Chapter 5: An Invitation
Maeve's POV
The arena fell silent as students stared at me, their expressions a mix of shock and judgment.
"Wait, is that Maeve kissing Professor Cyrus?" a student asked loudly, his voice carrying across the arena.
I felt Professor Cyrus's gaze burning into me but couldn't look at him.
Juniper approached with her followers, faces alight with malicious glee. "Well, well," she said loudly. "Looks like someone discovered a shortcut to enter this class. I wonder what other special favors she's been trading with our professor behind closed doors?"
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. How had someone captured that moment? My stomach churned at what this meant for both Professor Cyrus and me.
"ENOUGH!" Professor Cyrus's commanding voice cut through the whispers.
I finally looked up to see him striding across the arena. He took a phone from the nearest student and examined the photo, jaw muscles tensing visibly.
When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and controlled. "Look at the lighting angles and shadows. These inconsistencies clearly indicate this is a composite image. If you zoom in, you can see obvious editing marks."
Students crowded around, murmuring as they re-examined the photo.
"Professor's right, the lighting is completely off."
"Yeah, this is obviously fake."
My racing heart slowed as doubt spread across my fellow students' faces. Cyrus had turned the situation around, making everyone believe the photo was fake.
"Continue your training," he said, handing back the phone. "Don't waste time on meaningless rumors."
As students dispersed, Juniper's expression changed from smug satisfaction to frustrated anger. She shot me a venomous glare before stalking away.
"I can't believe Juniper would do something like this," Freya whispered. "But Professor Cyrus handled it brilliantly."
"He seems experienced with these kinds of situations."
"Of course, he's not just any professor," Freya said, admiration clear in her eyes. "He's an Alpha. They say he took over the entire pack when he was just fourteen."
"Fourteen? That's incredibly young to become an Alpha."
"Yes, he's probably the youngest Alpha in history," she confirmed.
Throughout class, I kept stealing glances at him as he moved around the arena. His movements were fluid and powerful, commanding respect without effort.
Just then, the bell signaling the end of class rang. Freya turned to me with a warm smile. "Want to grab lunch at the cafeteria? They say the strawberry pastries they serve on Thursdays are incredible."
I hesitated, glancing toward Professor Cyrus who was busy organizing training equipment across the arena. "You go ahead. I want to speak with Professor Cyrus about what happened today..."
Freya nodded, giving my arm a supportive squeeze before heading toward the exit.
When the arena emptied, I approached him hesitantly, my heart racing inexplicably.
"Professor? Sorry for today's chaos."
"It's been dealt with," he muttered without looking up, then turned his screen toward me. "I got the picture removed."
"That quickly? How did you manage that?"
The corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly. "Being a teacher has its perks. I have some special arrangements with the school's tech department."
His piercing blue eyes locked with mine. "Your fighting style is distinctive. Low center of gravity, slight right lean before attacking—that's Alpha Rodolfo's signature move."
"You know my father?"
"We both come from Morpheus Alliance. Your father is one of the few leaders worthy of respect."
He remained silent, his intense gaze studying me before he turned to organize his equipment.
"This weekend I'm celebrating my eighteenth birthday," I blurted out. His shoulders visibly stiffened. "It's going to be quite the event at Cassiopeia. My father has invited the Alliance members and their families. As an Alpha, you're welcome to attend."
He stepped closer, his tall frame dominating my space. The scent of forest after rain mixed with something distinctly male filled my senses.
"First you kiss me in the morning, and now you're inviting me to your party?" His voice was low. He adjusted my training bracelet, his warm fingers brushing against my wrist. "You're either very brave or very reckless."
My face flushed instantly, heart racing beneath his steady gaze. "It's just an invitation. No pressure to accept."
His silence felt like rejection. I nodded awkwardly before ducking under his arm.
"Should I bring anything?" His deep voice stopped me mid-step.
I froze as he moved behind me, close enough that I could feel his body heat.
"Nothing at all," I answered, not turning around. "Your presence is all that's needed."
The week passed quickly, and Friday finally arrived. After saying goodbye to my roommate Elise, I headed home to Dominaris for my birthday celebration.
The moment I stepped through our family door, my mom rushed forward, enveloping me in a warm embrace. "My dear, you are finally home! How is the academy? Have you been taking care of yourself?"
My dad stood nearby, his gaze scrutinizing as he observed me for any signs of shifting.
"Do you feel any different, Maeve? Any physical changes or intuition?" he asked, hope evident in his voice.
I shook my head slightly. "No, Dad. Everything is frustratingly normal."
My mom stroked my cheek. "The Moon Goddess's gifts always arrive at the perfect moment, never too early, never too late."
"Don't worry, the power of the Callisto wolves flows in your blood," my father added firmly.
"I just hope it won't be too late," I whispered. "Almost everyone at the academy has already shifted."
That night, instead of excitement, anxiety knotted my stomach. Not only about the shifting, but also about seeing Professor Cyrus at the party.
On my birthday morning, I stood before the mirror wearing the silver dress designed for this occasion, complemented by light blue gauze that flowed like water.
My mom adjusted the moonstone ornament in my golden curls. "You look absolutely breathtaking."
After hesitating, I decided to mention what had been on my mind. "Mom, I invited my combat professor, Cyrus. He's the Alpha of the Kratos pack."
My mom's expression suddenly became complex, her hands stilling. "Cyrus? That's...unexpected."
"You know him?"
Her gaze became distant. "My mom - your grandmother Marlowe - came from the Kratos pack. I lived there briefly when I was little, before Dominic took power." She paused. "Cyrus is his son."
The revelation hit me like a physical force. Dominic? The legendary most savage wolf?