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The most exciting part of today’s Parents Week wasn’t the much-anticipated showdown between the cardinal alphas and their parents.

No, it was the academy’s first official home game.

Lunaris Academy would be facing off against Moonlight Academy, a smaller school known for specializing in werewolf students.

Unlike Moonlight, Lunaris was an elite institution celebrated for its groundbreaking integration of humans and werewolves.

They were the reigning top dog, with a record of winning the Fangball tournament year after year.

Still, that reputation hadn’t deterred Moonlight, nor other smaller academics whose players clung to the dream of toppling Lunaris one day.

As expected for a home game, Lunaris Academy students packed the stands, with only a handful of Moonlight Academy students scattered among them.

Of course, the elite students occupied their exclusive bleachers, but for once, the attention wasn’t on them, but on the parents, precisely, the parents of the cardinal alphas.

"And here she comes," Henry muttered under his breath, his gaze narrowing the moment he spotted Alpha Irene and her husband Arion making their way toward the exclusive bleachers.

As expected, the cardinal parents had been given the finest and lavishly decorated seats, befitting for their regal status.

Principal Jameson, already seated among them, practically lit up as Irene approached. Rising smoothly, she beamed, "Welcome, Alpha Irene."

"Thank you," Irene replied with a graceful nod.

"Please, have a seat," Jameson gestured, though it was painfully obvious the only available seat was the one right beside Henry.

Alpha Caspian, who logically should have taken that spot, had predictably drifted toward Leon, clearly eager to continue whatever lively conversation they’d left unfinished from before.

A hint of amusement touched Irene’s face as she noted the arrangement, but without hesitation, she strolled over and slid into the seat next to Henry.

"Hello," she greeted him.

"Hello," Henry rumbled back, his tone more grumbling than greeting.

For a man whose emotions were typically locked behind an unreadable mask, Henry’s barely veiled irritation was almost entertaining, especially when it came to Irene, who seemed to have a special talent for needling him without trying.

While Leon and Caspian launched into an animated conversation — with Caspian doing most of the talking and Leon looking like he needed rescuing — a heavy silence settled between Irene and Henry.

Henry kept his eyes fixed on the Moonlight Academy players down on the field, watching as the staff secured their mouth grippers in place.

Then, with a tilt of her head and the faintest edge of mischief in her voice, Irene broke the quiet.

"How’s your eye?" she asked. "I heard you had an unfortunate incident this morning." Though her tone was perfectly polite, the glint in her eyes betrayed the teasing sarcasm beneath.

Henry turned to glare at her. It was obvious he had a retort on his tongue, but he held it back. That woman was not going to make him lose his cool.

Irene, catching the restraint in his eyes, smirked with quiet satisfaction. Their stay together was going to be a fun one.

Just then, a loud commotion rippled through the stadium and the reason was because the Lunaris Academy players had arrived.

Unlike their usual practice sessions, where the alphas would tease the crowd by shifting on the field, today they had already changed in the locker rooms. Now they emerged onto the field in their full wolf form as the stands erupted in wild cheers.

Normally, when facing smaller academies, not all the cardinal alphas even bothered to play.

It was an arrogant flex, a way of flaunting their dominance without needing their full lineup.

But today was different. With their parents watching from the exclusive bleachers, they were all here, ready to give a show worthy of their name.

At the center was Alaric Storm, the snow-white wolf and beside him loomed Griffin Hale, the towering red wolf with his thunderous presence. Roman Draven, sleek and green, crouched low in anticipation, while Asher Nightshade, midnight-black, prowled the defensive line like a shadow ready to strike.

Across from them stood the wolves of Moonlight Academy, who were leaner than the cardinal alphas, but no less determined. The tension crackled like an electric storm between the two teams.

It was not long when the whistle split the air, and the Lunar Orb shot upward from the pit, glowing like a second moon.

Chaos erupted.

Alaric lunged as usual, a streak of white slicing through the scrambling bodies. His mouth gripper locked onto the Orb with a snap, and with a powerful push of his hind legs, he tore down the field.

Violet who had been sitting quietly with her rogue team leapt to her feet, a whistle between her lips, blasting sharp, gleeful notes as she shouted, "Go, thunderboy!"

Griffin barreled forward behind Alaric, a living battering ram, slamming into two Moonlight defenders who dared challenge their advance. The sound of the collision was a brutal crack that reverberated through the stands, drawing startled gasps from the crowd.

In the elite section, Alpha Henry leaned forward, a rare flicker of satisfaction softening his usually hard features as Asher swept in, intercepting a Moonlight chaser who thought he could slip past the line.

With a snarl, Asher sent the poor wolf sprawling across the dirt.

Even Henry, known for his cold composure, gave a faint smirk. Good work.

Meanwhile, Alpha Irene’s eyes glittered with approval as Griffin plowed through another Moonlight wolf, his defensive strength undeniable.

Roman’s father, Leon, clapped a hand against his knee with a bark of laughter, his chest swelling with pride as his son danced through a tight cluster of opponents, sowing chaos in his wake.

"Atta boy, Roman!" Leon roared, his voice carrying over the crowd.

The pace was relentless. The ball moved between teammates fluidly, with Moonlight’s defense struggling to keep pace.

Violet in question kept up a steady chorus of encouragement, her whistles cutting through the noise.

She called out each alpha by name,

"Roman, YES!"

"Asher, rip ’em apart!"

"Griffin, tank mode, let’s go!"

"Alaric, keep up that god level speed!"

And when Alaric scored, which he did again and again, Violet’s voice lifted above all the others: "GO THUNDERBOY!"

Moonlight was no pushover, though. They adapted, tightening their defense. One fierce tackle sent Alaric skidding, his flank scraping along the dirt, the Orb flying loose.

But before Moonlight could capitalize, Asher was there, slamming into the offender with a feral snarl, his eyes glinting with something between fury and thrill. Violet saw Alpha Henry nod slightly, as if satisfied Asher had proven a point.

Griffin recovered the Orb, using brute strength to shake off two harassing wolves before lobbing it across the field toward Roman.

The green wolf sprinted with elegant ferocity, the crowd rising to its feet as he zigzagged past desperate defenders.

Alaric fell into step beside him, their movements a breathtaking harmony of speed and force.

Roman faked a pass. The Moonlight defense overcommitted.

And with a sudden shift, Roman whipped the Orb to Alaric, who caught it mid-leap, his white body arching through the air like a streak of lightning.

He crossed the pit line clean, slamming the Orb home just as the whistle blew for three points.

The stadium exploded.

Violet’s cheers were nearly drowned by the stampede of applause. Lila, beside her, flung an arm around Violet, both of them jumping and shouting as if they’d scored the point themselves.

Moonlight scrambled to regain footing, their desperation bleeding into aggression.

One of their blockers lunged at Griffin with reckless force, but the red wolf barely flinched.

Instead, he met the charge head-on, the thud of the impact echoing across the stadium as he sent the attacker sprawling.

Alpha Irene’s sharp smile deepened. Caspian, leaning in beside Leon, gave a low whistle of appreciation.

Still, Moonlight Academy were tough. By second half, they clawed back one point, then another, their tenacity igniting murmurs of worry in the crowd. With five minutes left, the score sat at seven to five. Lunaris were leading, but they were not untouchable.

The next possession was brutal.

The Orb shot up; Alaric and a Moonlight runner collided mid-air, snarling and twisting as they fought for control.

Violet’s heart pounded as she watched Alaric’s jaws clamp shut around the Orb just a split second before he crashed to the ground.

Roman and Griffin closed ranks immediately, shielding him as Asher snarled at the Moonlight wolves trying to break through.

But Moonlight wouldn’t yield. Two wolves latched onto Griffin, another crashed into Roman, and a fourth came barreling straight at Alaric.

With a desperate twist, Alaric shoved the Orb into Roman’s gripper just before the impact hit.

Roman, shaken but fierce, bolted down the sideline.

Violet’s voice cracked from screaming as she willed him forward.

Griffin surged free of his attackers, hammering a path through the defense, and Asher sent the last defender tumbling with a bone-jarring tackle.

Roman slammed the Orb into the pit.

Nine to five.

The whistle blew, the game was over.

The student’s roar rolled like thunder over the field. Alaric was instantly swarmed by his teammates, their wolfish celebration chaotic and joyful as they knocked him off his feet, nipping playfully at his ears and shoulders.

In the stands, all of their alpha parent’s rose, their expressions proud. Even Henry’s mouth twitched at the corners as Asher tossed his head back, howling in triumph.

Violet, breathless and hoarse, sank onto the bench, her heart still thundering.

"Hell yeah," she whispered under her breath, feeling the fierce rush of victory burn in her chest.

Lunaris had won. As usual.