CHAPTER 3: THE RULES NO ONE WILL EXPLAIN
1194 Words
The howl echoed through the cafeteria.
Long.
Deep.
Haunting.
For a brief moment, the entire hall fell unnaturally silent.
Not because the sound itself was strange.
Because everyone had heard it.
And everyone pretended they hadn't.
Luna looked around.
Students calmly resumed eating.
Teachers continued their conversations.
Silverware clinked against porcelain.
It was as though the howl had never happened.
"...Seriously?"
She looked at Kael.
"You heard that, right?"
Kael casually stabbed another piece of steak with his fork.
"Heard what?"
"The wolf."
"There are no wolves around Blackthorn."
Luna stared at him.
"You know lying only works if the other person didn't hear the exact same thing."
Kael smiled.
"You'll fit in here."
"I don't think that's a compliment."
"It isn't."
---
The afternoon classes dragged by.
Advanced Economics.
Political Philosophy.
Ancient History.
Blackthorn's curriculum was brutal.
Even the professors expected answers that would normally be taught at university.
Luna quickly realized why graduates from Blackthorn dominated politics, business, and international organizations.
This academy wasn't preparing students to get jobs.
It was preparing them to rule.
Still...
Something felt off.
During Ancient History, Professor Aldridge lectured about powerful families that had shaped civilizations from the shadows.
Curiously, every time a famous royal family was mentioned, the professor skipped over certain details.
Dates disappeared.
Names were omitted.
Entire wars were summarized in a single sentence.
Almost as if history itself had been edited.
Luna scribbled a note in the margin of her notebook.
Research Blackthorn founders.
Beside it, she added another.
Why is everyone terrified of Damien?
---
When the final bell rang, students poured into the hallways.
Luna had barely taken five steps before someone slammed into her shoulder.
Her books scattered across the polished floor.
A chorus of laughter erupted.
"Oh, sorry."
The apology dripped with mockery.
Luna looked up.
Three girls stood over her.
Perfect hair.
Perfect uniforms.
Perfect smiles.
The one in the middle folded her arms.
"You really should watch where you're going."
Luna glanced down.
"You walked into me."
"No."
"You did."
"No."
Luna sighed.
"This is exhausting."
She knelt to gather her books.
One of the girls suddenly stepped on her notebook.
Hard.
The pages crumpled beneath the expensive heel.
"Oops."
Luna slowly stood.
"I've had exactly one cup of coffee today," she said calmly.
"So I'd appreciate it if you moved your foot before I lose what's left of my patience."
The girl laughed.
"What are you going to do?"
Luna smiled.
"The mature thing."
She grabbed the girl's ankle.
The movement was so quick no one expected it.
With one sharp tug—
The girl lost her balance.
She landed squarely on the polished floor.
A loud gasp echoed through the hallway.
For one heartbeat...
Silence.
Then laughter.
Real laughter.
Students who had been watching from a distance couldn't stop themselves.
The fallen girl's face turned scarlet.
"You—!"
"You slipped," Luna said innocently.
"You should be more careful."
The two other girls rushed to help their friend.
"You'll regret this!"
"I probably will."
"But not today."
Luna picked up her books and walked away before they could respond.
Behind her, whispers spread like wildfire.
"She pushed Isabella."
"She actually fought back."
"Is she insane?"
"She's dead."
Luna rolled her eyes.
People at this school really liked predicting her death.
---
Someone was following her.
She noticed it halfway across campus.
Footsteps.
Steady.
Unhurried.
Whenever she stopped...
They stopped.
She spun around.
Nothing.
Only students walking in different directions.
"...I'm losing it."
She continued toward the library.
The footsteps returned.
---
Blackthorn's library was enormous.
Three stories high.
Towering bookshelves.
Rolling ladders.
Stained-glass windows painted with moons and forests.
If there was one place Luna knew she'd love, it was here.
She approached the front desk.
The elderly librarian smiled kindly.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for books about Blackthorn Academy."
The smile vanished.
"I'm afraid those aren't available."
"History books?"
"No."
"The founders?"
"No."
"The surrounding forest?"
"No."
Luna blinked.
"So... what books do you have?"
The librarian gestured vaguely toward the shelves.
"Everything else."
That wasn't suspicious at all.
---
Two hours later, Luna left the library with three economics textbooks and absolutely no answers.
She headed back toward the dormitories.
The campus looked different in the evening.
Long shadows stretched across the stone paths.
The wind carried the scent of pine.
Somewhere in the distance, church bells rang six times.
Then...
A loudspeaker crackled.
"Attention, students."
The voice belonged to the Headmaster.
"Curfew begins in one hour."
"All students must remain inside their dormitories after sunset."
"The eastern forest is strictly prohibited."
"Any student found outside after curfew will face immediate disciplinary action."
The announcement ended.
Students didn't complain.
They hurried.
Almost...
Panicked.
Within minutes, pathways emptied.
Doors slammed shut.
Curtains closed.
Luna frowned.
"Okay..."
"That's weird."
---
By the time she reached the girls' dormitory, the sky had turned orange.
She unlocked her room.
Inside waited something unexpected.
A small white box sat neatly on her desk.
No name.
No note.
Just a black ribbon tied around it.
Luna looked around cautiously.
"I swear if this explodes..."
She untied the ribbon.
Inside was a brand-new set of textbooks.
Every single one that had been destroyed that morning.
They were still wrapped in plastic.
Her eyes widened.
"Who..."
At the bottom of the box rested a single card.
Three handwritten words.
Don't get expelled.
No signature.
No explanation.
Luna turned the card over.
Blank.
She frowned.
It wasn't Damien.
His ego wouldn't allow anonymous kindness.
Kael?
Maybe.
The quiet silver-haired boy?
Possible.
Or...
Someone else entirely.
She smiled despite herself.
"For such a creepy school..."
"...there's at least one decent person."
---
Across campus...
In the eastern tower...
Damien Blackwood stood alone on a balcony overlooking the academy.
Night had almost fallen.
The forest below swayed beneath the rising wind.
Behind him, Kael entered without knocking.
"You sent the books."
Damien didn't answer.
Kael leaned against the doorway.
"I've known you for fifteen years."
"Since when do you replace things you destroy?"
"I didn't destroy them."
"You marked her."
Silence.
Kael studied his friend's expression.
Something wasn't right.
Damien wasn't angry.
He wasn't amused.
If anything...
He looked unsettled.
Finally, Damien spoke.
"When I used Alpha Command on her..."
Kael's smile disappeared.
"...she resisted."
"I noticed."
"That isn't possible."
"No."
"It isn't."
Damien rested both hands on the stone railing.
His voice became quieter.
"My wolf didn't see her as prey."
Kael's heart skipped.
"What did it see?"
A long silence followed.
Below them, another howl rose from the forest.
Closer this time.
Damien slowly closed his eyes.
"...Mine."
Kael froze.
"No."
"It can't be."
Damien opened his eyes.
For a brief second, they flashed molten silver beneath the moonlight.
"I know."
He looked toward the girls' dormitory in the distance.
"And that's exactly what worries me."
Far below, completely unaware that the future Alpha King was watching over the academy with growing confusion, Luna Hart placed the mysterious card inside her notebook.
Tomorrow she intended to find the person who had helped her.
She had no idea...
...that the biggest mystery in Blackthorn wasn't the academy.
It was herself.
- Writer
