Nerissa stalked down the dim corridor, boots thudding against the marble floor. Her duffel bag bounced on her shoulder, and every step echoed her frustration.
"Lose my virginity to stay in school," she muttered. "What kind of Twilight-meets-Sex-Ed nonsense is that? I came here for an education, not a freakin' deflowering ritual."
She rounded a corner, still talking to herself. "And werewolves? Real ones? He said Alpha like it was a job title. Great. I've officially transferred from community hell to monster high."
A nervous laugh bubbled out. "At least they're hot. If I'm gonna die here, I might as well have good scenery."
Mooncrest's halls stretched endlessly, all dark stone and whispering portraits. Every torch she passed flared brighter, almost recognizing her presence. "Creepy Hogwarts vibes. Love that for me," she mumbled.
Her phone had no signal. Of course it didn't. "Figures."
Finally she reached a brass plaque that read 215. "Home sweet nightmare." She straightened her jacket, smoothed her curls, and tried to ignore the pulse of power in her fingertips. "Okay, Nerissa. New chapter. No more knocking people out. No more—" She stopped herself. "Actually, maybe some knocking out if necessary."
She took a deep breath.
"Whoa, the boys here are really hot," she muttered, recalling the ones she'd seen in the courtyard earlier. "Too bad my body's for my husband." A smirk tugged at her lips. "Future husband. Rich, alive, and definitely human."
She twisted the knob and stepped in—
—and froze.
Three unbelievably gorgeous guys stood inside her dorm room.
Not sitting. Not unpacking. Standing, like they'd been waiting for her.
The one closest to the window had hair so pale it looked spun from sunlight, his tie loosened, expression calm but assessing.
The second leaned against a bedpost, dark-haired, sharp-jawed, eyes like a storm cloud.
And the third—
Red hair. Golden eyes. Familiar smirk.
"Oh hell no," she breathed.
All three looked up.
"Uh… sorry! Wrong room!" she blurted, then slammed the door shut.
She stared at the number plate. 215.
Her room. Definitely her room.
"Great. Either I'm hallucinating or this school is running co-ed housing in hell." She rubbed her face. "Get it together, Nerissa."
One deep breath. Then another.
She turned the knob again.
The same three guys were there—still smirking.
The red-haired one tilted his head. "Hey, Miss Compeller."
Nerissa's stomach dropped. "Holy shit."
The red-haired boy's mouth curved in that slow, mocking way people used when they knew more than they should.
"Language," he drawled. "Or do all witches curse like sailors?"
Her spine went stiff. "You— you remember?"
"Remember?" He chuckled, pushing off the wall. "Hard to forget the girl who tried to cave my head in with a desk ornament."
The blond one looked mildly entertained. "You hit him?"
"She did," the redhead said with delight. "Right here." He tapped his temple where, disturbingly, not even a scratch remained.
Nerissa blinked. Did he heal? Humans don't heal that fast.
Wait— no, werewolves. Her stomach flipped. Crap.
She cleared her throat. "That was an accident."
"You threw it," the dark-haired one said flatly. His voice was smooth but edged, like someone used to being obeyed.
"Fine," she snapped, "a strategic accident. Who the hell are you people, and why are you in my room?"
The blond smiled politely, almost too politely. "You're in ours."
Nerissa brandished her key card. "Room two-one-five. My name's literally printed on the form."
The red-haired one leaned closer, golden eyes glinting. "Then congratulations, Miss Compeller. You've been upgraded."
"Upgraded?"
"Alpha dorm," the dark-haired one supplied. "Top rank. Only the strongest students get placed here."
She laughed once, sharp. "You mean only the horniest, judging by that stupid rule."
Three pairs of eyes flicked toward her at once. For a second she thought she'd gone too far, but the redhead just laughed — low and amused. "You've got guts, witch."
"Hybrid," she corrected automatically.
That earned her three startled looks. She bit her tongue too late.
"Hybrid?" the blond echoed, curiosity slipping through his calm tone.
"Forget I said that," she said quickly. "I'm tired, you're pretty, this is awkward, so if you'll just leave—"
"No can do," the redhead said, dropping onto the nearest bed like he owned the place. "Principal's orders. We're roommates."
"Room— what?" Her voice pitched. "As in sharing this space? With you?"
"Unless you plan on sleeping in the hall," the dark-haired one said.
Her jaw worked soundlessly. The room had three beds, but someone had dragged in a fourth; linens crisp, waiting for her. Of course.
"Fantastic," she muttered. "I'm stuck in the testosterone tower."
The redhead grinned. "You'll survive."
She shot him a glare. "You're the reason I might not."
He laughed again, deep and unbothered.
The blond stepped forward and offered a hand. "I'm Lucien. That's Kael"—he nodded at the dark-haired one—"and the idiot you assaulted is Riven."
"Assaulted is a strong word," she said, ignoring his hand. "Defended myself fits better."
Kael's eyes narrowed, almost predatory. "Defended yourself from what?"
"From creepy redheads who appear in dark rooms pretending to be exams," she shot back.
Lucien coughed to hide a smile. Riven didn't bother. "You're fun," he said. "Most girls here just squeal."
"Yeah, well, most girls here believe that losing their virginity makes them special. I believe in grades."
That silenced them. For a heartbeat the only sound was the faint hum of the wards in the walls.
Kael spoke first. "You shouldn't talk about the rule like that."
Nerissa arched a brow. "Why not? It's insane."
"It's sacred," Lucien corrected gently. "Or at least that's what the administration says."
"Yeah, and politicians say taxes are fair. Doesn't make it true." She tossed her bag onto the empty bed. "I'm not playing along."
Riven watched her closely now, smirk fading into something sharper. "You really don't know what this place is, do you?"
"I know it's a school with lousy policies and too many hot guys."
He leaned forward, elbows on knees. "Mooncrest isn't just a school. It's a contract ground."
"For what? Grooming disasters?"
"Bonds," Lucien said quietly. "Between alphas and claimants."
The word made her skin prickle. "Claimants?"
Kael's voice dropped lower. "The ones who survive become Luna."
Nerissa blinked. "You mean—"
"Exactly," Riven said, grin returning. "And guess what, Miss Compeller? The rule ensures the bond forms properly. Lose it, prove it."
She stared at him, disbelief melting into outrage. "That's the dumbest magic logic I've ever heard."
He only shrugged. "Works for us."
"Not for me," she snapped. "I refuse to—"
"—sleep with anyone," Riven finished for her, smirk tilting. "Yeah, we've heard."
Her cheeks warmed. "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Whole hallway heard. You talk to yourself, witch."
"Hybrid," she hissed again, and for a moment the air around her shimmered green, faint but visible.
Riven's eyes widened, then gleamed. "Oh, that's interesting."
Kael's tone hardened. "Careful, Riven."
"What? I'm just admiring."
Nerissa exhaled sharply, forcing her power down. "You boys done staring, or should I start charging for it?"
Lucien chuckled softly. "You'll fit right in."
"Doubt it." She turned away, tossing her jacket onto the bed and yanking open her suitcase. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to unpack before I accidentally set someone on fire."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Riven murmured.
She threw him a glare over her shoulder. "Want to test that theory?"
He raised both hands in mock surrender. "Not tonight."
By the time Nerissa finished unpacking, the room felt smaller—like the air itself had opinions about her.
The walls hummed faintly, reacting every time she touched something. Even the torch sconces flared brighter when she walked past.
Hybrid blood, she thought bitterly. Great. I glow like a walking neon sign.
Lucien sat at the desk, flipping through a thick book covered in runes. Kael leaned against the window, arms folded, staring out into the courtyard where a silver moon hung low.
Riven lounged across his bed, one hand behind his head, the other lazily twirling a dagger between his fingers.
"Do you always stare at people while they unpack," she asked, "or am I just tonight's entertainment?"
Riven grinned without looking up. "Both."
Lucien chuckled. "He's harmless."
"That dagger says otherwise."
Kael finally turned, his voice calm but firm. "You'll learn soon enough that Mooncrest watches everyone, not just you. We just happen to have front-row seats."
"Lovely," she muttered. "Next you'll tell me the walls gossip."
"The portraits do," Lucien said absently.
She blinked. "You're joking."
Riven's dagger froze mid-spin. "He's not."
A whisper like soft laughter slid down the corridor outside. Nerissa swallowed hard and busied herself folding shirts she didn't care about.
Then, quietly, Lucien said, "You shouldn't hide what you are."
Her hands stilled. "Excuse me?"
"I can sense it," he said softly. "Your magic—it's not just witchcraft. There's… something else."
Nerissa turned slowly, her glare sharp enough to cut glass. "You say one more word and I'll hex your eyebrows off."
"Lucien," Kael warned.
The blond raised his palms. "Just an observation."
"Observe silently."
For a moment, no one moved. Then Riven broke the tension with a low whistle. "You really are fun."
"Do you ever stop talking?" she snapped.
"Not when I'm enjoying myself."
She rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of her bed. "Enjoy the silence then."
Hours later, when the boys had gone quiet and only the soft ticking of the wards filled the room, Nerissa lay staring at the ceiling. The moonlight painted everything silver and strange.
She turned over, trying to ignore the unease curling in her chest. Something about the dorm—it knew her.
Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it… like invisible threads tugging at the edges of her mind, humming the same word again and again.
Hybrid.
She squeezed her eyes shut. "Not listening," she whispered.
The air shifted. Somewhere near her bed, the runes etched into the floor glowed faintly green before dimming.
A chill slid down her spine. "Okay," she murmured to the darkness, "creepy magic house, noted."
From across the room, Riven's voice floated softly through the dark. "You talking to yourself again, witch?"
"Hybrid," she hissed, half-asleep.
He chuckled. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."
She didn't answer, too busy forcing her heartbeat to slow. But even as her eyelids grew heavy, she could swear she heard the walls whisper—soft, ancient, and aware.
Welcome home.
The night dragged on, thick with silence and the scent of old magic.
Nerissa stirred awake to a faint creak. Her eyes flicked open, catching a shadow moving near the window.
Her instincts flared. She didn't move. Just watched.
Riven—because of course it was Riven—was half out the window, one leg over the ledge like he'd done it a thousand times before. His hair caught the moonlight, a flash of red-gold fire in the dark.
"What the hell are you doing?" she whispered sharply
He froze, then turned that devilish grin on her. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd get some air."
"From the outside?"
"Best kind of air."
She sat up, rubbing her face. "You're insane."
"Maybe," he said, swinging back inside with catlike grace. "Or maybe I just don't like cages."
"Yeah, well, try not to fall to your death. The principal will probably blame me."
He smirked. "Wouldn't be the worst way to go."
She threw her pillow at him. He caught it easily. "Go to bed, Romeo."
He leaned closer, his smirk turning softer. "You really don't scare easy, do you?"
"Should I?"
For a long moment, neither spoke. His eyes glowed faintly gold in the dark, wolfish—too wolfish.
Nerissa's breath hitched. Something primal in her stirred, a strange awareness of how close he was, how his scent—smoke and pine—seeped into her lungs.
Then he blinked and stepped back. The air between them shattered.
"Night, witch," he said lightly, crawling into bed.
She waited until his breathing steadied before whispering to herself, "What the actual fuck was that?"
She didn't know how long she drifted, but sometime past midnight, voices woke her again.
Kael's low, gravelly tone. Lucien's calm reply.
"…She's not supposed to be here," Kael murmured.
"I know," Lucien answered. "But if the headmaster accepted her, it means the Council approved."
"That doesn't make it right," Kael said. "She's not one of us. She's—"
"Powerful," Lucien interrupted softly. "And dangerous. Which is probably why they want her here."
Nerissa lay still, pulse racing.
"She's a liability," Kael continued. "You felt what she did in the hallway earlier. That wasn't human."
"Neither are we," Riven's voice chimed in, drowsy but amused. "Don't get all moral now, Captain Broody."
"This isn't a joke."
"Maybe not," Riven said. "But admit it—she's interesting."
"She's trouble," Kael replied. "And trouble gets people killed."
Their voices faded after that, leaving only silence and the faint hum of magic in the walls.
Nerissa stared into the dark. Not human, she thought. Not one of them.
But if she wasn't… what the hell was she?
Just as she began to drift again, a faint scratching came from under her bed.
Her eyes flew open.
Please just be a rat, she prayed.
The scratching stopped—then something whispered her name.
"Nerissa…"
She bolted upright, clutching her pillow like a weapon.
"Who's there?"
No answer. Only cold air curling around her ankles.
She swung her feet to the floor, muttering, "If this is another 'welcome to Mooncrest' prank, I swear—"
The whisper came again. Softer. Closer.
"Hybrid…"
Her blood ran cold
A rune glowed faintly beneath her bed, symbols she'd never seen before flaring in green light. She stumbled back, tripping over her bag.
Lucien sat up instantly. "What's happening?"
"I—I don't know!" she snapped.
Kael was already out of bed, eyes shifting to silver. "Get back!"
Riven jumped up too, his dagger flashing in the moonlight.
The rune pulsed once—then went dark.
Silence.
Everyone stood frozen.
Finally, Kael exhaled. "The wards reacted to her," he said quietly.
Lucien's gaze flicked to Nerissa. "They only do that when something ancient enters the grounds."
Riven smirked, though his eyes were wary. "Looks like our new roommate's full of surprises."
Nerissa swallowed hard, forcing a shaky laugh. "You think?"
But inside, her heart pounded. Because deep down—
She knew the wards hadn't been repelling her.
They'd been welcoming her.