One
Chapter One.
Selene's POV.
I stormed into the living room filled with anger.
“You have to listen, Selene! We've talked about this an uncountable number of times now. What you're saying isn't feasible!” My father called out behind me, but I wasn't having any of it.
I paused my determined stride, turning to look straight into my father's eyes that were the same pale blue as my own.
“And who says so, father? Why can't I be Alpha when you step down? I'm an Alpha too! I'm not weak! I can lead, only if you'll give me a chance!” I said, unable to keep the desperation out of my voice.
“And I know that you'd make a spectacular leader, Selene. But it's never been done. A woman leading a pack? I can't take such a risk.” He said, shaking his head.
“Father, please–” He cut me off before I could finish.
“Enough Selene!” He shouted, which made me flinch backwards a bit.
My father had never raised his voice on me before.
“I won't condone your delusions any longer. You're twenty one years old now, you're no longer a child. You shouldn't be thinking about silly childhood dreams anymore, rather you should be working towards how we can move this pack forward,” he continued.
“Of course, father.” I replied, my gaze fixed on the marble tiles below.
“You will start your training at the Argent Rose Hall next Monday. You leave for South Howlspire this weekend.” He announced.
“What?” I couldn't control my outburst, “The Argent Rose Hall? Why am I going there father?”
“Don't play stupid with me, Selene. You're old enough already, and you're very much aware of what happens there.” He said, sounding nothing like the father I knew.
“Father,” I said softly, as tears glimmered behind my eyelids.
My father sighed and moved closer to me, taking my hands in his.
“I know this isn't what you want, Selene. But I won't be Alpha of this pack forever. Times are changing. With the reappearance of the Obsidian Throne, we have to be ready for anything that might happen.” He explained softly, a hint of the man I knew rising to the surface once more.
“And I'm strong enough to lead, father. Don't make me go there,” I begged.
“No, Selene, I've made my decision,” He shut me down again,” Not a word of this again. You leave for the Argent Rose Hall in three days, and that's final. Do you understand?”
“Yes, father. I understand.” I answered, casting my eyes to the floor once more.
“Good,” he released his grip on my hands, “Proceed to your rooms, and begin your preparations.”
Nodding, I watched him leave me alone in the expansive foyer, before bounding up the stairs and running towards my own room.
I slammed the door shut after me immediately I entered and threw myself onto the bed, pointedly ignoring the other body that was currently sprawled across it.
“Let me guess, conversation didn't end well?” My little sister, Lyra drawled from beside me.
“Tell me about it,” I muttered, my voice muffled by the pillow my face was currently buried in.
The room remained silent for a few more moments, until I raised my head from the pillow and turned so that I was lying face up on the bed.
“Father wants me to go to the Argent Rose Hall. I leave in three days.” I announced.
My words seemed to have their intended effect because Lyra immediately stopped whatever it was she was doing and turned my head to face her.
“He can't mean that.” She said, her voice thick with disbelief.
“Oh, he meant it alright.” I replied drily.
“You…you can't go there, Len. What's gonna happen when you get back?” She asked.
“I don't know, get married to some asshole and pop out a few heirs while I'm at it, be the perfect Luna and all.” I said in the same dry tone.
Lyra went silent beside me. Although I seemed very resigned on the surface, desperation was clawing it's way through my insides. I couldn't go to the Argent Rose Hall.
A school for female Alphas where all there learned was how to strut and please men while being the perfect figurehead female?
That wasn't the life I envisioned for myself.
I'd always known that I was meant to be a ruler, no matter what my father said. I felt it in the fire that constantly burned within me.
But being the first daughter of a noble werewolf pack came with responsibilities. Responsibilities that didn't sit well with me.
Why couldn't women lead anyway? Who came up with the law that we were only meant to be the shadows to a man's light?
I was done playing by the rules of their so called society.
A dangerous idea began to brew in my head, and I clutched it tightly, forcing it to take root.
“I'm going to Howlspire.” I said out loud, which pulled Lyra's attention back to me.
“Uh, aren't we already in Howlspire?” she asked, confused.
“No Lyra. Howlspire Academy. I'm going there.”
“Are you crazy? How on Lykaion do you expect to pull that off?” she shrieked.
“I'll find a way, but I can't attend Argent Rose, Lyra. I can't,” my voice broke a bit at the end.
“Well then, what's your plan? You can't just walk up as you are, you know.” She gestured to my long hair and very female body.
Howlspire Academy was a prestigious training school for future Alphas, however, only males were allowed to enrol.
So if I really wanted to go there, I needed make a few changes.
I got up from the bed and walked into bathroom, rummaging through the drawers until I found a pair of scissors.
My hand trembled as I raised the scissors. The golden strands that had once cascaded down my back, the same ones my father’s advisors always said made me a ‘perfect Luna,’ were about to be erased. With one decisive snip, the first lock fell. Then another. And another. Until all that remained was a girl reborn—one who would take what was rightfully hers. .
“No way,” Lyra's voice rang out from the doorway.
“Yes way, Lyra. I'm doing this. There's no time, gather all my jewellery and trinkets and anything you can sell, I need cash, and I need it fast.” I instructed.
Her eyes widened a bit. “When do you want to leave?”
“As soon as I can. I have to prove to father that I can do this.” I said.
She rushed to wrap me in a tight hug. “I'll miss you like crazy, Len, and father will go absolutely crazy when he finds out you're gone.”
“Serves him right for doubting me.” I laughed, choking back the tears that threatened to spill, before continuing, “now hurry. There isn't much time left.”
Lyra nodded and started to gather a few baubles from my room, while I focused on packing a few things. If I was serious about attending that academy, then I had to act fast before my father caught wind of my plans.
A couple of hours later, I was mostly unrecognisable thanks to my now short hair and features slightly altered with lesser magic.
“You're really doing this.” Lyra said as we manged to sneak out of the pack manor.
“Yes. I am.” I turned to look at the bus that would take me to my new life.
“Go and kick ass, Len. I'm rooting for you.” She said, wrapping me tightly in her arms.
“Yeah, yeah.” I replied, hugging her back just a fiercely.
We separated, and she only nodded at me as I got on the bus, a silent goodbye.
I vowed in my heart that I would succeed, if not for me, then for her.
As the bus moved on, I pondered on my decision.
Had I made the right choice?
As the imposing gates of the Howlspire Academy came into view, I found that the fire in me began to burn hotter, eager to prove myself now more than ever.
And as I walked up to those gates, clutching my small duffel bag, only one thought rang out in my head:
I was going to dominate this place.