Nerissa had barely made it out of her last class alive. Not literally, but it sure felt that way.
Math with a werewolf teacher who could smell fear? Torture. English with a vampire teaching "the art of persuasive speech"? Literal nightmare fuel. By the time the final bell rang, she was halfway to freedom, mentally drafting a breakup letter to Mooncrest Academy.
Dear Hell School, it's not me, it's definitely you.
She was almost out the door when someone caught her arm.
"Whoa, easy there, newbie."
It was Vanessa, her new friend —long white-blonde hair that shimmered faintly even under fluorescent light, freckles dusted across her nose, and eyes the color of sunlight through leaves. She was beautiful in that not entirely human way.
Nerissa blinked. "Anything wrong?"
"Not really, but before you sprint into the woods, you might wanna check your schedule."
"My what?"
"Your schedule." Vanessa raised a brow. "Didn't you get the message?"
"Message?" Nerissa held up her phone, showing the cursed "No Service" sign. "Yeah, unless Mooncrest's IT department runs on witchcraft—which I'm starting to think it does—no."
Vanessa grinned. "Close enough. It's magically synced. Check your notifications."
"Notifications? There's literally—" Nerissa froze. Because somehow, her screen had changed. Her background was gone, replaced by the Mooncrest Academy crest—a crescent moon wrapped around a wolf's head—and beneath it, glowing faintly, was a line of text.
EVENING TRAINING — FACTION GROUNDS. ATTENDANCE MANDATORY
"...I didn't download that," she muttered.
"You don't have to. The school does it for you," Vanessa said casually, already slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Come on. You don't wanna be late."
"Late to what?" Nerissa groaned, following reluctantly. "I already suffered through algebra and vampire Shakespeare. What more could they possibly want from me?"
Vanessa's grin turned mysterious. "You'll see."
The building they entered wasn't like the others.
Where most of Mooncrest felt like a haunted cathedral, this one was open, airy—like a courtyard wrapped in glass and moonlight. The ground was divided into large circles etched with glowing runes, each marked with different symbols: claw, fang, wing, flame. Students filled them—werewolves, fae, and a few whose origins Nerissa didn't even want to guess.
The air thrummed with power. Spells sparked. Claws gleamed. Someone floated six feet off the ground while another set the air around them on fire.
"Holy shit," Nerissa whispered. "This is… this is PE on steroids."
Vanessa laughed softly. "Training. Every student has to learn to control or strengthen their abilities, depending on their species."
"So that guy breathing fire isn't expelled yet?"
"He's doing well," Vanessa said, dead serious.
Nerissa blinked. "Of course he is."
Her gaze darted around the groups. "So, which faction are we in?"
Vanessa looked sheepish. "Well… I'm with the Fae faction. Obviously."
"Obviously," Nerissa echoed, trying not to sound jealous. Vanessa looked like she'd stepped out of an enchanted perfume commercial, wings faintly visible when the light hit just right.
"What about me?" Nerissa asked.
Vanessa hesitated. "Didn't your acceptance letter say?"
"I didn't exactly… read it."
"You didn't—oh, gods." Vanessa sighed, rubbing her temples. "Okay, usually the Academy sorts you by lineage. Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, and Humans. But there are… exceptions."
"Let me guess," Nerissa said dryly. "I'm one of those exceptions."
"Probably. Just ask Professor Alden."
Vanessa waved toward a tall man standing by the center ring, his sharp features shadowed by moonlight. He was definitely not human—his eyes glowed faint gold, and his stance screamed predator.
"Great," Nerissa muttered. "Another wolf."
They approached.
Professor Alden's gaze flicked to her immediately. "You must be the transfer."
"Yep. The one and only," Nerissa said, forcing a smile. "Uh, small issue. I don't think I got placed in a faction?"
The professor's nostrils flared slightly, and his voice dropped. "Impossible. Everyone has one."
"Well, unless my invitation got eaten by a magical mailman, I didn't."
For a long, uncomfortable moment, he just stared at her. Then, with a frown that looked more like suspicion than confusion, he said, "If you have no faction, you cannot train. Step aside."
"What—wait, that's it?" she said.
"Those without a place have no standing at Mooncrest." He turned away like she was invisible.
Vanessa shot her a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, I'll catch up with you later, okay?" Then she hurried off toward a glowing green circle where other fae gathered, leaving Nerissa standing awkwardly at the edge of the courtyard.
"Cool. Love being rejected by magical hierarchy," she muttered.
Everyone else was busy sparring, casting, transforming. The energy in the air buzzed against her skin, almost calling to her. She took a step back—and accidentally bumped into someone.
"Watch it," a low voice said.
Nerissa turned and froze.
Riven.
Red hair. Golden eyes. That smirk.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," she said.
Kael and Lucien weren't far behind, both standing in the Alpha faction's circle, watching her with unreadable expressions.
"You lost, witch?" Riven asked.
"Not a witch," she lied automatically.
Kael crossed his arms. "Then what are you doing in the Alpha ring?"
She blinked, glancing down. The glowing symbol beneath her boots was a silver wolf's head.
"Crap," she muttered. "I was just—uh—looking for the bathroom?"
Lucien raised an elegant brow. "The bathroom that's full of werewolves training to break bones?"
"Hey, maybe I like chaos," she shot back.
Riven chuckled, low and lazy. "Guess you found the right place, then."
Nerissa rolled her eyes. "Oh, trust me, this wasn't on purpose. I just got kicked out of class for being factionless."
"Fascinating," Lucien said dryly.
Kael looked less amused. "You shouldn't be here."
"Yeah, I get that a lot."
"Then leave," he said simply.
Something in his tone—commanding, almost alpha-like—made her spine stiffen. She met his gaze and smiled sweetly. "Make me."
The air crackled between them. Lucien exhaled like a long-suffering saint, and Riven grinned wider.
"She's got bite," Riven said. "I like her."
Kael ignored him. "You're not safe here."
"Neither are you if you keep talking like that," she shot back.
That earned a low laugh from Riven. "Told you, Captain Broody—she's fun."
Before Kael could reply, a horn echoed through the courtyard, signaling the start of training. The professor barked orders, groups separating by species. Nerissa hesitated—then decided screw it. She wasn't going to stand in a corner like some lost freshman.
If Mooncrest wanted to pretend she didn't belong, she'd just make herself impossible to ignore.
She squared her shoulders, stepped into the circle beside Riven, and muttered, "Guess I'm a wolf for tonight."
Riven's grin turned dangerous. "Welcome to the pack, Miss Compeller."
It was chaos. Beautiful, terrifying chaos.
Wolves half-shifted, bones cracking, muscles stretching. Others sparred in human form, their movements too fast for her eyes to track. Nerissa stayed near the edge, mimicking stretches she didn't understand while silently praying not to die.
Then Riven tossed her a padded staff. "You're with me."
"Oh no," she said immediately.
"Oh yes," he countered, twirling his own weapon like a show-off. "Let's see if you can keep up."
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"Guilty."
They circled each other, the sounds of combat ringing around them. Riven moved like liquid flame—graceful, precise, dangerous. Nerissa swung wildly, mostly trying not to hit herself.
He ducked, blocked, spun behind her in one smooth move. "Too slow."
"Too smug," she shot back, spinning—accidentally clipping his side.
He grunted, more surprised than hurt. "Okay, that one's fair."
She grinned, exhilarated despite herself. "Guess I'm not completely hopeless."
"Guess not."
Their eyes met briefly. That same spark from the night before flickered between them, unspoken and electric.
Then Kael's voice cut through the noise. "Riven, focus!
He sighed, stepping back. "Saved by Captain Broody."
"Shut up," Nerissa muttered, trying to hide her blush.
By the end of the session, her arms were jelly, her hair was a mess, and her pride was somewhere buried in the dirt—but she'd survived.
As the students dispersed, Riven walked past her, brushing her shoulder deliberately. "Not bad, witch."
"I told you, not a—" she started, but he was already gone, his laughter echoing in the night.
Nerissa exhaled, heart racing.
Vanessa appeared a minute later, wings faintly glowing. "There you are! I couldn't find you after class. How'd it go?"
Nerissa wiped sweat off her face. "Let's just say I might've joined the wolf pack."
Vanessa's eyes widened. "What? Nerissa, that's—"
"Yeah, I know," she interrupted with a tired smile. "But hey, at least I wasn't bored."
She glanced at the moon high above, its pale light washing over the courtyard. The whispers of the other students faded as they left, but Nerissa stayed a moment longer.
Something in the air felt heavier. Watchful.
Maybe it was the wards again. Or maybe it was something else—something ancient, stirring inside her.
She shoved her hands into her pockets, muttering, "If this place doesn't kill me, it's gonna make me insane."
Vanessa laughed softly beside her. "Welcome to Mooncrest, babe."
And for the first time since she arrived, Nerissa almost smiled.
Almost.