E I G H T

Phoenix 🔥

I watched as all the Council Members and their Heirs cleared out of the War room quickly after Nova's exit.

The only members remaining in the expansive room were my father and I.

"Phoenix" My father murmured my name, quickly scribbling something down in his planner.

"Yes Father?"

"I want you keep an eye on the girl for me" he muttered "Get close to her. Learn her habits. Her likes and dislikes. Learn everything about her and report back to me."

I reared my head back in shock because it was against the rules for Penta Members to spy on other members or their Heirs.

Something about destroying the trust they are supposed to have in one another would be detrimental to the Packs.

Not only that but the idea of spy on Nova for my father sounds absolutely revolting and makes my stomach churn with nausea.

"I...I don't have many classes with her" I said cautiously, my tone neutral "I am almost three years older than her and about to graduate. I don't think..."

"I don't want to know what you think" he sneered at me, those brown eyes of his flashing angrily up at me "I want you to do what I ask."

"But..."

He stood abruptly, crowding my space and grabbing my face so harshly I was forced to look at him.

I flinched slightly, but other than that, remained stock still.

I knew that if I did anything other than remaining silent, his already close to the surface Wolf would surge forward and demand my blood as penance for disobeying his rules.

"Do as I say Boy" he sneered at me, grasp so tight on my face I could feel his claws slice through my skin "Or else I'll drag your sister back from that hippity dippity school in France and have her do it."

My heart stopped at the mention of my sister.

I finally just got Sphinx out from underneath our father's controlling claws and didn't want her to be brought back in just as she was starting to find herself.

She didn't deserve to be wrapped up in this chess game my father was concocting and while I hated to be a pawn in his game, I would to everything in my power to make sure my little sister stayed out of whatever plans he had brewing in that sick head of his.

"What about your rules of never getting too close to the other Heirs?" I croaked "What makes her exempt from the rules?"

His eyes gleamed "She'll be a powerful tool to have on our side."

A tool...not an Ally.

Because all he cared about was gaining more power...no matter what it cost.

"Okay father" I inclined my head "Leave it to me."

He grinned at me, releasing my face before giving it a light pat.

When pulling back his hands, my eyes locked on the blood staining them.

"Now go clean yourself up before talking to the girl" he stalked away "Wouldn't want to make a bad impression on her, after all."

~🌙~🌙~🌙~🌙~🌙~

Nova

Tears streamed down Mom's face as she clutched me tighter to her body.

The boys were clinging to my legs their little sobs making my heart break as they rubbed their snot filled noses against the legs of my pajama pants.

"I'm so sorry" Mom cried, clutching me tighter to her "I am so sorry Babygirl."

"I understand why you did it" I murmured into her wild red hair, inhaling the scent of gardenia and honey "Did you know what I really am?"

She pulled back giving me a confused look "What?"

Oh...so they didn't tell her what I was or who my parents were.

I guess she didn't need to know considering she wasn't from this world.

That she was human...

God...I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I wasn't human.

I was a Shifter...

I turned into a Wolf...

And not just any Wolf Shifter...I was the last Heir to a Wolf Empire I had absolutely no idea how to run.

I pushed those thoughts away from my head, trying to enjoy the final movements with the only family I have left in the world.

"Where are we going Nova?" Jax cried just as James silently gripped my leg tight "And why aren't you coming with us?"

I gently pried their little hands off of my pant legs, squatting down to their level and pulling them towards me.

"I'm going to college remember bud?" I murmured into Jax's ear, brushing my fingers through James hair "We talked about this buddy."

"You're supposed to go to the one near our house" He shook his head, his free eyes wide as he looked around "Not...here."

"I saw a big coyote outside" James whispered, grabbing my face in his cubby hands and redirecting my attention to him "Like a really big one. What if they try to eat you?"

I winced knowing that what he saw, in fact, wasn't a coyote but a Wolf Shifter.

"I'll be okay bud" I pushed his blonde hair away from his cherub like face "They have a special...uh...Coyote security team to protect the students here."

"Like these guys?" Jax said, looking at the Shifters decked out in suits and tactical gear surrounding us "They're protect you from the mean animals?"

I winced "Yeah buddy."

"It's time" A gruff voice said from behind us "We should get going if we want to make our flight."

I turned my head fractionally and shot the guard an icy glare.

"One more minute" I ignored his protests and kissed the tops of my brothers heads, inhaling their violet, powdery and candy like smell "I want you guys to be on your best behavior when I'm gone. No monkey business and no giving Mom a hard time."

The clutched me tighter in their shared embrace "We promise to be on our best behavior Nyxie."

"Good" I straightened and met the water gaze of my mother "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

She gave me a shaky nod as I ushered the boys to the car, glaring at the grumpy man who reached for my brothers.

"I got it" I growled, quickly locking them into their respectable car appropriate seats "I love you both."

"We love you too Nyxie" the echoed through tiny sniffles.

My heart broke into pieces as I shut the van's door closed behind them.

"Anyone leaves or mistreats them when I'm talking to my mother and I'll have your head on a plater" I growled menacingly at them, watching in satisfaction as they all stiffened and gave each other a look.

They nodded towards me as I drew my mother to the side.

"The place you're going is, I'm told, quite beautiful. I just want you to know that you don't have to worry about anything while you're there. Just focus on you and the boys."

"What?" she stared at me "What's the catch?"

"No catch mom" I shook my head "Just keep the boys in line because they'll be watching your every move 24/7 and report back to the people that brought us here. I don't want to know what happens when we disobey their orders."

"Who are these people?" she whispered "What do they want with us?"

"Extremely powerful people" I muttered back "And they don't want anything from you...only me."

Her eyes widened as she immediately went into Mama Bear Mode.

"And what do they want from you?" she snarled, glaring at the agents around us "IF they hurt you, I swear to God that I will rain down Hell and..."

"Mom..." I gripped her shoulders "Breathe."

She took a deep breath in but the fire didn't leave her eyes.

"Come with us" she gripped my hands "Come with us and I can protect you."

I shook my head even before she finished her sentence "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because apparently I was the only child of someone pretty important" she flinched at that "And since that person has passed, the responsibilities they had now fall to me."

"But..." More tears filled her beautiful eyes "You're just a baby...Not ready for that responsibility yet..."

"Mom" I smiled down at her, cradling her pale cheek in my hand "I'm nineteen."

"Just a baby" she sniffled "My baby. You will forever be my baby."

My eyes soften "I love you Momma."

"I love you too Nova Nyx St.James" she hugged me fiercely one last time "Stay true to yourself and don't let them try to turn you into something you're not. You're not only my daughter but you're your father's daughter too. And while we made some mistakes in the past, we don't regret how we raised you. Because you're ours. Our little warrior."

I couldn't help the little tear that escaped at her declaration of love.

A throat cleared behind us as I gave my mother one last hug.

"Be safe Momma."

I closed my eyes as the sound of engines roaring to life reached my ears.

Some slid right up next to me, his silence surprisingly comforting as the SUVs drove further and further away.

"I'm never going to see them again, am I?" I croaked "Regardless of the council's empty promises."

He said nothing but it was all the confirmation I needed.

I opened my eyes and found Atlas' Amber eyes staring intensely at me.

"Do I get a room in this supposed Hellhole?" I asked "Or am I expected to sleep under lock and key, only coming out to follow through the Penta's will?"

He narrowed his eyes at my attitude but still remained silent.

"I knew that attitude of yours would come back sooner or later" A distinct voice sounded from behind us "It was just a matter of time I suppose."

I whirled and glared at the cocky asshole stalking towards us, his assured steps making him look stupidly like a model.

The remaining guards parted like the Red Sea at his arrival, many of them bowing their head in respect at the eldest Heir.

"I'm not doing your stupid tour today" I glared at him "I just want to barricade myself in my room with some food and a hot shower. If you can't accept that then you can fuck right off Mr.Kidnapper."

"You damn well know my name" He glared down at me "So cut the kidnapper crap right now."

I raised my chin at his words "I don't think I will."

A chuckle of laughter sounded from my left, making my eyes dart to Kassian's vibrant green ones.

"Great, the three stooges are back together" I snarled "Now are you going to show me my room or not?"

Phoenix looked down at me with a condescending smirk, sweeping his arm out in front of him in a mocking gesture.

"After you Lupine."

I smirked right back at him, mimicking his gesture "No, I insist. After you Princess."

Atlas' snort made my grin widen.

Phoenix eyes narrowed "Follow Me."

He brushed past me, stomping his way into the foliage behind us.

Kassian followed right after him, shaking his head and letting out a tsking noise.

A nudge at my back had me turning my head to glare up at Atlas.

"No touching" I warned him.

"I had to get you moving somehow" He shrugged "Plus, if you don't catch up with them now, you'll never find the way to your room."

"You're not coming?"

"It doesn't take three geniuses to help one little wolf to her room," he smirked at me "Plus, I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of each other soon enough. What's one hour away from the lot of you?"

I ignored his words, stomping towards the foliage to catch up with Idiot 1 and 2.

My eyes widened when I realized how far they truly got, nearly a mile ahead of me already.

Well...maybe not a mile but far enough that by the time I caught up to them, my lungs were on fire and I was wheezing.

The only good thing that would come out of this whole Wolf ordeal was the fact that I'd finally be able to start that diet and exercise program I've been putting off.

Because if classes and dorms were this far at this stupid Academy, I'd have to take up running or something to make sure I made it to classes on time.

My nose crunched in confusion "These are the dorms?"

Kassian let out a snort at my words.

Phoenix rolled his eyes.

"This is our home" he said "Kass, Atlas, and I's home...I guess it's yours now too."

My eyes widened at his words "I can't share a space with you three...I'm a girl."

"And were boys?" Kassian concluded "Thanks for the deduction Princess."

I shook my head "I mean, how is it allowed that I can live with three guys?"

"Heirs have been living together since the Academy was built like fifteen hundred years ago" Kassian explained "It's easier this way. The Penta employs guards around the surrounding area for our protection and it's easier if we're all in one place rather than spread out on different floors of the dorms. If someone does attack us then there will be less casualties."

"I cannot believe I'm the only female Heir that has a problem with this."

"Well, Believe it Princess" Kassian grinned "Because you're the first female Heir that the Penta's ever had."

My mouth gaped open, my eyes swinging towards Phoenix for confirmation.

At slight incline of his head, I turned back to Kassian.

"What about the Fowl Heir?" I asked "She's a woman and a Heir. Surely she would have lived here too?"

He shook his head.

"Fowl was a rather late addition to the Penta" he explained "She only took over like ten years ago, when her brother died from some kind of illness."

"So you're telling me I'm the first ever female born Heir on the Penta council?"

They nodded "All the previous Penta Members and leaders usually have had only Male Heirs."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a migraine coming on as the last few days began to catch up on me.

"There's no other room available?"

Phoenix shrugged.

"You can try to ask the Housing Department tomorrow on the Tour but with it being this late in the Semester, and the waitlist being abysmally long as it is, chances are that rooms are all full. Even the ones housing three or four students together in one suite."

"So I really don't have another choice, do I?"

"Afraid not Princess" Kassian chucked my chin gently with his knuckles "Come on, I'll show you around."

Atlas' words came back to me, suddenly making sense.

That little shit...

He knew about this all along.

~🌙~🌙~🌙~🌙~🌙~

"How does this work?" I asked, confused at the architecture of whoever constructed this place.

It was like a damned maze, one hallway leading into the next before curving into another one and then branching out into the middle of the Pentagon shaped building.

"We each have our designated points in the house" Kassian explained from the middle of the room, twirling with me as he pointed out who roomed where "Phe is up front near the door because he's the oldest and lightest sleeper, then it's my room, Atlas's room across from mine, yours in the back, the kitchen/dining room, and finally the living room in the middle. Once you figure out which hall houses which room, it'll be easy peasy lemon squeeze!"

"More like stressy stressy it's giving me depressy" I rubbed my temples "Whatever, I'll figure it out later. Will you please show me to my room?"

Kassian took a step towards me when Phoenix stopped him.

"I'll show her."

I narrowed my eyes at him "No thank you."

His blue eyes snapped towards mine "What?"

"No thank you" I repeated "I don't have enough energy to deal with your sass right now."

"Sass?" Kassian choked out, snickering at the look on Phoenix's face "That is not a verb people  here use to describe Phe's...attitude."

Phoenix scowled at Kassian, hooking an arm around my shoulders and dragging me into a hallway.

I scowled at him "I wanted Kassian to show me to my room."

"And I wanted the Lupine heir to be nice and docile" he shrugged "Guess we can't always get what we want."

I growled at him "I'm nice."

He snorted "Sure you are."

"I'm nice to people who don't kidnap me."

He shot a glare down at me "Atlas and Phoenix participated in the kidnapping too you know but I don't see you giving them half the crap you're giving me."

"That's because they're only acting like half the dicks you are" I said "You've been a mega dick since we've left my house."

He shrugged again "I can't help my genetics."

A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it.

He smirked down at me, stopping at an intricately carved door that made me gasp in awe at its beauty.

I trailed my fingers at the calligraphy like lettering of the Name Lupine, moons and stars of all different types carved into the wood so finely that it looked like it must have taken hours upon hours or days to create this.

"Are all the doors labeled like this?"

Phoenix gave me a short nod "They have our last names, but the designs are different depending on which Pack you descend from."

"And the Moons and Stars?" I asked, grazing my finger across a crescent moon "That's the insignia of the Lupine Pack?"

He nodded again.

"What's your insignia?" I asked, looking up at him in curiosity.

He just smirked at me "You'll just have to wait to see it for yourself Princess."

I rolled my eyes "Really? You're going to be a tease?"

His smirk turned into a grin, briefly lighting up those sad eyes of his "Apparently I like being a sassy tease."

I smirked at his words, grabbing the brass doorknob and opening the door to the most majestic room I've ever seen.

My whole house back home could have fit in this room.

I gaped, twirling around the large space and taking in everything from the gigantic king-sized bed to the desk, wardrobe, and small library in the corner that reminded me of something Belle would have from the Beauty and the Beast.

"This is mine?"

"Only the best room in the house for the Lupine Princess."

I whirled on him "If I have to cut the kidnapper crap them you and the others have to cut the Princess shit. I'm not a princess nor will I ever be one."

He leaned into me, engulfing me in his heady scent "That's where you're wrong Princess."

"What?"

"You are a Princess" he leaned impossibly closer to me "What the Council purposely failed to mention was that with you back, the power shifts from the four of them back to you. The Council was created for just that, to council you. At the end of the day, when everything is said and done, you have the final say on all matters. The reason why you were our number one priority to find was because you ARE Royalty Princess. You are descended from the first and Greatest Shifter King of all Time."