“Tell me you didn’t actually do that.”
Nyra didn’t have to look up from her book to know who was speaking.
“I did.”
Ravenna stared at her.
“You actually did?”
Nyra turned another page.
“Yes.”
Aurelia, sitting beside Ravenna, calmly took a sip from her drink.
“I told you she would.”
Ravenna turned toward her.
“You encouraged her?”
“Nope.”
“You’re smiling.”
“I find Nyra’s poor decisions entertaining.”
Nyra finally looked up.
“My decisions aren’t poor.”
“You shoved a Beta into a table yesterday,” Ravenna said.
“He grabbed me first.”
“You insulted him before that.”
“He deserved it.”
Aurelia nodded thoughtfully.
“He probably did.”
Ravenna looked between them.
“I’m surrounded by lunatics.”
Nyra smiled.
“Good morning to you too.”
“It stopped being a good morning the moment I heard what happened yesterday.”
Nyra closed her book.
“Are you two done?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Aurelia said at the same time.
Ravenna frowned at her.
“You’re supposed to support me.”
“I support peace.”
“You’re sitting beside Nyra.”
“I never said I was good at peace.”
Nyra laughed.
That was how most mornings at Silverpine University went for Nyra: Three girls, One table, several books and at least one argument before their first lecture.
The university courtyard was already crowded.
Werewolves moved through it in groups, just like they always did.
Some wore their pack emblems openly on their jackets.
Others had small markings stitched into their uniforms.
A few students communicated without saying a word, their expressions changing as invisible conversations passed between them, Mind links were as normal to them as talking.
It was simply another part of being a wolf.
Nyra’s phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Ravenna: You still owe me the notes from yesterday.
Nyra looked up.
“Why didn’t you just mind-link me to remind me about the notes?”
Ravenna shrugged.
“Because you ignored my messages.”
“I was studying.”
“You were sleeping.”
“I was studying in my dreams.”
Aurelia laughed.
Nyra shook her head.
The three of them had been friends for three years.Three years of lectures, assignments, arguments, secrets, bad food, late-night studying, and far too many situations that should have gotten them into trouble.
They knew each other’s habits, tempers and they knew exactly when Nyra was pretending she wasn’t bothered by something.
Ravenna leaned closer.
“By the way, you’re coming with us after class.”
“To where?”
“Training grounds.”
Nyra raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because you need practice.”
“I practice.”
“You sparred twice this month.”
“Three times.”
“One of those was with a first-year.”
“He challenged me.”
“He was fifteen.”
“He was confident.”
Aurelia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Ravenna groaned.
“Exactly my point.”
Nyra smiled.
Being an Omega didn’t mean she was forbidden from training but most Omegas didn’t bother.
The reason was simple, according to the people who believed in the hierarchy, Omegas were generally considered weakest in every pack.
They were expected to avoid unnecessary fights, and obey orders from those higher than them but Nyra had never particularly cared about those expectations.
She trained because she liked knowing she could defend herself because there was something satisfying about watching someone’s expression change when they underestimated her.
The bell rang.
Ravenna stood.
“Come on.”
Nyra picked up her books.
As they crossed the courtyard, someone bumped hard into her shoulder.
Nyra stopped.
The student didn’t even turn around, Ravenna looked at her.
“Don’t even think about it Nyra.”
“I wasn’t going to do anything.”
“You’re thinking about it.”
“I was admiring his back.”
Aurelia snorted.
“No, you weren’t.”
Nyra smiled.
“Maybe.”
They continued walking.
None of them noticed the man standing near the far gate.
He had been watching Nyra.He has always felt that something about her scent was strange.
It wasn’t strong enough to identify nor familiar…just different.
He watched her disappear into the building then he looked away.
Several hours later, the Alpha’s residence of the Blackthorn Pack was considerably less peaceful.
Zayne sat behind his desk, reading a report.
He had been reading it for approximately three minutes.He still hated it, Another border dispute.
He dropped the paper onto the desk.
“Who approved this patrol route?”
Cassian, his Beta and bestfriend looked up from the chair opposite him.
“The northern patrol captain.”
“Why?”
“Because apparently he enjoys making your life difficult.”
Zayne gave him a look.
Cassian smiled.
“I’ll speak to him.”
“You’ll do more than speak.”
“Threatening him?”
“Training him.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It isn’t.”
“That’s worse.”
Zayne ignored him.
A soft knock came at the door.
A guard entered.
“Alpha.”
Zayne looked up.
“Report.”
“There was movement near the eastern boundary last night.”
“What kind?”
“Rogues.”
Zayne’s expression hardened.
“How many?”
“Three, possibly four.”
“Did they cross?”
“No.”
“Then why were they there?”
“We don’t know.”
Zayne stood.
“Double the patrol.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
The guard left.
Cassian watched Zayne.
“You think they’re planning something?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re worried.”
“No I’m not.”
“You are.”
Zayne looked at him, Cassian held up his hands.
“Fine. You’re not worried.”
Zayne’s mind-link suddenly opened.
“Alpha”.
One of the patrol wolves said.
Zayne recognized the voice immediately.
“Speak”.
“Movement near the western ridge”.
Zayne’s eyes narrowed.
“How many?”
“Unknown. We are tracking them.”
“Don’t engage unless they cross the boundary.”
“Understood.”
The link closed.
Cassian had heard enough from Zayne’s expression.
“Another report?”
“Western ridge.”
“Rogues?”
“Possibly.”
Cassian sighed.
“Busy day.”
“It usually is.”
He leaned back.
“Do you ever think about having a normal life?”
Zayne looked at him.
“This is my normal life.”
“You know what I mean.”
Zayne did.
He simply didn’t answer.
There were responsibilities that came with being Alpha; Protecting the pack, maintaining order, settling disputes, making decisions and eventually, there would be another responsibility,A mate.
Zayne had spent years wondering who she would be and where she is.
He’d never admitted it aloud, but he sometimes wondered whether she even existed.
It’s not that he doubted the mate bond but he simply wondered how long fate intended to make him wait.
Cassian watched him.
“You’re thinking about her again.”
Zayne frowned.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I was thinking about the pack.”
“You always say that when you’re thinking about your mate.”
Zayne gave him a warning look.
Cassian grinned.
“Fine. I’ll stop.”
“You should.”
After a brief moment of silence..
“Do you think she’ll like you?”
Zayne stared at him.
Cassian burst out laughing.
Back at university, Nyra’s final lecture ended just before sunset.
She stepped outside with Ravenna and Aurelia.
“Training,” Ravenna reminded her.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“You were hoping I would.”
“Yeah I was hoping you would.”
“Too late.”
They walked toward the training grounds.
The university maintained a private section of forest where wolves could train and when necessary shift without disturbing the human settlements beyond their territory.
Most students used the grounds casually but Nyra didn’t.
Ravenna watched her tied her hair back
“You’re taking this seriously.”
“I always take training seriously.”
“You’re an Omega.”
Nyra looked at her.
Ravenna immediately raised both hands.
“I know. I know. I wasn’t insulting you.”
Nyra smiled.
“I know.”
She stepped into the clearing.
Aurelia followed.
“Who goes first?”
Ravenna cracked her knuckles.
“Me.”
Nyra smiled.
“Good.”
The next few minutes were filled with movement.
Ravenna attacked first, Nyra dodged fast, faster than Ravenna expected.
“Hey!”
Nyra laughed.
“You’re slow.”
“I am not slow!”
Ravenna lunged again.
Nyra moved sideways, caught her arm, and sent her stumbling past.
Aurelia shook her head.
“You two are going to destroy the training ground.”
Ravenna turned.
“Stop distracting me!”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You looked distracting.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t have to.”
Nyra laughed again.
For a while, there was nothing else.
No strange feeling or wolves howling in the distance.
No secrets just three friends enjoying the evening.
But when Nyra suddenly stopped, both girls noticed.
“What?” Ravenna asked.
Nyra lifted her head.
Her eyes moved toward the trees.
“Someone’s there.”
Aurelia became alert immediately.
“Where?”
“Left.”
Ravenna’s expression changed.
“I don’t hear anything.”
“I do.”
Nyra stood completely still.
Her ears caught something faint.
A branch snap then a footstep then nothing.
She moved forward.
“Nyra-”
She raised a hand.
“Wait.”
She listened again.
Nothing.
After a few seconds, she relaxed.
“Gone.”
Ravenna frowned.
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah.”
Aurelia looked toward the forest.
“What did you sense?”
“I don’t know.”
Nyra looked around again.
” I thoght I heard sense some movement.”
She couldn’t explain it.
Sometimes she simply noticed things before other people did.
Like a shift in the air, a sound beneath another sound, a movement that shouldn’t have been noticeable.
She had always assumed everyone experienced the same thing.
Apparently not.
Ravenna walked over.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re sure?”
Nyra smiled.
“I’m fine.”
Aurelia studied her.
Then she nodded.
“Okay.”
They returned to training.
But Nyra kept glancing toward the trees.
Something had been there.
She was certain.
That night, Nyra returned home alone.
Mara was sitting at the kitchen table.
“You’re late.”
“I was training.”
“With the girls?”
“Yeah.”
Mara smiled.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with them lately.”
“They’re my best friends.”
“I know.”
Nyra dropped her bag then she noticed Mara looked tired, more than usual.
“Mama?”
“Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
Mara looked at her.
For a second, something flashed across her face.
Fear.
Then it disappeared.
“I’m fine.”
Nyra frowned.
“You’re using my answer.”
Mara smiled.
“Perhaps I learned it from you.”
Nyra walked over and hugged her.
Mara stiffened for the briefest moment before wrapping her arms around her.
“You worry too much,” Nyra murmured.
Mara closed her eyes.
“If only you knew.”
Nyra pulled away.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
There was that word again; ‘Nothing’.
She was beginning to hate it.
Mara stood.
“Go eat my dear.”
Nyra watched her walk away.
Something was wrong, She just didn’t know what.
Outside, the moon had risen.
Nyra stepped toward the window.
For a moment, she thought she saw something white move between the trees.
She blinked.
Nothing.
Then a howl echoed through the darkness.
Nyra’s body went still.
Her wolf stirred inside her.
“Eira?”
Nyra waited.
Then came the faintest response.
“Yes girl, I’m here”.
Nyra frowned.
Eira rarely spoke unless she had a reason.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes”.
“What is it?”
“I can’t tell exactly what but I think it is a person”
Nyra stared into the darkness.
For reasons she couldn’t explain, the forest suddenly felt much closer than it had yesterday and somewhere beyond the trees, something was moving.
Thank you so much for reading Nyra: The last blood.
See you in the next chapter, don’t miss out, the fun’s only getting started.
Leave your comments, they’re very much appreciated.