The Alpha Twins' Lottery Mate

The gates of Asterion Academy were a sea of controlled chaos. Paparazzi gathered around the entrance, cameras and phones raised high as they waited, watching every arriving vehicle with the intensity of hunters stalking their prey. Among them were members of the academy’s student media unit, their phones and recording devices held at the ready to capture the first glimpse of the final Lunar Lottery winner, Starlight Dawson.

The atmosphere crackled with anticipation. Every year, the arrival of the Lunar Lottery winners attracted attention, but this year seemed different. The other winners had already arrived and been interviewed about their unexpected fortune, yet Starlight was the only one still missing. Nobody knew what was delaying her arrival. Rumor had it she was from District Fifteen, and the journey from there to the Imperial Capital should not have taken more than three hours. Yet five hours had already passed, and impatience had begun to spread through the crowd gathered beneath the scorching afternoon sun.

A sudden gasp broke through the restless crowd. ”No way.”

A young woman from the student media unit nearly dropped her phone, her eyes widening as she stared at the screen. Several heads immediately turned toward her.

”What’s the matter?” the photographer standing beside her asked, craning his neck with a puzzled frown.

”Check the Apex Rankings app,” she blurted, her thumbs flying across the screen. ”Starlight Dawson just made it onto the board. She’s already in the top twenty.”

The effect was immediate. Every nearby student media member reached for their phones. Fingers moved rapidly across screens as the familiar black-and-silver interface loaded.

”You’re joking,” her cameraman said.

”I’m serious.” She thrust her phone toward him. ”The Wolfhart Twins are publicly supporting her. Even Eden, their manager, is already soliciting votes from their fan clubs.”

A ripple of shock spread through the student media group. Phones were yanked from pockets and screens flickered to life as everyone opened the Apex app. Sure enough, there it was. Starlight Dawson’s profile picture sat prominently on the Apex Rankings platform. Beside her name, the vote count was climbing so rapidly that the numbers visibly changed every few seconds.

Unlike ordinary social media, Apex Rankings wasn’t accessible to the public. The platform was an exclusive internal network strictly reserved for Asterion Academy students and could only be accessed by enrolled students.

The sudden uproar among the students left the non-student reporters visibly confused, as they had no idea what everyone was talking about. Several professional paparazzi exchanged puzzled looks. One of the older journalists eventually approached one of the students scrolling through her phone.

”Sorry,” he said. ”What’s this Apex Ranking you’re all talking about?”

The student looked up from her screen and shrugged. ”It’s just an internal system created by the Student Union to help students build influence and improve their lives inside the academy. Usually, you have to show some kind of exceptional talent or do something that attracts serious attention before you’re even considered for the rankings.”

She gestured toward her screen.

”But you have to be a student before you’re eligible for Apex. Miss Dawson hasn’t officially entered the academy yet, and her profile is already live. And the Alpha Twins are openly supporting her.”

The reporter’s eyebrows shot upward in surprise. ”Alpha Twins? As in the crown princes of the empire?” he asked.

Before the student could answer, a heavy black minivan rolled smoothly toward the academy gates and came to a silent stop. Its polished body reflected the harsh sunlight like a mirror, the windows dark and impenetrable, the frame so seamless it looked less manufactured than sculpted. The crowd erupted instantly as they recognized the vehicle. It was one of the official transport vans used for Lunar Lottery winners.

Inside the vehicle, Starlight stared through the tinted glass, confusion knitting her brows together as she watched the sea of people converging toward them. Microphones and camera lenses pressed against the windows. She had thought the suffocating circus, or rather the outright madness, outside her home would be the end of it.

Apparently, she had been wrong. ”What is all of this?” she asked, her voice tight as her gaze remained fixed outside. ”Why are there even more people here?”

Vanessa let out a quiet, amused chuckle, her gaze flickering toward the crowd. ”The Lunar Lottery is considered a sacred event, Miss Dawson. Every media outlet in the Empire wants to catch a glimpse of the winners. Even the academy’s own press unit wouldn’t pass up an opportunity like this. Just endure it. Every Lottery winner goes through this.”

Starlight groaned. Just what she needed.

”Look on the bright side.” Vanessa grinned. ”At least they’re excited to see you.”

Starlight wasn’t sure that made her feel any better. If anything, the crowd seemed even larger now. Then a sudden realization struck her. Her eyes narrowed as she turned sharply toward Vanessa. ”Why aren’t we driving through the gate?” she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice. ”You’re not planning to drop me out here, are you?”

”I can never deny the press their moment,” Vanessa replied, looking entirely too amused. ”So yes, you will be getting out here, Miss Dawson.”

Starlight’s expression immediately darkened.

Vanessa nodded toward the two academy security guards already approaching the vehicle. ”Don’t worry too much. They’ll escort you safely through the gates.”

Starlight pointed directly at the bandage on her forehead, her voice dripping with irritation.

”Is this injury not enough proof of what happens when you throw me into a crowd?”

Vanessa sighed, the amusement fading from her face. ”You just have to walk fast and keep your head up. Now get out of my van. I have other duties to attend to.”

Starlight looked genuinely betrayed. Then again, what had she been expecting from a werewolf? They didn’t give a damn about human discomfort as long as they got their own satisfaction.

”I hate this already,” she muttered under her breath. ”The last thing I need right now is another crazy crowd trying to shove a camera in my face.”

Vanessa now looked thoroughly unimpressed. ”You’d better get used to it. This is what being a Lunar Lottery winner looks like.” She tilted her head toward the crowd gathered outside the vehicle.

”And you really shouldn’t keep them waiting, Miss Dawson. It’ll only make them more curious, or worse, earn you a bad reputation before you’ve even stepped onto campus. Now get the fuck out of my car.”

Starlight shot her a look sharp enough to draw another quiet laugh from the woman. Taking a deep, grounding breath, Starlight exhaled slowly, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.