Rayne Valen is determined to prove that being born the daughter of an Alpha doesn’t mean she can’t lead her pack. Disguised as a boy, she enrolls in Blackmoon Academy, an elite training ground for future Alphas, with a single goal in mind: to claim her birthright. But what she didn’t expect was Lucian Wolfe—an Alpha so powerful, so magnetic, that even the toughest recruits are intimidated by him. When fate forces them into close quarters as roommates, Rayne’s resolve is tested. Lucian’s presence is impossible to ignore, and his keen instincts seem to be uncovering secrets Rayne is desperate to keep hidden. But as the tension between them escalates, so does the undeniable attraction they share. Now, Rayne must navigate the dangerous balance between proving her worth as an Alpha, keeping her identity a secret, and fighting the pull of a forbidden attraction that could destroy everything she’s worked for.
View MoreThe blade of the scissors gleamed under the dim candlelight.
Rayne tightened her grip, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her silver-blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders—her last tie to the girl she was supposed to be. The girl her father wanted to keep hidden, to protect.
But she was done being protected.
She clenched her jaw, her father’s words echoing in her mind.
"A female cannot lead. The pack would never follow you."
"You’re not strong enough, Rayne. It’s not your place."
Her chest ached with the memory. Not strong enough.
She had spent years proving him wrong. Training harder than the boys. Learning every combat technique. Studying strategy, leadership, and warfare. And yet, none of it mattered because she was born a daughter instead of a son.
Her father was growing older. The council was already preparing to choose her cousin—an arrogant, power-hungry fool—to take over the pack when the time came. And Rayne?
She was expected to marry. To become some Alpha’s Luna, soft-spoken and obedient.
That was not her destiny.
she raised the scissors and sliced through the thick strands. Hair tumbled to the floor in soft waves, pooling around her feet like a farewell. The girl in the mirror was no more. In her place stood someone new.
Rei.
A boy. A warrior. A future Alpha.
If the world refused to see her as an Alpha, then she would become one in secret.
She would fight. Win. Earn their respect—and then claim her place as the true leader of her pack.
Even if it meant losing herself in the process.
Her heart pounded as she ran her hands through her now-short, choppy locks. It felt strange—lighter, unfamiliar. But there was no time for hesitation. She wrapped a tight bandage around her chest, concealing any remaining signs of her true identity, and pulled on the academy-issued uniform: a black combat shirt, fitted pants, and sturdy boots.
By sunrise, she would no longer be Rayne, daughter of Alpha Magnus.
She would be one of them.
---
The academy loomed ahead like a fortress—dark stone towers rising against the stormy sky, its iron gates open but unwelcoming. A sea of young men stood in its massive courtyard. Future Alphas, each trained to lead their packs.
Rayne adjusted the hood of her cloak and stepped forward, her boots crunching against the gravel. Every step she took into the academy grounds was a step deeper into her deception.
The air was thick with dominance as Rayne stepped into the academy grounds. The scent of powerful Alphas surrounded her, each young man radiating strength, pride, and raw energy. She kept her expression neutral, her posture straight. If she showed even a hint of hesitation, she would be eaten alive.
She had to be careful.
No one could know.
“Name?” A deep voice barked.
She turned to face a tall, broad-chested instructor with a scar running down his cheek. His golden eyes assessed her coldly, flicking over her smaller frame.
“Rei,” she answered, keeping her voice steady.
The instructor narrowed his gaze but grunted, marking her down on his parchment. “First-year recruit. You’ll be part of the Alpha Trials today. Fail, and you leave.”
She gave a sharp nod, stepping into the growing crowd. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The Alpha Trials. She knew they would test combat ability, speed, and strategy. But she had trained for this moment her entire life.
And she wasn’t leaving.
She moved through the sea of recruits, ignoring the way some sneered, others scoffed. It didn’t matter what they thought of her now. Soon, she’d show them exactly why she was here.
A large ring was drawn in the center of the courtyard, and recruits were called forward one by one. The goal was simple—fight, win, and secure your place in the academy hierarchy.
It was a combat-based ranking system designed to weed out the weak and establish dominance from day one.
Rayne watched as the first fights unfolded—brutal clashes of muscle and instinct. Some challengers lasted minutes, others mere seconds. The stronger recruits relished in domination, their victories a display of power.
Her name was finally called.
She stepped into the ring. Across from her stood a broad-shouldered, arrogant-looking boy—Finn, Beta-born, high-ranking. He sneered as he looked her up and down.
“Are they serious?” he laughed. “You can’t be more than a hundred and forty pounds soaking wet.”
A few of the onlookers chuckled, but Rayne stayed silent, rolling her shoulders loose. She wouldn’t waste energy with words.
Her opponent however kept grinning at her like she was an easy meal.
"You sure you belong here, runt?" he taunted, cracking his knuckles.
The moment the whistle blew, Finn lunged first, expecting an easy win. She dodged, swift and precise, stepping past his wild strike and slamming her elbow into his ribs. He grunted, stumbling back in shock.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Finn recovered fast, growling low as he tried again, but Rayne was faster. A quick sweep of her leg sent him crashing to the ground.
Silence.
The crowd, which had been cheering and jeering moments ago, had gone utterly still.
She pressed her knee against his chest, her forearm at his throat.
"Yield," she demanded.
Finn struggled, his face burning with rage and embarrassment. But there was no escaping her grip. He choked out the word. "Fine. I yield."
The instructor raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Winner—Rei.”
The tension in the air shifted. Eyes lingered on her as she stepped out of the ring. She was no longer invisible.
She was a threat.
Rayne stood, offering no reaction as the murmurs around her grew louder.
"Who the hell is that?"
"No way a beta just took down Finn."
"Something's off about him..."
But one voice cut through them all. Low, controlled, and filled with intrigue.
"Who the hell are you?"
Rayne froze.
Then slowly she turned, locking eyes with the strongest Alpha in the academy.
Lucian Wolfe.
His silver eyes were locked onto Rayne’s small, powerful frame.
The moment their gazes met, her heart clenched with something she didn’t understand.
And then, she did what any Alpha-in-disguise would do.
She smirked. “Guess you’ll have to find out.”
Xavier’s eyes darkened as he stepped closer, his voice dripping with that cold, deliberate arrogance that made Rayne's stomach twist.Her chains clinked between them, but she didn’t back up. If he thought she was prey, he was about to learn the hard way that she’d grown sharper claws.He reached for her face, but she turned sharply, his fingers brushing air.“You’ve always had fight in you,” he murmured, almost amused.“And you’ve always had delusions,” she shot back.Something dangerous flashed in his expression. He grabbed her arm, yanking her forward, the force making the chain dig into her wrists. “You will learn to—”She moved before he could finish. Her head snapped forward, slamming into his nose with a sickening crunch.Xavier cursed, stumbling back with a snarl, blood already dripping down his face.Rayne didn’t waste a second. She swung the chain still binding her wrists like a whip, cracking it across his jaw. He staggered, the edge of the war table catching his hip.The fi
The Ironfang guards came for her before dawn.Rayne was half-asleep on the cold stone floor when the sound of bootsteps thundered down the corridor, heavy and purposeful. Her instincts jolted her awake. She was on her feet before the torchlight even reached her cell door.The key turned in the lock with a metallic scrape. Two guards stepped in—both big, broad-shouldered wolves with the black-and-silver armbands of Xavier’s personal sentinels.“On your feet,” one of them barked.Rayne’s eyes narrowed. “Where are you taking me?”Neither answered. The first guard grabbed her by the arm, the iron cuff biting into her skin as he yanked her forward. Her wrists were still bound by the heavy chain, the short length of it forcing her to keep her hands close together. The second guard gripped her other arm, and between them they dragged her out into the corridor.Cain, still in his cell, stepped forward and gripped the bars. “Rayne—”She didn’t look at him. “Save your breath.”The guards shoved
The Ironfang prison was a place built for despair.The air was damp and metallic, carrying the scent of rust and blood. The stone walls sweated in the dim torchlight, and every sound—a footstep, a cough, a clink of a chain—echoed far too loudly.Rayne sat with her back to the wall, legs drawn in, hands chained but free enough to move. Her mind had been running in circles for days, replaying how Cain had betrayed their pack. Every time she thought the rage might settle, it flared hotter.Across from her, in his own cell, Cain sat on the floor with his head lowered. His black hair fell forward, obscuring most of his face. He hadn’t spoken much since he’d been thrown in here, but his silence didn’t earn him mercy in her eyes.“You should have told them to kill me outright,” Rayne said finally, her voice flat. “It would have been cleaner.”Cain didn’t look up. “I didn’t bring you here to die.”Rayne laughed without humor. “You delivered me into their hands. Do you think they’ll just… keep
The Eastern Highlands was no longer quiet.From the moment the warning had been sounded, the fortress-city stirred like a great beast waking from slumber. The clang of the blacksmith’s hammer rang in steady rhythm from the lower yards, turning raw steel into the spears, swords, and arrowheads the pack would soon need. The scent of oil and leather hung heavy as armorers fitted warriors with reinforced chest plates and bracers.Lucian Wolfe stalked the training yard like a shadow, watching his wolves drill. His voice cut through the cool morning air, sharp and commanding.“Again! You think Rurik will give you the chance to catch your breath? Drive your blade deeper, move faster—your opponent isn’t going to wait for you to think about your next move!”The warriors obeyed, sweat dripping, their bodies moving with relentless precision. Even the young, untested fighters were put through the motions; in war, there was no time to coddle.Up on the battlements, lookouts scanned the distant tre
The war room of the Eastern Highlands was silent now. The council had long since dispersed, the heavy oak doors closed, leaving Lucian Wolfe alone with the faint flicker of torchlight and the faint scent of pine smoke curling from the hearth.The stillness did nothing to quiet his mind.He stood at the long table, palms braced against the scarred wood, staring down at the map of the Eastern Territories. His gaze wasn’t on the Highlands. It wasn’t on the rivers or the marked patrol routes. It was fixed on the stretch of land that had once been Valen territory—now marked in crimson ink by his cartographers, the color of enemy occupation.Rayne Valen’s territory.Rayne.The name curled in his mind like smoke he couldn’t chase away. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her—not the girl she’d been at Blackmoon Academy, disguised and defiant, but the woman had become. A leader in her own right.The memory of the way she had looked at him in their last meeting also came unbidden. Guarded bu
The feast hall was warm, filled with the glow of golden lanterns and the heady scent of spiced meats, roasted roots, and bitter wine. The sound of laughter at the Ironfang territory echoed against the vaulted ceiling, heavy with victory and indulgence.Cain sat at the center of it all, his cup never empty, his plate overflowing. He wore a fresh tunic, deep red with gold threading at the collar, and a fur mantle draped over his shoulders—prestigious, regal. He relished the weight of it, imagining it as the pelt of power.To his right, Xavier lounged lazily, a chalice of bloodwine in one hand, his other draped around the back of a serving girl who looked too terrified to breathe. Across from them, Alpha Rurik—grizzled, broad, and grinning hard as he tore into a leg of boar with his teeth, the juices staining his beard.“I’ll admit,” Xavier said, swirling his drink with lazy elegance, “when Cain came to me with his little rebellion plan, I almost didn’t bite.”Cain chuckled, lifting his
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