. Something that made her mark tingle. Magic maybe. Or power. She couldn't tell the difference yet.

The second thing she noticed was the building.

Castle didn't quite cover it.

Silverwood Academy rose from the forest like something out of a dream. Or a nightmare. Stone towers stretched toward the sky. Gothic arches framed massive wooden doors. Windows glowed with warm light from within.

But it wasn't welcoming.

It was imposing. Intimidating. Built to make you feel small.

"Holy sh*t," Luna whispered.

"Language," Thorne said without looking back. "You're not in the human world anymore. Different rules here."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. Just remember. Come on. Headmaster Sterling is waiting."

They walked up a stone path toward the main entrance. Luna's legs felt shaky. Her heart pounded too fast.

The doors opened before they reached them.

A man stood in the doorway. Tall. Silver hair. Eyes that looked ancient despite a face that seemed middle-aged.

"Luna Eclipse." His voice carried across the courtyard. "Welcome to Silverwood Academy."

"Thank you?" It came out like a question.

"I'm Headmaster Aldric Sterling. I've been expecting you. Your bloodline is well known here."

"My bloodline?"

"The Eclipse family. Your grandmother attended Silverwood. So did her mother before her. You come from a long line of marked wolves. Powerful ones."

Luna clutched her bag tighter. "No one told me that."

"Your parents probably hoped to spare you the burden of expectation. But you're here now. And expectations will follow whether you want them to or not."

He stepped aside. "Come. I'll show you to your dormitory. Classes begin tomorrow morning. You'll need rest before then."

Luna followed him through the doors into an entrance hall that stole her breath.

The ceiling stretched three stories high. A massive chandelier hung from iron chains, its crystals catching light and throwing rainbows across stone walls. Staircases curved upward on both sides. Doorways led to halls that disappeared into shadow.

And students.

Everywhere.

They filled the space. Talking. Laughing. Moving with a grace Luna didn't possess. Some looked her age. Others looked older. College-aged maybe.

All of them stopped when she entered.

Conversations died mid-sentence. Heads turned. Eyes tracked her movement across the floor.

Luna felt their stares like physical weight.

"Don't mind them," Sterling said. "New students always draw attention. Especially Eclipse bloodline. They're curious. Nothing more."

A girl near the stairs whispered something to her friend. Both of them looked Luna up and down. Their expressions weren't friendly.

"Is there a problem?" Sterling's voice cracked like a whip.

The girls flinched and looked away.

"No, Headmaster," one of them muttered.

"Good. Then get to your dorms. All of you. Curfew is in twenty minutes."

The crowd dispersed. Students filed toward the staircases and various hallways. But Luna still felt eyes on her. Watching from the shadows. Judging.

"Your dormitory is in the east wing," Sterling said. "Third floor. You'll be sharing a room with another first year. She arrived this morning. I think you'll get along."

He led Luna up the right staircase. The steps were worn smooth from years of use. Centuries maybe.

"How old is this place?" Luna asked.

"The original structure was built in 1692. We've added to it over the years. But the bones are old. Very old."

They reached the third floor and turned down a hallway. Doors lined both sides. Some had names written on small plaques. Others were blank.

Sterling stopped at a door near the end. Room 347.

"This is you. Your roommate's name is Nova. She's Omega rank. Anxious but kind. Try not to let her nervous energy overwhelm you."

"What's Omega rank?"

"You'll learn tomorrow. During orientation. For now, just know that rank determines hierarchy. Alphas at the top. Omegas at the bottom. Most students fall somewhere in between."

"Where do I fall?"

Sterling studied her. "That remains to be seen. Eclipse bloodline usually manifests as Alpha. But the mark chooses. Not the bloodline."

He pushed the door open.

The room was small but not cramped. Two beds. Two desks. Two wardrobes. A window overlooking the forest.

A girl sat on one of the beds. She jumped up when they entered.

She was tiny. Maybe five feet tall. Dark curly hair pulled into a messy bun. Big brown eyes that looked permanently worried.

"Luna, this is Nova Branch. Nova, Luna Eclipse."

"Hi." Nova's voice came out too high. Too fast. "I'm Nova. Obviously. You already knew that. The Headmaster just said that. I'm babbling. Sorry. I babble when I'm nervous. And I'm nervous a lot."

Luna couldn't help it. She smiled.

"It's okay. I'm nervous too."

"Really? You don't look nervous. You look calm. Collected. I wish I looked like that. I probably look terrified. Do I look terrified?"

"A little."

"Great. That's just great. First impression ruined."

"I like honest better than calm anyway," Luna said.

Nova's expression brightened. "Really?"

"Really."

Sterling cleared his throat. "I'll leave you two to settle in. Luna, orientation is tomorrow at eight in the morning. The Great Hall. First floor. Don't be late."

"I won't."

"Good. Welcome to Silverwood, Miss Eclipse. Try not to die in your first week."

He left before Luna could ask if he was joking.

The door closed.

Nova flopped back onto her bed. "He says that to everyone. Morbid sense of humor. But also kind of true. Three students died last year. Training accidents. Rogue wolf attacks. One kid tried to run away and something in the forest got him."

"That's comforting."

"I know, right? Super reassuring." Nova sat up again. "So. Luna Eclipse. That's a cool name. Very mysterious. Very destined-for-greatness vibes."

"I don't feel destined for greatness. I feel like I got pulled out of my normal life and dropped into something I don't understand."

"Same! I was literally eating breakfast this morning. Cereal. Normal cereal. And then boom. Mark appears. Parents freak out. And now I'm here sharing a room with a stranger."

Luna set her bag on the empty bed. "When did your mark appear?"

"Three days ago. Yours?"

"This afternoon."

Nova's eyes widened. "Wait. This afternoon? As in today? As in hours ago?"

"Yeah."

"That's insane. Most people get a few days to adjust before they ship you off. You must have a really strong mark."

Luna pulled up her sleeve. The crescent moon and shadow pattern glowed faintly in the dim light.

Nova leaned closer. "Whoa. That's beautiful. And terrifying. Mine's just a basic wolf paw. See?"

She held up her wrist. A simple paw print marked her skin. Four pads and claws. Nothing fancy.

"Paw prints usually mean Omega," Nova said. "Which explains why everyone's already treating me like I'm fragile. What do you think yours means?"

"I have no idea."

"We should ask someone. Maybe Professor Cael? I heard she's the magical theory teacher. She might know."

"Tomorrow. Tonight I just want to sleep and pretend this is all a weird dream."

"Fair."

Luna unpacked her duffel. She set Miguel's hoodie in her wardrobe. Placed the framed photo on her desk. Put her toiletries in the small bathroom they apparently shared.

When she came back out, Nova was watching her.

"Boyfriend?" She nodded at the photo.

"Yeah. Miguel."

"Human?"

"Yeah."

"That's rough. Human relationships don't usually survive the academy. Not trying to be depressing. Just honest."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because it's true. But hey. Maybe you'll be different. Maybe you'll be the exception."

"Maybe."

Luna touched the charm around her neck. The metal was warm against her skin.

Always yours.

She hoped Miguel meant it.

A bell rang somewhere in the building. Deep and resonant.

"That's curfew," Nova said. "Lights out in ten minutes. Professors do room checks. If you're not in bed, you get detention. And detention here means running laps around the forest. In the dark. Where things live."

"Noted."

Luna changed into sleep clothes in the bathroom. When she came out, Nova was already under her covers, curled up like a cat.

"Hey, Luna?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you're my roommate. I was scared they'd pair me with someone mean. Someone who'd make fun of me for being Omega."

"I don't even know what Omega means yet."

"It means weak. Bottom of the hierarchy. Easy target."

"You don't seem weak to me."

Nova smiled. "Thanks. You're nice. I like you."

"I like you too."

Luna climbed into her bed. The mattress was firmer than her bed at home. The pillow smelled like cedar. Everything felt foreign.

She closed her eyes.

Tried to sleep.

Couldn't.

Her mark pulsed. Gentle but persistent. Like a heartbeat under her skin.

She heard voices in the hallway. Footsteps. Doors closing.

Then silence.

Luna rolled onto her side and stared at the window. The forest beyond was dark. Impenetrable. She couldn't see anything except shadow and the vague shapes of trees.

But she felt it.

Something out there. Watching. Waiting.

The same presence from the carriage ride.

She pulled the blanket up to her chin and tried to ignore the fear creeping up her spine.

Tomorrow she'd learn what she needed to survive this place.

Tonight she just needed to make it until morning.

Hours passed.

Maybe.

Time felt strange here. Stretched and compressed at the same time.

Luna must have dozed eventually because she jolted awake to sunlight streaming through the window.

Nova was already up. Dressed. Bouncing on her toes.

"Morning! Breakfast is in thirty minutes. We should go early. Get good seats. Avoid the scary upperclassmen."

Luna groaned and sat up. "What time is it?"

"Seven. I've been awake since five. Couldn't sleep. Too nervous. Are you nervous? You should be nervous. First day is always intense. That's what my sister told me. She went here three years ago. Graduated last spring. Said first day sets the tone for everything."

Luna dragged herself out of bed and got ready. She pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. Ran a brush through her hair. Stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

She looked the same as yesterday.

But she felt different.

Like something inside her had shifted. Rearranged. Woken up.

"You ready?" Nova called from the doorway.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

They left the dorm and headed downstairs. The hallways were crowded now. Students everywhere. Some walking in groups. Others alone. All of them moving with purpose.

Luna tried not to stare.

But it was hard not to notice how different they all looked. How graceful. How confident. Like they belonged here.

She felt like an imposter.

They reached the ground floor and Nova pointed toward a set of double doors. "That's the Great Hall. Where we eat. Where orientation happens. Basically where everything important happens."

Luna followed her through the doors.

The Great Hall was massive. Long tables filled the space. A high ceiling stretched overhead with exposed wooden beams. Windows lined the walls. And at the far end, a raised platform held a single long table where faculty sat.

Students filled the benches. Talking. Eating. Laughing.

Luna's mark tingled in warning.

"There's a spot." Nova grabbed Luna's arm and pulled her toward an empty section of bench near the back.

They sat down.

Immediately, the students around them went quiet.

A girl across the table looked Luna up and down. "You're new."

"Yeah."

"First year?"

"Yeah."

"Eclipse?"

Luna froze. "How did you know that?"

"Everyone knows. Word travels fast here. Especially when it's Eclipse bloodline." The girl leaned back. "I'm Jade. Second year. Alpha rank. You're going to have a rough time if you're not careful."

"Why?"

"Because Eclipse wolves are either heroes or disasters. No in between. And everyone's going to be watching to see which one you are."

"I'm just trying to survive."

"Good luck with that."

Jade turned back to her food.

Nova leaned close to Luna. "Don't listen to her. She's bitter because she barely made Alpha rank. Half the school thinks she should be Beta."

"What's the difference?"

"Power. Respect. Hierarchy. I'll explain later."

Food appeared on the table. Literally appeared. Like magic. Plates of eggs and toast and fruit and bacon materialized in front of them.

Luna stared. "How-"

"Kitchen staff are witches," Nova said casually. "They handle all the food. It's actually pretty good."

Luna picked up a fork.

Before she could eat, movement caught her eye.

A group of students entered the Great Hall. Four of them. All tall. All moving with the kind of confidence that demanded attention.

The entire hall went quiet.

Nova s*ck*d in a breath. "Oh no."

"What?"

"That's Darius Kane. Fourth year. Alpha. One of the most powerful students here. Also one of the biggest jerks."

Luna looked at the boy in front. He was tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Strong jawline. Handsome in a way that probably got him whatever he wanted.

His eyes swept the room.

And stopped on Luna.

He stared at her. Really stared. His expression wasn't friendly. Wasn't curious.

It was disdain.

Pure. Cold. Disdain.

Like she'd personally offended him just by existing.

Nova grabbed Luna's arm. "Don't look at him. Seriously. Don't."

But Luna couldn't look away.

Darius's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.

Then he turned and walked to a table near the front. His group followed.

But Luna felt his attention linger.

Like a target on her back.

Orientation lasted two hours.

Luna sat in the Great Hall with the other first years while Headmaster Sterling explained rules, schedules, and expectations.

Don't shift without permission.

Don't leave campus without authorization.

Don't enter the forbidden forest.

Don't challenge students above your rank.

The list went on.

Luna's head spun trying to remember everything.

Nova sat beside her, taking notes frantically. "This is insane. How are we supposed to remember all this?"

"I have no idea."

Sterling dismissed them at ten. "First years report to the training grounds. Your physical assessment begins in fifteen minutes. Don't be late."

Students filed out of the Great Hall. Luna followed the crowd toward the back of the building.

The training grounds were outside. A massive open field surrounded by forest. Equipment scattered across the grass. Obstacle courses. Climbing walls. Fighting rings marked with white chalk.

And professors. Lots of professors. All of them watching as students gathered.

A man stepped forward. Tall. Muscular. Scars crossing his jaw and neck. His eyes were cold. Assessing.

"I'm Professor Marcus Thorne. Combat and physical training. For the next four years, I will break you down and rebuild you into wolves worthy of the Silverwood name. Some of you will excel. Most of you will struggle. A few of you won't make it past first semester."

He paced in front of the assembled first years. "Physical training is not optional. It is survival. In the real world, weak wolves die. Fast wolves live. Strong wolves lead. Which category you fall into depends entirely on how hard you're willing to work."

Luna's mark tingled beneath her sleeve.

"We'll start with basics. Speed. Endurance. Strength. Agility. Then we'll move to combat. Hand-to-hand first. Wolf form later. Questions?"

No one spoke.

"Good. Partner up. Now."

Students scrambled to find partners. Nova grabbed Luna's arm.

"Partners?"

"Obviously."

Thorne walked through the crowd, observing. He stopped in front of Luna and Nova.

"You two. Separate."

"What?" Nova's voice went high. "Why?"

"Because you're friends. Friends go easy on each other. I need to see what you're actually capable of." He pointed at Luna. "You. With me."

Nova shot Luna an apologetic look as Thorne pulled Luna aside.

"Luna Eclipse. Eclipse bloodline. Marked yesterday. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Your family has a history of producing powerful wolves. But history doesn't mean anything here. Power means nothing without control. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm assigning you a personal mentor. Someone who can push you harder than I can push an entire class. Someone who won't tolerate excuses or weakness."

A figure emerged from the equipment shed. Male. Maybe early twenties. Lean muscle. Dark hair. Cold expression.

He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"This is Ryder Thorn. Fifth year. Top of his class in combat. He'll be responsible for your training outside of group sessions."

Ryder looked Luna up and down. His expression didn't change. "Great. Another Eclipse."

"Problem, Ryder?" Thorne's voice carried warning.

"No, sir. No problem."

"Good. Get started. I want a full assessment by end of day."

Thorne walked away, leaving Luna alone with Ryder.

They stared at each other.

"So," Luna said finally. "You're my mentor?"

"Apparently."

"You don't sound thrilled about it."

"I'm not. I have better things to do than babysit first years."

"Then why'd you agree?"

"I didn't. My father voluntold me." Ryder crossed his arms. "Let's get something straight. I don't care about your bloodline. I don't care about your famous last name. I care about results. You show up on time. You work hard. You listen when I talk. Do that, and we'll get along fine. Waste my time, and I'll make your life miserable. Clear?"

Luna's temper flared. "Crystal."

"Good. Let's see what you've got. Run the perimeter. Two laps. Go."

"Right now?"

"You deaf? Run. Now."

Luna took off. The perimeter was huge. Easily a quarter mile around. Her lungs burned after the first lap. Her legs screamed by the second.

When she finished, Ryder was waiting with a stopwatch.

"Nine minutes. That's pathetic."

"I just ran half a mile."

"And you should've done it in six. Again."

"What?"

"You heard me. Again. Faster this time."

"I need a break."

"Breaks are for weak wolves. Are you weak?"

"No."

"Then run."

Luna ran again. Her muscles protested. Her chest ached. But she pushed through.

Eight minutes this time.

"Better. Still pathetic, but better." Ryder pointed to a climbing wall. "Climb that. Top to bottom. No stopping."

Luna approached the wall. It stretched twenty feet high. Handholds jutted out at irregular intervals.

She started climbing.

Halfway up, her arms gave out. She fell, landing hard on the mat below.

"Get up."

Luna pushed herself to her feet. "This is impossible. I've never climbed anything before."

"Then learn. Again."

"I can't."

"Wrong answer. Try again."

"I said I can't."

Ryder stepped closer. His voice dropped. "Let me tell you something about Eclipse wolves. You're either exceptional or you're dead. There's no middle ground. Your grandmother? Exceptional. Graduated top of her class. Your great-grandmother? Dead before her second year. Lost control during a shift and had to be put down. Which one are you going to be?"

Luna's mark burned. Heat raced up her arm.

"I'm not dead yet."

"No. But you will be if you give up every time something gets hard. Now climb. Don't stop until you reach the top."

Luna climbed. Her hands bled. Her muscles shook. But she reached the top.

When she dropped back to the mat, Ryder nodded once. "That's progress. Rest. Five minutes. Then we're doing combat drills."

Luna collapsed onto the grass. She watched other first years training across the field. Nova was sparring with another girl. Badly. She kept flinching before strikes even landed.

Movement caught Luna's eye.

Darius Kane. Standing at the edge of the training grounds. Watching.

Not watching everyone.

Watching her.

Luna pushed herself to her feet. "Who's that?"

Ryder followed her gaze. "Darius Kane. Fourth year Alpha. Stay away from him."

"Why?"

"Because he's dangerous. The Kanes don't like competition. And you're competition."

"I'm not competing with anyone."

"Doesn't matter. You exist. You have Eclipse blood. That makes you a threat to his position. And Darius doesn't handle threats well."

Before Luna could respond, Darius started walking toward them.

"Great," Ryder muttered. "Here we go."

Darius stopped a few feet away. Up close, he was even more imposing. Tall. Confident. Every inch the Alpha.

"Ryder. Still babysitting first years?"

"Still compensating for your father's expectations?"

Darius's jaw tightened. "Careful."

"Or what? You'll challenge me? We both know how that would end."

Darius's attention shifted to Luna. "So you're the Eclipse everyone's talking about. Marked yesterday. Thrown straight into training. Must be tough."

"I'm managing."

"We'll see. Eclipse wolves have a reputation. Big names. Big expectations. Big failures." He circled her slowly. "Which category do you think you'll fall into?"

Luna's mark pulsed. Warm. Insistent.

"I don't care about reputations."

"You should. Reputations are everything here. They determine who respects you. Who fears you. Who challenges you." He stopped in front of her. "And right now? Your reputation is nothing. You're a first year with a famous last name and zero proven skills."

"Then I guess I'll have to prove myself."

"Looking forward to it."

Something in his tone made Luna's instincts scream warning.

Her mark flared. Bright enough that light leaked through her sleeve.

Darius noticed. His eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Your mark reacts to threat. That's unusual for a first year."

"Back off, Kane." Ryder stepped between them. "She's my student. You have a problem with her, you go through me first."

"Relax. I'm just saying hello. Getting to know the new blood." Darius smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "See you around, Eclipse. I'm sure we'll have lots of opportunities to train together."

He walked away.

Ryder waited until he was out of earshot. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because your mark is glowing. And your eyes just flashed gold."

Luna looked down at her wrist. The mark blazed through the fabric. Brighter than she'd ever seen it.

"I don't understand. Why is it doing that?"

"Because you felt threatened. Your wolf responded. That's instinct. It's also dangerous if you can't control it."

"I wasn't trying to do anything."

"That's the problem. You can't let your wolf react without your permission. If you do, you'll shift at the wrong time. Hurt someone. Get yourself killed."

Luna tried to calm down. Breathe. Focus.

The mark's glow faded slowly.

"Better. But you need to practice that. Controlling your wolf when emotions run high." Ryder checked his watch. "We're done for today. Tomorrow morning, six AM, meet me here. We're working on control before anything else."

"Six AM?"

"Problem?"

"No. I'll be here."

"Good. Go clean up. Get food. Rest. You're going to need it."

Luna started walking back toward the main building. Her legs felt like jelly. Her arms ached. Her hands were blistered.

But she'd survived.

First training session complete.

A group of first years passed her heading toward the dorms. Three girls. All of them laughing.

They stopped when they saw her.

One of them gasped. "Your mark. It's glowing."

Luna looked down. The mark was still faintly visible through her sleeve. Pulsing with silver light.

"I know. It does that sometimes."

"That's not normal," another girl said. Her voice shook. "First years don't have marks that glow that bright. Not unless they're about to shift."

"I'm not shifting. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. You look dangerous."

The three girls backed away. Fast. Like Luna might attack at any second.

"Wait. I'm not going to hurt anyone."

But they were already running.

Luna stood alone in the middle of the path. Her mark pulsed. Her reflection caught in a window nearby.

Her eyes glowed faint gold.

Just like Ryder said.

She looked dangerous.

She looked like something wild barely contained.

And she had no idea how to make it stop.