The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 103 – The Crowd Favorite

Lyra

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of my dorm room at dawn. My heart raced with nerves, knowing it was the last day of the Luna Trials. At a sniffle, I lifted my gaze from the shoes Whitney had gotten me at the start of the trial. "They will bring you luck, she said." Indeed, they had. I had come this far, and if the Moon Goddess wished, I would go on to become Ryan's Luna after today.

The sniffle had come from Sally, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Lyra, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice shaking. "You probably hate me and with good reason, but I had to stay away. It was the only way I could determine who had it out for you."

"Oh?" I said, disbelief coloring my tone in a wash of skepticism. "Was that your reason for leaving me high and dry when I needed you the most?"

"I was trying to get close to discovering who's behind all your attacks. I suspect dark magic," Sally explained, wringing her hands.

I nodded slowly. "I suspect it too. But why did you have to write that note?" My voice broke at the end, I hated that I sounded so weak, but Sally was my first friend and her throwing one of my biggest insecurities back in my face cut me deep. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted good friends, a big family.

Love. Yes, I wanted to love and be loved.

Sally gazed at me defiantly, despite the tears running down her cheeks. "To be honest, I wanted to hurt you like you had hurt me. You accusing me that I had a part in seeing you suffer...well, I left our room and moved back home. Then... with people thinking I was no longer your friend... I began to hear things."

"You mean like voices in your head?"

Sally gave me a watery smile. "No... more like a plot against you. And I have my suspicions on the people behind it."

"People," I squeaked, my voice trembling slightly as I spoke. I glanced around nervously, knowing that half the campus was divided, some for and some against me. But the idea that there were people who hated me so much that they wanted to see me fail the trials... it made my blood run cold.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. Well, it wasn't inconceivable, was it? I'd seen enough of the world's cruelty to know that people would kill over a measly crust of bread, let alone something as important as the fate of the Luna trials. I fidgeted with my hands, thoughts racing with possibilities of who could be plotting against me.

"Do you have an idea on who they are?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

Sally looked away, biting her lip nervously, then turned back to face me. "Yes, I do. But I don't have proof. If I did... I'd tell the Alpha and let him sort it out." She paused, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I also think they will do all they can to see you lose today. So please... be careful, Lyra. Watch your back."

I nodded, swallowing hard. Perfect. Just terrific. Not only did I have to fight it out at least four times today, but now I also had to keep my eyes peeled for any signs of danger, watching for dark magic that could come flying at me when I least expected it. I worried my bottom lip with my teeth, trying to steady my nerves.

Sally, seeing my unease, said, "You've come so far, Lyra. Don't let anyone get in your head and tell you that you can't achieve your dreams. Once I have proof, I'll expose them... today, if everything goes according to plan."

Om a sigh, I let out all the tension Sally words brought to the surface. If someone came at me, I would do my best to fight them off, there was nothing else I could do.

"Thanks for the warning, Sally," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll do my best to stay alert and watch out for anything suspicious."

Sally gave me a sympathetic look. "I know it's a lot to deal with, but I believe in you, Lyra. You're strong and brave. Just trust your instincts and don't let your guard down."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. "I won't. I'll give it everything I've got and show them what I'm made of."

I hugged Sally briefly, feeling some of the tension between us melt away as we embraced. She gave me an encouraging smile before heading off in the opposite direction down the hall, promising to try and catch as much of the day's events as she could.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the dorm and was immediately taken aback by the sight that greeted me. Students lined the path, their hands clapping and voices cheering as they saw me emerge. I felt a rush of emotions - surprise, gratitude, and a hint of nervousness at being the center of attention.

Seraphina, the she-wolf I had bested at Lycaneer, began to shout, "Wolfless, wolfless, wolfless!" Her voice rang out clear and strong. To my amazement, others quickly took up the chant, their voices joining together in a crescendo of support. As I walked past them, I felt hands patting me on the back, accompanied by warm smiles and nods of approval.

I realized then that their chant wasn't meant to be a jeer or an insult, designed to tear down my confidence. No, it was quite the opposite. They were acknowledging and celebrating my uniqueness, my ability to succeed and thrive despite being different. Their chant was a way of showing that even someone without a wolf could be worthy of admiration, of winning their support, and even of being their Luna.

An Underdog banner that I would proudly wear.

As I made my way through the crowd, I felt a swell of emotion rising within me. Their acceptance and belief in me filled my heart with a warmth I had never known before. It was a moment I knew I would cherish forever - the moment when I truly felt like I belonged, like I had found my place in this world.