Say My Name, Alpha

The obsidian gates of Ironclad Academy rose high into the gray sky like giant black blades. They were thick, dark, and ice-cold. For hundreds of years, these stone walls had kept out the weak and welcomed only the strongest Alphas in the nation.

Zade Varyn stood right in front of the heavy entrance, his heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped bird.

He reached into his dark jacket pocket and pulled out a small glass bottle. Inside was a thick, purple liquid that smelled sharply like bitter copper. It was an illegal, black-market chemical suppressant.

Zade knew the rules. If the academy guards caught him with this bottle, they would lock him in a dungeon. If anyone found out why he needed it, they would execute him on the spot.

In a world ruled by Alphas, Omegas were seen as weak, fragile, and easy to control. They were hunted, registered, and stripped of their freedom.

Zade was born an Omega.

To survive, he had to hide his true nature. He had to fake his biology and act like a cold, dangerous Alpha.

Zade lifted the bottle to his lips and swallowed a double dose. The liquid burned down his throat like liquid fire. His stomach twisted in pain as the medicine worked through his blood, forcing his soft Omega scent to disappear entirely.

"Just a little longer," Zade whispered to himself, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. "I have to do this for my mother. I have to do this to survive."

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, threw the empty glass bottle into the deep shadows of the stone archway, and adjusted his heavy leather boots. He put on his cold, emotionless mask. His eyes turned sharp and distant.

With a heavy creak, the giant gates slowly swung open. Zade took a deep breath of the freezing morning air and stepped into the orientation courtyard.

The courtyard was enormous. It was paved with rough granite stones and surrounded by high walls where heavy weapons were mounted.

Hundreds of new students stood around in small groups. They were all young Alphas, wearing expensive dark coats, military boots, and proud family crests on their chests.

The air in the courtyard was thick with heavy Alpha pheromones. It smelled like crushed pine, lightning, metal, and smoke. The Alphas were already trying to scare each other, glaring at anyone who looked into their eyes.

Zade walked quietly through the crowd, keeping his head up and his posture straight. He made his shoulders look broad and his steps look heavy and confident.

Every time an Alpha pushed past him, Zade did not move an inch. He let his body absorb the impact like solid iron. He could not afford to show a single second of hesitation.

"Look at that guy," a tall Alpha muttered to his friend as Zade passed by. "He doesn't have a noble family badge on his uniform. Where did he come from?"

"He looks like a nobody," another voice sneered. "He won't last three days under Instructor Reyne."

Zade ignored the whispers. He kept walking until he reached the center of the courtyard, stopping near a massive stone statue of the academy's founder.

He crossed his arms over his chest and looked around, studying the faces of the people who would soon become his enemies.

Then, the air in the courtyard suddenly grew heavy. A powerful, suffocating pressure washed over the crowd, making several weaker students gasp and step back.

Zade felt a sudden prickle of danger on the back of his neck. His instincts screamed at him to look toward the elevated stone stairs near the main hall entrance.

Standing at the top of the stairs was a tall young man with short dark hair, sharp blue eyes, and a broad chest. He wore a crisp, dark blue uniform with gold buttons that sparkled under the dim sunlight.

Pinned over his heart was a silver crest shaped like a striking dragon. It was the emblem of the Vale family—the most powerful, wealthy, and ruthless Alpha bloodline in the entire country.

It was Xander Vale.

Xander was nineteen years old, and he moved with the dangerous grace of a hungry predator. He did not need to yell or push people to get attention. His presence alone was enough to make everyone around him fall completely silent.

Xander slowly looked down at the crowd of students, his cold eyes scanning the faces like a master inspecting his property. He looked bored, arrogant, and completely unimpressed.

Until his eyes landed directly on Zade.

Zade did not drop his gaze. He stared straight back into Xander’s sharp blue eyes, refusing to bow his head or look away like the other students were doing.

For three long seconds, time seemed to stop in the busy courtyard. The noise of the crowd faded away.

Xander tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied Zade. Xander had spent his whole life around Alphas, and he could instantly tell when someone was trying to challenge him.

He saw the fierce, unyielding light in Zade’s eyes. He felt the quiet, dangerous confidence radiating from Zade's body.

Instead of seeing another weak classmate, Xander instantly recognized Zade as an immediate threat to his top-ranking status at the academy.

A slow, arrogant smirk spread across Xander’s face. He stepped down the stone stairs, his heavy boots making a clear, rhythmic sound against the stone floor.

The crowd of students quickly parted, clearing a path for the Vale heir. Xander walked straight toward Zade, keeping his eyes locked onto him the entire time.

Zade felt his stomach drop, but he did not step back. He forced his muscles to stay relaxed, holding his ground as Xander stopped just two feet away from him.

Up close, Xander was even taller than Zade had thought. The heavy scent of cedar wood and ozone washed over Zade, making his suppressed Omega instincts shiver deep inside his chest.

"You're standing in my spot, new guy," Xander said. His voice was deep, smooth, and laced with absolute authority.

"I don't see your name carved on the floor, Vale," Zade replied calmly. His voice was low, cold, and smooth as silk.

Xander raised an eyebrow, surprised that an unknown student dared to say his name without respect. "You know who I am, yet you don't step aside. That's either very brave or very stupid."

Zade forced a cold, ruthless sneer onto his face. He leaned in slightly, looking right into Xander's eyes with pure disdain.

"Names don't mean anything in the arena," Zade sneered, establishing a bitter rivalry from the very first minute. "I don't care who your father is. If you want this spot, you'll have to make me move."

Xander’s smirk faded, replaced by a dark, dangerous look in his eyes. He stepped even closer, invading Zade's personal space until their shoulders almost touched.

"I'll remember your face," Xander whispered coldly into Zade's ear. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you."

"Try it," Zade whispered back, his cold smirk never fading.

Before Xander could reply, a loud, booming voice echoed across the courtyard, cutting through the heavy tension like a knife.

"Silence!"

Instructor Reyne walked out onto the high balcony, his sharp eyes locking onto Zade and Xander.

Zade took a quiet step back, keeping his eyes on Xander. Their bitter academic and physical war had officially begun.