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Every Luna candidate had to survive the Silver Flame. One by one, girls stepped into the fire. “Rejected.” “What the hell is this? This is your idea of a Luna?” “Take her to the Alphas.” “What? Why?!” “Because whatever you are-” “They're waiting for you.” The wolves locked the most beautiful girls from every district inside the school gym. Every girl had been chosen for an exclusive audition, To become the top Luna of Lunaris Academy, A school built for Alphas to find their Lunas. Twenty girls. Eighteen years old. Each more flawless than the next. Except Violet. She didn’t belong. Golden eyes. Purple hair. Second-hand clothes. The other girls all wondered the same thing… Why would trailer trash be chosen for the Luna Audition? How could a dirt poor girl possibly become an Alpha’s bride? Violet was never supposed to be here, she never aspired to become a Luna. When she heard that the auditions would be filmed and broadcast live to all the districts, she’d done everything she could to avoid them. She knew that if she went up on stage with all the district’s most beautiful girls, she would be humiliated. A poor girl in borrowed clothes had no chance of winning. So she tried to get out of the audition. Wore her rattiest clothing. Hid her purple hair under a beanie. Left her last class early to hide. But minutes before the audition began, the school’s bullies cornered Violet in the locker room. They ripped her tights. Dumped water down her shirt. Pulled her hat off so her purple hair fell wild around her shoulders. “Let the Alphas see what trash you really are,” one of them sneered. They dragged her by the wrist and shoved her through the double gym doors… Right as the lights brightened. Right as the other girls turned. A spotlight flicked on at center court… and Violet stumbled straight into it. Laughter rippled through the bleachers. The bullies didn’t just want her embarrassed. They wanted her displayed. Violet turned to run, but it was too late. “The show starts in five,” a wolf guard declared, “Get ready for the Cardinal Alpha to make his appearance.” Excited whispers and squeals filled the stage. The girls began to gossip to each other. “Which Alpha is it?” “I hope it’s Alaric!” "It doesn't matter," another girl whispered. "Autumn's going to be chosen no matter what. This audition is just for show." Violet frowned. "Who's Autumn?" Every girl near her looked at Violet like she'd just asked what the sun was. "Up there," one of them said, nodding toward a private viewing box above the bleachers. Violet followed her gaze. A girl with striking silver hair sat alone, watching the stage below with the calm of someone who already knew how this ended. She wasn't auditioning. She didn't need to. "That's Autumn Carson," the girl whispered. “The Alphas don't pick their Luna — she picks which Alpha she wants. She's just here to size up her competition." Another girl scoffed quietly. "Competition? Please. She's here to watch us embarrass ourselves for her amusement." Violet looked back up at the viewing box. For the briefest moment, Autumn's gaze drifted down to her. Then dismissed her entirely. Violet didn't know why that stung. But it did. Violet stood alone, trying to make herself as small as possible. She stood out like a pigeon in a flock of doves. Why were the Alpha’s guards allowing her to compete? What could wolves want with trailer park trash like her at their elite school? Dread pitted in Violet’s stomach. She was about to be belittled on a national stage. Torn to shreds in an event televised live in every single District. She couldn’t do this. She turned to the closest guard. “I have to go. I shouldn’t be here!” “You don’t get a choice!” The guard growled at her, his golden eyes glowing with anger. “Your job is to please the Alpha. Refuse, and I’ll throw you to the wolves.” Violet followed his gaze to the other guards standing around the auditorium. Each one was a muscular wolf with bulging veins and hungry eyes. She shuddered. She had no choice but to play this cruel game. A collective gasp filled the stage as the back doors flew open. The room fell so silent she could hear a pin drop. Violet looked up, and her breath caught A single man stood framed in a halo of light. He was tall and handsome with black hair and dark sunglasses. His smile was sharp. Predatory. Undeniably dangerous. Alpha Asher Nightshade. As one of the four Cardinal Alphas of Lunaris Academy, Asher did not bend for anyone. He fought without blinking, commanded without mercy, and walked through life without a single girl ever touching his heart. Students whispered that he was carved from stone. Teachers whispered that he was carved for war. Yet still, every girl wanted him. Asher moved through the auditorium like a storm…cold, focused, untouchable. Every girl straightened as he passed. One of them whispered to her friend, “I hope he’ll talk to me…” Another giggled nervously, “Just one smile from him is enough.” Asher didn’t look at a single one of them. Those girls didn’t want him. They wanted his power, his wealth, and his position as a Cardinal Alpha. But he saw through it all. Violet was the only girl in the room who didn’t know who Asher was. She didn’t care. She refused to let some snobby, entitled Alpha get under her skin. But every time she looked at him, something underneath her skin tingled. Asher didn’t bother with introductions. He took the only chair on the stage and spoke in a clear, cold voice that left no room for questions: “Alright, girls, let’s cut to the chase. Tonight, you belong to me. You answer my questions. You obey my commands. If I like what I hear or see, I’ll consider making one of you my girlfriend. Let’s begin with the girl in the red dress. Step up and state your name and district.” The girl next to Violet strode forward with a big, wide smile. “I’m Maddy from District Three.” “Tell me, Maddy. How many guys have you made out with?” The girl’s smile cracked. She let out a nervous laugh. “Um, do I really have to answer that?” “What’s your answer?” The girl’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. A hush fell over the room. Every eye shifted to her. The way Asher stayed silent made Violet shiver. “That’s it. Leave. NOW.” He suddenly snarled, and a shudder went through the girl’s body. Because this was an Alpha Command, an iron-clad instruction that forces all humans and wolves to obey. The girl’s pupils dilated as the Command took hold. She turned around robotically and walked out the gym, moving stiffly like a puppet on strings. This was an Alpha’s ability. Only of Asher’s many divine powers, used casually without any care in the world. It was like he saw these girls as toys, and this was his game now. Violet couldn’t see his eyes behind those sunglasses, but she could feel his gaze slide over her, as sharp as a knife. “You, with the purple hair. You’re up next.” Violet’s blood froze in her veins. She was so stunned she didn’t budge until a guard shoved her forward. As soon as Violet reached the center of the stage, the Alpha began. “Name and district.” “Violet Purple. District One.” “What’s your type?” “Like my blood type?” Violet asked, her voice trembling. “No, as in the kind of guy you like.” “The type who doesn’t boss girls around,”. Violet immediately regretted her honesty. Shocked gasps rose from the crowd. Even the guards looked scandalized. But Asher actually smirked. “How many boyfriends have you had?” “What?” Violet felt flustered. What is with these personal questions? Is he really looking for a mate or trying to humiliate me? Asher tapped his foot. “I’m waiting.” Violet put her foot down. Whatever nerves she had were gone. “None…” “None at all? Interesting,” Asher’s smile widened, and Violet felt her stomach clench with dread. It wasn’t a good smile. It was the kind of cruel look Violet had seen her whole life. “Next question: are you a virgin?” Violet’s mouth dropped open, and her face burned. Violet heard the whispering gossip and laughter. “Violet Purple, a virgin?” “Yeah right! She’s a whore just like her trashy mom.” A lump filled Violet’s throat. Hot tears bubbled in her eyes. She had never had a boyfriend. Never held a hand. Never even been kissed. But rumors like these always flew whenever she was at school. Now every district was watching her shame. She would never live this down. This was a nightmare. “Answer the question, little purple,” Asher taunted. Little purple?! Who does he think he is?! “It’s none of your business!” she snapped. “Are you a virgin or not? I command you to answer me now.” He said it quietly, but using the Alpha Command, compelling Violet to obey his wishes. She felt a strange shudder run through her body, but remained resolute. “I’m done talking!” Three words. That’s all it took for Asher’s entire world to shift. For the first time in his whole life, he didn’t know what to say. Because what Violet had just done was impossible. No human had ever resisted an Alpha’s Command in the entire history of the realms. Violet was an anomaly. Asher had no idea that he had awakened magic hidden in her blood. All he knew was that no girl had ever looked at him like this before. That the defiance gleaming in her golden eyes made his heart race. An Alpha should never allow disobedience. Any mortal capable of defying a Cardinal Alpha was a threat to all wolfkind. But this strange girl was something special. Something powerful. Something dangerous. The only person to ever refuse him. The only person powerful enough to reject a Cardinal Alpha. There was something about this girl that stirred the wolf within him. Who is that girl?! What is she hiding?! How is this possible? He decided then and there that he needed these answers. Violet had no idea that she’d just achieved the impossible. She felt sick. Her skin was flushed. Her palms were sweating. She thought it was just nerves. She was terrified of being thrown to the wolves after breaking the Alpha’s rules. Asher suddenly threw up his hands. “Auditions are over. You’re all dismissed.” No explanation. No winner announced. Broadcast ended. The guards began herding the confused girls toward the exits. Whispers erupted everywhere. "What just happened?" "Did she ruin it for all of us?" "Why did he stop?" None of them realized that the broken girl they'd been laughing at five minutes ago had just done something that startled the most dangerous Alpha in the room. Later, shivering outside of the school in the cold, Violet stood all alone. She couldn’t stop thinking about that strange Alpha. Or his awful, embarrassing questions. Or the strange way he made her feel. Like his gaze slid under her skin and stirred her heart, threatening to awaken the power that she had no idea was sleeping inside her. Part of her hoped she never saw him again. But another part of her knew that this was only the beginning. Because once wolves start hunting, they don’t stop until they’ve caught their prey. Later that evening, Asher walked into Principal Jameson's office, the headmistress of Lunaris. Asher didn’t need to knock. Jameson looked up from her desk, startled. "Alpha Nightshade, visiting hours are—" "The twenty girls from today's audition," Asher said, pulling off his sunglasses. "I want their files. All of them." Jameson stiffened. "Those records are confidential. I can't just—" Asher's eyes locked onto hers. "Bring me the files. Now." The Alpha Command hit her like a wave. Jameson's protest died on her lips. Her hands moved before her mind caught up, pulling open the filing cabinet, retrieving a thick stack of folders. She set them on the desk with trembling fingers. Asher didn't touch the stack. He didn't need to browse. He had his puppet do the work. "The girl with the purple hair," he said. "Find her." Jameson's fingers walked the tabs. She stopped on one and slid it across the desk. PURPLE, VIOLET. Asher opened it slowly. The photo was small. Grainy. But it was her. Purple hair. Stubborn but beautiful golden eyes. "Read it to me," Asher ordered. "Everything." Jameson's voice came out flat and obedient. "Violet Purple. Eighteen. District One. Single mother listed as Nancy. Occupation… prostitute. Current residence: Lot Seven, Crescent Row Trailer Park, District One. Annual household income: below poverty threshold. No pack affiliation. No wolf. No lineage of note." Jameson stopped reading. Asher stared at the photo. No wolf. No rank. No one looking out for her. A girl who had learned, very early, that the world was not going to make room for her. And yet she'd looked him in the eye and told him no. He picked up the principal's stamp from Jameson's desk. Turned it once in his hand. "Alpha Nightshade," Jameson whispered, the Command loosening just enough for a flicker of alarm to cross her face. "That stamp is only for—" He pressed it down on Violet's file. Clean and final. ACCEPTED — FULL SCHOLARSHIP. Jameson's eyes widened. "You can't—" "I just did." Asher closed the folder and slid it back across the desk. "Process it tonight. Her acceptance letter arrives before morning." He stood, slipping his sunglasses back on. Jameson sat frozen, the weight of what just happened settling over her. Asher paused at the door. “You will forget any of this ever happened.” Jameson’s eyes went white, then returned back to their natural color. Asher walked out the door, smirking. "I'll see you soon, my little purple flower." He wasn't talking to Jameson. A few days later, Violet Purple stared up at Lunaris’ gothic gates. She couldn't explain why Lunaris Academy had offered a full scholarship to a girl from the lower district out of nowhere. She hadn't applied. She hadn't asked. The acceptance letter had just shown up at her trailer a few days after the audition, like a summons she never requested. She exhaled, and did what she did best. She pressed on. Feeling as if for reasons unknown, something was waiting for her here. She stepped through the gates. “Violet Purple?” A girl with sharp eyes and perfect posture approached, tablet in hand. “I’m Alice. Your student guide… and your roommate, unfortunately for both of us. You’re the surprise scholarship case. Lower district. No lineage. No pack affiliation. Human.” Violet stiffened. “You forgot poor.” Alice looked her up and down. “That part was obvious.” “So why am I here?” Violet asked. Alice studied her for a beat. “To compete.” “For what?” “For Luna.” Violet frowned. “Like… prom queen for wolves?” Alice didn’t smile. “This school exists to produce one thing,” she said. “A bond. Between a Cardinal Alpha and the girl most compatible with him.” “And how do you measure that?” Violet asked. “Ranking. Girls compete,” Alice replied. “Voluntarily.” “Voluntarily,” Violet repeated dryly. “For scholarship girls like you,” Alice added, “it’s framed as opportunity.” Violet’s jaw tightened. “An opportunity for what?.” “For a bond with one of the Cardinal Alphas,” Alice said calmly. “A permanent bond.” Violet had heard the rumors growing up. Fated mates. A wolf recognizing the one written into their blood before birth. A pull so strong it rewired instinct. She had always assumed it was nonsense. “Sounds romantic,” Violet muttered sarcastically. They reached the entrance to the main hall. Above the doors were four carved wolf crests. “Each crest represents a House,” Alice said. “Each House belongs to one Cardinal Alpha.” “Cardinal? Why do you keep saying that word?” Violet asked. “They were born at the exact same moment,” Alice said quietly. “During a lunar anomaly. Some say the Moon Goddess created them to clap back at the humans. You know, after they massacred nearly ninety percent of the she-wolves.” Violet stopped walking. Alice continued. “The Cardinals were born with powers unlike anything seen before.” “Powers to do what?” “To restore dominance,” Alice said. “To remind humanity who leads.” The air suddenly felt heavier. “Roman. Griffin. Alaric. Asher.” Violet's stomach dropped at the last one. Asher. The Alpha from the audition. The one who'd humiliated her on live television. The one who'd asked if she was a virgin in front of every district. He was one of them. One of four. And this was his school. “Is it possible he had something to do with me getting an acceptance letter?” “They rule this school,” Alice said. “And someday, much more.” She pushed the doors open. High above the main hall… Something stirred. A massive screen embedded into the wall… glowing with shifting symbols. It wasn’t decoration. It was a score board. The Luna Board. It ranked potential Lunas… not by grades or strength… But by compatibility with Alphas. “The higher you rank,” Alice said quietly, “the closer you get to them.” Violet stared at the four empty thrones above the hall. “And if they like what they see?” she asked. “They don’t like,” Alice replied. “They claim.” "So who's winning?" Violet asked. "A girl named Autumn Carson," Alice said. "Number one on the Luna Board. Has been since day one." Violet stiffened. That name! The silver-haired girl from the audition viewing box. "She's a pure-blooded she-wolf," Alice added. "The only one. Everyone assumes she'll be claimed. It's not even a question." Violet remembered the way Autumn had looked down at her from behind that glass. Like Violet was nothing. "Sounds like the competition's already over," Violet muttered. "That's what everyone thinks," Alice said. Then, quieter: "That's what Autumn thinks. Regardless, just avoid her. Avoid the Alphas. Don’t attract their attention on your first day.” Suddenly, as if summoned… A burst of reckless laughter echoed from behind. Fast. Wild. Violet turned… And collided straight into solid muscle. She went flying… Before she knew what was happening, the guy’s arms were around her waist, steadying her. “Well, hello there. Look what fate just delivered.” Her golden eyes snapped up at him. Her pulse spiked. The air trembled. Roman, one of the four Cardinal Alphas, blinked in return. His grin faltered, just a fraction. Like he’d felt it too. “What was that?” he muttered under his breath, too low for her to hear. They stayed like that for a moment. His warm breath tickled her neck. Violet shivered, realizing how much trouble this guy could be. Another Cardinal Alpha. That made two in less than a week. Then the chaos resumed… A loud growl roared from nearby. “I’d love to get to know you, my purple princess, but there’s a monster about to kill me.” What is going on? Before Violet could even ask, the green-haired guy was running again. Just as Violet was about to make a quick exit, she noticed something on the floor. It was a sapphire pendant, a teardrop surrounded by tiny diamonds. “Hey, you dropped this,” she yelled, figuring it must have fallen off when they collided. Violet frowned. This wasn’t just any necklace. The intricate engravings suggested a family heirloom. Another growl split the air. Louder. Closer. She looked up. A red-haired werewolf stalked toward her, muscles coiled tight with barely restrained violence. Hatred burned in his eyes. “What did I do?” she thought, panic rising. His gaze locked onto the necklace. Without warning, he lunged. “Help!” His hand closed around her throat. Her back slammed against the wall. His grip was crushing. And something inside her reacted. Not heat. Not recognition. Pressure. Her pulse surged violently in her veins. Like her blood rejected the contact. Griffin, another of the Cardinal Alphas, froze for half a second. His pupils flared wolf-wide. A low, guttural growl rumbled out of him… not triumph. Confusion. As if his wolf had expected something else.. Violet’s vision blurred. Why isn’t anyone helping? The other students looked away. A chilling realization washed over her: this guy could kill her right here, right now, and no one would care. This wasn't like the audition. There were no cameras. No audience. No rules. Her life was actually in danger. They stared at each other with unsettled recognition. Panic blinded her until, just as suddenly, he set her down almost gently. To Violet’s surprise, his eyes softened for a second, like he hadn’t meant to hurt her. “Listen, purple girl, I don’t know what you and Roman are up to. But if you touch my stuff again, it won’t be good for anyone.” His stuff? Oh, no. Violet realized he was the necklace’s owner. The green-haired guy must have stolen it. That explained why he was running. “Don’t get caught up in Roman’s games,” he warned before stalking off with the necklace. Breathless and trembling, Violet had no idea what was going on. She just lay there, humiliated and terrified. Before she could move… Another tall, imposing guy stood before her. “Not again,” she thought. He wore dark shades, which immediately set off Violet’s internal alarms. Wait. Dark shades. Indoors. Her blood went cold. She knew those shades. The audition. The stage. The questions that made her want to disappear. It was him. The Alpha who had humiliated her in front of every district. The one she'd defied. The one she couldn't stop thinking about, no matter how hard she tried. Violet’s heart pounded, and a weird tingle ran through her, a warmth settling in her stomach.... Behind those shades, she felt the weight of his gaze sizing her up, his eyes raked over her body. Suddenly, his lips twisted into a wild, unsettling grin. “Welcome, my purple flower.” Those words. "Purple flower." A chill crawled down her spine. She'd only said her name once, on that stage, under those lights. But he hadn't just remembered it — he'd twisted it into something intimate. A pet name. Like he'd been rolling it around in his mind ever since, savoring it, reshaping it into something that belonged to him. Like he'd already claimed her. And that meant he hadn't stopped thinking about her since the audition. Then… high above them… The Luna Board stirred. A new name burned into the stone at the very bottom of the list. Number Twenty: Violet Purple. Whispers and gasps all around. The new girl… the strange one with purple hair and golden eyes… had already made the Luna Board on her very first day. The Alpha’s smile widened. Like he knew something she didn’t. Violet’s fear spiked. She ran. She didn’t look back. Not even once. She tore through the halls of Lunaris at a full sprint. Students flattened themselves against the walls as she passed. Her pulse wouldn’t settle. Her lungs burned. Left. Right. Down a corridor she didn’t recognize. She finally skidded to a stop when her legs refused to keep going. Silence swallowed her. No wolves. No whispers. No Luna Board. Just her ragged breathing echoing off the walls. “Get it together,” she muttered. This wasn’t District One. No one here knew how many times she’d been cornered in an alley. No one here knew what it felt like to go to bed hungry. To fight for space. To survive. She’d handled worse than rich wolves with attitude problems. Roman’s chaos. Griffin’s violence. Asher's obsession. Three Cardinal Alphas in one day. And every single one of them had touched her life before she'd even unpacked. She straightened. “They don’t scare me,” she said under her breath. A lie. But one she’d lived on before. Footsteps approached. “Wow,” a familiar voice said lightly. “You move fast for a new girl.” Violet turned. Alice stood at the end of the corridor, arms crossed, slightly breathless. “You’ve been here ten minutes,” Alice continued, walking closer. “And you’ve already collided with three Cardinal Alphas and triggered the Luna Board.” Violet felt that familiar prickle crawl up her spine. “What does that mean?” “It means,” Alice said carefully, “something is reacting to you.” The word landed heavy. Alice hesitated. Then, quieter: “Principal Jameson is going to want to see you.” “Why?” “Because when the Luna Board moves unexpectedly…” Alice’s expression hardened. “Lunaris notices.” Violet’s throat went dry. “Great,” she muttered. Alice leaned in close. "Violet… whatever happens in there, don't let Jameson make you feel safe. She answers to the Alphas. Everyone here does." It was the first time Alice's voice had lost its edge. And that scared Violet more than anything. Alice gestured down the hall. “Come on. Before this gets worse.” As she knocked Principal Jameson's office, a voice called out, "Come in." She smiled as Violet walked in. "Welcome, Violet." But her smile faltered when she saw the bruise marks on Violet's neck. "Who did this to you?" she demanded, her voice full of worry. For the first time since arriving, Violet felt a flicker of hope. Finally, someone was going to deal with that jerk. She quickly explained what had happened, describing the red haired guy in detail. But as she spoke, Principal Jameson's expression changed from anger to something much worse: fear. "You mean Griffin Hale did this to you?" "Griffin Hale? Is that his name?" Violet asked. "Yes, Miss Purple," Principal Jameson began, her voice suddenly cautious. “And you shouldn’t be cavorting with him on your first day.” She exhaled slowly, fingers tightening on the edge of her desk. “There are… expectations here, Miss Purple.” Violet frowned. “About what?” Jameson hesitated. “About who gets noticed. Who gets protected.” Violet crossed her arms. “And who doesn’t.” Jameson didn’t argue. “Most of that attention is already spoken for,” she said carefully. “Bloodlines. Families. Girls who were raised for this world.” Violet looked up. “There is one student in particular,” Jameson added. “A very special one…” Violet's stomach tightened. "You're talking about Autumn Carson." Jameson looked up, surprised. "You've heard the name." "Hard not to. Everyone here says it like a prayer." Jameson's voice lowered. "Then you understand what you're walking into." "What I don't understand is why it involves me." Jameson exhaled slowly. "Because something reacted to you." "Something?" "One of them," she corrected. "Possibly more than one." “And I’m guessing that’s not possible.” Jameson’s expression darkened. “It shouldn’t be.” Silence stretched between them. “If you are compatible with one of the Cardinal Alphas,” Jameson said carefully, “it changes things.” “For who?” “For everyone.” Violet swallowed. “And if I’m not?” Jameson’s eyes flicked briefly toward the window… toward the Academy beyond. “Then today was a very dangerous coincidence.” A knock at the door. Alice poked her head in “Alice, take Mrs. Purple to the Infirmary,” Jameson said quietly. “Get those marks treated.” Violet turned to leave. “Miss Purple.” She paused. “If the Luna Board moves again…” Jameson’s voice dropped. “Pray it’s only one of them.” Violet swallowed hard and left with Alice for the infirmary. As they walked through the gothic Lunaris corridors, Alice reached into her bag and handed Violet a box. “That’s your Lunaris welcome pack. Go ahead. Open it.” Violet hesitated, then unzipped the bag. Textbooks. Supplies. And a sealed phone box. Her breath caught. “No way,” Violet whispered, lifting it out. Alice smiled, all warmth again. “We give devices to scholarship students. Helps you stay connected. Just log into the Lunaris Academy app. Campus Wi-Fi is everywhere.” Violet turned the box over in her hands. “Come on,” Alice said brightly, already moving again. “Let’s get you to the infirmary and have those wounds checked.” As Violet followed, phone still in her hand, the words of Principal Jameson wouldn’t leave her: “If the Luna Board moves again… Pray it’s only one of them.” Moments later, they entered the grand, impressive infirmary ward. A healer, one of those super-rare werewolves who could do healing magic, was lecturing a student… a guy whose arms were covered in fresh burns. Violet barely registered the actual healer before her attention snapped to the guy. “You can't keep doing this to yourself, Alaric,” the healer scolded. "I'm fine," he grumbled, obviously annoyed, as the healer's magic soothed his burns. Violet couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw faint sparks crackle across his skin, dancing like trapped lightning. And she noticed that no one else stood close enough to touch him. He must have felt Violet staring because he turned, and their eyes met. Holy moly. Violet forgot to breathe. Her cheeks turned pink. He had whitish-blond hair framing a face that was ridiculously good-looking. But it was his eyes that really got her: Stormy blue, like a gathering storm. “That’s Alpha Alaric,” Alice whispered. Great. Another Alpha. But this one seemed different somehow… “No one can touch him,” Alice added. “Why?” Violet asked. Alice didn’t answer, but cryptically stared at the burn marks on his arms. Violet studied him. He had a quiet intensity, but instead of being cocky, there was an innocence about him that was strangely attractive. With those striking sapphire eyes, he could have easily been the most handsome alpha she'd met today… His gaze swept over her, head to toe, like he was checking her out, sending a surprising jolt through her. But just as quickly as that little flicker of excitement appeared, it was squashed by his sudden cold, dismissive attitude. His expression made it clear: he wasn't interested. Any idea that he might have been was shattered by his icy indifference. "You're good to go," the healer said, finishing up with him. Done, Alaric brushed past Violet… And in that quick, fleeting touch, a spark jolted through her. It was like static shock, sharp, unexpected, and strangely exciting. Violet froze, her breath catching in her throat… Alaric stopped short. He looked down at his hand. Then at Violet. Confusion flickered across his face… sharp, startled, unmistakable. He touched her… and she was fine. As if his lightning didn’t surge… but recoiled. Like it had hit something it couldn’t burn through. His storm didn’t harm Violet. It hesitated. How? For a split second, the storm in his eyes surged. Then his expression slammed shut, colder than before. Without a word, he turned and walked out. Violet stood there, heart racing, skin still tingling. “Did you see that?” Violet whispered. Alice was staring at Alaric’s retreating back. “That’s impossible,” Alice said under her breath. “What is?” Violet demanded. “What just happened?” Alice looked at her slowly. “Alaric doesn’t touch people.” “I noticed.” “No,” Alice said, shaking her head. “You don’t understand. He can’t.” Violet frowned. “Alaric controls lightning. Not metaphorical lightning. Actual voltage. His body discharges constantly. Static. Current. Storm build-up. That’s why no one stands near him.” Violet looked down at her own hands. “But he touched me.” Alice nodded once. “And you didn’t burn.” Violet swallowed. Silence settled between them. “Why?” Violet asked. Alice hesitated. “The Cardinal Alphas aren’t like other wolves,” she said carefully. “They were born under a lunar anomaly. People say the Moon Goddess gave them powers.” She ticked them off quickly. “Griffin has shockwave strength. He can level stone with a punch.” “Roman is a Shapeshifter. Any animal. Total chaos.” “Asher?” She lowered her voice. “Mind manipulation. Thoughts. Memories. Control.” “And Alaric…” She glanced toward the door. “Storms. Lightning. Energy strong enough to paralyze a room.” Violet’s skin tingled again. “So what does it mean that I’m, like, okay?” Alice held her gaze. “It means one of two things. Either you’re resistant to Alpha power… or you’re compatible with it.” The word hung between them. Compatible. Violet’s throat went dry. “With him?” she asked quietly. Alice didn’t answer right away. “That’s the question,” she said. Violet wondered what it all meant. "You,” the healer interrupted. “What can I do for you?" the healer asked, her eyebrows furrowing as she looked Violet over. "You're new here, aren't you?" Violet nodded. "And already in the infirmary on your first day?" The healer shook her head, clucking her tongue. "Good luck, kid." "I know," Violet whispered, her voice barely there. "I know." “It's nothing serious. You're good to go,” the healer said, handing her some painkillers, and then Alice took Violet to the dorm rooms. “Welcome to West House, Violet. This is your home now, and over there are the other houses: East, South, and North.” “Whoa!” Violet breathed, staring at the impressive buildings. “Ms. Purple, you see, this school is all about hierarchy. Human or werewolf, everyone forms packs in their houses. The four strongest cardinal alphas study here and run these four houses. Everyone else follows their lead. They are basically gods here.” Violet sighed. She had already seen the glimpses of student power on her very first day. Alice continued, “The West House you are going to be in is run by Alpha Asher Nightshade.” Violet's stomach clenched. Of course it was. Of all four houses, she'd been placed in his. The Alpha who'd humiliated her on stage. The one who'd grinned at her in the hallway like he owned her. The one who called her "purple flower" like it was already decided. This wasn't random. It couldn't be. “Don't worry,” Alice interrupted before Violet could ask. “Anything else? Everything you need to know is on your phone, plus your roommates will fill you in. Go meet your roommates.” As Violet entered her room, her roommates looked at her with surprising eyes. "No way, it's really her," one of them said, sounding shocked. Violet raised an eyebrow. Why did everyone at this school seem to know who she was? "Hi, I'm Lily Fairchild," a girl chirped. "It's so nice to meet you, Violet Purple!" Violet blinked, totally surprised by the sudden friendliness. "The grumpy one over there is Hazel Sterling," Alice said, pointing to another blonde who looked permanently scowling. When their eyes met, Violet immediately felt the dislike radiating from Hazel. Alice leaned in closer to Violet. "Hazel's just jealous of you." Violet frowned. "What do you mean she's jealous of me?" she asked Alice, then turned to Hazel. "No offense, but we literally just met. Why would you be jealous of me? That makes zero sense." “Offense taken!” Hazel said. “Oh, really, Hazel? Seriously? Your ego is out of control, especially after you were just gossiping about that video,” Lily finally chimed in. “What video?” Violet asked All three girls turned to her, looking at her like she was totally clueless. “You haven't checked your newsfeed,” Lily said. "Newsfeed?" Violet echoed, even more confused. “BioDome,” Lily explained. “It's where everyone at Lunaris Academy gets all the school news. And yeah, you're kinda trending right now.” Before she could even grab her phone to search for this BioDome thing, Alice had hers out. Alice searched for the video using Violet's name, and there it was. Violet's eyes widened as the video started playing. It was a clip of Griffin manhandling her. “Oh, God! Who the hell got...” As she watched herself, awkward and vulnerable, the thought that the entire school had seen her like that burned in her chest. “Gods, you’re so lucky,” Hazel sneered from her bed. “Lucky?!” Violet shook her head, exasperated. ""What are you talking about? What's so special about these guys that everyone's losing their minds?" "The Terror Four," Lily answered with a wry smile. “Most of us would kill to even be seen by them! But unfortunately, only those ranked between first and twentieth have their attention." Violet’s stomach tightened. She thought about the green-haired thief. The red-haired brute. The one with lightning under his skin. And Asher…. The obsessive one. This wasn’t coincidence. This felt like gravity. Forced proximity. As if her life hadn’t started today by accident, but on schedule. As if she hadn’t come to Lunaris to learn about the Cardinal Alphas… But to change them. “So,” Alice grinned. “Any Alpha you like?” “What?” Violet blinked. “You’re in the top twenty now,” Lily said. “They’ll see you as an equal.” But Hazel scoffed. “Please. They’re all practically taken.” “Yeah, but no one’s officially Luna yet,” Alice shot back. Hazel’s smile turned sharp. “Don’t kid yourself. Autumn’s already been raised for that crown.” Violet stiffened. “Autumn.” For a split second, her mind traced back to Principal Jameson’s office… “There is one student in particular,” Jameson had said. “Her name is Autumn.” Hazel continued. “Number one. Never challenged. And she doesn’t lose.” Autumn was the girl Lunaris had been preparing for. The one everyone assumed would be chosen. The one the rules were built around. What none of them knew yet… Was that Violet, the strange purple-haired girl standing in front of them, wasn’t meant to follow that rule. She was meant to break it. For now, Violet's patience finally snapped. "All right, enough! It’s not like I am even interested." She looked each of them in the eye. "I'm so sick of the ridiculous drama at this school!" Violet's roommates were speechless. A heavy silence filled the room. Violet didn't wait for any response. Turning her back to them, she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes, shutting them out. Sleep came quickly, her body exhausted and her mind still buzzing from the day's craziness. That night, Violet’s life changed! Violet stirred in her sleep. Strong arms wrapped around her. A face buried into her purple hair. It felt so good she instinctively snuggled closer. His scent was intoxicating. And somehow familiar… Then she opened her eyes. She was back on the stage of the audition. No other girls. No audience. No cameras. Just her. And Asher. No. This had to be a dream. He was in her head. Alice's warning crashed through her mind: He can plant thoughts, erase memories — basically puppet-master you. This was his power. And she was trapped inside it. She broke free from his hold and stumbled back. "Is this my dream?" "I might be in your head, but this feels pretty real to me." His voice dropped to a low whisper. "And it could be real for you, too. If you let me." Something in Violet's blood reacted… humming, answering him before her mind could stop it. "Where's my body?" she snapped. "Your body's in your room. Your mind's here with me." The scene shimmered. Shifted. When Violet blinked, she was straddling Asher on a bed in a room she'd never seen before. Black stone walls. Candlelight. The air thick with incense. His world. His rules. She tried to move, but she couldn’t. "Calm down, baby," he murmured. Violet's skin crawled. She was disgusted by him. But her body wouldn't cooperate. That pull was back. Stronger. Insistent. As if her blood recognized him… even as her mind rebelled. He looked at her with that dark, hungry gaze. Like he wanted to swallow her whole. Like he'd been waiting for her forever. "Be mine, my purple flower," he said. "Be my queen. Rule with me." "Let me go!" she spat. "You're the only one who can talk to me like that and get away with it," Asher said. "Do you know how rare that is?" "If you want to kill me, just do it. I'm not begging." "Why would I kill my queen?" Why was he so obsessed with her? What was it about her that he couldn't resist? It was the same question she'd had on that stage. The same look in his eyes when she'd refused his Command. Like she was something impossible. Something he had to have. "I'm done here," Violet snarled. "Send me back. Now." "Sure thing," Asher replied smoothly. "But first, I need a little something to remember you by." Scissors—then, a soft snip echoed in the silence. A lock of her purple hair rested in his palm. "You!" Violet exploded. And just like at the audition — when his Command had tried to break her and failed — something inside Violet surged. Not anger. Not fear. Power. The dream cracked. The candlelight flickered wild. Asher's grin faltered for the first time. "What are you—" She didn't let him finish. She tore herself out of his world like ripping through a wall. Violet woke with a gasp. Sweat soaked her sheets. Her heart was racing like she’d been running for her life. For a second, she thought it had all been a dream. Asher. His hands. His voice in her head. She stumbled into the bathroom, gripping the sink, staring at her reflection. Her clothes were untouched. Her body unharmed. Relief hit her… Then her hand went to her hair. A chunk was missing. Violet froze. Her fingers traced the jagged edge where purple strands should have been. Her stomach dropped. It wasn’t a dream. Asher Nightshade had been inside her head. And he’d taken something with him. “I need to get out of this place,” she whispered. That thought hardened instantly. Lunaris Academy was a trap. And she decided right then and there… She wasn’t going to stay long enough to find out what else it could take from her. Morning came too fast. Alice burst into the room like nothing had happened, all cheer and chatter, while Violet dressed in silence. The Lunaris Academy uniform fit perfectly. Too perfectly. Like it had been made for her. Alice noticed the tension immediately. The way Violet’s shoulders stayed tight. The way her eyes never quite settled, always alert. Her smile softened. Alice stepped closer, fixing Violet’s tie for her, hands steady… deliberate. Protective. “Listen, Violet,” Alice said quietly. “Power is the only currency here. If you want to be left alone, you need it.” Violet didn’t answer. She didn’t want power. She wanted out. Alice held her gaze a moment longer than necessary. As if making a silent promise. Because Alice knew something Violet didn’t yet… She knew the secret. The power she was talking about wasn’t something to be gained, or fight for. Violet already had it. The dining hall was split in two. Downstairs for the regular students. Upstairs for the elites. Four oversized thrones sat empty at the center of the upper platform. Violet didn't need to ask who those belonged to. After last night's dream — Asher's hands, his voice, the missing lock of hair — she was relieved those seats were empty. Then the knot in her stomach tightened. If she was in the top twenty… did that mean she had to sit up there? With them? "Earth to Violet!" Alice snapped her fingers. "The line's moving." A girl waltzed past the entire line and started piling food onto a plate like she owned the place. Nobody said a word. "That's Hope," Alice whispered. "Autumn's personal assistant." Hope carried the tray upstairs and set it down in front of a girl with striking silver hair. Autumn Carson. As if she felt Violet staring, Autumn turned and locked eyes with her. The gaze felt like a challenge. Violet didn't look away… until she felt Alice grab her arm. "You're number twenty. Your spot's upstairs." "I'll eat down here," Violet said, already walking toward a lower table. The second she sat, the entire floor went silent. Then Alice's panicked cry — "Violet, look out!" Violet dodged just in time. Her breakfast crashed to the floor. A girl stood over her, pure disgust twisting her features. "So this is who they replaced me with?" Paige. The previous number twenty. The girl whose spot Violet had taken on the Lunaboard without even trying. "She's sitting downstairs! She doesn't even know the rules!" Phones came out. The cafeteria was watching. Violet calmly brushed crumbs off her clothes and turned her back. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" Paige shrieked. "Don't ignore me, you daughter of a whore." That stopped Violet cold. That word. The same word the girls at the audition had used. The same word that had followed her mother's name her entire life. Something inside Violet snapped. She turned. The storm in her eyes made Paige's smirk falter. Paige swung. Violet caught her arm and twisted it behind her back. Violet forced her to face the crowd. "Listen up. I don't care who you are or what privileges you have at this school. Leave me alone, and we're good." Her voice hardened. "And that word — 'whore' — don't ever use it around me." "You're nothing but a whore, bitch," Paige spat. Violet dragged her to the spilled food and shoved her face into the mess. "Where I come from, we don't waste food," Violet said. "If it falls on the floor, you pick it up." She let go. Paige sobbed into the wreckage. Silence. Then, from the elite section, slow clapping. It spread. The whole cafeteria joined in. But Violet felt no triumph. Only dread. This wasn't applause. It was acceptance. Like this school kept testing her — and she kept passing tests she never signed up for. Everyone clapped. Except Autumn. She stared daggers at Violet. And Violet realized something: every moment since that audition stage had been pulling her deeper. The acceptance letter. The Luna Board. The dream. And now this. She wasn't climbing a ladder. She was being dragged toward something. But what was it? Why was she really here? What was all this leading to?! She bolted. She had to find Principal Jameson and drop out of this nightmare. Today. She ran straight for the administrative floor. Straight for Principal Jameson. She didn’t slow down. Didn’t hesitate. This was ending now. She knocked. No answer. She knocked again, wondering if Principal Jameson was even there. Frustrated, Violet turned to leave, then clearly heard, "Come in." Her heart raced. This was it. She'd walk in, demand they revoke her scholarship, and Principal Jameson would do it. Violet had made up her mind. She walked in, heart pounding. She saw Principal Jameson sitting in her executive chair, back turned. For a second, Violet thought something looked different, like her build was bigger, but she shrugged it off, figuring it was just her imagination. Who else would be in the principal's chair? Ignoring the weird feeling, Violet straightened up. She cleared her throat, gathering her courage.... “Principal Jameson, I need to talk to you.” Principal Jameson didn't answer for over a minute. An awkward silence hung in the air. Figuring she might as well just come out with it, Violet dropped the bomb. "I don't want to go to school here anymore, Principal Jameson. Please revoke my scholarship and give it to someone else." There, it was out. Violet felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted. Now, there was no way the principal could ignore her. The chair started to swivel. Violet held her breath, but when the chair finally turned around, the face she saw made her blood run cold. You have got to be kidding me! It wasn't Principal Jameson, it was Asher freaking Nightshade sitting in her chair. Asher stood, studying her. “Tell me something, Violet. How did you do it?” He took a slow step toward her. “Last night…” His eyes darkened. “You pulled yourself out of my dream.” He stopped in front of her. “That has never happened,” Asher said quietly. “The only person who’s ever refused me. The only person powerful enough to resist a Cardinal Alpha… is supposedly a human with purple hair?” Violet’s stomach dropped. “That means you aren’t what you think you are. You’re not just some whore’s daughter, are you?” Her jaw tightened. “I don’t know where I came from,” Violet said sharply. Asher smiled, slow and dangerous. “That’s what makes this interesting.” “Makes what interesting?” Violet asked, panic rising in her chest. Asher began circling her. “One of us is supposed to marry Autumn. A real, honest-to-Gods she-wolf. So that we can breed pureblood Alpha heirs.” The air between them tightened as he got closer. “Autumn Carson has spent her whole life believing destiny belonged to her… just because she’s pureblood,” he said. “But the moment you resisted my command, that destiny changed.” A faint smile curved his mouth. Another step. “And once the other Cardinal Alphas realize what you are… they won’t let you go.” Violet froze as Asher leaned even closer… Close enough to kiss. “So I need to claim you before they do…” Violet should have panicked. But once again she was seized by that same strange feeling, torn between fear and something primal. “You, my purple queen,” he whispered, “are here to take Autumn’s place.” Asher wants Violet to take Autumn's place. But Autumn has never lost… how far will she go to protect what's hers? Four Cardinal Alphas. Four divine powers. And not one of them could break Violet. So what happens when they all want her? Something ancient is hiding in Violet's blood. Something that terrifies the most powerful wolves alive. What is she? To find out what happens next, listen to every episode of Wolves of Blood Moon. Streaming free on the Pocket FM app. Download it now.

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