ck to the dorm

pread the word. Students stepped aside when she pass

ched her room, her

k. "Oh thank god. I heard w

ine

tood. "Come on. Sit.

. About Ryder's harsh methods. About Darius showing up. A

, Nova was quiet

lot for

me abo

se girls? That's going to follow you. Word travels fast here. By dinn

that

hable. For others, it'll make you a target. They'll see you as a

h twisted. "S

rumors start flying." Nova sat cross-legged on her bed. "Which brings me to dorm rules. And pac

liste

rclassmen claim the best rooms near the bathrooms and windows. First years get stuck at th

ppens if

you off. Others will challenge you. And challenges here aren't lik

mark. "How do y

e memorize everything. Said it was the difference be

ter sound

ears without a single challenge. That's rare

u? Have you be

s threats. But you?" Nova pointed at Luna's wrist. "You're different. Eclipse bl

oking forw

If you win, people will leave you alone.

not comf

sn't just where we eat. It's where social order gets established. Alphas sit at the front near the faculty table. Bet

you ea

commendation. Once you're officially ranked, you move to the appropria

w everyone had seemed to know exactly where t

arius? Where

rth year Alpha. Top of the social hierarchy. He sits wherever he wan

g. Said my reputation was nothin

se bloodline produces Alphas. If you rank up, you'll challenge his position

ng to compete

, you're a threat to him. And Dar

he door inte

ed up and

erfect posture. Her mark was visible on her

Luna E

ea

year. We met bri

ho'd called Eclipse wolves

do you

e. Free of charge. Cons

liste

without invitation. Nova

hout control is useless. You scared some first years today. Your mark

n't me

unstable. Dangerous. That makes you a target for students looking to pro

m I suppos

ate discipline. Otherwise, someone's going to challenge you. And if you acc

d. "Thanks for the

been. Your grandmother survived because she was exceptional. Disciplined. Controlled. If

wo

olf. Your instinct. Right now, it's running wild because you haven't learned to c

ng something. I don't know what. But he's been talking to his fri

fore Luna c

it. "Well. That was terrifying

ius is planni

scheme. They plot. They find ways to eliminate

etition. I ju

efault." Nova sat back down. "We need to figure

ow

ks to. Where he goes. What he does. Eventually,

s exhausting. I've been here one

lso got friends. Me. Ryder, kind of. He's harsh but he's on your side. An

gue

es. Where to study. Which professors to avoid. How to nav

rang, Luna's head was sp

ther full day. More training. Classes start t

sleep clothes an

om wen

couldn'

sh training. Darius's threats. The first-years

er and stared

gh the glass. The forest

ce

hing

up. Slowl

Too far away to see clearly. But definit

r window sp

But something about the way it stoo

mark

s head. Like it sens

ed backward i

isapp

he empty space w

art po

d been wat

didn't wan

n but kept her e

t come for

reams were full of sha