It was not surprising when murmurs filled the room after Malakai’s ominous words. Most of the whispers came from the newer students who were digesting this chilling revelation.
The seasoned elite students, however, seemed utterly unimpressed, their expressions bordering on boredom as if they’d heard it all before. It was clear they were eager for the newcomers to leave so the pace of the class could return to their liking.
Malakai’s eyes swept over the room, his sharp tone cutting through the noise. "Or did you think werewolves were the only supernatural beings in your world, humans?" His last word was laced with disdain, as though he pitied their ignorance.
Hands clasped behind his back, Malakai began to pace the room. "The Fae, vampires, witches, wendigos, they’re all real. Some, like the Fae, live right under our noses, their glamour allowing them to blend in seamlessly. Vampires, the natural enemies of werewolves, lurk in the shadows, their cunning unmatched. Witches? They’re nearly indistinguishable from humans, but their cursed powers make them formidable. Wendigos, on the other hand, only step out of the dark to fulfill their insatiable hunger for flesh. And these are just a few examples."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the students hung onto his every word, their faces pale with unease. Violet in question could feel her pulse pounding in her ears. If the great War nearly rendered earth into a wasteland. She didn’t want to see another war again.
"Some of these creatures exist in their own realms," Malakai continued, "emerging only when the barriers between worlds thin, especially during celestial phenomena, or when they see an opportunity to strike. But make no mistake, none of them are willing to repeat the mistakes the wolves made during the Great War. If they ever were to expose themselves, it will be because they are certain of victory."
A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint shuffling of feet as the students shifted uncomfortably. She was suddenly conscious of the people around her. How many of her classmates might be more than they seemed? Was she surrounded by humans, or something else entirely? The very idea sent a chill down her spine.
"Fortunately," Malakai said, breaking the silence, "none of these creatures have openly declared war on humanity or proved to be an imminent threat that we couldn’t take care of. However, this is not a war school. Here, you will primarily learn to defend yourself against the threats we know of, the hunters, rogues, and, yes, even the wolf shifter."
At the mention of wolf shifters, every head turned toward the cardinal alphas. Asher met their gazes with a intense, unyielding stare that radiated authority and menace. His expression seemed to dare anyone to speak out against him. The students, one by one, averted their eyes, intimidated by his presence. The other alphas, although quieter, remained equally imposing.
"For those of you who thought Lunaris was simply a prestigious stepping stone," Malakai said, addressing the entire class, "let me disabuse you of that notion. This academy will elevate you to heights you never imagined, yes, but it is also a battlefield. Accept this truth now, and you may yet survive."
His eyes scanned the room, lingering on each student as if challenging them to prove their worth. "No more questions? Good. Now, sit your asses down and watch as the alphas give you a preview of what I have in store for you."
The students scrambled to obey, hastily finding spots on the bare floor having learned their lesson the first time. Violet sank down beside Lila, her eyes drawn once more to the cardinal alphas as they began discussing amongst themselves. There was a natural divide between them, Griffin and Alaric stood on one side with Asher and Roman on the other.
However, the dissension between them was noticeable to everyone watching.
Asher stepped forward, his body language exuding challenge, but Roman grabbed his arm, whispering something into his ear. After a moment’s hesitation, Asher relented, though his sharp gaze lingered on Griffin as if silently promising a future confrontation.
"They’re taking votes on who’s going to demonstrate," Dion said suddenly, plopping down beside Violet. His voice startled her, pulling her attention away from the alphas.
"Figures," Violet replied, her tone dry. She tore her gaze from the alphas to glance at Dion, who offered her a friendly smile.
"Hello, Lila," Dion added, nodding toward her. freёwebnovel.com
"Hi, Dion," Lila replied with a small wave, her smile bright despite the taut atmosphere.
Violet did not say anything about the guy sitting next to her. Dion, like Lila, had somehow managed to worm his way into her life. She just let it be. Violet has realized fighting these things would only leave her exhausted.
"So, in one word, Griffin and Roman are going to fight?" Violet stated the obvious.
"Yes," Dion replied, leaning back on his palms as if the unfolding drama was a perfectly normal day for him.
"Who do you think would win?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"Depends..." Dion trailed off, watching the alphas intently.
"Depends on what?"
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