Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 6: Welcome To Lunaris Academy

As Violet stepped off the train, she was immediately struck by the sheer magnitude of Aster City. It was everything she had imagined and more. If she could compare it to her district, it was safe to say that she had been living beneath a rock all through her life.

As a capital city, it buzzed with energy, alive with towering buildings, throngs of people, and a chaotic blend of sounds that reverberated through the air. Yet, despite its overwhelming presence, no one seemed to notice her.

The girl with the unusual purple hair and duffel bag passed unnoticed through the crowd. In her district, she had always drawn stares, whispers following her wherever she went, but here? She was just another face in the sea of humanity. The reality was both liberating and unsettling.

However, what took Violet aback, though, was the diversity of the people around her. Even among humans, there were so many different races, ethnicities, and styles all mingling together. But it wasn't just humans. For the first time in her life, Violet came close enough to the werewolves, creatures she had only read about in textbooks or heard whispered stories of.

Violet had studied them enough to recognize them by the way they carried themselves, strong, imposing, and exuding a certain raw energy that was impossible to ignore. Her mother hadn't been exaggerating. These creatures were stunning in an almost unnerving way. Tall, muscled, and impossibly attractive, they exuded an effortless dominance that made it hard not to stare.

But Violet knew she couldn't spend the day gawking. This was unfamiliar territory, and as exhilarating as it was, it was also dangerous. Anything could happen in a place like this. She could be robbed, scammed, or worse, kidnapped. Her instincts, finely tuned from years of cautious living, kicked in, and she approached a few humans who seemed approachable.

"You're going to Lunaris Academy?" the man she asked — Carlos, he introduced himself — gave her a look she couldn't quite decipher. There was something unsettling about his expression, almost as if there was pity mixed with concern.

"Yes," she answered.

"No bus goes directly to Lunaris Academy," he finally said, his voice thick with an accent she couldn't place. "You'll have to hire a taxi."

Violet's stomach sank. A taxi? Oh god, no.

Back in her district, no one took taxis. They were far too expensive, and she had little money to spare. Violet was stuck, unsure of what to do next. Nancy had given her all that she could spare and she couldn't waste it on a taxi ride.

Carlos must have sensed her distress, because he added, "Follow me."

Violet's gut didn't scream danger, but she was cautious nonetheless. They walked to a nearby parking lot, and Carlos approached a man in a car. After a brief, animated conversation, Carlos waved her over.

"That's my cousin, Amilo," Carlos said, pointing to his cousin who was now trying to turn in the right direction. "I talked to him. He'll take you for half the usual price. You can trust him."

you," she murmured, feeling

grew darker. "Just be careful in that damned school. Our kind thinks it's a privilege, but those furry freaks are no good. Devourers, the lot of them. And I wonder why humans

warning even more ominous, but Violet brushed it aside, pushing the fear away. It wasn't like she had much choice. But she kept it in the back

then glanced over to Amilo,

the nickname almost making her bristle, but there was

the road, he peppered her with questions about her name, where she was from, and a compliment on her hair, assuming it was dyed. Violet didn't correct him. She didn't need him prying too

seems

dyed your hair purple?" Amilo asked, a teasing smile on his face. "Trying

Amilo must have sensed her

a decent voice, but Violet wasn't about to compliment him. Not when she was grateful for the distraction from his prying

two-lane road flanked by thick, untamed wilderness, Amilo's

the window, confused. All she could see was more trees, nothing but dense forest stretching in every

but—" Her words cut off as Amilo rounded a bend,

she whispered, her eyes widening

like something plucked from the pages of a fairytale. Nestled in a sprawling estate surrounded by lush forests and rolling green hills, the sight was both breathtaking and imposing. The trees stretched above the road, their branches weaving together to form a natural canopy that dappled the

an elaborate coat of arms on the top, and beneath it, in bold, capital letters

by two sturdy brick pillars topped with white stone, elegant yet formidable. The surrounding walls seemed to stretch endlessly, marking the boundaries of the prestigious grounds. Neatly landscaped shrubs lined the perimeter, and small spotlights

ruined state of the world where technology was a rare privilege, the gate was surprisingly automated, sliding open smoothly as they approached. They were met with a small security checkpoint where a guard stepped out, holding a sleek electronic device in his hand that immediately caught Violet's

asked in a tone that was

replied, her voice unexpectedly small, the

the guard's

was lifted, and as their car rolled forward, Violet

her mind, but she shrugged it off. He was probably just logging her arrival. Though she didn't own a phone, Violet was familiar enough with basic tech, thanks to the media center back in her old school. Hopefully, Lunaris Academy would offer better resources, and she wouldn't have to deal with booking slots ahead of time

imagined. Tall, majestic trees lined the road, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Wide, manicured lawns stretched out on either side, dotted with stone fountains,

they arrived at the