Lumi hadn't slept.
Not really.
Her body pretended to rest, curled on top of the blankets with her boots still on and one arm hanging over the edge of the bed. But her mind spun like a broken gear—whirring, clicking, catching on every dark memory of howling wolves and locked doors.
It had been one day.
Just one day since she was dragged from everything she knew, shoved into the most dangerous academy in the kingdom, and told—sweetly, politely—that the world would try to devour her.
The air inside her new room smelled like lavender and iron wards. Fake comfort. She sat up slowly, aching and wired, her shirt clinging to the sweat down her spine. A low magical hum buzzed around her—protective sigils thrumming like a second heartbeat.
The patches still held. She'd checked them three times in the dark.
A knock broke the silence.
Not the aggressive bam of an Alpha. Just three calm taps. Then one slower, deliberate knock.
Lumi cracked the door open.
Headmistress Selene stood there, cloak draped over her shoulders, hair in a tight braid like it had never met sleep. In her hands: a sleek black case and a softly glowing vial.
"You look like hell," Selene noted.
"I like to make an impression," Lumi croaked.
The Headmistress stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. "I assume you didn't sleep."
"Hard to nap when your dorm sounds like it's surrounded by a werewolf fan club."
"They've calmed," Selene said. "The scent patches you wore yesterday worked. Mostly."
Lumi eyed the case warily. "Mostly?"
Selene placed it on the desk and opened it. Inside: six more of the elegant, rune-threaded scent patches, glowing faintly with ward magic.
"These are stronger," Selene said. "Stabilized with lunar essence and bound with anchor-spells. They'll give you a tighter radius of protection—but they'll drain you faster if you wear them too long."
"Side effects?"
"Fatigue. Nausea. Mood swings."
Lumi barked a laugh. "That's just Tuesday."
Selene didn't smile. Instead, she held out a small vial of pale violet liquid. "Healing draught. This one's for post-exposure. You may not need it—but you will carry it."
Lumi took it and slid it into her jacket pocket. "Because nothing says education like chemical warfare and hormone patches."
Selene's face softened, just barely. "I know this isn't what you wanted, Brightspear. We weren't prepared for an Omega, let alone one like you. But we're adapting."
Lumi crossed her arms. "Is this the part where you tell me I'm not alone?"
"No," Selene said evenly. "This is the part where I tell you our resources are limited. But if you need something—we'll fight to get it for you."
Lumi blinked. Unexpected. Honest.
"I wasn't supposed to be any of this," she said, quieter. "I was happy scavenging dungeons for spare parts and fixing broken magic equipment with Grandpa."
At that, she turned to her bag. From inside, she pulled a compact brass-and-glass contraption—her Aegis Core. Gears ticked faintly inside, and a single crystal glowed anemically at its center.
"This is my ward generator," she said, holding it out. "Grandpa made it for me—portable protection, for when I get into trouble."
Selene leaned in, inspecting the runes. "Arcane mechanics?"
"And personality problems," Lumi muttered. "It needs lumos essence to charge. I'm out. And last I checked, you don't keep that stocked in the school cafeteria."
Selene inspected it briefly, then stepped back. "Impressive. But I'm afraid dungeons are off-limits to first-week students. Especially Omegas."
Lumi stiffened. "So I'm just supposed to sit here defenseless while half the school tries to rip my scent out of the air?"
"You're not defenseless. You have your patches. Your wards. Us."
"I had a working defense, and now I need a babysitter to get fuel for it?"
Selene sighed. "School policy. The dungeons near the castle are volatile. Even most Alphas aren't allowed unsupervised. But I'll send someone—someone I trust—to retrieve lumos essence for you."
Lumi bit her tongue. She hated this. Being handled. Coddled. Weak.
"I don't want a favor," she said. "I want control."
"And you'll have it," Selene answered, "when it's safe for you to earn it."
That stung more than it should have. Lumi turned her back, her jaw clenched. "Fine."
"I'll contact you once the lumos is secured. In the meantime, stay alert. No one knows your designation except me, the Headmaster, and the House leaders. You're under House Ulvhenra now—your scent will stay masked, but your presence will still draw attention."
"Oh, I noticed," Lumi muttered.
"You're not alone, Brightspear. But you're also not safe. Not yet. These walls are strong—but instincts are stronger. You wear those patches. Keep that device close. And if someone tries to test you…"
"I burn the castle down?"
A pause.
"…Not literally," Selene warned.
"No promises."
Selene gave her a tight nod and moved to the door. Before she left, she added, "Your formal orientation with House Ulvhenra is this afternoon. You'll meet the rest of the faction—at least those who aren't feral. Wear the patches. Don't lower your guard."
Lumi nodded, her fingers brushing the scarred brass of her ward emitter.
When the door shut again, she sat back down, eyes on the patches.
She sat in the quiet for a long moment before picking up a patch and slapping it onto her neck. The enchantment hissed, then settled, cold and stifling. Like wrapping herself in invisibility.
She looked at the dim crystal inside her ward emitter. Still dead.
"Once I get my essence," she muttered to the empty room. "I'll make sure to bring hell to those wanting to claim me."