Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Academy of Quiet Monsters
The gates of Calderon Academy loomed like a fortress.
Tall, ornate black iron stretched high into the sky, laced with gold. The school was divided by rank—Alpha wings in the west, Beta halls in the center, and Omega facilities in the quieter, more secluded east.
Aeron stepped out of the black car with Lyra beside him. His silver hair was neatly tied, his white eyes passive. The wind carried traces of Alpha pheromones, dominance and pride layered into every stone.
He adjusted his school bag. Calm. Controlled. Harmless.
Just as planned.
Lyra touched his shoulder gently. "If anything happens, come find me."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine."
He meant it.
Class 1-O: The Omega Wing
His homeroom was a soft-colored room at the far end of the east building, where Omegas were grouped for "safety." Translation: for observation and control.
Only six other students sat inside.
A few looked up lazily when he entered. Two girls whispered. One senior boy glanced at him and then returned to his tablet.
Aeron scanned the room calmly and chose a window seat in the middle row—far enough to be ignored, close enough to observe.
That's when he saw him.
A short, soft-looking boy nervously adjusting his sleeves, staring at his tablet like it would bite him.
Emric Lune.
Ash-brown hair that curled at the edges, large emerald eyes hidden behind thin glasses, and a pair of oversized sleeves he kept tugging on as though they offered protection. He looked like the kind of boy who tried to make himself smaller in every room he walked into.
Aeron noted the faint scent of chamomile. Soft. Sweet. Fragile.
Their eyes met briefly.
Aeron nodded once.
Emric blushed, ducked his head, then glanced again like a startled cat. Aeron almost smiled.
A few minutes later, the door slammed open.
"Ugh. Still smells like perfume and anxiety in here."
A girl entered, hands in her pockets, maroon jacket tied around her waist, gum in her mouth.
Kaia Vell.
Short, choppy red hair, steel-gray eyes that didn't blink easily, and a confident, slightly reckless swagger in the way she walked. Her uniform shirt was half-tucked, her tie loosened. She carried herself like an Alpha trapped in an Omega label—defiant and proud.
Aeron recognized her instantly.
The rebellious omega from a ruined beta house. In the novel, she was expelled for punching an Alpha during the spring festival.
Now she dropped her bag loudly and plopped down next to Aeron's desk.
She looked him up and down with sharp grey eyes.
"You're the twin, right? Lyra's brother?"
Aeron turned toward her with calm politeness. "Yes."
"You look way too peaceful to be related to her."
"I've heard that before."
She smirked. "Hmm. I like your face. Looks like it's hiding something."
Aeron blinked. "I get that a lot."
He found her fascinating. Sharp, aggressive, and unfiltered—the kind of person who didn't survive long in a world built on hierarchy. But she had spirit. He respected that.
The First Break
By midmorning, the teacher left the class for a staff meeting. Emric shyly approached Aeron's desk, fidgeting with his sweater cuffs.
"Um… hey," Emric said, voice soft. "You're… Aeron, right?"
"Yes."
"I… I like your hair. It's really cool-looking."
Aeron smiled gently. "Thank you. Yours suits you."
Emric flushed bright red. "O-oh… thanks…"
Kaia snorted from behind. "Gods, you're both terrible at this."
Aeron glanced back. "We're not doing anything."
"Exactly," she said, kicking her feet up. "That's the problem."
The three of them sat in a triangle of quiet awkwardness. But Aeron didn't mind. For the first time, he wasn't pretending to be alone.
Elsewhere in the Academy
In the Alpha West Wing, another student paused outside the rooftop door.
Riven Kael.
The top Alpha of her year. Jet-black hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Sharp violet eyes scanned the open sky with military focus.
She leaned against the railing, letting the wind carry a strange, unfamiliar scent her way.
…Omega? No. It's different.
Too still. Too calm. Too… controlled.
Riven narrowed her eyes and turned slightly—toward the East Wing.
Back in Class 1-O
As the final bell rang, Aeron slowly packed his things. Kaia was arguing with a teacher about outdated scent suppressors. Emric offered Aeron a lemon candy with trembling fingers.
Aeron took it and smiled. "Thanks."
That small gesture made Emric beam.
As they left the class together, Aeron glanced up—briefly.
On the balcony above the east courtyard stood a tall figure in a dark uniform.
Selene Argent.
She was looking down directly at him.
Expression unreadable.
Eyes glowing red beneath the soft light.
She didn't move. Didn't blink.
Just stared.
She shouldn't be here. She's not even assigned to this building. Why…
Aeron looked away and kept walking.
But her gaze stayed with him.