CHAPTER 16 - U of H

Lyra I woke up, managing to bite back part of my moan, pulse pounding in my veins. My sheets were tangled around me, and I was drenched in sweat. Thoughts from the night before had turned into a nightmare about Ryan. Terrific. Images of Ryan played in my head all day and now he was in my dreams too? I cursed under my breath, something I couldn't do at home. I lay there, trying to forget the weird dream, but questions kept nagging at me. Was my brain trying to send a message, or was it just a jumbled mess of random memories? I pushed myself into a sitting position, rubbing at my eyes as if that could clear my mind. I had hoped for a peaceful night's sleep, but it seemed like Ryan had other plans for my subconscious. Sally poked her head out from under the covers, her eyes bleary with sleep. "You okay, Lyra?" she asked, her voice thick with exhaustion. I nodded, trying to shake off the last dregs of my dream. "Yeah, just a little disoriented. I'm not used to sleeping in a new place, that's all." Sally yawned and ducked back under the covers. "You can shower first if you want. I could use a little more sleep." I slipped out of bed and made my way to the bathroom, grateful for the chance to clear my head. Under the hot spray of the shower, I made a promise to myself that there would be no more falling for Ryan's tricks. Not his blue eyes. Soft lips. Or wicked tongue either. I couldn't trust him, no matter how much I wanted to. He had betrayed me once, and I couldn't let him do it again. The water cascaded down my body, washing away the fears and the doubts. I closed my eyes and let the warm droplets soothe my aching muscles. Today was my first day at Harbringer. It was the beginning of a new start for me. A chance to leave behind the past and reinvent myself. No one knew me here. I could be whoever I wanted to be. And I intended to do just that. Sally was sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. "Feel better?" she asked, her voice still groggy with sleep. "Yes, definitely! Thanks a bunch, Sally." Sally's smile was infectious, full of a warmth I hadn't felt in ages. It was starting to feel normal, this smile thing, and I secretly hoped it was here to stay. "Ready for the first day?" she asked. I nodded, the smile still plastered on my face. At least Ryan, for all his faults, had done one thing right – bringing Sally and me together. From the moment we met, she'd been nothing but kind... a welcome change from the cruelty I'd known for so long. While Sally showered, I wrestled on a pair of jeans and a tan sweater. Pulling the sleeves to my elbows, I turned towards the mirror. The bruise below my eye had faded to a sickly yellow, and the scratch on my cheek was more scab than wound. Without a wolf, even the smallest injuries lingered. My side of the sink was littered with a makeup bag overflowing with expensive brands – names I'd only seen in glossy magazines. I smeared on a bit of concealer, added mascara and eyeliner to disguise, and swiped on some lip gloss. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. If anyone asked, maybe I could claim allergies, a particularly bad night's sleep... Anything but the truth – that I was broken inside and out, a wolf-less fraud stumbling through a world meant for stronger creatures. An hour later, Sally and I stepped into the sunlight, our arms linked. The warmth felt good against my skin, a welcome change. I took a deep breath, noticing the clean scent of the air and the sounds of birds. For the first time in ages, a feeling of freedom flickered inside me. Freedom from the harsh rules of my old pack, the pressure from my family, and the lingering sting of Ryan's betrayal. Sally grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Isn't it gorgeous?" she asked, waving a hand to take in the campus. It was. Even better than I'd hoped, honestly. Emberwood's sleek, modern buildings couldn't compare to Harbinger's grandeur. Weathered stone draped in ivy, sunlight dappling through stained glass, even the clocktower seemed to yearn for the heavens. The grounds were lush, and most of the trees already sported hints of fall colors. My head was on a swivel, taking it all in. Sally talked non-stop as we walked, filling me in on landmarks and campus lore. I listened, eager to learn. This place had to become home, and the sooner the better. "Today you will have orientation," Sally said, her voice full of excitement. "You'll get to meet the other students who started late, and when you're done, we'll have lunch in the Quad and go over the schedule for the semester. Afterwards, you'll have your placement test." "Placement test?" I echoed numbly. I had no wolf to place. A flurry of anxious thoughts swirled through my mind. What if they found out I was a fraud? What if they realized I didn't belong here? What if Ryan found out? The very idea made my blood run cold. They'd already thrown me out once, my own pack, leaving me all alone. That hurt still burned under my skin. I couldn't face it again, the feeling of being unwanted, like I didn't even belong. It would break me for good this time. A wave of panic washed over me as I took a shaky breath. More than anything, I was scared Ryan would find out my secret. Then he'd know I was a fake, a powerless nobody in a world where being strong was the only thing that mattered. As we walked, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Ryan's piercing blue eyes staring back at me.