Chapter 4 My new identity
\## SERA'S POV
A YEAR LATER
I stood outside Crescent Moon Academy, it was the same building, it had the same stupid golden leaves on the entrance sign and the same place that destroyed Selene Ashford. Nothing had changed, the only thing changed was Selene Ashford who is back now in a new form and won't be bullied anymore.
The bullied Selene was dead, she was drowned in that river because she was pushed by Brielle Knox while her friends watched and laughed. They deprived pleasure in watching her gone for good, something Brielle had badly wanted.
I was Sera Moon now, the new Selene Ashford. This is my new name, my new face and everything about me now is new.
The Moon Goddess kept her to word, her power and strength.
She changed me completely, she made my hair darker, my eyes silver instead of the brown color it was before and even that my human scent is now different. Something that made wolves uneasy without knowing why.
I checked my reflection in the glass door, I didn't recognize myself and that is nobody else would either recognize me.
This was the beginning of senior year, it was a good year, a good way to start this session and a good one for me to show them what they killed. And that Brielle can't keep bullying people.
I walked inside with my head up, shoulders raised from the corner of my eyes. I saw students raise their heads and turn them fast in my direction. Their conversations died and everyone stared at me as I walked in.
Good, let them stare. This was the opposite of how they treated me and this was just the beginning.
"You must be our new transfer student," the office lady said. "Sera Moon?"she asked to confirm the name.
"Yes." My voice came out stronger, it was nothing like the girl who used to whisper in fear.
"Welcome. Your schedule is ready." She replied with a smile.
I glanced down the hall while she looked. I saw those bitches: Zara and Trent, yes of course there were the cheerleaders who laughed when Brielle humiliated me.
None of them knew me, they didn't know I'm back and that was perfect.
Then I saw him.
Caden Wolfe, he was at his locker. Nothing had changed about him, still tall, still the future Alpha. The boy who ripped my soul out, who said I was nothing before the crowd and rejected me instantly.
My chest hurts, that empty space where the bond used to be ached. The Moon Goddess said it was dead, but I still felt it sometimes. Like a ghost.
Caden looked up, and our eyes met.
His face changed, it looked confused, it was as if he almost recognized something.
I looked away first, not yet. I can't start reminding myself about everything that is in the past now.
"Here you go," the office lady handed me papers. "Need help?" She asked.
"No. I'm good." I snapped and left before she could say more.
I sat in the chair assigned to me by the lady, the first period was English. It was easy and I already knew everything taught on that topic.
I sat in the back, listening to Mrs. Peterson talk about Shakespeare attentively.
"Can anyone explain the balcony scene's significance?" she asked.
Nobody raised a hand, seeing that I confidently raised mine.
"Yes, Sera?"she pointed ate with a broad smile on her face
"It's about conflict, private desire versus public expectation. Their love exists in darkness because their families make it impossible in daylight." I replied.
Silence filled the classroom and everyone stared at me strangely. I didn't know if I was correct or wrong with the way they stare at me strangely. I was just waiting for Mrs. To say something and then she finally did.
"Exactly right," Mrs. Peterson said. "Excellent for your first day, put your hands and clap for her class" she said excitedly. I heard them clapping but it wasn't much.
I looked back at my desk.
The lunch period came. I sat alone, some girls came over anyway, and asked where I transferred from.
"Private academy, it was a small program, my dad's work brought us here." I lied
Lies, but they believed it. They had to believe whatever I did to them just the same way they did to me.
Brielle walked in with her pack of cheerleaders, she saw me and her smile dropped. Then her eyes narrowed through me, it was a suspicious one but I don't really care.
I held her stare, I didn't blink.
She looked away first, that was uncertain about her and her face looked worried.
The gym was after lunch, the track sprints, hockey game and all that.
"Alright Moon," Coach said. "Wolfe's record is forty eight seconds. Three years standing. Think you can get close?"
"Maybe." I walked to the starting line.
Caden was in the bleachers, he was just watching. I felt his eyes. Felt that dead bond flicker.
The coach blew the whistle.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry. The power sang in my blood and the world is blurred around me
I crossed the finish, I barely winded.
"Forty five seconds!" The coach stared at his watch. "You beat Wolfe's record by three seconds!"
Whispers exploded from the crowd, everyone was pointing at me and others staring at me in a disbelief way. Whispers filled the gym. No one has ever beat Caden before not speaking of a lady. That was a shame and I know him well. He will always compete to be at the top.
I looked at Caden. His face was blank, he was still shocked by that. No way! Was he expecting that!
Let him wonder. That is what I need him to do now. I wonder how possible it was to have someone beat him and throw him off from his position.
The rest of the week went the same. Every record Caden held, I was so determined to break it beyond his widest imagination.
From his strength, the endurance and everything he had worked so hard to build for the past three years now is gone in five days. How does that make him feel? I do like to know. This was just the beginning.
People asked questions, ranging from where did I come from? How was I this good at it all? And what was the secret?
I gave them nothing, because they deserve nothing but shocks so all they got as a response was my broad smile.
Classes were easy too. Answered questions nobody else could. Advanced problems. Teachers were impressed.
"Your previous school taught you well," Mr. Hayes said.
"They did." Another lie.
Brielle hated the attention. By Wednesday she was glaring. By Friday spreading rumors.
"Something's off about her," Brielle said loud enough to hear. "Nobody transfers senior year with perfect everything. She's hiding something."
Nothing stuck though. People liked me. Brielle's rumors made her look jealous.
Friday after school, Zara cornered me in the parking lot. Two girls with her. I tried intimidation.
I just stared. Let power show in my eyes.
Zara backed off first. Her wolf knew danger. The others followed.
Caden was across the lot. I saw everything. Body tense.
He was noticing.
That night Brielle came with her father. Pack Elder Knox. They sat in my apartment.
"Sera Moon," Elder Knox said. "We have questions."
"About?"
"Your background. Family."
"Private academy. Moved for my dad's work."
"What's his name? What company?"
I had answers ready. Fake but solid. Moon Goddess helped build a cover.
Gave them everything. Watched Brielle glare.
"Why this school?" Brielle asked. Sharp.
"Sports program." I met her eyes. "I heard the competition was good."
Her jaw clenched. She knew I meant Caden.
After they left I sat in darkness. Let myself feel the anger. Pain. Hate.
They thought they could find something. But they wouldn't. Selene Ashford was dead.
All they'd find was Sera Moon.
Monday brought lacrosse. Big game. Scouts watching. Caden's sport. His best.
I made the team easy. The coach put me on offense. Starter.
Brielle sat in the stands. Watching.
The game started aggressively. Fast. I moved through defenders easily.
Got the ball. Headed for goal. Caden on defense. Coming at me.
I didn't slow. Neither did he.
We hit hard. Both down. My shoulder against his chest. His arm caught my waist.
Everything exploded when we touched it.
Dead bonds roared alive. Flickered. I tried reconnecting. Pain stabbed through me. Desperate. Screaming.
Caden's eyes went huge. He felt it too. Recognition. Fear.
His wolf showed for half a second. Gold. Wild.
I scrambled up. Ran off the field. Couldn't stay. Too dangerous.
The coach called after me. I didn't care. I kept running to my car.
Hands shaking. Bond throbbing. Too close.
Drove home. I tried calming down.
Bond was dead, the Moon Goddess said so but when Caden touched me it tried. Actually, I tried. It was not supposed to happen.
That night I couldn't sleep, I kept seeing his face, I was feeling that bond flicker.
What did it mean? Why did it react? I didn't have answers, it was just more questions k
spinning through my little head.
And somewhere across town, I knew Caden was asking the same things.