✨ Chapter 4 – Instincts
The academy stretched endlessly—ancient towers connected by floating bridges, enchanted lights hovering in perfect patterns, students moving in groups according to their divisions.
Ariana stayed close to Kai, although her six massive brothers shadowed them like wolves ready to pounce.
Kai pretended not to notice.
He probably noticed everything.
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## **The Arenas**
Kai led her toward a large set of double doors carved with symbols. When he pushed them open, warm golden light spilled out.
Ariana gasped.
The **Arenas** weren't just arenas.
They were enormous domes divided into different terrains:
* **Fire Grounds** — black rock and lava streams
* **Wind Ridges** — floating platforms suspended in air
* **Ice Palace** — a frozen training labyrinth
* **Forest Shifter Range** — trees, caves, and running paths
* **Mentalist Hall** — shimmering illusions
* **Hybrid Den** — where shifters, mixed powers, and wolves trained
"Woah…" she whispered.
Kai smiled slightly. "This is where you'll train."
Her brothers looked ready to argue, but Kai continued before they could.
"You're in the Hybrid program. Mystics train on your off-days. Mentalists for control work."
"Why Hybrid?" Ariana asked quietly. "Because of my… wolf?"
Kai didn't answer at first.
Instead, he walked toward the Hybrid Den doors, motioning for her to follow.
Inside, students were already training:
* Wolves shifting halfway
* Fox shifters sparring
* A tiger hybrid climbing stone pillars
* A girl controlling vine-like energy
* A boy with shadow wings stretching them out
Ariana felt her chest tighten.
Her wolf shifted inside her, stirring, sensing others like it—but weaker.
Kai's voice was gentle.
"There are other werewolves here," he said. "But don't worry—none are like you."
Ariana frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kai turned toward her, studying her with eyes far too knowing.
"Your aura is… ancient. The kind of wolf that comes once every few centuries."
"That sounds scary."
"It's not scary," Kai corrected.
"It's powerful. And rare. Like a lunar blessing."
Ariana blinked. "A lunar… what?"
Kai hesitated, like he wasn't sure he should tell her yet.
Before he could answer, her hand brushed against his—
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## **The Reaction**
It was accidental.
She'd just turned.
He'd just shifted slightly.
Their fingers touched.
Just a brush of skin.
But the reaction was immediate.
A blast of warmth shot up Ariana's arm.
A soft glow pulsed from her chest—light magic surging instinctively.
Kai's eyes widened as a faint shadow-laced silver glow sparked between them.
Students around them froze, staring.
Ariana yanked her hand back.
"What was THAT?!"
Kai stared at his palm like he'd been struck.
"I… don't know," he said quietly. "That's never happened before."
Her brothers rushed forward instantly.
Cassian: "You touched her?!"
Luca: "What did you do?"
Theo: "Explain. Now."
Adrian: "Why is there light coming off you?"
The twins: "Are you trying to mate with her??"
Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly regretting his life choices.
"No one is mating with anyone."
Ariana was bright red.
"Can everyone PLEASE calm down?!"
Kai met her eyes again—softly, seriously.
"Your light… reacted to my wolf," he said slowly. "I think… your wolf recognized mine."
Ariana stared at him.
"My wolf doesn't even LIKE me."
Kai tilted his head. "Are you sure?"
Ariana opened her mouth—then froze.
Deep inside her chest…
her wolf stirred again.
But it didn't feel dangerous.
Or violent.
Or out of control.
It felt… curious.
As if sniffing the air.
As if recognizing a presence it had been waiting for.
Ariana's heartbeat pounded in her ears.
"What does this mean?" she whispered.
Kai hesitated long enough to make her nervous.
Finally—
"It means," he said quietly, "that we're connected in a way I don't fully understand."
Ariana felt her knees wobble.
"Connected… how?"
Kai swallowed.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "But I intend to find out."
**how do you think they're connected?