Wolfless To Wolf Queen

“Get down on your knees and clean it!”

A filthy cloth landed at Elara Vale's feet, leaving a smear of mud and beast blood across the training floor. She stared at the mess, then slowly raised her eyes to the young man responsible.

Marcus Thorn stood before her with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face. Behind him, three of his friends watched with obvious amusement, already waiting for her reaction.

“I cleaned this arena an hour ago,” Elara replied, struggling to keep her temper under control. “Your group is supposed to clean up after training.”

Marcus gave a mocking laugh. “Did you hear that? The little wolfless girl thinks she can give me orders.”

His friends burst into laughter. One even bent forward and pretended to howl, earning another round of laughter from the others.

Elara tightened her grip on the wooden bucket. She had dealt with Marcus's insults for years, but that didn't mean she had grown used to them.

At seventeen, she was the only student at Mooncrest Academy who had never awakened a wolf. Most children experienced their first transformation around the age of six. By the time they reached her age, they could already shift into powerful werewolves, strengthen their bodies with magic, and fight creatures that ordinary humans wouldn't dare approach.

Elara, however, could barely maintain a simple water shield.

Her lack of a wolf had made her an easy target, especially in an academy filled with children from powerful noble families. Marcus was among the worst. His father held considerable influence in the kingdom, and the young man behaved as though that influence gave him permission to do whatever he pleased.

“My father pays thousands of crowns every year for me to study here,” Marcus continued. “You wouldn't even be allowed through the gates if that old healer hadn't taken pity on you.”

Elara's expression changed.

“Don't talk about Serena that way.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased that he had finally gotten a reaction. “Oh? And what are you going to do about it? Call your wolf?”

He leaned closer, pretending to inspect her face. “Come on, Elara. Show us those beautiful fangs of yours.”

His friends laughed again, but Elara didn't bother looking at them. She could tolerate insults about herself. Serena Ashford, however, was the woman who had raised her, cared for her, and given her a home when she had nowhere else to go.

Elara owed her more than she could ever repay.

Still, she knew better than to attack Marcus. He wanted an excuse to hurt her, and she had no intention of giving him one.

When she remained silent, Marcus lost interest in waiting. He stepped forward and kicked the bucket out of her hands.

Water splashed across the floor.

“There,” he said, admiring the mess. “Now you have more work to do.”

Elara looked down at the fallen bucket, fighting the urge to throw it straight at his head.

She had spent the entire morning cleaning the training arena to earn a few extra crowns. With Darian Blackmere's birthday approaching, she wanted to buy him a present using money she had earned herself.

Darian was her boyfriend, a young noble who had once treated her differently from everyone else. He never laughed at her missing wolf or made her feel ashamed of her weak magic.

At least... that was how things used to be.

Lately, Darian barely answered her Crystal Link messages. Whenever she approached him at the academy, he claimed to be busy with training or family matters. Elara had tried not to think too much about it, but his sudden distance bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

She hoped they could spend some time together after she gave him his present. Perhaps then she could find out what was happening between them.

Now, thanks to Marcus, she might not even reach the afternoon market before the shops closed.

“Are you deaf?”

Marcus kicked the bucket again, sending it rolling toward her feet.

Elara finally raised her head. “No. I heard you the first time.”

His smile disappeared.

“What did you say?”

“I said I heard you. There's no need to keep shouting.”

A few students exchanged surprised looks. Elara rarely answered Marcus so directly, and he clearly hadn't expected her to start now.

For a moment, he simply stared at her. Then a slow smile returned to his face.

“Well, well... Look who's finally grown some courage.”

He raised one hand, and a ball of red fire appeared above his palm. The heat reached Elara almost immediately, forcing her to take a cautious step back.

Marcus possessed powerful fire magic. Combined with his awakened wolf, it made him one of the stronger students in their year.

“Let's see how long that courage lasts,” he said.

Before Elara could move, Marcus flicked his wrist.

The fire shot toward her.

“Water shield!”

Elara threw up both hands, summoning a thin wall of water just as the flames reached her. The two spells collided with a violent hiss, sending hot steam across the arena.

She stumbled backward as the shield broke apart. Although it had stopped the worst of the attack, the heat still burned her arms, leaving painful red marks across her skin.

Marcus laughed at her discomfort.

“That's your best spell? I've seen six-year-olds do better.”

Elara clenched her teeth. Her arms stung, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

He raised his hand again, gathering another ball of fire.

This time, however, a sharp voice stopped him.

“Marcus Thorn!”

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

A woman in dark blue robes was approaching, her dark hair neatly tied behind her head. A silver crystal hung from her neck, glowing faintly with the magic flowing through it.

Serena Ashford.

The academy's senior healer was well respected for her healing abilities and powerful magic. Even though she had no wolf of her own, few students were foolish enough to challenge her.

Marcus immediately dismissed the fire.

“Master Ashford.” He straightened and offered a polite smile. “We're only practicing magic.”

Serena's gaze moved from the spilled water to the burns covering Elara's arms. Her expression hardened.

“Practicing?” she repeated. “Against a student who hasn't awakened her wolf?”

Marcus shrugged. “She's enrolled here, isn't she? If she can't defend herself against a simple fire spell, perhaps she shouldn't attend Mooncrest Academy.”

Serena stepped between them.

“Then perhaps you should practice against me instead.”

The arena went silent.

Marcus glanced at the crystal around Serena's neck, and for the first time that morning, he seemed to remember his manners.

“I didn't mean any disrespect, Master Ashford.”

“Good. Then leave before you give me another reason to question your behavior.”

Marcus opened his mouth, apparently considering an argument. One look at Serena's face convinced him otherwise.

He motioned for his friends to follow him, but as he passed Elara, he leaned close enough for only her to hear.

“You won't have your precious healer protecting you forever.”

Elara met his eyes without flinching.

“And you won't always have your father's name protecting you.”

Marcus stopped, his jaw tightening. He looked ready to say more, but Serena was still watching them.

With an angry look, he walked away.

Only when the group disappeared did Elara finally release the breath she had been holding.

Serena turned toward her and held out a hand. “Let me see your arms.”

“It's nothing serious,” Elara replied, trying to hide the burns. “I can heal them myself.”

“Then you won't mind letting me check.”

Before Elara could protest, Serena gently took her wrist. Soft blue light spread from the older woman's fingers, surrounding the injured skin with a pleasant warmth.

Within seconds, the burns disappeared.

Elara watched the healing process with quiet envy. She had spent years studying the same spells, yet even her strongest healing magic couldn't compare to Serena's effortless work.

“You should have called me,” Serena said as she released her hand.

Elara looked away. “I can't keep running to you every time someone causes trouble. I need to learn how to defend myself.”

“And you will. But defending yourself doesn't mean you have to fight everyone alone.”

“I know.” Elara rubbed her healed arm, then gave a small sigh. “I just wish I were stronger.”

Serena followed her gaze toward the academy's open training grounds.

Several students were practicing their transformations in the distance. One changed into an enormous brown werewolf, while another shifted into a gray wolf with glowing blue eyes. They raced across the field, laughing as they competed against each other.

Elara watched them for a while before asking the question that had troubled her for years.

“Serena... do you really believe I'll awaken a wolf someday?”

The older woman's expression changed slightly.

For a brief moment, she seemed uncertain how to respond. Then she reached for Elara's hands.

“I believe your eighteenth birthday will change your life.”