Chapter 4 Arrival Cont

• 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.