Yvaine sat on the bed with blanket wrapped around her.
Zully stood by the mirror, in a tiny sundress that barely reached her thighs. Her curls were down, tangled and wild in a pretty way. She adjusted her lip gloss and turned.
"You coming or what?" she asked.
Yvaine didn't move.
Zully sighed. "Come on. It's not such a bad thing, you know. Not shifting yet."
"Easy for you to say," Yvaine muttered from under the blanket. "You're not a werewolf from a family like mine."
Zully rolled her eyes and came closer. "Yvie…"
Yvaine didn't answer.
Zully sat on the edge of the bed, the blanket between them. "Okay, listen. My cousin shifted on his twentieth birthday. Twenty."
That was supposed to help?
It didn't.
Yvaine peeked out. "Cousin? Girl, you're a witch."
Zully grinned. "Yeah, but my aunt married a Stormfur wolf. Wedding was a mess. Like literal storm and lightning."
Yvaine almost smiled—but then the door opened.
Nyx walked in like she owned the room.
White shirt. Sleeves folded. Grey pants. Waistcoat. Same cold face. Same pale skin.
Zully perked up. "Thank the goddess. Maybe you can talk to her. She's being all dramatic."
"She's not going," Nyx asked flatly, closing the door behind her.
"Nope," Zully said. "She's sulking."
"Yeah, you should be bummed," Nyx said.
Zully gasped. "Nyx!"
Nyx raised a brow. "What? She should. But it's not the end of the world. People shift late here too. Remember Zina?"
Zully blinked. "Oh. Yeah. Zina didn't shift till she was eighteen and a half."
Yvaine blinked too. That was still older than her, but not by much.
"My mom shifted late too," she said quietly. "Didn't stop people from calling her broken."
Nyx walked over and sat on Zully's dresser, crossing her legs. "The other students mess with you again?"
Yvaine looked down. "No. Not yet."
Nyx lifted her hand, her claws sliding out slow.
Black. Clean. Sharp.
"They wouldn't dare."
Yvaine watched her.
Then sighed.
And stood.
Zully clapped with excitement. "Yes!"
Yvaine picked up a sweatshirt and jean shorts.
Nyx stared. "Really? You're wearing that?"
Yvaine said casually. "Comfort over chaos."
"Girl, you're one big weirdo."
"Says the girl who dresses like a some dude in accounting," Yvaine shot back.
Zully laughed so hard she nearly choked on her perfume mist.
Nyx didn't even blink.
The three of them walked out together.
The Moonlight Hall was already packed when they arrived.
Magic lights floated near the ceiling. The music was loud, Students danced, laughed, and glitter spilled from the corners like someone had gone crazy with glamor spells.
Zully's eyes lit up as they entered.
"Okay. I'm gonna look for some hot boys to dance with." She said as she adjusted her dress and shook her curls
Yvaine blinked. "Wait, you're just leaving?"
Zully grinned. "You'll be fine."
Nyx crossed her arms. "I'm just going to hang out at the back. I hate crowds."
"Seriously?" Yvaine asked.
Nyx shrugged. "Try not to die."
And just like that, both were gone.
Yvaine sighed.
Great. Left alone.
She stood awkwardly near the drink table, arms crossed. She wasn't even sure why she came. Everyone else looked like they belonged. Like they knew what they were doing. Like they weren't waiting for a badge that came without an identity.
She turned—and froze.
Lucien.
He was walking toward her, slow and smooth, that stupid smug look on his face.
Oh no.
Her breath caught. She took a step back.
Not again. Not here.
He got closer, eyes locked on hers. That cold silver gaze that made her stomach twist.
She felt the pressure starting. Her chest suddenly felt heavy.
But then—
"Yvaine!"
She blinked and turned.
Ed.
He stood just a few feet away, smiling. She remembered him.
Lucien paused.
"Come on," Ed said, holding out his hand.
Yvaine didn't even think. She took it and walked away from Lucien without a second glance.
But she could feel it.
His eyes.
Still watching her.
She followed Ed to a quieter corner near the spell-lit wall.
"You okay?" he asked, gently.
She nodded. "Thanks. I think Lucien wants to kill me."
Ed laughed. "He does that to everyone. Silverwolves are just... a lot."
Yvaine let out a small breath. She actually felt better just standing there.
Ed looked at her, his voice softer. "I heard what happened today."
Her smile was tight. "Yeah. I haven't shifted."
"There might be a way to help with that " he said.
Yvaine's eyes lit up. "Like a spell?"
He nodded slowly. "Something close. I'll have to read up on it. But there are old rituals... ways to awaken hidden powers."
"Really?" she said, her voice almost hopeful.
"Really."
"Thank you. That's... So kind of you."
He laughed. "Being sad doesn't look good on you."
She smiled again. A real one this time.
"Want to dance?" he asked.
Yvaine hesitated... but then nodded.
"Yeah. I do."
He led her to the edge of the dancefloor.
Nothing wild. Just a slow, simple rhythm.
It was nice.
Warm.
Safe.
And for the first time since her badge didn't appear... she felt like she wasn't falling apart.
They swayed a while in silence.
Ed's hand was warm on her waist. His other hand held hers gently. The music had slowed down. Soft and dreamy.
Yvaine didn't hate it.
He wasn't saying much. Just… looking at her like she wasn't some mess of a girl with a blank badge and a growing fear in her chest.
"You're not like the others," he said after a while.
She raised a brow. "are you stating a fact or complimenting me?"
Ed smiled. "Compliment. Definitely."
Yvaine looked away, feeling her face heat up.
This was… getting too close.
Too soft.
Too… much.
She stopped and moved back. "I..uh..need to use the bathroom."
"Oh," Ed said, blinking. "Alright. I'll wait here."
She gave him a small smile and hurried off.
Too fast, probably.
Her heart was beating weird.
As she turned a corner near the drink table, she bumped into someone. Hard.
Something cold and sticky spilled down the front of someone's dress.
Yvaine froze.
"Oh gods—I'm so sorry!"
The girl stepped back.
Red dress. Red nails. Fiery red hair. And boy, was she scowling hard.
Yvaine knew the look.
Ember Wolf.
Great.
"Are you blind? Look at this mess!"
"I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."
The Ember Wolf didn't care.
Her claws came out, glowing faintly with red smoke.
People nearby were starting to look.
Yvaine took a step back.
Great. Just great.
Then—
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Solera."
The voice was calm. Cool. Dangerous.
Nyx.
She walked over, hands in her pockets. Her expression unreadable.
Solera glanced her way. "The wolfless girl spilled drink on me."
Yvaine spoke again, trying not to sound too shaky. "I said sorry."
Nyx tuts, running her hand through her hair.
"Sorry about that" she said
"Wanna grab another drink with me instead?" she adds with a smirk.
Was she flirting with the Ember wolf?
Solera's claws retracted slowly. Her lips curved up. "Sure."
What in the actual world?
Nyx put an arm around Solera's waist and led her away, just like that.
As they walked away, Nyx looked back and winked at Yvaine.
Yvaine just stood there, mouth slightly open.
Did that just happen?
Her head was spinning.
Again.
____
Yvaine leaned over, splashing water on her face.
Her chest was still tight from everything. From Ed. From Solera.
She splashed her face. Took a breath.
Then slowly lifted her head to the mirror.
And froze.
There he was.
Standing behind her.
Arms crossed.
Silent.
He'd been standing there the whole time.
Lucien.
"Hello, Theolux,"