By the time Mary got home, the sun was starting to dip low, turning the sky orange like a bruise.
She stepped onto the porch and hesitated.
The screen door was half open.
That meant Marvin was home.
Mary pushed it open carefully, stepping inside.
The smell hit her immediately—coffee and old books like always. The house was quiet except for the faint sound of paper flipping.
She turned the corner and found Marvin in his recliner, reading with his glasses low on his nose. A mug sat in his hand like it was glued there.
He didn't even look up when she walked in.
"Shoes off," he said.
Mary kicked off her shoes automatically.
Then she slowly pulled the envelope from her bag and held it up.
Marvin's eyes lifted.
One glance at the black seal—
And something in his expression changed.
Not shock.
Not surprise.
Something closer to… resignation.
Like a man watching the past finally catch up.
Mary frowned. "You're not even going to ask what it is?"
Marvin leaned back, exhaling through his nose. "Obsidian Moon."
Mary's stomach dropped. "You knew?"
"I suspected," he muttered, taking another sip of coffee like this was just another Tuesday.
Mary stepped closer. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you wouldn't have listened."
Mary's voice rose. "I didn't even want this!"
Marvin finally looked at her properly, his sharp eyes landing on her face like he could read the truth behind her skin.
"No," he said quietly, "but it wanted you."
The words made Mary's blood run cold.
Marvin stared at the envelope again.
Then, as if he couldn't help himself, his gaze shifted to Mary's hair—the black strands, the natural platinum streaks like moonlight sewn into darkness.
He swallowed hard.
Memories flickered behind his eyes.
Mary, three years old, sitting on the kitchen floor while a spoon floated up off the counter behind her… before crashing down like nothing happened.
Mary, seven years old, catching a falling glass without looking, her hand moving too fast to be human.
Mary, ten years old, snapping her head toward a sound outside the house while Marvin heard nothing at all.
She always sensed things.
Always moved like her body knew a rhythm the world couldn't teach.
Marvin had pretended it was luck.
Or instincts.
Or anything normal.
Because if it wasn't normal…
Then it meant something else.
And Marvin didn't like things he couldn't control.
Mary's voice pulled him back. "What's wrong with me?"
Marvin's mouth tightened. "Nothing."
Mary didn't believe him.
She could tell by the way his jaw clenched.
By the way his fingers tightened around the mug like he needed something solid.
Before she could speak again, heels clicked against the hardwood floor.
Samantha Marvin appeared in the doorway like a storm dressed in pearls.
She didn't smile.
She never smiled at Mary.
Her eyes landed on the envelope and her lip curled immediately.
"Oh," she said, voice dripping disgust. "So it finally happened."
Mary turned to her, irritation rising. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Samantha crossed her arms. "It means my life is officially ruined."
Marvin's tone was low, warning. "Samantha."
She ignored him, stepping closer and looking Mary up and down like she was inspecting damage.
"Do you know what people are going to say?" Samantha hissed. "They're going to say we raised that."
Mary's hands curled into fists. "I'm standing right here."
Samantha's eyes flashed. "Yes. You always are."
Then she leaned in, her voice turning sharp enough to cut.
"You're a mistake, Mary."
The words hit like a slap.
Mary's throat tightened but she refused to show it. "I didn't ask you to marry Marvin."
Samantha's expression twisted.
"Oh, you think you're clever?" she snapped. "You think because you bat those big eyes and walk around with that body you can do whatever you want?"
Mary stepped forward. "Stop talking about me like I'm dirty."
Samantha laughed once, cold. "Obsidian Moon will eat you alive."
Marvin slammed his mug down on the side table so hard coffee splashed.
"Enough," he barked.
The room fell into tense silence.
Samantha looked at Marvin like she wanted to argue, then turned and walked away, muttering under her breath.
Mary stood there shaking, anger burning hot in her chest.
Marvin's gaze softened—just barely.
"Don't listen to her," he said gruffly. "She doesn't know what she's saying."
Mary's voice dropped. "She knows exactly what she's saying."
Marvin didn't deny it.
He just stared at the invitation again like it was an execution notice.
"You're leaving soon," he murmured.
Mary's stomach sank.
Soon.
The word felt too real.
⸻
That night, Mary tried not to think.
She showered. She ate half a sandwich. She stared at her ceiling until her eyes burned.
But eventually, sleep came anyway.
And when it did—
It dragged her somewhere that didn't feel like a dream at all.
Mary stood in front of massive iron gates.
The words carved into black stone read:
OBSIDIAN MOON ACADEMY
The air smelled like pine and smoke and something wild underneath.
The academy stretched behind the gates like a castle—dark towers, glowing windows, jagged rooftops that scraped the sky.
Somewhere deeper inside, bells rang slowly.
A warning.
Mary stepped forward.
The gates opened by themselves.
She entered.
The hallways were enormous, lit by floating candlelight that hovered without strings. Shadows crawled along the walls like they were alive.
Then she heard it.
A scream.
Mary ran.
Her bare feet slapped marble floors as she sprinted through the dark.
The sound pulled her toward a courtyard, bright under a full moon.
And that's where she saw him.
A man on the ground.
Huge. Powerful. Even unmoving, he looked dangerous.
Blood pooled beneath him like spilled ink.
His eyes were open, empty, staring up at the moon as if accusing it.
A symbol was carved into his chest—deep and cruel.
Mary's breath caught.
She didn't know his name.
But her body did.
Her heart stuttered like it recognized him.
The murdered Alpha.
She stepped closer, trembling.
And then she felt it.
She wasn't alone.
Three shadows emerged from the darkness—three men stepping into moonlight like kings walking into their kingdom.
Mary couldn't move.
Because they were beautiful in a way that didn't feel human.
They were predators carved into perfection.
The first one had hair the color of midnight and eyes like silver—cold, sharp, ancient. His jaw was hard, his expression unreadable, dressed in dark uniform-like clothing that made him look like the academy belonged to him.
His voice was deep and controlled.
"You don't belong here."
The second Alpha's hair was ash-blonde, messy like he didn't care, but his presence hit like a storm. His eyes were golden—wolf-gold. The kind that watched you like prey and treasure at the same time.
He smiled… but it wasn't kind.
"She belongs exactly where she is."
The third Alpha was the scariest.
Not because he looked cruel.
Because he looked calm.
His hair was dark brown, his eyes a rich green like forest shadows. His face was handsome in a quiet way, but his gaze held something deeper—like he could see her secrets without trying.
He took one slow step closer.
And Mary felt her entire body react.
Heat.
Fear.
Something hungry waking in her bones.
His voice was soft.
"Mary Marvin…"
He said her name like it was sacred.
Like he'd been waiting for her.
Mary shook her head, backing up. "How do you know me?"
The silver-eyed Alpha's gaze narrowed. "Because you're the reason he's dead."
Mary's breath shattered. "What?! No—I don't even know him!"
The blond Alpha snarled low. "Someone does."
The green-eyed Alpha's expression darkened.
"Someone brought you here," he said, "and they want you silenced next."
Mary turned, ready to run—
And the murdered Alpha's eyes blinked.
His hand twitched.
His mouth opened.
A whisper came out, wet with blood.
"Run… human…"
The courtyard exploded into darkness.
Hands grabbed Mary from behind.
She screamed—
⸻
Mary shot up in bed drenched in sweat, breathing hard as if she'd been sprinting for miles.
Her heart was pounding so loud it hurt.
She pressed her hand to her chest.
It felt like something was still there—like the dream had left a mark under her skin.
Mary turned her head toward the window.
The night outside was too quiet.
Too still.
She swallowed thickly.
And for the first time in her life…
Mary didn't feel safe in her own room.
⸻
The next morning, Mary walked into school with her nerves stretched tight.
Whispers followed her.
They always did.
But today they felt different.
Sharper.
Afraid.
As Mary reached her locker, the intercom crackled overhead.
"Mary Marvin."
The principal's voice was too serious.
"Please report to the office immediately."
The hallway went silent.
Mary felt every gaze snap to her.
Jada appeared beside her instantly, protective. "Go with your head up."
Avery squeezed her arm. "Text us."
Miles stared at her with something she couldn't name—worry, maybe… or something deeper.
Mary forced her legs to move.
One step at a time.
The principal's office smelled like old carpet and stale peppermint.
The principal sat behind his desk, looking uncomfortable.
Beside him was a man Mary had never seen before—tall, dressed in black, posture too straight, eyes too cold.
The principal cleared his throat. "Mary… Obsidian Moon Academy has sent for you early."
Mary's stomach dropped.
"Early?"