Chapter 1

Elara's POV

I walked down the nearly deserted hallway of Lunastride Academy, my footsteps echoing against the polished floors. Most students had already filed into their classrooms, leaving the corridor eerily quiet. I was heading to ceramics class, hugging the left wall as I approached the intersection that led to the art wing.

A familiar sensation washed over me—Jaxon was nearby. I slowed my pace, hearing voices from around the corner to my right. I stopped just before the intersection, my back against the wall.

"You're so naughty, Jaxon," came Isolde's distinctive giggle from around the corner.

"Only for you, baby," Jaxon replied, his words muffled.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. My boyfriend and Isolde? I peeked carefully around the corner and my world stopped. There they were—Jaxon had Isolde pressed against the wall, his body molded to hers, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Her perfectly manicured fingers were tangled in his hair while his hands rested possessively on her hips.

I jerked back, a sharp gasp escaping me. My mind went blank with shock, unable to process what I'd just witnessed. The boy who'd sworn he loved me last week was kissing someone else.

Directly across from me, on the other side of the intersection, stood a tall, muscular man. He leaned against the opposite wall, his intense gaze now fixed in my direction. Our eyes met briefly, and despite my state of shock, I couldn't help noticing how handsome he was.

"Oh, Jaxon, stop," Isolde's voice carried from around the corner. "You know we can't be seen together. What if your girlfriend finds out?"

"She's in class. She's never late. Don't worry about it."

The initial numbness gave way to a tide of emotions—betrayal, hurt, and then burning anger. The stranger across the hall furrowed his brow slightly as tears began streaming down my face. I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand, straightening my shoulders. I didn't want anyone seeing me like this.

I heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. Jaxon appeared first, then Isolde right behind him, her arm linked through his. They both froze at the sight of me standing there. Isolde's perfect blue eyes widened in mock surprise, while Jaxon's face drained of color.

"Elara?" Jaxon stared at me, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What are you—how long have you—"

Something snapped inside me. Before he could finish stammering his question, I strode across the intersection toward the stranger, who still hadn't moved from his position against the wall. I placed my hands on his broad shoulders, pulling him toward me. Though confusion filled his eyes, he didn't push me away. I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to see his expression, and then pressed my lips against his.

His lips were soft, tasting sweet, almost like cotton candy. For a heartbeat, they remained unresponsive, but then I felt the slightest pressure as he returned the kiss. His hands hung loosely at his sides while mine naturally found their way around his neck. My heart pounded violently in my chest. I wasn't sure why I was doing this—perhaps to hurt Jaxon, or maybe because I was tired of waiting for a relationship that might never measure up to the examples I'd seen growing up.

I pulled away, breathless, looking up into his blue eyes. As he stared back, his gaze deepened. I couldn't decipher what his look contained, but he hadn't pushed me away. My hands still rested on the back of his neck, and I realized I was pressing my body against his. When I stepped back, my face grew warm, my fingers touching my lips. That had been my first kiss. What have I done?

"What the hell, Elara?" Jaxon's voice cracked behind me, a mixture of anger and disbelief. I turned to see him staring at us, his face flushed red. Isolde stood beside him, her perfect mouth curved into a satisfied smirk.

"I need to get to class," the stranger said, his tone low, almost hoarse. It was the first thing he'd said to me. He straightened his shirt and stepped away from the wall, giving Jaxon a measured look before walking down the hallway toward the athletic wing.

"So this is why you're always 'too busy' to see me?" Jaxon hissed, gesturing toward the retreating stranger. "You've been sneaking around with some guy?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The absolute audacity. I opened my mouth to respond but found I had no words. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked in the opposite direction of both Jaxon and the mysterious stranger, heading straight for the main office. The only thought in my mind was avoiding my next class.

"Elara, wait!" Jaxon called after me, but Isolde's murmuring stopped him from following.

Even as I walked away, I could feel the stranger's gaze on the back of my head, watching me from the other end of the hallway.

"Unfortunately, there's only one class with an open seat. All other spots are filled," the receptionist at the main office said, looking at her computer.

"What class is it?" I asked, fighting back fresh tears.

"Shifting and Combat," she answered, looking up at me. "Would that work?"

Shifting? I hadn't acquired my wolf form yet, so that class might be challenging. However, I was skilled in combat.

"Anything but ceramics," I replied.

The receptionist frowned. "Are you okay, Elara? You're not being bullied in that class, are you?" she asked. "I could tell your father—"

"No!" I exclaimed immediately; the last thing I wanted was for my father to know what happened. He was the head of the Alpha Council and worked closely with Jaxon's father, another Alpha. "It's not like that," I assured her.

The receptionist looked unconvinced but nodded and returned to her typing. She quickly printed a new schedule and handed it to me.

"You're now in Professor Caius's Shifting and Combat 101. In the arena. You can head there now."

The arena was on the other side of the school; I had only been there a few times to practice fighting. But how would I get through a semester of shifting classes when I couldn't even shift?

I arrived at the arena, standing outside the doors; I could already hear the growls of werewolves practicing combat inside.

Entering, I scanned the area briefly. None of the wolves paid me any attention, all focused on each other. They looked massive and fierce, reminding me of the gamma training I'd watched as a child.

I walked further into the arena, letting the door close firmly behind me. The largest wolf stood at the far end of the arena, overlooking the battles unfolding before him. That must be the professor. He was a beautiful dark wolf, almost brown under the crystal lights shining on his thick fur. His eyes swept across the arena, one red and one blue, before landing on mine.

He seemed strangely familiar; it wasn't until he shifted back to human form that I realized who he was. It was him... the man I had kissed in the hallway minutes ago. The man I had given my first kiss to was my professor.