Chapter 3

“I still don’t understand how you found us.” My mother whispered softly as she started to peel carrots over the kitchen sink. I wanted to help her but the look she gave me when I tried to stand told me otherwise. 

Professor Katz chuckled before speaking, “Never miss judge a scent trail, no matter how old.” He told her. I couldn’t help but think that was such an odd thing to say, but stayed quiet as I observed the two before me. 

“Well, she’s here, so you might as well tell her.” My mother snapped, something I hadn't seen from her in such a long time. Concern clearly written on my face caused her features to soften a bit. She put down the peeler and carrot to come stand behind me, squeezing my shoulder as Professor Katz started to explain why he was there.  

“I am a Professor from the Academy of Eltroxus, and I have come to extend a formal invitation to study at our school.” 

“Eltroxus?” I asked, looking up at my mom as the exotic word slipped off my tongue. It was clearly something I had never heard of in my life before. 

“Yes,, it's like an elite school for the, er gifted.” He replied with a smile drawing my attention back to him. “Of course you should have started last year but well…” He chuckled, trailing off as my mother squeezed my shoulders a bit harder. “Anyways, it doesn’t matter, I am here to take you there. We have a dorm set up for you and everything.” He waved away whatever he was about to say. I let the words sink in as I stared at the broken mural my mother and I were going to replace. 

“Dorm?” I asked. “I wouldn’t be-“ My mother cut me off before I could finish. Kneeling down in front of me, she pulled my sketchbook from my hands, placing it on the table before taking my hands into hers. I stared down at her as I watched her force tears back once more. 

“I knew this day would come. I can’t hide you from the truth, you must go with him and discover the world your father died for. Just promise me you’ll come back.” She whispered the last part. Pain washed through me at the realization that she was sending me away. Was this some boarding school? Was there something wrong with me? Had she been saving up for this, this whole time? So many questions ran through my mind. My chest hurt as I felt a tear slip down my cheek. My mother quickly pulled me into a tight hug, letting a sob escape her. 

“If I go, promise me you’ll leave him.” I whispered after a moment. “Promise me when I come find you that you’ll be in a better place.” I told her. 

“I promise.” She whispered before giving me a long kiss on the forehead and stepped back. “Go pack your things, be quick.” She instructed me as her voice cracked. Nodding, I quickly did as she asked, grabbing my backpack, I bolted upstairs to fetch my things. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Part of me felt excited to leave this place, its what I wanted, but I wanted to bring my mother with me. Maybe she could move closer. I would have to ask the Professor once I was done here. 

Throwing a few sets of clothes into a duffel bag along with my bathroom things and some odds and ends that were close to me, I was ready within minutes. I didn’t have a lot any more anyway. I had sold a lot of my belongings to help pay for my schooling. Or to help with bills if my stepdad spent too much, which was pretty often. Entering the kitchen once more with my things, I set them down before giving my mother one more hug. 

“Before I go, I have to ask, were you saving up for this, this whole time?” I asked her. She pulled away, sobs clearly stuck in her throat. 

“No, this is paid for by the crown, due to your father's service to the Alpha King.” Professor Katz stated for her. “Anything you want or need will be theirs to pay for the next four years.” He added. 

“Four years? I only have one year left?” I asked questioningly. 

“Consider yourself graduated and moving on to college.” My mother added. I turned to her confused but before I could ask, Katz picked up my duffel bag. 

“Ready?” He asked as he extended his hand out to me. 

“Wait!” My mother called before I could take his hand. 

“Don’t forget this.” She slipped my sketchbook that I had left on the table into my hands. 

“Before I went, I made up some sketches for the mural. I -“ She cut me off with a sweet smile as she closed my book. “Show me when you get back, besides I will have a new wall when you come that we can paint. I’ll keep my promise.” She told me. I couldn’t help but feel my heart warm at the statement. She would leave him, I knew it in my heart. 

“Deal.” I told her. The Professor cleared his throat, clearly tired of waiting. Taking his hand, he pulled me close, before throwing the duffel bag over his shoulder and letting an ear-piecing howl escape his lips. I tried to cover my ears, but he wouldn’t let go of my hand. Before I knew it, the world came out of focus, then swirled around me. My head grew light and my stomach grew heavy. 

The howling finally stopped, and the professor let go of my hand, only to quickly grip my shoulders as I fell to the ground with a thud. My world was still spinning as I quickly turned over, emptying the continence of my stomach. 

“The first time is always the worst, you’ll get used to it.” He chuckled as he let me roll through the motions of motion sickness. My head pounded against my skull as another wave of sickness took over. 

“I don’t think this will end.” I managed to breathe out, to receive a few chuckles in response, were there more people here? The entire room kept spinning. I couldn’t make out any of the figures, but I was being held down, that much I could feel. 

“Drink this.” An unfamiliar voice told me as something pressed to my lips. I didn’t think it would stay down, but I did as she instructed. Whatever the continence were it seemed to settle my stomach right away, a sweet blueberry taste took over, which I gladly accepted over the taste of stomach acid and whatever I had for lunch. Another drink came to my lips next. Thinking it was more of that sweet tasting syrup, I swallowed it fast only to realize it was not the same. My vision became spotted with black, as a woman's voice whispered in my ear. “Get some rest, traveling like that is not for the faint of heart.”  

One moment I was in my kitchen with my mother and the professor and the next I was sitting up in a cot. I rubbed my eyes as I pulled myself up, the world still spun a little bit around me, but I could make out most object now. 

“Your awake! How’s your head?” A female voice asked from my left. I turned to see a stunning older woman with long blond hair tied back in a high ponytail. Getting up from her desk, she quickly made her way over to me, her hand placed on my forehead. 

“Still, a bit dizzy.” I remarked as I tried to piece together what had just happened. 

“Where… How?” I stumbled over what to ask first. The women chuckled softly before flashing a light in my eye unsuspectingly, causing me to flinch away from her. 

“You seem to be all in there, so that's good news.” She remarked, ignoring my stumble of words. “Levi, please go fetch Professor Katz, let him know she's awake.” She drew her attention to a boy around my age who was watching us from a distance. He stood once she addressed him and left without a word. 

“He’s my assistant.” She informed me as she wheeled over her chair to sit next to me. 

“Where am I?” I finally managed to ask. 

“The Academy of Eltroxus of course!” She beamed as she let her hands fly out around her, gesturing to the surrounding space. I took this moment to fully take in my surroundings. The room was very grand, vaulted ceilings, all decorated with different murals of what looked to be a battle. Men mixed with wolves seemed to be fighting one another everywhere. The murals were lined with a stunningly detailed golden trim, and small sets of chandeliers hung over head casting the room with a warm glowy feeling. Beds lined the walls, some were full while most were empty. A desk at the end of the room to my left was where the woman came from, then there was another one across from me on the other side where Levi had been sitting. 

“How did I get here?” I asked, confused. I was just in the kitchen with my mom. 

“Professor Katz used a teleportation spell. It was the fastest way to get here from the mortal world.” She informed me. 

“Mortal world?” I asked, even more confused than before. 

“Has no one explained this to you?” She asked, just as confused as I was. I shook my head no, and she scoffed. “Well that's just great! No wonder you were in such a state.” She took a deep breath, thinking about her next words carefully. 

“What do you know?” She asked after a moment.

“Just that I was going to a new school, one my dad used to work at before he died I guess?” I replied. 

“Thats it? That's all you know?” She asked more sternly this time. Unable to form words, I just nodded my head once more. The woman before me stood at once, almost like she could hear Levi and Professor Katz just entering the room. 

“KATZ!” She yelled. 

“Shhh, I know.” He replied rather tired. 

“She knows NOTHING?” she barked at him, rage filling her eyes as she watched him make his way over. 

“Kenzie! We had no time. I needed to bring her back, so she could start classes tomorrow. She's already a year behind. I figured she would learn as she goes.” He informed her. The woman just rolled her eyes, taking one last pitied look at me before she turned away from us, wheeling her chair back to her desk. 

“At least explain the wolf thing.” She said as she dug back into her work. “She is clear to leave.”

“Come along, Emily,” The Professor instructed with an outstretched hand. I knew I wouldn’t be taking hold of that anytime soon. Pushing the blankets off my bed, I found my footing and eyed his hand closely. “Fine, we will walk,” he sighed after a moment and turned back towards the door he had just entered from. 

“This is the clinic. Kenzie runs the unit herself, and boy does it get busy in there some days.” He chuckled softly, mostly to himself. Leaving the Clinic, we were greeted to a rather large field. “This is the training grounds, where you’ll take some of your classes.” He informed me as we made our way through the field, leading into a giant castle built into the mountainside. I couldn’t help but slow my pace in awe as the full moon made the castle glow in the night. 

“Stunning isn't it?” He asked. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” I whispered, not wanting to disrupt the stillness of the night. A low growl drew my attention as I spun around to see a large wolf, almost as tall as the Professor himself emerge from the tree line just beside the clinic. The wolf's head was down, smelling the ground, but the sounds it was making almost sounded like it was in pain. 

“Interesting.” The professor said as he raised an eyebrow at me, then back to the wolf. I felt my heart race as I stepped behind the professor, eying the door to the clinic. Could we make it there in time before this thing attacked us?  

The wolf didn’t seem to like my action, and it snorted, causing dust from the ground to fly into the air. Lifting his head, he growled once more, showing his sharp teeth. I felt my heart beat in my ears as I tried not to make any sudden movements. Was this what the professor needed to talk to me about? That wolves roamed the campus at night? 

“Do you feel anything?” The professor asked all of a sudden. Besides the fact that I was absolutely terrified, no, I didn’t feel anything. But I didn’t want to startle the wolf, so I just shook my head as I reached for the Professor's hand, hoping that maybe he could zoom us away like before. The wolf lunged at the professor instantly. 

He threw me to the side, causing me to fall to the ground as he tousled with the beast. I let out a scream as I stumbled to my feet, running for the clinic, only to see Levi throw open the door. Just as I was about to reach them, I watched in pure horror as Levi’s head shifted, his dark skin pulled in ways I couldn’t imagine until a wolf replaced him completely. I watched stunned as he dashed into the fight, ripping the much larger wolf off the professor. 

Katz looked untouched mostly, but he started shredding his jacket off, revealing a perfectly fitted dress shirt and black pants. He grinned ear to ear as he moved into a fighting stance, flexing his muscles as his eyes fixated on the wolf. 

“Come try it again, pup!” The inhuman growl escaped Professor Katz. “Your still just a prince, I can still take you on.” This sent the wolf into a craze as he lashed out at the Professor, knocking him to the ground. 

“Emily.” Kenzie’s soft voice drew my attention as she raced towards me. I half expected her to shift and change in front of me, but she never did. 

“This is why he should have explained things to you! Now look at this mess.” She huffed as she folded her arms over her chest, staring at the fight before her. Levi had now squeezed his way in between the two, causing them to break the fight up once again. 

Turning to face me, the large wolf started to slowly walk towards me, but Kenzie put her hand out. “Maximus, you need to wait, she has no idea what's going on.” She told him, causing him to stop in his tracks, locking eyes with the woman. 

“Is it hu-human too?” I asked softly, which caused the wolfs ears to pick up instantly. 

“Do you not feel any attraction at all?” She turned to look at me, concern written on her face. “Don’t you have a wolf inside you?” she then asked quickly, taking her flashlight out to look into my eyes once more. 

“What?” I asked, shocked. What in the world was happening to me?