Glimmy

Two centuries after the Great War, peace between humans and werewolves was finally achieved, or so everyone believes. Werewolves reign like gods, and humans remain blissfully unaware of their true place in the new world order. 

To maintain this fragile balance, each year, a handful of "lucky" humans are selected from various districts to attend Lunaris Academy, a prestigious institution that promises glory, status, and a chance to mingle with the elite. Those chosen are hailed as the lucky few, destined to marry powerful alphas and rise as luna.

This year, Violet Purple is among the chosen, much to everyone's surprise. For an orphaned girl adopted by a disgraced prostitute, this is a golden ticket to a better life or so she's told. But Lunaris Academy isn’t the paradise it’s painted to be. 

Everything Violet and her fellow humans have been taught is a lie. Humans are far from equal; they're pawns in a much larger game. The academy is nothing but a gilded cage, and the students are lambs led to slaughter, playthings for the alphas to toy with in their ruthless games. 

To make matters worse, Violet catches the attention of the most dangerous players in this game, the Terror Four: the Alpha of the North, Alpha of the South, Alpha of the East, and Alpha of the West. Each one is more dangerous, more twisted, and more powerful than the last. But even among themselves, the alphas are divided, each with their own deadly ambitions. 

Yet, they all have their eyes on her.

They expect Violet to play along, to fall in line like the others who worship at their feet, to break under their games. But Violet isn’t like the others. She refuses to bow. She’ll defy them all.

Defy The Alpha(s)

"Wait up!" Violet called, weaving through the exiting crowd of students as her eyes locked onto the familiar figure moving swiftly ahead.

Mary halted at once, like she'd been expecting to be stopped. She turned slowly, her blonde hair catching the light.

Violet offered a small smile. "Hey. Where've you been?"

"Hello to you too," Mary responded quietly.

Violet was about to press for details, but noticed Mary glancing sideways and her gaze shifted to where Daisy, Ivy, and Lila stood, waiting for her.

Violet gave her roommates a quick look in return, silently telling them she'd catch up soon. Understanding her unspoken signal, the trio slipped away into the thinning crowd.

Now alone, the ballroom was nearly empty, save for a few staff members tidying up the mess left behind by students before shutting the doors.

In that echoing space, Mary let out a wry smile. "I've…been in the hospital."

First Bait