Chapter 7 The power inside

The kiss haunted her.

Mira stood in front of the mirror in her dorm room, staring at her reflection like it belonged to someone else. Her lips were still swollen. Her skin was still flushed. Her wolf purred inside her - content, for the first time in years.

But it wasn't just about the kiss.

It was what came after.

The fire.

The power.

It had woken in her bones the second Kade's mouth touched hers - and now, it refused to sleep.

Flickers of energy danced across her fingertips like living sparks. When she blinked, the mirror crackled with static. The lights in the room flickered and pulsed like her heartbeat.

"Calm down," she whispered to herself. "Breathe."

But her wolf was prowling just beneath her skin, scratching at her insides, howling to be let free.

She was losing control.

Again.

⸻

Outside the dorms, in the hidden wing of the academy's training grounds, Headmistress Varya stood with Lucien - Kade's most trusted second - watching the pulse of dark energy rise from Mira's room like smoke.

"She's awakening too fast," Varya said grimly. "The bond with the Alpha is accelerating everything."

Lucien crossed his arms. "Then maybe it's meant to."

"She is not ready. If she loses control during the lunar convergence, she could kill everyone in this academy."

"She's his mate."

"She's death, Lucien. In flesh."

Varya turned sharply.

"If you value your Alpha's life... keep him away from her."

⸻

But fate never listens to warnings.

That night, the bond pulled Kade from his sleep like a hook in his chest. He rose from bed, shirtless, his body tense and slick with sweat. His wolf was pacing. Growling. Whispering Mira's name over and over.

He didn't try to resist.

He couldn't.

He followed the thread - the invisible link between them - until he was standing outside her door. He didn't knock. Just opened it.

Mira stood in the middle of the room, her eyes glowing bright violet. The floorboards beneath her feet were scorched black, and sparks lit the air like fireflies.

"Kade..." she gasped. "Don't come closer."

He stepped in anyway.

"I can't stop it," she cried. "It's burning me from the inside."

He didn't speak. He just walked straight to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

And suddenly, the room went still.

The sparks died.

Her trembling ceased.

Mira slumped into him, gasping, her head against his chest.

"You calm me," she whispered.

Kade swallowed hard. "And you drive me mad."

⸻

Then the window shattered.

A silver arrow slammed into the floor beside them, hissing with dark enchantment.

Kade spun, shielding Mira instantly as two hooded assassins stepped through the broken glass with swords drawn and eyes glowing crimson.

Rogues.

Not students. Not from any pack. Outsiders.

Sent to kill.

"Mira Thornveil," one hissed. "The council sends its regards."