Chapter 5

Blue Crystal Ladies School of Science and Tradition.

That was where Axel enrolled me. My classes begun the Monday after the previous court session.

As Luna, I must know the history, traditions, and laws of Blue Crystal Pack.

I stood before the class on my first day.

"My name is Ni—"

The classroom door swung open.

"I'm terribly sorry I'm late."

Every head turned as Princess Hazel walked in. She wore a fitted royal-blue dress paired with diamond earrings that caught the light with every step.

Flashing an almost apologetic smile, she said. "As future Luna, my schedule has been rather demanding."

"It's alright, Princess," several girls replied almost at once. They rushed toward her.

"You still made time to come."

Hazel accepted every compliment with a graceful smile.

With Hazel having the peak of their attention, I returned to my seat.

A few minutes later, Hazel took the empty seat beside me.

A petite woman with an undeniably beautiful face and a compelling presence spoke. She was the class instructor.

"Down to today's business."

The classroom fell silent.

"We'll have a knowledge contest." Excited whispers spread across the room.

"You'll compete in pairs."

Then she looked at me.

"Miss Nina, today is your first lesson. You don't have to participate. Just observe."

I nodded in understanding.

Beside me, Hazel wore a mischievous smile.

"What a pity."

She looked at me.

"I was hoping to put you in your place."

A few girls laughed, I ignored them.

"Choose your partners," the instructor said.

Other students immediately paired up. Hazel remained standing as she asked.

"Who wants to partner with me?" No one answered.

Her proud laughter filled the air.

"I'm not that difficult to beat."

"That's right, I'll be your opponent."

My voice cut through the room. Everyone turned toward me.

"You?" She looked me over.

"I hope confidence softens the embarrassment you're about to suffer."

Clearing her throat, the instructor adjusted her glasses.

"Miss Nina, you haven't attended any previous classes. It's best you sit this one out."

"I'd still like to participate."

She studied me for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well."

She walked to the front. "First to get ten points wins."

The contest began.

Hazel answered the first question correctly, so did I. The second, the third, neither of us missed.

We had reached nine points each.

The instructor smiled.

"Final question."

The room held its breath.

"Under Blue Crystal law, what determines whether a Luna's authority is recognized as absolute, or merely advisory to the Alpha's council?”

Hazel answered immediately.

"A Luna's authority is absolute the moment she completes the mating bond with her Alpha."

The instructor looked at me.

I nodded slightly and responded.

"That's only half the answer."

"The Werewolf Codex recognizes two conditions, not one. The mating bond grants her standing, but her authority remains merely advisory until she is formally recognized by the Judiciary through an official Luna Ceremony.

Without that recognition, her word carries no binding weight in pack law, bond or no bond.”

The room froze. The instructor closed her book.

"Excellent. That is the correct answer.”

She smiled, looking around the classroom.

"The winner..."

Her gaze settled on me.

"...is Miss Nina."

As I predicted, there was no applause.

Hazel's smile was gone, she didn't say a word for the rest of the lesson. She sat with her jaw clenched, her eyes fixed on the front.

A girl beside her leaned in and whispered something. Hazel didn't answer. Her hands stayed flat on the desk, knuckles pale, as though she were holding herself in place by force.

The instructor dismissed the class, gathered her books and left.

The room erupted into conversation. Some students packed their bags. Others waited outside for their chauffeurs.

No one went near Hazel. She looked ready to explode.

I ignored her. My eyes stayed on the textbook before me. Then I heard footsteps stop beside my desk.

"Feeling proud of yourself?"

I turned another page of the textbook. She wasn't worth my attention.

Hazel fisted my hair and slammed my forehead into the open textbook. A sharp pain ripped through my scalp.

"No one humiliates me."

My head hit the desk again.

"You filthy red rogue."

Someone gasped. A chair scraped back.

"Hazel, stop" a girl half-spoke, then froze when Hazel's eyes cut toward her.

No one else moved.

She struck my forehead on the desk again. I felt severe pain as I saw memory flashes.

I was back in the rogue camp. A loaf of bread slipped from my hands. Someone kicked it away.

"Fight for it."

Then laughter followed.

I didn't fight. I couldn't.

Then another memory of another beating.

The voices, those words.

"Wolfless."

"Useless."

My nails dug into my palms. Why was I always the one?

Anger burned inside my chest. It spread inside me like heat, tightening my muscles.

My bones vibrated as the heat became fire. It raced through my veins until my entire body trembled beneath it.

I lifted my head. Golden light reflected across the desk from my eyes.

Hazel froze, her grip loosened. She stepped back.

But it was too late. My fist moved before I could think.

BOOM!!

She flew across the classroom. Desks shattered beneath her. Silence crashed over the room.

I stared at my hand. But the fire inside me grew hotter. My breathing was ragged.

My bones shifted, then cracked. Not with pain. With power.

My fingers stretched as claws tore through my nails. Golden-red fur burst across my skin.

Someone screamed.

"She's shifting!"

The classroom exploded into panic.

My body kept growing. It felt powerful. My spine arched. I felt my limbs thicken.

Strength flooded every part of me until I no longer recognized my own body.

The classroom shrank around me, their gasps echoed from every corner.

I lowered my head and caught my reflection in the shattered glass of a cabinet.

A giant wolf stared back at me.

My coat shimmered like polished gold, streaked with deep crimson. Golden-brown eyes blazed beneath heavy brows, bright enough to light the room.

I had a wolf. I finally… had a wolf.

Hazel stumbled backward. Fear flashed across her face, quickly swallowed by something uglier.

She would not be humiliated twice in one afternoon, not by a rogue,in front of witnesses.

Rage won, as gray fur burst through her skin. Within seconds, her wolf stood before me, emerald-green markings circling her neck like a crown.

She bared her teeth and growled.

Without warning, she lunged, straight for my throat. I sidestepped. Her jaws snapped shut on empty air.

She spun and came again, faster this time, raking her claws across my shoulder.

Pain flared through me, before the fire inside me burned it away.

I didn't move until she was close enough for me to feel her breath.

Then… SWOOOSH!

My paw swept through the air.

CRAAASH!

Her body shot across the classroom smashing through rows of desks before crashing into the giant marker board.

The frame shattered. The wall behind it collapsed with a deafening boom.

Students screamed and rushed toward the exits, tripping over chairs in their desperation to escape.

But my eyes stayed on Hazel, I wasn't done with her.

Then...

"Nina."

I heard my name.

It was a familiar voice. My ears twitched. I turned toward the doorway.

Axel stood there, one hand raised, palm open, like he was approaching something wild.

"Nina." He said it again, softer this time.

"Look at me."

I held his gaze. Slowly, the storm raging inside me began to quiet, not because it vanished, but because I let it.

A soft whimper pulled my attention back. Hazel's wolf shrank away. Seconds later, she lay unconscious on the shattered floor in her human form.

I lowered my head and looked at myself.

The blazing strength filling my body began to fade.

My fur disappeared. My claws withdrew.

The massive wolf vanished until I stood there as myself again, completely naked.

Axel rushed toward me. He used his massive jacket to cover me, shielding me from the countless eyes fixed on me.

His arms wrapped around me.

"It's alright," he whispered.

A female staff member hurried inside carrying folded clothes. She quickly covered Hazel and handed me some clothes.

After changing, I walked out beside Axel.

Students lined both sides, staring as we passed.

He opened the passenger door for me, I climbed in.

He walked around the car, slid into the driver's seat, then turned to me.

Neither of us said anything.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I stared at them, almost expecting claws to tear through again.

"Axel." My voice came out thin.

"I put her through a wall."

He reached over and closed his hands around mine, steadying them.

Then a smile broke across his face.

"You did it.”

He kissed my forehead. Then brushed a gentle kiss against my lips.

"You finally found your wolf."

A laugh escaped me. So did the tears I hadn't realized I'd been holding back.

"I... I shifted." I stared at my trembling hands. "I actually shifted."

The strength. The fire. It had all been real. A smile spread across my face.

For the first time in my life.

I felt…complete.

Axel started the car.

"How was your day?" he asked teasingly.

I laughed. "It's never been this good."

I told him everything. From walking into the classroom to the moment my wolf awakened.

Then my smile faltered.

I spoke with realization, "I attacked a Princess in front of half the school. Doesn't that make things worse? For the case?"

He shook his head, steady and certain.

"She attacked you first. In front of a full classroom, with no provocation."

His jaw tightened. "There's no law that protects her from that. You defended yourself."

He said it without a change in his expression.

A soft vibration came from the device in his pocket, followed by the glow of its screen. He pulled it out and glanced at the name flashing across it before bringing it to his ear.

Axel said nothing as the voice on the other end spoke. His eyes remained fixed on the road, his fingers tightening around the phone.

Not long, the screen went dark. He lowered the phone and looked at me.

Axel's eyes shone brighter than they had moments ago.

"Our lawyer just found a witness."

My expression turned serious.

"He says the witness has evidence that could expose Hazel... and help us win the case.”