MARKED BY THE MOON; SHE WHO SHINES IN BLACK

Dahlia's POV Hunger will make you do dumb things. Like sneak out of your dorm at midnight while your new roommate sleeps with her mouth open, snoring like a happy baby hippo. I checked her and discovered that Soraya was still drooling. Good. I slid on my hoodie, shoved my feet into sneakers, and crept out like a prison escapee who had watched too many bad movies. The halls were dead quiet. I was expecting to see one or two students loitering but today seems like my lucky day. There was no one of them. Even the patrols were not out for their duty. Maybe they were given the day off. I was alone with the hum of my stomach writing its own sad soundtrack. I knew exactly where I was going. The kitchen had this one guy-Gary. That's not his real name, but the name Gary seemed to fit him well, so that's what I called him in my head. Gary was a solid dude. He has seen me being bullied each time I try to eat in the cafeteria, so he decided to help by keeping food for me each time I missed a meal. I slipped in through the back and knocked twice. Gary opened the door, eyebrows raised like, Really? Again? I shrugged. He handed me a food pack-bread, some meat, and a drink. It's nothing much, but at least it wasn't stale chips from my backpack. "Thanks for always," I said the words, even when he wasn't expecting it. Our only connection was the food because I wasn't in the mood to pretend like we were in some wholesome after-school special. I left quickly. The last thing I wanted was to be caught in the open with food. Wolves here could smell crumbs from fifty feet away. I choose a deeper place to hide. I couldn't go back to my room because of Soraya. She'll ask questions meant for her fourth generation in one sitting and I wasn't ready for that. I went past the lights. Past the "safe" area to a bare clearing under the moon. No one comes here and that's why I liked it. I unwrapped the bread and took slow bites. Chewing like each piece was gold. I drank water after eating, took a deep breath and leaned against the tree behind me. That's when I felt the glow under my skin again, flickering like it's alive and a desperate being from me. I ignored it and pretended it was nothing. Then I heard the crack of something behind me. I snapped my head around and saw Kyren, Mr Alpha Prince. The most popular guy on campus in the dark? What the heck? And he was looking right at me, not saying a word. I didn't, either. Then he walked closer, sat down beside me as if we had planned a picnic. And then all of a sudden his eyes changed. He looked as if he saw something strange or remembered something he wasn't supposed to. That was enough drama for me to behold, so I ran. Still holding the half-eaten bread like it was my emotional support. I ran straight to my dorm, locked the door, pressed my back to it for a while to calm my nerves before sliding into my duvet. Morning came very fast. "Dahlia! Wake up!" Soraya's loud and cheerful voice. I cracked one eye open and saw her standing, bouncing like she just drank five energy drinks. "Big news! The Howling Wolf event is coming up! You know, the biggest event in the school? Everyone's talking about it!" "Congratulations." I groaned. She ignored my lack of spirit. "It's like, the event. Music, challenges, the moon blessing... everyone dresses up. It's magical." Magical, right? In my head, I thought, Yeah, except I'm not a wolf. I don't have glowing eyes, no howling abilities, no magical fireworks for me. But I didn't say it out loud. I didn't want to ruin her bubble. Lazily, I stood up from the bed and we got dressed for school. Soraya was already planning her outfit for the event, her hair, and how her glow would look in the moonlight. She talked nonstop during the walk to class. Meanwhile, my brain was in another dimension. Why had Kyren's eyes gone wide last night? What did he see in me? Was it the black glow? Or... was it the system? The question dug into me like a thorn that wouldn't let go. The class we were to take was "Moon Phase Combat Strategies." Yes, that's an actual subject. Basically, how to fight better depending on how big or moody the moon feels that night. Because apparently, werewolves are just walking lunar calendars with anger issues. Soraya and I walked in and found seats in the back. The teacher is in class yet. He's probably out there charging his mystical moon battery or whatever. Soraya leaned in, whispering, "Why do people here stare so much? It's creepy. Like, eye contact is one thing, but this is... stalker energy." I smirked. "They're not staring at you because you're mysterious. They're staring because they can't figure out why you're friends with me-the school's favourite punchline." Her face dropped. "That's stupid." "Yeah, welcome to Northmont High" I said, leaning back. "Where gossip has teeth." He walked in after my last sentence. Kyren, The Alpha Prince. Tall, quiet, dressed like he stepped out of an expensive brooding catalogue. He didn't even look around, he came straight to my row and sat down next to me. As if there weren't twenty other seats in the room. Soraya's eyes did this little flick between us as if she wandered into the live set of a romance drama. Meanwhile, I was busy trying not to burst into flames, because why the hell would he choose to sit with me of all other seats in class? Neither of us spoke throughout the class, but I caught him occasionally staring at me during the lecture. Have you ever tried to focus on something while a six-foot problem is breathing next to you and occasionally glancing at you like he's trying to solve the world's hardest riddle? Yeah. Now you get the gist, and it's definitely not fun. Of course, his actions didn't go unnoticed. On the third row up ours sat the star girl. Lunara. The Academy's crowned queen of perfect hair and fake nice. Her smile could make Lycans buy her lunch, and her glare could curdle milk. She'd been aiming her perfect little smile at Kyren for a long time, and here he was... sitting next to me. Lunara's eyes cut across the room, slicing me like butter. If looks could kill, I'd be dead already. The lecture ended. People started filing out. That's when I saw Lunara lean against her desk, pull out her phone, and tap out a message. Her crew-three guys who thought they were the gods' gift to intimidation-were lounging by the door. She handed one of them something thick enough to say I want her bones broken, but make it fashion. I didn't need a mind link to know who "her" was. By the time I made it out of the building, the guys were already behind me. Keeping just enough distance to pretend they were going their way. [HOSTILES DETECTED. SYSTEM RECOMMEND DIVERSION TO A LOW-VISIBILITY TERRAIN] I translated the system's advice to be: Lead these idiots into the woods. Fine. I adjusted my bag, turned down a side path, and headed toward the dark tree line like I was taking the scenic route home. Their footsteps followed.