Chapter 9: The Bully Who Wants Me Gone
(Aria’s POV)
The piercing siren blared across the academy grounds as the outer barriers began to fail.
I stood on shaky legs in the cracked training circle, Kael’s arm still supporting me. My body ached from the failed shift attempt. The silver light in my hands flickered weakly, like a candle about to go out.
Kael’s face was grim. “The hunters sensed the power surge. They’re breaking through faster than usual.”
Marcus ran up, breathing hard. “We need everyone at the perimeter. Now.”
Mara stepped forward, her sharp eyes locking on me. “This is exactly what I warned about. Her uncontrolled shift just rang the dinner bell for every hunter in the forest.”
I felt my cheeks burn with shame and anger. “I didn’t mean to…”
“You never mean to,” Mara cut me off, her voice cold. “But your light is like a spotlight. And now your little brother’s spark is waking up too. You’re a walking disaster, glowing girl.”
Kael’s voice turned hard. “Back off, Mara. She’s trying.”
Mara laughed bitterly. “Trying? She almost tore herself apart in her first shift. She cracked the training stones. And now the barriers are failing. How many more warnings do we need before we send her and her brother back where they came from?”
The words hit like a slap. I wanted to argue, but part of me wondered if she was right. My power had brought danger to the academy on my very first night.
Lila stepped between us. “That’s enough. Aria just got here. Give her a chance to learn.”
Mara ignored her and stared straight at me. “You want to stay? Then prove you’re not a liability. But if one more hunter breaks through because of your light, I’ll make sure the pack votes to send you both away.”
Before I could respond, the siren wailed louder. Red lights flashed along the walls in the distance.
Kael squeezed my shoulder. “We don’t have time for this. Aria, stay close to me. We’re heading to the perimeter.”
We ran as a group toward the outer walls. My legs still felt weak from the failed shift, but adrenaline kept me moving. Max was safe in the dorms for now, but the thought of hunters getting anywhere near him made my light flicker with fresh fear.
When we reached the perimeter, the scene was chaos.
Hunters were slamming against the glowing barriers. Sparks flew every time they hit. The runes on the walls flickered dangerously.
Leo, already in wolf form, growled beside us. “They’re coordinated tonight. This isn’t normal.”
Kael positioned me behind a large glowing stone. “Stay here. Use your light only if you have to and try to keep it controlled.”
Mara gave me one last cold look. “Don’t make things worse.”
I nodded, heart pounding. I hated feeling useless, but after what happened during the shift attempt, I was scared to use my power again.
The first wave hit.
Hunters crashed against the barrier in a coordinated attack. The runes flared bright, then dimmed. One section of the wall started to crack.
Kael and the older kids charged forward, fighting with raw strength and flashes of gold light. Lila created silver shields to reinforce weak spots. Leo darted in and out, snapping at smoky legs.
I watched, fists clenched, my light pulsing in time with my fear.
Then one hunter broke through a small gap in the barrier.
It headed straight toward me.
“Get back!” Kael shouted, trying to reach me in time.
I raised my hands instinctively. The silver light flared but this time it felt different, unstable and dangerous.
“No… not again,” I whispered.
The blast that came out was messy and wild. It hit the hunter and knocked it back, but the recoil sent me flying backward. I slammed into the ground hard, pain shooting through my back.
Mara appeared above me, her face twisted with anger. “See? I told you! Your power is a curse. You almost hit one of our own with that blast!”
She was right. The wild light had nearly struck Leo as he darted past.
I pushed myself up, breathing hard. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean…”
“Save your sorry,” Mara snapped. “You’re a danger to this pack. The sooner you realize that and leave, the better for all of us.”
Kael reached us, breathing heavily, blood on his shirt from earlier wounds. “Mara, enough. She’s learning.”
Mara pointed at the cracked barrier. “Learning? While the hunters are breaking in? We’re fighting for our lives because of her light, and she can’t even control a simple blast.”
The words burned. I wanted to disappear.
But then I thought of Max hiding in the dorms, waiting for me to keep him safe. I thought of Kael getting hurt again and again because of me.
I stood up straighter, even though my body hurt. “I’m not leaving. The moon chose me. I’m staying and I’m going to learn even if it takes all night.”
Mara laughed coldly. “Brave words. Let’s see if you survive the night.”
The barrier cracked again with a loud snap. More hunters poured through the gap.
Kael pulled me behind him. “Stay focused, Aria. We need you.”
As the fight intensified, I raised my glowing hands once more, trying desperately to control the light.
But deep down, Mara’s words echoed in my head.
What if I really was the danger the pack needed to get rid of?
And what if my next mistake got someone killed?