Chapter 7 Golden Privilege, Crimson Consequence.

Serena did not move from the doorway as her eyes landed on the scene in her dorm.

Damien's hand was tangled in the girl's hair, with her back pressed against the stone wall beside his bed.

His mouth was on hers and all over it.

Serene didn't really put much into the sex happening in front of her, but on the fact that there was a girl...

Inside an all-boys academy.

For half a second, Serena thought she had stepped into the wrong room.

Then Damien opened his eyes and he saw her.

And instead of shoving the girl away in panic, instead of cursing in fear or something else...

He simply pulled back, slowly and carefully.

"You're early." he said, his tone calm and gentle as ever, maybe mildly inconvenient at best.

The girl he was with followed his gaze and her eyes landed on Serena.

Her expression was curious at first and then just amused if anything.

Damien straightened, brushing a hand through his dark hair.

There was no rush in him and no fear of consequences.

He was having sex with a girl. Girls we're prohibited from even stepping foot into the academy besides visiting day and yet Damien was here fucking one in his dorm.

"This is Lyra," he said casually.

As though Serena had just walked in on a friendly conversation.

Lyra stepped away from the wall, stark and completely naked.

Her plump and thick breasts glinted well in the sunlight, her skin bright and warm.

She didn't bother that a complete stranger was seeing her naked, it was almost like she enjoyed it.

She didn't rush for her clothes.

She stretched slowly herself first, almost lazily, before reaching for the garments draped over Damien's chair.

Damein shared a brief look with Serene, giving him eyes like who the hell is this is my dorm.

"Oh? Pardon me.

This is Lyra.

She's the niece of this Academy's owner," Damien continued. "She's undergoing Luna training, under very special clearance."

Lyra slipped into her underclothes first. Then she fitted black trousers and then her blouse.

"I know who you are.. " Lyra said softly.

"You must be the famous Soren Damien told me about."

Her voice was smooth and polished.

Her eyes never left Serena's face.

Serena stepped fully into the room now, shutting the door behind her.

"Is that allowed?" she asked evenly.

Damien gave a faint shrug.

"At this level? Yes."

"This level," she repeated.

"High-tier Alphas," he clarified. "Those who matter."

Lyra fastened the last button of her blouse, then stepped into her boots.

"What if someone sees?" Serena pressed.

"They won't," Damien replied.

"That's not reassuring."

"It should be." His mouth curved faintly. "Everyone important already knows."

Lyra walked back to him then, sliding her hands up his chest lightly.

"That's why he's the Academy's golden boy," she murmured.

There was pride in her tone, possession almost.

Serena watched them carefully.

Lyra rose onto her toes and kissed Damien again.

When she pulled away, she finally looked directly at Serena.

"Relax, Soren," she said lightly. "I don't bite."

She walked toward the door, pausing just long enough beside Serena to let their shoulders nearly brush.

Her glare this time was sharp and damn near chilling.

Serena felt the fine hairs along her arms rise instinctively.

The door opened again and then closed.

Silence filled the room for a bit.

Serena crossed her arms.

"You're reckless, pulling such a move."

Damien moved to sit on his bed, leaning back on his hands.

"No," he said calmly. "I'm protected."

"By her?"

"By my position in this academy."

"You're very confident in that, huh?" Serene took another quick shot

"I've earned it." he shot back just as fast.

Serena studied him.

"If I may ask, why her..? You like girls in the big leagues."

His gaze flicked to hers.

"That's enough." he said, his tone final.

"Get some rest," he added. "Tomorrow's a big day."

"The Blood Moon Gauntlet," she said.

"Yes."

Seventy-two hours.

In the forest.

With him.

He laid back on his bed as if the conversation was finished.

Serena turned away and laid flat on her bed as well.

Her mind replayed Lyra's glare at her.

There was definitely more to it. Maybe like a warning not to speak about it.

But then why didn't Damien seem bothered about it and if I tell anyone.

There was definitely more to this Academy than she thought.

Morning came with a cold mist hanging low over the Academy grounds.

All trainees gathered at the brink of the Crescent Forest.

The trees stood thick and towering, their branches interwoven so tightly that the interior looked almost black despite the daylight.

Pairs stood together, side by side, bags strapped and ready.

An Elder stepped forward, his long robes brushing the earth.

"The Blood Moon Gauntlet begins at dusk," he announced.

His voice carried easily through the crowd.

"You will enter in your assigned pairs."

"There are twelve moonstone lodges hidden throughout the forest."

He raised a small crystal whistle.

"Each pair retrieves one."

"Only one."

"Guard it, protect it and most of all survive... "

His eyes swept over them.

"This forest here, houses creatures, some natural and others anything but.

So for you, either adapt or be eliminated."

A heavy silence fell again.

"At the end of seventy-two hours, the twelve pairs who return with a lodge will advance."

There was a pause.

"The final trials will determine the King... and the Hand to the King of Alpha Dominion Academy."

Tension rippled through the clearing.

"Good luck."

The Elder stepped back and immediately students began dispersing.

Serena tightened the straps of her pack, making sure everything was checked when a shadow fell over her.

"Ready to lose, Soren?" the voice was familiar to her, for all the wrong reasons, though.

She looked up.

Prince.

He wore that same cocky grin.

One of the upper-year Alphas from yesterday stood at his side.

"Hope you passed my message to your daddy," Prince added lightly. "I wouldn't want Damien blindsided again."

Serena's jaw tightened.

Before she could respond-

"Well if it isn't Prince."

Damien stepped forward.

The clearing quieted instantly.

First Ranked Alpha.

Second Ranked Alpha.

They were standing across from each other.

The prince smiled thinly.

"Still hiding behind your gracious reputation, huh?"

"And you're still caught chasing mine." Damien replied sharply.

Prince stepped closer.

"Come on, let's end all this shirade and rumours.

Fight me, let's find out who the real Alpha Male of this school is."

"Not today."

A few murmurs spread.

"What's the matter?" Prince taunted. "Saving your strength?"

Damien turned slightly toward Serena instead.

"Pack up," he said calmly. "We move now.

We need to set our camp up before dark."

Damein turned and walked away, Serene followed carefully behind him.

Prince's voice followed them.

"Always running because you're a coward, you've always been one."

Damien didn't respond, he just kept walking.

Then-

"Like your father."

Everything stopped.

The clearing went silent.

Serena felt it in the air before she saw it in him.

Damien's shoulders stiffened, then his hands slowly curled into fists.

Prince's smirk sharpened.

In a flash-

Damien turned and drove his fist straight into Prince's jaw.

The sound echoed through the clearing.

And the entire forest edge fell dead silent.