The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 20

I had just taken out a pen and a notebook when a man, introduced as Professor Orato, came into the room. He wore a heavy robe of silver, and his eyes, though clouded with age, held a spark of mischief as he spoke. "Now, young wolves," he began, his voice echoing off the stone walls, "You stand on the hallowed grounds of Harbringer University, where modern academics meets ancient tradition.

I inhaled the faint musty scent of old books and worn carpet, my eyes darting between the professor and my notes, not wanting to miss a single word. I felt his gaze land on me while I furiously scribbled, and when I looked up, he continued. "The name Harbringer," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Is similar to 'Harbinger', correct?" Two of the students nodded. "Our revered Luna's last name does not signify doom, but rather, the promise of knowledge and wisdom."

A few chuckles echoed around the room. Professor Orato beamed at his quip for a moment then continued.

"In our not-too-distant past, there was another university, Howlcrest, currently renamed Emberwood. When it was first established in ancient times it was a place that created a divide between werewolves and their magical brethren. But that has... mostly changed. That is not the goal of Harbringer, no. The main goal of Harbringer is to strive for unity. And although only wolves currently attend, our staff ranges from Apparitions to Zombies."

At the mention of Zombies, an older student rushed up to him, whispering in his ear. Professor Orato's milky eyes widened, and he let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, forgive me," he drawled, "It seems I've misspoken. The Zombie retired in the spring, choosing to perfect his recipe for formaldehyde stew."

Another round of laughter filled the room, and he waited for it to die down before continuing. "In any case, young wolves, your minds will be tested as well as your strength. Harbringer is not just a university. It is a crucible, a place where you will be forged into-

The door slammed open, interrupting the professor's speech. I turned to see a girl, her cheeks flushed and her wavy brown hair slightly mussed, standing in the doorway.

"I'm so sorry," she gushed, her voice carrying through the room. "I got turned around and ended up in the wrong building. Please forgive me for being late."

The professor waved his hand dismissively. "No matter, my dear. Find a seat and join us."

The girl smiled gratefully and scanned the room. Her eyes landed on the empty seat beside me, and she hurried over.

"Hi," she whispered as she sat down. "I'm Whitney. I hope you don't mind me sitting here."

"Not at all," I replied, returning her smile. "I'm Lyra."

As the professor continued his speech, Whitney leaned closer to me. "So, what pack are you from?"

Whitney's question caught me off guard. I hesitated, my pen hovering over the notebook as I tried to think of a response. The truth was, I didn't belong to any pack anymore. Wolfsong had cast me out.

But I couldn't tell her that. I couldn't bear the thought of the pity or the judgment that would follow. So, I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"Moonshadow," I said, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. "I'm from the Moonshadow pack."

It wasn't a complete lie. Ryan had taken me in, even if I wasn't officially part of his pack. And until he said otherwise, I figured it was safe to claim it as my own.

Whitney nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. "I've heard good things about Moonshadow," she said. "In fact, I am soon to be mated with the Beta. Good thing they are one of the strongest packs around. Keeps us safe, right?"

I made a noncommittal noise, not wanting to agree or disagree. The truth was, I didn't know much about Moonshadow beyond what little I'd learned from my brief time with Ryan.

As the Professor droned on, I found my thoughts drifting back to Ryan. One moment he was cold and distant, the next he was pulling me close and making me feel things I'd never felt before.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I couldn't afford to get distracted, not when I was just starting out at Harbringer. I needed to focus on my studies, on proving myself worthy of being here.

But even as I tried to concentrate on the Professor's words, I had to wonder what Ryan would think if he knew I was claiming Moonshadow as my own. Would he be angry? May be would like it. Maybe he would-

Professor Orato cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. "And so, young wolves," he said, his voice filled with dignity and unmistakable pride, "I wish you an academically prosperous time here at Harbringer. May your minds be sharpened, your skills honed, and your spirits strengthened. Go forth and make your packs proud."

With that, he bowed his head and stepped down from the podium, and I found myself clapping along with the rest of the students.

As the noise died down and everyone began to gather their things, Whitney turned to me with a bright smile. "Hey, Lyra," she said, "do you want to grab lunch together? I don't really know anyone here yet, and it would be nice to have a friendly face to eat with."

I hesitated for a moment, torn between my desire to make friends and my fear of getting too close to anyone. But the hopeful look on Whitney's face, was hard to resist.

"Sure," I said, returning her smile. "That sounds great."

We made our way out of the lecture hall, chatting idly about our first impressions of Harbringer. As we stepped through the doorway, I caught sight of a familiar figure waiting outside.

It was Sally, her white-blond gleaming in the sunlight. But as soon as she saw Whitney, her face paled and her eyes widened.

"Sally?" I said, surprised to see her looking so shaken. "Are you okay?"

Sally swallowed hard, her gaze darting between me and Whitney. "I'm fine," she said, her voice strained. "I just... I didn't expect to see you here, Whitney."

Whitney's brow furrowed in confusion. "Do I know you?" she asked.

Sally shook her head quickly. "No, no," she said. "I just... I've heard about you. You're engaged to my... our Beta, Liam."

At the mention of Liam's name, Whitney's expression shifted. Her smile became wider and her eyes gleamed.

A little possessively, I thought.