Lyra's POV
Star Academy. Fortress of privilege. Marble floors. Vaulted ceilings. Tuition fees that could buy an island.
Admissions Office. Polished mahogany counter. My hand resting protectively on Aries's shoulder.
The triplets lined up. Ducks. Leo adjusted his glasses. Cyra smoothed her tutu (insisted on wearing it over her uniform). Aries glared at a bust of Plato.
"Ms. Vane." Mr. Sterling, Admissions Director. Sneered. Weak chin. Suit that cost more than my car. "I see you've passed the entrance exams. Barely."
"Actually," Leo piped up. "I corrected three errors in your math test. History section was biased. Southern Packs."
Sterling's eye twitched. "Insolent."
"Gifted," I corrected. Voice cool. "Enrollment."
"Ah. Yes." Sterling picked up a paper. Contaminated. "Fees. Full semester upfront. Building fund. Uniform deposit."
Calculator slid across the desk. Five zeros.
"Cash or check?" Reaching for the rejection stamp. Smelled of disdain. Saw a single mother in a trench coat. Assumed charity.
"Card."
Didn't reach for my wallet. Hidden pocket. Coat. Fingers brushed cold metal.
The Black Card.
Not Amex. Starfire. Matte black vibranium. No numbers. Single silver chip. Linked to an offshore account. Mercenary work.
"We don't accept debit," Sterling sighed. Bored.
"Try it."
Slid the card. Heavy. Metallic sound. Clink.
Sterling frowned. Picked it up. Weighed it. "Prop?"
"Run it."
Rolled his eyes. Swiped.
Beep.
Nothing.
"See?" Smirked. "Declined. Ms. Vane, perhaps the public school—"
Crack.
Spark shot out of the terminal. Plume of grey smoke. Screen fizzled. Black.
"My machine!" Sterling yelped. Dropped the card. Hot.
"Oops." Picked it up. "Does that sometimes. Encryption is... heavy."
"You broke my terminal!" Sterling stood up. Face red. "Security! Remove this woman! Delinquent brood!"
"Delinquent?" Aries stepped forward. Low growl rumbled in his chest. Eyes flashed. Not child-like. Predatory.
"Aries. Heel." Soft.
But Sterling saw it. Beta recoiled. "He... he growled! Feral! We don't allow mongrels!"
Mongrels.
Air dropped ten degrees.
Hand went to the ceramic knife. Sleeve. Old habits.
"Apologize." Whisper. Weight of a graveyard.
"Or what?" Sterling laughed. Intercom. "Sue me with your non-existent money? Get out before I—"
"Problem, Mr. Sterling?"
Voice from the doorway. Deep. Resonant. Vibrated through the floorboards. Settled in my bones.
Didn't turn. Didn't have to. Scent hit me. Tidal wave.
Cedar. Rain. Power.
Damon Storm.
The King had entered the building.
Sterling's face went pale. Scrambled around his desk. Bowing. Nose almost touching the carpet.
"Alpha Storm! Sir! I didn't know you were... inspecting!"
Slowly turned.
Damon stood in the doorway. Filling the frame. Charcoal suit. Impeccably tailored. Fabric strained across broad shoulders. Looked every inch the billionaire CEO.
But his eyes...
Not looking at Sterling. Looking at the triplets.
Swept his gaze over Leo (studying shoes), Cyra (waving with a grin), and Aries.
Aries didn't look away. Stared back. Chin lifted. Defiant.
Gold met Gold.
Silent communication. Alpha and cub.
Then. Damon looked at me.
Gaze lingered on my trench coat. Then the black card. Flicker of recognition? No. Curiosity.
"Passing by," Damon said. Walking in. Space felt too small. Oxygen sucked out. "Heard a disturbance."
"This woman!" Sterling pointed. Shaking finger. "Broke the terminal! Her son... threatened me! Unsuitable."
Damon stopped in front of me. Close. Heat radiating off him.
"Unsuitable?" Repeated. Took the card from my hand.
Breath hitched. If he recognized the Starfire insignia...
Turned it over. Thumb brushed the matte surface.
"Vibranium alloy," he murmured. Low. "Heavy encryption. Unlimited limit."
Looked up. Meeting my eyes. Smirk.
"Mr. Sterling," Damon said. Still looking at me. "Know what this is?"
"A... fake?" Squeak.
"Platinum Key," Damon lied. Smooth. "Issued by the International Bank of the North. Only to royalty. And... extremely dangerous individuals."
Handed the card back. Fingers lingered on mine. Calloused. Warm.
"Run it on the mainframe terminal," Damon ordered. Turning to Sterling. "Add a 20% apology fee."
"A... apology fee?" Gaped.
"For insulting my guests," Damon said. Cold. Alpha command layering over the words. "Call a child a 'mongrel' in my presence again. I revoke your tongue."
Sterling went white. "Yes, Alpha!"
Grabbed the card. Trembling hands. Ran to the back office.
Stood there. Heart hammering against my ribs.
Why?
Why help me? Thought I was a broke neighbor.
"Thank you," I said stiffly. "But I fight my own battles."
"I know." Looked down at Aries. "Son has a good growl. Needs control. Potential."
Aries blinked. "Think so?"
"Know so." Damon crouched. Eye level. "Name, pup?"
"Aries," he said. "Sir."
Damon smiled. Real. Transformed his face. Erasing the harsh lines of pain. That vein in his neck softened.
"Aries." Tasted the name. "War. Fitting."
Stood up. Turned to me.
"Walk with me, Ms. Vane."
Not a request.
"I have to wait for the receipt," I stalled.
"Sterling will bring it." Offered his arm. "Walk. With. Me."
Hesitated. Making a scene in front of the kids? Bad idea. Took his arm.
Muscles hard as rock under the wool. Jolt of electricity.
Traitorous body.
Walked out. Hallway. Students parted. Red Sea.
"You have secrets, Lyra," Damon said. Straight ahead.
"Everyone has secrets." Steady.
"True." Stopped near the exit. Turned. Blocked my path. "Yours are expensive. That card... not from a bank."
Froze.
"From a... friend." Lie.
"Dangerous friend," Damon mused. Leaned in. Seductive whisper. "Intrigue me, neighbor. Soup. Kick. Card. And now..."
Looked at the triplets. Watching. Hawk-like intensity.
"...three cubs with eyes that look suspiciously like mine."
Blood ran cold.
"Common color," I said quickly. "Generic amber. Southern gene pool."
Damon chuckled. Low. Dark.
"Update the biology textbooks then."
Stepped back. Released me from his magnetic field.
"Welcome to Star Academy, Lyra. Parent-teacher conferences... entertaining."
Turned. Walked away.
Watched him go. Clutching the receipt.
"Mommy," Leo tugged my coat. "Heart rate irregular when he looked at us."
"Irregular bad?"
"No," Leo pushed his glasses up. "Irregular fascinated."
Looked at the retreating back of the Alpha King.
He suspects.
Worse... enjoying the chase.
Pups' Trap worked too well. Caught the wolf.
Now, how do we keep from being eaten?