CHAPTER 4: THREE ALPHAS

The infirmary smelled like antiseptic, lavender, and secrets.

I sat on the edge of the bed with a scratchy white blanket around my shoulders, trying to make myself smaller. Like if I folded into nothing, they’d forget I existed.

It wasn’t working.

Three Alphas were in the room with me.

And every single one of them was looking at me like I was a problem they needed to solve.

Kael Drake stood by the door. Arms crossed. Silver-gray eyes cold and sharp. He hadn’t moved in ten minutes. Like a statue carved out of ice and bad decisions.

Lucian Rivers sat in the chair next to my bed. Close enough that I could smell cedar and something warm. He’d been checking my pulse every two minutes like he was afraid I’d drop dead.

And Rowan Black was by the window. Back to us. Hands in his pockets. Staring out at the dark forest. But I could feel him. The air in the room was heavy whenever he was near.

My head hurt. My ribs hurt. And the crescent mark on my collarbone was still burning.

“Talk,” Kael said finally. His voice cut through the silence like a blade. “What was that in the arena?”

I flinched. “I don’t know.”

“Bullshit.” He pushed off the door and took two steps toward me. “Moon Wolf power doesn’t ‘just happen’, Vale. That kind of force hasn’t been seen in over a hundred years.”

My blood went cold. “How do you know what a Moon Wolf is?”

“Because I read,” Kael snapped. “Because I pay attention. Because your pendant is a Moon Wolf crest and the wards flickered when you walked through the gates.”

Lucian shot him a warning look. “Kael. She’s hurt.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “Just... tired.”

“You should be tired,” Lucian said softly. He reached out like he was going to touch my hand, then stopped himself. “You threw a 200-pound guy across the arena with one wave. That takes energy.”

I pulled the blanket tighter. “I didn’t mean to.”

“No one thinks you did,” Lucian said. But his blue eyes were serious. “The problem is that other people are going to think you did it on purpose.”

Rowan hadn’t said anything yet.

“Rowan,” Kael said, sharp. “Say something.”

Rowan turned from the window slowly. His amber eyes met mine for half a second, then slid away. His jaw was tight.

“Whatever your wolf is,” he said, voice low and rough. “Mine remembers it.”

The words hit me like ice water.

“What does that mean?” I whispered.

Rowan didn’t answer. He looked back at the window.

Kael exhaled sharply. “It means we have a problem. A big one.”

“Someone sent a report,” Lucian explained, gentler. “Anonymous. To the Academy Council. About what happened in the arena.”

My stomach dropped. “When?”

“Five minutes after you passed out,” Kael said. “They move fast when they’re scared.”

“Why would they be scared of me?” The question came out smaller than I wanted.

“Because you’re not supposed to exist,” Kael said bluntly. “Moon Wolves were declared extinct. If the council finds out you’re alive, they’ll either try to control you or kill you.”

The room went silent.

I stared at my hands. They were still shaking. “My parents”

“Don’t,” Kael cut me off. “Don’t say anything else until we know who we can trust.”

The door opened before anyone could answer.

Instructor Vance walked in. His face was grim. Behind him were two men in black suits. Academy Council crest on their lapels.

“Miss Vale,” Vance said. “The council would like a word with you.”

I went cold. “Now?”

“Immediately,” the taller man said. He didn’t smile. “Please come with us.”

Kael moved. He stepped directly between me and them. “Not without her guardian present.”

“Alpha Gideon has been notified,” the second man said. “But the council prefers to speak to Miss Vale privately first.”

“No,” Lucian said. He stood up. “That’s not protocol and you know it.”

The first man’s eyes narrowed. “This is not a request, Mr. Rivers.”

The air in the room got heavy. I could feel it. Three Alphas, ready to fight over me.

And me, in the middle, with no idea what I was supposed to do.

My pendant burned against my skin.

"They’re here for me,"Nyx whispered in my head. Her voice was different now. Not calm. Not ancient. Scared. "Aria, run."

I looked at Kael. He wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at the council men, calculating.

I looked at Lucian. He squeezed my hand once. Reassurance.

I looked at Rowan. He was watching me now. Really watching. And for the first time, he didn’t look afraid of me. He looked afraid for me.

The tall council man stepped forward. “Miss Vale. Last chance.”

Something in me clicked.

I wasn’t powerless anymore.

I stood up. The blanket fell to the floor.

“I’ll come,” I said. My voice didn’t shake. “But not with you.”

All three Alphas turned to look at me.

“What?” Kael said.

“I said I’ll come,” I repeated. “But I’m not going anywhere with strangers who sent an anonymous report about a student.”

The council man’s face went hard. “You’re refusing a direct order?”

“I’m refusing to be taken without protection,” I said. And I meant it. “Kael Drake is the top student. Lucian Rivers is on student council. Rowan Black is... Rowan Black.”

I turned to them. “Are you coming with me or not?”

For a second, no one moved.

Then Kael smirked. Just a little. “She’s got guts.”

Lucian grinned. “Always did.”

Rowan just nodded once.

The council men looked furious. “This is highly irregular”

“Then call it irregular,” Kael said. “We’re coming.”

The walk to the council chambers was the longest walk of my life.

Students lined the halls, whispering. Pointing.

“That’s her.”

“The one who threw Darian.”

“I heard she’s a Moon Wolf.”

My face burned. I kept my eyes forward.

Kael walked on my right. Lucian on my left. Rowan behind us, like a shadow.

No one tried to stop us.

The council chambers were at the top of the east tower. Dark wood. Silver runes. A long table with seven seats. Only three were filled.

Headmaster Corvin sat in the center. Old. Tired. Next to him, two council members I didn’t recognize.