Chapter 104 CHAPTER 104
Lunaris came alive again as if nothing had happened.
The break was over, and the school returned to its usual rhythm - voices echoing through hallways, lockers slamming, laughter spilling from open doors. Students filled the corridors in clusters, talking over one another, comparing holidays, showing off new clothes, new shoes, new stories.
Sebastian Moore walked through it all like he always had.
Loud. Confident. Unmissable.
He leaned against a desk near the back of the classroom, laughing too hard at something one of the boys said, his voice carrying farther than necessary. His arm rested loosely over the back of a chair that didn’t belong to him, his presence spilling into everyone’s space like it always had. Girls lingered nearby, pretending not to stare while slipping notes onto his desk, small wrapped gifts appearing as if by magic - chocolates, bracelets, handwritten letters folded carefully.
To anyone watching, Sebastian looked exactly the same.
The golden boy of Lunaris.
Captain of games.
Future Alpha of Silverpine.
But something was wrong.
He felt it with every breath.
The noise around him was too loud. The laughter felt hollow. His chest felt… empty.
Kael was gone. Fading somewhere Sebastian couldn’t reach.
He could still move. Still smile. Still throw his arm around a friend’s shoulder and boast about a game he’d won months ago. But the constant hum beneath his skin -the steady presence that had always anchored him - was missing.
So he compensated.
He laughed louder. Teased harder. Took up more space than ever before. If anyone noticed the cracks, he couldn’t allow it to show.
The bell rang, sharp and commanding.
Sebastian dropped into his seat, stretching his legs out casually, pretending he hadn’t felt the faint dizziness when he sat down. He opened his book, though the words swam uselessly on the page. He hadn’t studied. He hadn’t trained properly. He hadn’t done much of anything since returning home.
His body felt like it was pretending to be whole.
A familiar presence appeared at the classroom door.
Sara.
She wasn’t in his grade, but that had never stopped her before. She walked in with confidence, her eyes immediately finding him. Her smile was sharp, her gaze searching his face like she was looking for something missing.
She came straight to his desk.
“You left Silverpine without me,” she said quietly, though her tone carried. “I had to find my own way to school.”
Sebastian didn’t look at her right away. “I had a lot on my mind.”
Her smile faded slightly. “You’ve had a lot on your mind for days.”
She leaned closer. “Since that day. Since you pulled away.”
He stiffened.
“That’s not something to talk about here,” he said, lowering his voice.
Sara crossed her arms. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I haven’t,” he replied too quickly. “I just need to focus today. I’m behind on my work.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You were never behind before.”
Something flickered across her face - suspicion, frustration, hunger.
Sebastian stood. “We’ll talk later.”
He turned away before she could respond.
Sara lingered for a moment longer, then left, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Her absence left a strange chill behind.
As students settled into their seats, whispers began to spread.
“Did you hear?”
“She’s joining our grade.”
“The princess.”
Sebastian paused, his pen hovering over the page.
“What princess?” someone asked.
“The Princess of Mooncrest,” another student replied excitedly. “Apparently, she’s transferring here.”
“That’s insane. The palace literally owns Lunaris.”
“So she’ll be in our class?”
A girl giggled. “Do we call her Your Highness or just Princess Lisa? I’ve heard she is very friendly. I already wish to be friends with her.”
Laughter rippled through the room, nervous and eager.
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, listening.
A princess.
His thoughts shifted immediately. Mooncrest. Power. Influence. A chance to align himself with something greater - something stable, something that could drown out the weakness he felt gnawing at him from the inside.
The classroom door opened.
Principal Aeron stepped inside, his presence commanding instant silence. Behind him walked two girls and a man Sebastian recognized immediately.
Liam Blackthorne.
Commander of the Lycan Guard.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened.
The first girl was unfamiliar - dark hair pulled back neatly, eyes wide but composed. She looked nervous but proud, walking carefully beside the principal.
The second….
Sebastian froze.
Cindy.
No.
Lisa.
But to him, she was still Cindy.
She stood taller than he remembered, her shoulders back, her expression calm. She didn’t look around nervously. She didn’t lower her gaze. She walked like she belonged.
Sebastian stood abruptly, chair scraping against the floor.
“Cindy?” he blurted. “What are you doing here?”
The room went silent.
He stepped closer, questions tumbling out before she could respond. “Where have you been? Do you have any idea how long you’ve been gone? You messed everything up and left. Everyone’s been looking for you.”
Lisa didn’t answer.
Before she could, Sebastian’s attention shifted to the girl beside her.
The princess.
It had to be.
Understanding dawned too late.
He straightened instantly, smoothing his shirt, his expression transforming into polished charm.
“Your Highness,” he said, bowing slightly toward Ela. “Welcome to Lunaris. It’s an honor.”
Ela blinked, clearly confused.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Sebastian continued smoothly. “But none of it compares to seeing you in person.”
He smiled warmly. “You’ll find Lunaris welcoming. We value loyalty here.”
Then he turned back to Lisa, his expression hardening.
“I should warn you,” he said, glancing back at Ela. “This girl—Cindy—she isn’t who she says she is.”
Ela frowned. “What?”
“She used to be a servant at my pack,” Sebastian explained confidently. “Silverpine. She disappeared suddenly. There was… trouble. Unfinished business.”
Lisa remained silent.
Sebastian pressed on. “If she told you anything else, she’s lying. And if you know what’s good for you, you shouldn’t keep her around. She brings problems.”
Liam took a step forward.
Lisa lifted her hand subtly, stopping him.
Sebastian didn’t notice.
“It would be in your best interest to dismiss her,” he continued. “Before she causes damage to the palace.”
Then he turned to Lisa. “We need to talk. Now that I’ve found you, this isn’t over.”
The principal’s voice cut through the room.
“Mr. Moore.”
Sebastian turned.
“That is enough,” Principal Aeron said sharply. “Sit down.”
Sebastian hesitated, then obeyed.
The principal adjusted his glasses and faced the class.
“Before I was interrupted,” he said calmly, “I was about to introduce our new students.”
He gestured to Ela. “This is Ela. She has transferred to Lunaris and will be joining your grade.”
Ela nodded politely and took a seat.
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The principal turned back to the front.
“Yes,” he continued, “there is a princess joining Lunaris.”
Sebastian straightened, confusion creeping across his face.
“But Mr. Moore was mistaken.”
Silence fell.
“The Princess of Mooncrest,” the principal said clearly, “is Lisa Ashvale.”
The room seemed to hold its breath.
“Princess Lisa Ashvale,” he repeated. “And her guard commander, Liam Blackthorne.”
Sebastian stared.
His mouth opened.
No sound came out.
Lisa stood calmly beside Liam, her expression unreadable.
The truth settled into the room like a final verdict.
Sebastian did not sit down.
He couldn’t.
The world he thought he understood tilted violently - and this time, there was no wolf to steady him.