The Lunar Crest Academy: Marked by The Lycans
Chapter 95: An Ally???

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: An Ally???

Lorraine’s POV

Astrid turned to us, her expression unreadable, the usual sharpness in her eyes returning like the snap of a blade back into its sheath.

"Go for your various classes now," she said crisply. "You’ll receive your dorm keys later."

No room for argument. No warmth. No hint of sympathy that we had just sacrificed everything we had to secure a roof over our heads. But I didn’t expect any. This was Astrid Voss.

Felix and I exchanged a look. Neither of us said a word. We just turned and began to walk out of the auditorium together.

The door shut behind us with a heavy echo, and I exhaled slowly, as if I’d been holding my breath since the moment Astrid called my name during the assembly.

My legs moved on instinct, carrying me down the long hallway toward the lecture halls, but my mind stayed behind.

A bounty on my head.

A hunt every night.

No safety, not even in sleep.

And now training with Astrid Voss, of all people.

I had barely even survived the morning. And it wasn’t even close to being over.

"You okay?" Felix asked, his voice quiet as we stepped into the courtyard, the late-morning sun already burning hot over the academy.

I nodded. "No. But I will be."

Because I had to be.

Because Elise was still missing.

Because someone among the Lycans had taken her.

Because Kieran.... had just given up his own lunars without a word. Without even looking at me.

And because the moment the sun dipped beneath the horizon, I’d become prey.

I clenched my fists. The day was just getting started, and I was already exhausted. But I would make it through. One breath at a time. One class at a time. One night at a time.

Because I had no other choice.

So Felix and I walked across the training field in silence, heading toward the central academic wing. I could tell he was on edge, he kept glancing at me like I might fall apart at any second, like the moment I said I was fine, I’d shatter completely.

When we reached the entrance to the building, I paused.

"This is where we split," I said quietly.

Felix frowned. "Then I’ll follow you to your class."

"No." I stepped back. "You’ve got your own schedule to worry about, and if you skip a class now, we both know what that means."

He hesitated. "Lorraine, I just don’t like leaving you alone with all of those hungry wolves, eepecially now that a bounty has been announced on you"

"I’m not alone," I cut in, trying to muster a smile. "There’s a whole school of predators waiting inside."

"Not helping."

"I’ll be fine. It’s not hunting hours." I shrugged. "They can’t touch me. Remember?"

His jaw tightened, but finally, he gave a reluctant nod. "You find me right after class."

"I will."

Then he turned and disappeared down the hall.

I was alone now. Again.

I stood in front of my classroom door, willing myself to go in. My fingers trembled slightly on the doorknob before I gripped it tight and shoved the door open.

All heads turned.

Their conversations stopped mid-sentence.

Silence, thick and heavy.

I stepped inside slowly, keeping my eyes low, letting the door click shut behind me. I walked down the aisle to the back and slid into an empty seat by the far corner. My shoulders tensed, but I didn’t let myself look up. I just sat, curled into myself, arms on the desk, resting my head on top of them.

Just survive class. Just stay quiet. Wait for tge teacher.

But peace never lasted long at Lunar Crest.

I felt the thud before I realized what was happening.

My chair was kicked out from under me, violently. My back slammed to the ground, pain blooming across my spine. Gasps rippled through the room, followed by loud, mocking laughter.

I winced and looked up, eyes narrowing through the pain.

A group of noble students stood over me.

Four of them.

All males.

The one in the center stepped forward. Tall, built like a marble statue with ice-blue eyes that glinted with cruelty. His smile was the worst kind, calm, practiced, almost charming.

"My name," he said, placing a foot dangerously close to my ribs, "is Cassian Olsen."

His friends chuckled behind him like hyenas.

"You should at least know the name of the man who’s going to kill you," Cassian went on smoothly, crouching just enough to meet my gaze.

"Tonight," he whispered, "I’m going to tear you apart. And I’m going to make it slow. Because ferals like you don’t deserve clean deaths."

His voice was poison, but his smile.... his smile was death.

The whole class just watched.

No one said a word.

No one stopped him.

Because in this academy, this was normal.

I said nothing.

I didn’t move.

I just stared up at him, refusing to look afraid.

Because fear was what they wanted.

And I’d rather die than give them that.

"Lorraine!"

Someone suddenly called as they ran in

Adrian.

His voice reached me before his body did. He was already moving, already kneeling beside me before I could fully register what had happened. His arms were firm and trembling as they slid around my shoulders, gently helping me sit up. I could feel his heart thudding through his chest, faster than mine, louder.

"Are you alright?" he asked breathlessly, his brows furrowed, his thumb brushing a smear of dirt off my cheek.

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that it didn’t sting, that the laughter still echoing in my ears didn’t get under my skin. That Cassian’s promise hadn’t lodged itself into my spine like a cold dagger.

But I could see how much Adrian needed to hear those words, so I nodded slowly. "I’m fine," I whispered, even if I didn’t believe it.

"Stay away from her, Cassian," Adrian said, rising to his feet, stepping between me and the group of nobles with a deadly sort of calm that only made his anger more palpable.

Cassian turned, clearly amused. He folded his arms and tilted his head like he was bored already.

"You’re a disgrace to the Noble Council," he spat, and I could see how his eyes flashed with venom. "Walking around with trash like this. Are you going to start begging for scraps with her too?"

His words didn’t wound me like they would have weeks ago.

Now, they only fed the fire already burning in my chest.

But he wasn’t done. He took a step closer to me, towering over Adrian’s shoulder, and dropped his voice low and venomous.

"See you later tonight," he whispered directly to me. "I’ll make it hurt, I promise."

Then, he winked. Like it was a joke. Like I was just another game to him.

He turned away, swaggering like he’d just won something.

But he walked right into someone.

Varya.

She stood there, arms relaxed, one hand lazily twirling a strand of her long red hair around her finger. Her expression was the exact opposite of tense, she looked like she’d been waiting for this moment all day. _{free.w e bn.ov(e)l(.)com}

"Hey, little kitten," she purred, voice dangerously soft. "Do you now feel like a king after showing blunt claws to a cornered rat?"

Her gaze was fixed on him like a cat eyeing a mouse that hadn’t yet realized it was already caught.

Cassian froze.

His confidence fractured for just a second.

Because he knew exactly who she was.

Varya. A Lycan. One of the most dangerous lycan in the academy.

Even he couldn’t be stupid enough not to know that striking back would mean death. But pride is a fragile thing, especially when your minions are watching, holding back laughter and waiting to see if their leader would put this "lowly wolf" in her place.

He straightened, tried to puff up his chest.

"Do you know who I..."

He didn’t finish.

Because Varya moved.

A blur. A flash of red and black. Her fist connected with Cassian’s jaw before anyone could blink.

The sound echoed like a gunshot.

Cassian’s body lifted off the floor, airborne for a terrifying half-second before it crashed into the back wall of the classroom with a crack so loud it made everyone flinch. The plaster split behind him. His head lolled for a second, dazed and broken, before he slumped onto the floor in a heap.

Gasps rippled through the room

Varya calmly dusted her knuckles like she’d just killed a fly.

"Mission completed," she said flatly, and without another glance at anyone, she turned and walked out of the class, her long hair swaying behind her like a trail of blood.

No one followed. No one spoke. Not even Cassian’s lackeys dared move.

Adrian helped me the rest of the way up, gently guiding me into the seat I’d originally chosen, his eyes flicking anxiously from me to the shattered wall at the back of the class.

But I wasn’t focused on him anymore.

I was staring at the door Varya had just walked through, heart pounding with questions.

Why?

Why was she helping me?

Why Varya?

She hated me. She made that clear countless times. She’s tried to kill me before too. I could still remember the moment she looked down on me, snarling that I wasn’t worth the air I breathed.

But this was the second time she’d stepped in.

First, was at the Lycans at their dorm almost. She’d intervened then too, not saying much, not explaining anything.

And now this? Lifting a hand to defend me.. me—against a noble she didn’t even need to care about?

What changed?

Why now?

Did she pity me?

Or... was it something else?

I didn’t understand her. And in a place like Lunar Crest Academy, not understanding someone like Varya was dangerous.