Heirs of the Silver Moon

Xavier POV

Mommy, Daddy, Dom, and our babies—Evander, Theron, Elysia, and Cassian—dropped us off at school yesterday. Today is our first full day at Silver Moon Academy, and we get to explore. It’s exciting, but a little overwhelming. Orio and I have been looking forward to this for a long time. We already know the school because Uncle Zach goes here. He’s a senior now, even though he’s only ten years old. That’s because he’s really smart, just like Mommy and Daddy. He’s on track to be valedictorian, just like they were when they graduated.

I wonder if Orio and I will be valedictorians one day, too. We’re only four, but we’re good at schoolwork. Mommy and Daddy say we excel academically. Mommy says it’s because we come from strong lines, both royal and alpha, and we’ve inherited more than just their leadership skills. Mommy started school when she was five but skipped straight to high school by the time she turned six. Orio and I are starting a year earlier than she did. Our birthday was just a little while ago, so we’re freshly four.

I’m excited to be here, but I already miss my family. Dom, our little brother, is almost two, and his birthday is in a few weeks. He looked sad when he hugged me goodbye yesterday, though he tried to be brave. I know he doesn’t understand why Orio and I have to stay here. And the babies—Evander, Theron, Elysia, and Cassian—don’t really understand either. They just stared at us with their big eyes when Mommy said we had to go. I’m the oldest, and I’m used to being the one to look out for everyone. It feels weird not being there for them.

Being a twin means Orio and I are alike in a lot of ways. We’re identical, so we look the same, but we’re not exactly the same. I’m more outgoing, and I like meeting new people. Orio is quieter, and he prefers to think things through before he speaks. But our abilities are the same. We’re both fast learners, we’re good at solving problems, and we have visions.

Our first vision was about this—starting school at Silver Moon Academy. We didn’t tell Mommy and Daddy because the Moon Lady told us we weren’t allowed to share everything we see. It’s like a secret between us and her. When we had our second vision, we saw a bad man attacking, and silver wolves defeating him. We told Mommy and Daddy about the bad man, but we didn’t mention the silver wolves. At the time, we thought the silver wolves were just our family—Mommy, Daddy, Orio, and me—because we were the only silver wolves we knew about then.

But Mommy and Daddy have since learned that there are more silver wolves, like Uncle Zach. It’s funny how visions make sense only after you’ve learned more. Orio and I have gotten good at figuring them out over time, but this one is big. Mommy says the bad man will come at the end of the school year. Uncle Zach will gain his wolf when he turns ten, which is earlier than usual since most wolves don’t come until sixteen. Mommy says that’s part of the prophecy, but I don’t really understand it yet.

Orio and I can already talk to our wolves, even though we won’t shift until we’re sixteen. Mommy said when she was little, her wolf had to wait until she grew tall enough. Orio and I don’t have that problem, but it’s still weird knowing there’s something inside me, waiting to wake up completely. I like talking to my wolf. He says I’ll grow into a strong leader, just like Daddy. Orio’s wolf says the same thing about him, but Orio doesn’t like the idea of being in charge. He says he prefers to help me from the background. That’s fine with me. I like knowing Orio is always there for me, just like I’ll always be there for him.

I’m excited for today. Orio and I can explore the school and figure out what life is like here. It’s going to be different, but I think we’re ready for it. We’ve seen it in the visions, after all. Even if it’s a little scary being on our own, I know we’ll be okay. We have each other, and we have our destiny. That’s enough for now.

As the first light of morning peeked through the curtains, I heard Orio shift in his bed across the room. I wondered if he was awake yet. His voice broke the silence, answering my thought

“X, are you awake?” Orio whispers, his voice breaking the quiet of the early morning.

“Yes,” I reply, staring at the ceiling. “Just thinking about yesterday, when Mommy and Daddy, Dom, and our babies dropped us off.”

“I miss them,” Orio says softly, and I hear the sadness in his voice.

“Me too,” I admit. The ache of missing them sits heavy in my chest. But I know we can’t let it get to us. We’re here now, and this is our chance to learn. “Let’s get dressed and go see Liora. Maybe we can help her with breakfast.”

“Okay,” Orio agrees, his voice brightening a little at the idea.

We climb out of bed and head to the bathroom. Our bathroom here is huge, almost as big as the one at home, but it’s different. It has two showers instead of a shower and a tub. I frown at that. I like baths more than showers. Showers are fast and loud, but baths are quiet and relaxing. I guess I’ll get used to it.

We grab the shower stuff we’d set on the counter last night. I take the shower on the left, and Orio takes the one on the right. Having our own showers feels strange. Orio and I usually share things—our toys, our books, our room. This whole place feels so big, and now we have to do things separately, like take showers. It’s weird, but kind of nice, too.

When we’re done, we dry off and brush our teeth. The bathroom has two sinks, which makes it easier to get ready at the same time. I think about how nice it is to have my own space here. My closet is all mine, filled with my blue clothes, while Orio’s closet is full of green. Mommy and Daddy say the colors will help people who don’t know us tell us apart.

The only thing we have to share in the bathroom is the toilet. That’s going to take some getting used to. Back home, there were lots of bathrooms for everyone. Here, it’s just us, and we’ll have to figure it out.

Once we’re dressed, we head out to the kitchens. The hallways are quiet and still, and I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. At home, if Orio and I wandered off, someone would always stop us and bring us back to Mommy, Daddy, or daycare. Here, no one stops us. It feels strange but also kind of freeing.

We step into the kitchen, and everything feels enormous. The counters are taller than us, and the room smells amazing—like syrup and pancakes. Liora, Uncle Greyson’s daughter, is busy working at the counter. She turns when the door opens, but she doesn’t seem to notice us at first.

I glance at Orio, then walk up to her and tap her leg. She looks down, startled.

“Xavier and Orion! What are you doing here?” she asks, her face lighting up with surprise.

“We want to help with breakfast,” I say quickly.

Liora smiles, shaking her head a little. She knows us well. She’s Uncle Greyson’s daughter, and she knows we like to cook.

“Well,” she says, grabbing a couple of aprons, “I guess you guys can stir the pancake batter. But be careful!”

She pulls out the ingredients and sets them in two bowls. Orio and I each take a bowl and start stirring. The batter is thick, and my arms get tired, but I don’t stop. Liora keeps an eye on us, and when we’re done, she smiles and checks our work.

“Good job!” she says. “Now, go wait in the cafeteria. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

She links someone after we leave. I know because her eyes glaze over for a moment, the way Mommy and Daddy’s do when they link. Normally, wolves can only link their own pack, but the teachers at Silver Moon Academy can link each other. Mommy says it helps them keep everyone safe.

Dom is different. Even though he’s not quite two yet, he can link any wolf. Mommy and Daddy can do that too, but they’re the king and queen, so it makes sense. I don’t know why Dom can do it, but Mommy says it’s something special about him. I think it’s cool, but Orio and I don’t have time to think about it right now.

As we head to the cafeteria, I feel a mix of pride and excitement. Helping with breakfast felt good, like we’re really starting to be part of this place. But it’s also a little scary, being on our own for the first time. Still, I think Orio and I can handle it. We always have each other, and that’s enough for now.

We left the kitchen feeling proud of ourselves. Helping with breakfast made me feel like I was part of something here. Orio and I walked down the quiet hallway, taking the long way around like Greyson had told us. It makes sense, but it feels strange to have rules we’ve never had at home.

When we finally get to the cafeteria, we see Ms. Brielle standing near the entrance. She looks worried, pacing a little and glancing at the door. When she hears it open, she turns quickly.

“Oh, there you guys are!” she exclaims, rushing over and giving us a hug. “I was worried I was going to have to tell your parents I lost you.”

“We made breakfast!” Orio and I say together, grinning proudly.

Ms. Brielle laughs softly. “Liora told me. Okay, guys, we need to talk about rules.”

She kneels down so we’re at the same eye level, her face serious but kind. “For the most part, you two can walk around on your own. But you’re the heirs to the throne, and that means there may be a threat of someone trying to take you. Please make sure someone always knows where you’re going. It’s important.”

“Ms. Brielle, you do know all our clothes have trackers in them, right?” I ask.

“Mommy and Daddy can tell you how to find us,” Orio adds confidently.

Ms. Brielle blinks, clearly surprised. “Wait… you have trackers? Why?”

“We ported with Uncle Mar and Uncle Gar once, and no one could find us,” I explain. “So they added GPS trackers to our clothes.”

“I see,” Ms. Brielle says, letting out a relieved sigh. “I’ll talk with your parents about it later.”

Just then, the cafeteria doors swing open, and kids begin filing in. The room quickly fills with the noise of chatter and footsteps as breakfast is served. Orio and I find a table and sit down, but no one joins us. The table feels too big, too empty. I glance around, noticing most of the younger kids sitting with older ones—probably their brothers and sisters. It makes me miss home even more. Our table is always full there.

As I looked around the cafeteria, I noticed groups of kids laughing and talking. Most of the younger ones sat with older siblings, but a few sat alone like us. It made the big room feel even quieter at our table. When Uncle Zach sat down with his tray, I felt a little less alone.

“Why are you guys sitting alone?” he asks, taking a bite of his food.

“We sat down first, and no one joined us,” I tell him, trying not to sound sad.

Zach nods thoughtfully and then smiles. “I’m going to tell you what your mom told me: befriend the friendless. They’ll make the most loyal friends.”

I glance at Orio, then around the room. My eyes land on two kids sitting alone—one boy and one girl. I look back at Orio, and he looks at me, already understanding what I’m thinking. He nods, and we both get up. Orio heads toward the boy, and I walk toward the girl.

“Hi, my name is Xavier, but you can call me X,” I say softly to the girl. “Would you like to join me, my brother, and our uncle for breakfast?”

She looks at me timidly but nods, picking up her tray. I carry it for her, and we walk back to the table. I sit her in the seat next to me.

“This is my Uncle Zach,” I say, pointing to him.

“My name is Serena,” she says so quietly that we can barely hear her. Good thing we have wolf hearing.

Just then, Orio returns with the boy. “Uncle Zach, X, this is Eryx. He’s from the Nightshade Pack, like Liora and Greyson,” Orio says.

“This is Serena,” I add, looking at her. “I hadn’t asked her yet what pack she’s from.”

“Verdant Grove,” Serena says a little louder this time.

“That’s Uncle Easton’s pack!” I exclaim, smiling.

“Wow, you guys really know the packs,” Eryx says, looking impressed.

“They have to,” Zach says with a smirk. “My nephews are the heirs to the throne.”

The room goes quiet at that, and I can feel everyone staring at us.

“Oops, guess I let the cat out of the bag,” Zach says, shrugging. “Though I thought my sister dropping off her kids would have done that.” He stands up, finishing the last bite of his breakfast. “Well, I’m going to join my friends now that you guys aren’t eating alone.”

“Bye, Uncle Zach,” Orio and I say together as he walks away.

We turn back to Serena and Eryx, starting to talk and get to know them better. Serena is shy but kind, and Eryx is quiet at first but warms up quickly. It feels nice having people to talk to, even if the room is still full of kids staring at us.

Eventually, more kids come up to introduce themselves. Some invite us to join their tables, but the invitations never seem to extend to Serena or Eryx. Orio and I politely decline, not wanting to leave our new friends behind. Most of the kids don’t like that we turn them down, but Orio and I don’t care. We don’t want friends who only like us because we’re royals.

As the cafeteria settles, four more kids join our table. One introduces himself as Leif, from Timberwood Pack. Another is Amara, from Lunar Ridge Pack. Tobias, who looks familiar, is from Silver Moon Pack like us. The last one is Lyric, from Shadowclaw Pack.

The table fills with conversation and laughter, and for the first time since we arrived, I feel like maybe this place could feel like home.

As we talked with our new friends, we started noticing how similar we all were in some ways, even though we came from different packs and backgrounds. Tobias joined us first because he recognized us. He’s from our pack, Silver Moon, and being the oldest child in his family, he knows how it feels to have responsibilities. It turns out that’s something all of us have in common—we’re all the oldest in our families.

Serena, the only child in her family, is shy and quiet, but her eyes light up when she listens to the rest of us talk. It feels like she’s soaking up every word, learning about us, even though she doesn’t say much herself. Lyric, on the other hand, has three younger siblings, and it shows. She’s used to being a leader and a caretaker, but she also knows how to stand her ground. Her confidence reminds me a little of Orio when he has a plan he’s excited about.

Tobias, with two younger siblings, seems like someone who’s always been there to guide and protect. He talks about them a lot, even though he tries to act tough. It’s clear he loves them, and I respect that. Amara and Eryx each have one younger sibling, and they both have this quiet understanding about what it means to balance being a role model and figuring out their own paths. Leif, though, is the most like us in that way—he has five younger siblings. Five! He seems a little overwhelmed when he talks about them, but I can tell he loves being a big brother.

As we sat and got to know each other, I noticed something else. We were all different in where we came from, but we were all alike in the way we cared about our families. Whether it was Lyric helping her younger siblings with schoolwork, Tobias watching out for his brother and sister, or Serena trying to live up to the expectations her parents had for her as the beta’s daughter, we all knew what it felt like to have people looking up to us.

It made sense why we were all drawn to each other. Being the oldest is hard sometimes, and even though we don’t all say it, I think we understand that about one another. We all know what it’s like to feel the weight of responsibility, even at our age.

As we finished eating, I looked around the cafeteria for Uncle Tom’s kids. He has three, and I thought I might see one or two of them, but they weren’t in the cafeteria. Maybe we’d run into them later.

When everyone was done with breakfast, I looked around at the group. “Shall we go play on the playground?” I proposed, excited to spend more time together.

Everyone agreed quickly. “Let’s go!” Lyric said, standing up and pulling her tray closer to stack it with the others.

We followed Orio to the tray drop-off, and soon, everyone was following us as we headed toward the playground. It felt natural to lead the way. Orio and I already knew our way around the school, and I think the others liked having someone who could guide them.

The playground was huge, with plenty of space to climb, run, and explore. As we got closer, I noticed how excited everyone was. Lyric was practically bouncing, and Tobias had this determined look on his face, like he was ready to conquer the tallest slide. Serena stayed close to me, her shyness making her hang back a little, but I could see her curiosity growing.

When we got there, everyone scattered, testing out the swings, slides, and climbing ropes. Orio and I joined in, climbing to the top of the tower first. From up there, I could see all our new friends laughing and playing. It felt good, like maybe this place could feel like home after all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure walking toward us from the school. My heart jumped when I recognized Griffin. I waved him over, already thinking about how much better the day was going to get.

Griffin smiled, picking up his pace and joining our group. I introduced him to everyone, saying, “This is Griffin, the heir to the Crescent Moon pack and our friend.”

The others greeted him warmly, though I made sure not to mention that Griffin is a silver wolf, just like Orio and me. That wasn’t something we wanted anyone to know yet—not even our new friends.

Lyric perked up the moment Griffin arrived. She seemed curious, watching him closely as he introduced himself. Griffin is four, like Orio and me, but he’ll turn five toward the end of the school year. Most of the others are either five already or will be turning five soon, so he’s the closest in age to us.

As we played, I couldn’t help but notice something else: Serena and Eryx seemed to gravitate toward each other. They didn’t say much, but they stuck close, helping each other climb the playground equipment and laughing softly together. I wondered what that was about.

We stayed on the playground until a teacher called us in for lunch. By then, we were all tired but happy. Over lunch, Griffin told us he’d only arrived that morning, which is why he hadn’t been at breakfast. I was glad he found us. Our group felt more complete with him here.

After lunch, Orio and I decided to give our friends a tour of the castle. It felt good to show them around, leading the way through the grand hallways and pointing out the important rooms. Uncle Zach and his friends seemed to follow us everywhere, almost like they were acting as our royal guards.

“I think one of them is Thorne’s son,” I whispered to Orio at one point. “He’s the head warrior.”

“Which one do you think it is?” Orio asked, glancing back at the group of older kids trailing behind us.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But we’ll figure it out.”

Everyone gasped as we walked through the grand hallways of the castle. I couldn’t help but smile—showing them around made me feel like I belonged here, too.

The tour ended in the library, where we all sat down together. Orio and I took turns reading to our friends, picking books we thought they’d like. Most of them were still learning to read, so we helped them with the words. It was fun, hearing their excitement as we brought the stories to life. I noticed Serena and Eryx sitting close again, sharing a book between them and smiling.

After dinner, we went back to the kindergarten dorms and played games until bedtime. The dorms were cozy, and it felt good to relax after such a busy day. Griffin fit right in with the group, and Lyric seemed especially excited to have someone new to talk to.

When it was finally time for bed, I climbed into my bunk, feeling happy and tired. Today had been a good day—better than I thought it would be. As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about how lucky we were to have found such good friends already. This place was starting to feel a little more like home.