LYRA'S POVI ran. I didn’t even know where I was running to, I just needed to get out of sight. Out of their eyes. Out of that damn training yard where every breath felt like punishment and every stare dug into my skin like claws.My ribs ached. My palms were scraped raw from hitting the dirt so many times, and my thighs were burning from running and pushing and crawling through Killian’s brutal routine. But none of that hurt like my chest.I turned the corner of the storage shed, shoved past a half-open door, and collapsed to the floor.It was dark and dusty. Old weapons, boxes, spare training mats...I didn’t care. I curled up in the corner, behind the stacked crates, hugged my knees tight to my chest, and I let go.Hot tears slipped out before I could stop them.I buried my face in my arms, trying to keep it quiet, but my body shook.This was harder than I thought.I thought I could handle this. Pretend to be Rowan, blend in, survive the training, prove to Father that I could be Alp
Kieran’s POVThe hall smelled like roasted meat and sweat. Long wooden tables stretched from one end to the other, packed with boys who were loud and half-starved after training. Plates clanged, mugs slammed against wood, and laughter bounced off the stone walls. It was chaotic, but this was normal. This was Alpha Academy.I walked in, boots heavy on the ground. My eyes scanned the room.The Alpha Heirs sat in clumps. South Ridge boys clustered together, noisy as ever. The Moonrock twins were arm-wrestling. Everyone looked like they belonged. Strong shoulders, big mouths, louder egos. It didn’t matter where they came from. They carried pride like it was armor.Then there was him.Rowan Thorne.He sat at the edge of the last table. Small. Quiet. Shoulders hunched. Head down like he was praying to disappear. His tray was barely touched. A slice of meat and some beans. Like he was afraid to eat too much.My jaw clenched. My wolf stirred.‘He’s here,’ my wolf growled. ‘Mate.’I didn’t res
Lyra's POVA loud horn split the air before dawn.I shot up from the thin bunk, dazed, heart thudding. My head banged the wooden frame above me. "Shit," I hissed under my breath.Nira groaned inside my head. 'Is the academy run by wolves or war drums?'"Get up! Get up! Out!" someone shouted from the hallway.Doors slammed. Boots thundered against the old stone floors. I scrambled, still half-asleep, dragging on my boots with shaking hands. My bandages felt tighter than ever. My shirt clung to my back with sweat, already damp from the heat. I barely got my belt on before the door burst open.It was one of the older instructors. His glare cut like a knife."Five minutes late, Thorne. That all Blueclaw's got? Move."I ran. Down the hall, out the doors, into the freezing morning. My breath came out in sharp gasps. The sun wasn’t even up, but the field was already packed.Dozens of boys lined up in ranks, shirtless again, of course. I hugged Rowan's jacket tighter around me. My skin itched
Lyra’s POV.The moment I stepped inside the dorm room, my heart slammed in my chest like a prisoner desperate to escape. Three guys were already there, sitting on the bunks and trunks like they owned the place. The room was small and stuffy, heat sticking to my skin, making the bandages around my chest feel like they’d snap under the pressure. I swallowed the urge to breathe through my mouth and forced myself to stay calm.I pulled the hood lower, hiding as much of my face as I could without looking like I was ready to bolt.“Hey,” said the tallest one, a broad-shouldered guy with dark hair and eyes sharp like knives. “You’re Rowan, right? From Blueclaw?”“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough and low. I tried to keep it steady, but the words felt foreign in my throat.He grinned, showing teeth that were too white for this place. “I’m Eryk. Alpha heir of Shadowpine. Just got here myself. Heard Blueclaw’s been... rough lately.”I nodded, forcing a casual shrug. “Yeah. Tough times.”The second
Killian’s POVI shut the door behind me harder than I should’ve.My jaw clenched so tight it hurt. I kept walking. Past the office. Down the damn hall. I could feel eyes on me…every single one of those boys tracking my steps like I was the moon and they were born to follow it.I didn’t care.I needed air.Needed space.Needed something to break.I stormed past the training yard. My fists were balled, my nails digging deep into my palms. I wanted to punch a wall. Drive my fist into it until something gave in…bone or brick, didn’t matter. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not here. Not with every heir out here watching like I was some goddamn hero.I gritted my teeth and looked up at the sky, breathing sharp.Mate.The word burned through my skull.Mate.To a boy.Rowan Thorne. Alpha Heir of Blueclaw.Blueclaw…the pack hanging by threads. Warriors dying every month. Rogues slipping past their borders like it was a joke. Packs withdrawing alliances left and right. And somehow, they still had an
Lyra’s POV.The gates of Alpha Academy were massive. Towering. Iron bars twice my height, lined with scars from past battles. I stood in front of them with my hood pulled low, my chest bound so tight I could barely breathe. My heart slammed against my ribs, over and over, like it wanted out of this body.Guards stood the entrance, all muscle and menace, with eyes like they saw straight through people. They wore no uniforms...just black, battle-worn clothes and a scent that said one wrong move, and I’d never breathe again.‘You still want to do this?’ Nira asked, low in my head.She already knew the answer.I didn’t reply. I kept my jaw tight, voice buried deep. I adjusted the straps under my hoodie, pulling it closer to my skin. Every inch of me was Rowan now. I held out the forged crest, heart in my throat.The guard raised a brow. "Name?"I dropped my voice. "Rowan Thorne."He stared for a second too long. Then nodded."Welcome to Alpha Academy."The gates opened with a loud groan.