176
Lucy
As the summer ended, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. We still hadn’t found a liaison, but the Council didn’t seem to be attempting anything suspicious. Fall was approaching, and with it came the beginning of a new academic year. I was nervous about what would come next, but Dagon reassured me that until I was done with my human degree and basic magical studies at the coven, there was nothing for me to worry about.
Today, I was supposed to be registering for my classes at the human college. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my room. I stretched and yawned, my mind already buzzing with plans for the day.
After a quick shower and breakfast, I headed to the human college using my Moving Ring. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I was pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Dagon said it was a good field for someone headed into the Academy, but I’d need to supplement those courses with more supernatural law classes.
The campus was abuzz with activity as students filled the halls, eager to secure their schedules for the semester. I joined the line, clutching my course list and hoping that I would get the classes I needed.
“Yo,” Duke called, coming up to me. He grinned at me. “You look like you’re on a mission.”
“I just don’t want my classes to fill up.” I smiled. “What about you?”
He shrugged. “I’m in the pre-med track, so I doubt I’ll have that problem.”
He grinned. “I doubt you’ll have that issue either, Lucy-Cat.”
As we moved forward in line, I spotted Amy, Michelle, and Sarah nearby. They all looked excited.
“We’re officially college students!” Sarah cried, beaming.
“I can’t believe we’re actually starting college,” Duke remarked, a mixture of enthusiasm and anticipation in his voice. “It feels like just yesterday we were dealing with an evil GED professor…”
“Here comes my fashion empire.” Sarah grinned at Michelle. “You’re going to ditch that stupid franchise and come help me not spend all my money on bad fabric, right?”
Michelle laughed. “I’m pretty sure I can do that without quitting my job.”
“What about me?” Amy asked, pouting.
“I’m not sure if a kindergarten teacher has a role in a fashion empire, but I promise you’ll be the best-dressed one around.”
We managed to get registered quickly and headed to the library to a quiet section that was away from most other people. Duke cast a silencing spell around us.
“How are you all holding up?”
Amy swallowed. “Well… okay, I guess.”
Michelle was quiet.
“It’s crazy how much our lives have changed,” Amy said. “Just a year ago, we were living completely different lives. I’m not really sure what else to say.”
Sarah nodded in agreement, her gaze distant. “They said that Amy and I don’t have to do much else but keep our mouths shut, but it would be a good idea to take some classes…”
They looked at Michelle, who smiled a little. “I have to take on a formal supernatural education... It’s like something out of a fantasy novel.”
Duke chuckled, a fond smile on his lips. “It’s certainly been an adventure. And it’s not over yet. As fellow supernaturals, don’t be afraid to ask.”
I nodded. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do?”
Michelle shrugged. “It’s kind of all up in the air right now… Though apparently, there are a lot of supernatural businesses.”
She bit her lip and looked up at me. “Apparently… Peter’s important?”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
She flushed. “He’s an alpha? Of one of the bigger packs?”
I nodded. Sara looked a little putout, but she didn’t say anything.
“What’s going on?”
Michelle sighed. “Sarah’s not very happy with me right now, but I told her before it’s not that big of a deal.”
“What’s not a big deal?”
“I have a date with Peter coming up,” Michelle said. A small smile tugged at her lips.
“He’s been really sweet, and we talked about… before already. I don’t want to just give up on it when there’s a chance.”
Sarah, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up, her tone slightly cold. “You do realize that if he did it once, he could do it again?”
“You make it sound like he cheated or something…”
Michelle shook her head. “That’s not what happened at all. We didn’t end on bad terms exactly. It’s just… I was in deeper than he was. The timing wasn’t right. He didn’t just ghost me or anything.”
“He’s a werewolf,” Sarah said.
Her eyes turned cold. “SO am I, apparently.”
Sarah set her jaw. “You know that’s not what I meant! You didn’t know that until recently, and he’s older and grown up in it. He’s in a position of real power. I read all those pamphlets about packs and mating and all that and—”
“Maybe you shouldn’t yell?” Duke asked. “Give Michelle a break and let her talk, Sarah.”
Michelle shook her head. “I understand your concerns, Sarah. And I appreciate them, but we met when I was human. I doubt he’s going to all of a sudden change. I was a werewolf before, and he never treated me any differently. Can’t you at least let me see where it goes?”
Sarah’s gaze softened as she regarded Michelle. “I’m just worried about you, Michelle. I don’t want you to get hurt. Again.”
I nodded in agreement. “No one wants you to get hurt…You promise to let us know if anything goes… wrong? And don’t go anywhere without your ring from the coven campus, okay?”
Michelle’s eyes widened. I could tell she wanted to ask, but she nodded and reached into her pocket before sliding it on her finger.
“I promise not to. They gave me a full training on how it works.”
Our conversation eventually turned toward lighter topics as we shared stories and plans for the upcoming weeks. But the undercurrent of Michelle’s entry into the supernatural world kept distracting me. I didn’t want to believe that every werewolf, every alpha was the same. David had shown me that he was nothing like Matt or Tony, but I didn’t want Michelle to go through anything like what I had.
Still, she looked so happy, so it was hard not to try to be happy for her.
“Registration at the coven will be open soon,” Duke said as his phone chimed. “You want to come?”
Sarah perked up. “Are there hot male witches?”
“I don’t think witch is a gendered term in the supernatural world, but I’m sure there are.”
“What happened to you and that guy from Sea Shell Cove?”
She smiled. “Plenty.”
I shook my head as Duke ended the spell, and we headed to the coven’s campus to register. We were taken there by car by the Blood Moon escort.
“Oh!” Sarah cried. “Isn’t David one of those alphas too?”
I nodded. She let out a low whistle. “Maybe I need to look into hooking up with an alpha. For the perks, at least.”
“Sarah!”
I laughed. The driver laughed too. We headed inside and got through registration quickly. Lucian came to meet Michelle with a smile and a shake of his hand.
“Looks like I’ll have another private student,” Lucian looked at Duke and I. “Though unlikely to be of the same kind of classes.”
“Lucian, do you know anything about Peter personally?” I asked.
Lucian’s lips twitched. “I know enough. Why? I thought you were fully sinking into David’s charms. Should I be worried?”
My face heated as everyone laughed. “Michelle’s going on a date with him!”
He looked at Michelle, glanced over at her, and smirked. “That so?”
“Yes,” Michelle said softly. “We… We met before the incident.”
“He didn’t try to turn you, hm?”
Michelle blinked. “Turn me?”
“Into a werewolf.”
“N-Not that I know of.”
He nodded. “You’d know.”
He hummed. “I’m not sure if what I know of him will help or dissuade you from going out with him. My best advice is to see where it takes you. It’ll probably be a little easier going for your courtship since you’re a werewolf.”
She stiffened. “You mean… he would have treated me differently if I was just a human?”
He smiled. “The rules of bringing a human into the supernatural world that has no ties are complex and really not worth the trouble. Sanctions, etc. Not to mention the werewolf community’s general attitude problem. You being a werewolf means none of those pressures are there. You’ll probably get more out of it since you can actually talk about it all.”
She nodded. “That’s… good to know.”
“Bit of a warning, though,” Lucian said. “Peter is the alpha of the Black Moon Pack. He’s got a reputation for being violent, vicious because of his platform.”
Her eyes widened.
“I wouldn’t believe anything that you can’t confirm for yourself,” Lucian said. “There’s a lot more at work in the werewolf world than most care to admit.”
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