The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 23

Lyra

"Welcome to Harbringer University," the man began, his voice deep and authoritative. "I trust you've all settled in and are ready to begin your studies." He didn't wait for an answer. Not that anyone would dare give him one. "My name is Killian Harbringer, the grandson of Luna Harbringer, the founder of this university."

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the room, and for a moment, they locked with mine. I froze, my pulse racing as his brow furrowed.

Did he know? Could he sense that I wasn't like the others?

Killian cleared his throat, breaking eye contact. "As you know, this institution prides itself on producing the next generation of leaders."

I tried to focus on his words, but my mind raced with the possibilities of what he might have seen in me. I fidgeted in my seat, my palms growing clammy.

"Each of you has a role to play in living up to and exceeding the high bar that we've worked so hard to achieve." Killian's gaze once again found mine, and I swore I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes right before he swept his gaze across all of us once more. "Having said that. You must go through trials of fire to find your rightful place." He let his words sink in for a second before continuing with words that made my heart seize, "It starts with the placement test. All of you, outside."

My stomach churned. I clenched the edges of my chair, fighting the urge to bolt from the room and run back to the dorm. I couldn't let him... anyone discover my secret. "Now," Killian added, his voice like thunder.

The five of us exchanged nervous glances, then pushed our chairs back in unison. I could hear the faint squeak of metal on tile, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. Outside, the crisp autumn air hit me like a slap in the face. I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my hands up and down the sleeves of my coat to combat my internal chill. "What do you think this placement test is about?" asked a lanky boy with curly hair and glasses.

I shrugged, trying to keep my voice steady. "No idea."

A petite girl with a pixie cut and a silver nose ring chimed in, her eyes wide with concern. "Do you think we'll have to shift?"

My stomach clenched at the word 'shift'. I swallowed hard, refusing to panic. At least until the time came.

Whitney studied her nails. She was so at ease, I envied her. "I hope not, I just had a manicure."

I let out a squeak in response.

The double doors opened, and Killian stepped outside. His steely gaze sized us up, and the slight curl of his lip found us lacking.

"You, who entered Harbringer well into the semester have a lot of catching up to do. You will need to prove yourself exceptional in order to stay."

I could feel his eyes on me, and I fought the urge to squirm under his scrutiny. I couldn't let him... anyone see my fear, or sense my weakness. "What kind of tests will we be doing?" the pixie-cut girl asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Killian's lips curved into a small, cryptic smile. "That," he said, "is for me to know and for you to find out." He started walking, waving for us to follow.

My heart raced as Killian strode across the campus. Whitney's complaints about her nails, her hair, and the weather, faded into the background. The longer we kept walking, the more my nerves frayed. I wiped my clammy palms on my jeans, trying to steady my breathing.

Whitney nudged me with her elbow. "You okay, Lyra? You look a little pale."

I forced a smile. "Just nervous, I guess."

As we approached a field, I noticed the blankets spread out on the grass, each one a good distance apart. A teaching assistant handed Killian a stack of papers. He flashed a flirty grin at the pixie-cut girl, who blushed and looked away. I was so focused on Killian's face, trying to read his expression, that I didn't notice the student assistant holding out a pencil to me. When he cleared his throat, I reached for it, but my hand shook, and I accidentally stabbed him with the point. "Ouch!" He yelped, yanking his hand back.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" I stammered, my face burning with embarrassment.

Whitney giggled. "Gosh, Lyra I know the professor is handsome and it's a full moon tonight, but rein it in."

I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Killian cleared his throat. "As you can see, we're doing things a little differently today. The placement test will be an outdoor, written exam." Thank the Moon Goddess!

A wave of relief washed over me. It was so strong, I nearly sagged to the ground.

Killian gestured to the blankets. "Please take a seat, one person per blanket. You'll have an hour to complete the exam."

I settled onto a blue blanket, my heart still racing as I glanced down at the exam paper. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the first question, expecting it to be a challenge. But as I read it, the answer came to me instantly, like a whisper in my mind.

My brow furrowed. I glanced around, half-expecting to see someone mouthing the answers to me. But everyone else was hunched over their own papers, their pencils scratching furiously.

I returned to the exam, moving on to the next question. And the next. Each time, the knowledge seemed to flow from somewhere deep within me, as if I'd always known it.

A mixture of relief and confusion washed over me. How was this possible? I'd never been the best student, but here I was, breezing through an exam that had others stumped.

I risked another glance at the other students. Whitney was chewing on her pencil, her brow furrowed in concentration. The pixie-cut girl had her head in her hands, looking utterly defeated. And the curly-haired boy was staring blankly at his paper, as if willing the answers to appear. The other guy looked like he was about to cry.

Compared to them, my own progress seemed almost supernatural...

What if someone noticed? What if they realized that I was doing too well, that my knowledge was too advanced?

I forced myself to focus on the exam, pushing my fears aside. I had to finish. I'd worry about everything else later.

As I scribbled down the final answer, a broad smile curled my lips. I'd done it. I'd completed the exam.

With Professor Harbringer gone, I handed the TA my paper. He looked startled that I had finished so fast. Unease replaced my sense of accomplishment.

This was just the beginning. The challenges ahead would only get harder. And what was most disturbing: How long could I keep up this charade before someone saw through me?