Page 97

It was not surprising when murmurs filled the room after Malakai’s ominous words. Most of the whispers came from the newer students who were digesting this chilling revelation.

The seasoned elite students, however, seemed utterly unimpressed, their expressions bordering on boredom as if they’d heard it all before. It was clear they were eager for the newcomers to leave so the pace of the class could return to their liking.

Malakai’s eyes swept over the room, his sharp tone cutting through the noise. "Or did you think werewolves were the only supernatural beings in your world, humans?" His last word was laced with disdain, as though he pitied their ignorance.

Hands clasped behind his back, Malakai began to pace the room.

"The Fae, vampires, witches, wendigos, they’re all real.

Some, like the Fae, live right under our noses, their glamour allowing them to blend in seamlessly.

Vampires, the natural enemies of werewolves, lurk in the shadows, their cunning unmatched.

Witches? They’re nearly indistinguishable from humans, but their cursed powers make them formidable.

Wendigos, on the other hand, only step out of the dark to fulfill their insatiable hunger for flesh. And these are just a few examples."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the students hung onto his every word, their faces pale with unease. Violet in question could feel her pulse pounding in her ears. If the great War nearly rendered earth into a wasteland. She didn’t want to see another war again.

"Some of these creatures exist in their own realms," Malakai continued, "emerging only when the barriers between worlds thin, especially during celestial phenomena, or when they see an opportunity to strike.

But make no mistake, none of them are willing to repeat the mistakes the wolves made during the Great War.

If they ever were to expose themselves, it will be because they are certain of victory. "

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint shuffling of feet as the students shifted uncomfortably.

She was suddenly conscious of the people around her.

How many of her classmates might be more than they seemed?

Was she surrounded by humans, or something else entirely?

The very idea sent a chill down her spine.

"Fortunately," Malakai said, breaking the silence, "none of these creatures have openly declared war on humanity or proved to be an imminent threat that we couldn’t take care of.

However, this is not a war school. Here, you will primarily learn to defend yourself against the threats we know of, the hunters, rogues, and, yes, even the wolf shifter. "

At the mention of wolf shifters, every head turned toward the cardinal alphas.

Asher met their gazes with a intense, unyielding stare that radiated authority and menace.

His expression seemed to dare anyone to speak out against him.

The students, one by one, averted their eyes, intimidated by his presence.

The other alphas, although quieter, remained equally imposing.

"For those of you who thought Lunaris was simply a prestigious stepping stone," Malakai said, addressing the entire class, "let me disabuse you of that notion.

This academy will elevate you to heights you never imagined, yes, but it is also a battlefield.

Accept this truth now, and you may yet survive. "

His eyes scanned the room, lingering on each student as if challenging them to prove their worth. "No more questions? Good. Now, sit your asses down and watch as the alphas give you a preview of what I have in store for you."

The students scrambled to obey, hastily finding spots on the bare floor having learned their lesson the first time.

Violet sank down beside Lila, her eyes drawn once more to the cardinal alphas as they began discussing amongst themselves.

There was a natural divide between them, Griffin and Alaric stood on one side with Asher and Roman on the other.

However, the dissension between them was noticeable to everyone watching.

Asher stepped forward, his body language exuding challenge, but Roman grabbed his arm, whispering something into his ear. After a moment’s hesitation, Asher relented, though his sharp gaze lingered on Griffin as if silently promising a future confrontation.

"They’re taking votes on who’s going to demonstrate," Dion said suddenly, plopping down beside Violet. His voice startled her, pulling her attention away from the alphas.

"Figures," Violet replied, her tone dry. She tore her gaze from the alphas to glance at Dion, who offered her a friendly smile.

"Hello, Lila," Dion added, nodding toward her.

"Hi, Dion," Lila replied with a small wave, her smile bright despite the taut atmosphere.

Violet did not say anything about the guy sitting next to her. Dion, like Lila, had somehow managed to worm his way into her life. She just let it be. Violet has realized fighting these things would only leave her exhausted.

"So, in one word, Griffin and Roman are going to fight?" Violet stated the obvious.

"Yes," Dion replied, leaning back on his palms as if the unfolding drama was a perfectly normal day for him.

"Who do you think would win?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"Depends..." Dion trailed off, watching the alphas intently.

"Depends on what?"

"If it’s purely a test of strength, with or without his ability, Griffin’s got it in the bag."

"And otherwise?"

"Otherwise, Roman has his wits, cunning, and, let’s not forget, the influence of Asher.

Roman’s not just brawn; he’s got brains.

Griffin’s sheer size and power only gives him an edge.

Still, anything can happen, so there’s your tactical answer.

" Dion answered, clearly enjoying Violet’s intrigued expression.

Violet turned her attention back to the alphas, impressed by Dion’s analysis. On the far side of the room, Commander Malakai was speaking with Griffin and Roman. Then, with a booming voice, the commander addressed the rest of the class.

"Listen up! You’re about to witness what a real fight looks Griffin and Roman will demonstrate, so watch carefully."

The air grew thick with anticipation and students leaned forward to catch every detail of the fight.

And then, in one swift move, Griffin tore his white shirt off his body.

But the sound of the fabric ripping was quickly drowned out by a chorus of gasps and screams from the female students. It was so loud that the commander had to cover his ears with his palm.

Violet blinked, her jaw dropping as she stared, unable to help herself.

Every inch of Griffin’s body was sculpted, his muscles rippling like they were carved from stone.

There wasn’t a single ounce of fat on him, and when her gaze involuntarily dipped lower to his eight-pack abs, she felt a flush rise to her cheeks.

The gods help her. Was it hot in here, or was it just Griffin?

"Are you drooling?" Dion teased, his voice snapping her out of her trance.

"No!" Violet hissed, trying to compose herself, though she could still feel the heat creeping up her neck.

Before she could fully recover, another wave of screams filled the room. God no. And just as she thought, it was Roman’s turn.

Unlike Griffin’s caveman theatrics, Roman deliberately unbuttoned his shirt slowly with an air of calmness. Once he removed it, he turned to Elsie, who stood nearby, and handed it to her with a small smile.

The room erupted.

The gesture was subtle, but the girls in the class treated it like the most romantic act they’d ever seen. Elsie, ever the poised queen, took the shirt without even glancing at him, her cool demeanor oozing entitlement. It was as if she were silently saying, This is the treatment I deserve.

The contrast between Griffin’s raw masculinity and Roman’s smooth charm wasn’t lost on anyone. Violet, however, found herself rolling her eyes. Of course, Elsie gets her little moment of glory, she thought.

Violet tried to convince herself she wasn’t jealous. No, definitely not. She was just annoyed by the way Elsie accepted Roman’s gesture like it was her birthright, her cool, detached expression only adding to Violet’s irritation. The girl acted as if the world owed her every ounce of adoration.

And then it hit Violet. Roman had made his choice. Out of all the women in Lunaris, really Elsie? she really couldn’t fathom it.

But then again, when she thought about it, Roman and Elsie deserved each other. A womanizer and a bitch? What great children they would make.

Handsome cute children though. So annoying.

Violet wondered if Roman knew that Elsie—the so-called future prize —had her sights set on Asher?

Of course, he had to know. Roman wasn’t stupid, and he and Asher were practically inseparable. If anyone knew the truth, it was him.

No, this was none of her business, Violet told herself.

Yet, despite her inner grumbling, Violet couldn’t deny the anticipation rising in the room. Every student was hanging on to what was about to happen next, their excitement high in the air.

The commander stepped back, his booming voice breaking through the noise. "Let the fight begin!"

And it did.