2. Orientation

I reach the registration area after escaping Vanessa and Susan, a bit relieved.

...Achievement unlocked: Escaped the mean girls. Estimated peace time: Three minutes.

The registration area looked like controlled chaos.

Hundreds of first-year students crowded around long wooden tables while professors checked names, handed out schedules, and barked orders loud enough to scare birds out of nearby trees. Every few seconds, another luxury car pulled into the academy, adding to the already overwhelming crowd of excited students.

I carefully set Vanessa's mountain of luggage beside the registration desk and stretched my aching shoulders.

"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess," I muttered. "I was starting to think these bags, and I had formed a lifelong bond."

The professor behind the desk looked up from his clipboard.

"Name?"

"Bellona Ashford."

He scanned the list before giving a short nod. "Year One."

A polished black badge card slid across the table.

Bellona Ashford.

Year One.

Dormitory Assignment: Pending.

I stared at the card for a second longer than I probably should have. It was just a student badge, a piece of laminated plastic, and yet somehow... It meant more than any gift I'd ever received.

For once, I wasn't here because Alpha Damien Ashford had decided where I belonged. I had earned my place. A tiny smile found its way onto my lips.

...Look at me. Officially educated.

...Terrifying.

I clipped the badge onto my shirt before picking up Vanessa's luggage again. Old habits die hard.

A loud bell echoed across the academy grounds. The conversations died almost instantly. Students began moving toward the enormous central courtyard where a raised stone platform overlooked the campus. Professors directed everyone into neat rows according to their academic year.

I quietly slipped into the back of the first-year group. Feeling safer there. Less noticeable, just exactly how I liked it.

A tall man in a dark academic coat stepped onto the platform. Gray streaked his hair, but his sharp amber eyes suggested he could probably outrun half the students standing below him.

"My name is Professor Hawthorne." His calm voice carried effortlessly across the courtyard.

"Welcome to Alpha Academy." No applause followed; nobody dared. He slowly looked over the sea of young wolves standing before him.

"Take a good look around." He said, and I obeyed. Students from every major Alpha pack in the kingdom stood shoulder to shoulder. Almost all of them have confident smiles, perfect uniforms, and powerful scents. They were future leaders.

Professor Hawthorne folded his hands behind his back. "Remember their faces." He said, and a brief pause followed.

"Because by graduation...half of them won't be standing beside you anymore." He said it so casually as if telling them the weather forecast. The courtyard fell deathly silent. A girl standing in front of me swallowed nervously.

...Excellent. Nothing motivates teenagers like emotional damage.

"The academy exists for one reason." Professor Hawthorne continued walking across the platform.

"To prepare future Alphas. Future commanders. Future diplomats. Future protectors. If you cannot meet our standards..." He pointed calmly toward the enormous gates behind us.

"...those gates remain open." Nobody laughed; there were no hushed whispers, even the wind seemed to pause. Then something changed.

I didn't know what it was at first. There was no announcement, no warning. The atmosphere simply... shifted. Students stopped fidgeting. Several professors straightened their posture. Conversations died in the span of a heartbeat. I noticed a couple of heads turning towards the gates. Curious, I glanced toward the academy entrance.

Three identical black SUVs rolled slowly through the gates; nobody screamed or rushed forward. Instead...

Every student instinctively stepped aside, creating a wide path through the middle of the courtyard. That somehow felt even more intimidating. Like, was this protocol?

The middle vehicle stopped. A bodyguard stepped forward and opened the rear door. A tall young man stepped out. He wore the same academy uniform as everyone else, yet somehow it looked entirely different on him. His black blazer fit perfectly over broad shoulders, the silver crest stitched over his chest catching the morning sunlight. Dark hair fell carelessly across his forehead, as though he hadn't spent more than ten seconds fixing it. One hand rested casually inside his pocket. The other adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. Relaxed. Unhurried. Like he had absolutely nothing to prove. Yet everyone watched him.

Judging by the number of girls suddenly fixing their hair... Yes. He was probably handsome.

What got my attention were his silver-gray eyes; they were calm and cold enough to make winter feel insecure.

"Alexander Blackthorn..." Someone whispered near me.

"The future Alpha King." Someone else said. I blinked once, and then twice before it clicked.

Oh....

...So that's Alexander Blackthorn.

...I expected more lightning.

As if hearing my completely reasonable expectation, he lifted his head. His silver-gray eyes swept lazily across the crowd before stopping.

On me...

Just for a second. His brows pulled together ever so slightly, not in annoyance, and neither in arrogance. Just curiosity. Like he'd found something that didn't quite make sense.

...Why is Ice King staring at me? Whoa, Ice King suits his eyes. I'm excellent at naming people...

Before I could overthink it, another figure jumped out of the SUV behind him. Golden hair, donning a bright grin, crystal blue eyes, and sparkling with charms. Entirely too much energy for this early in the morning. Without hesitation, he threw an arm around Alexander's shoulders.

"Morning, Your Royal Seriousness." Charming guy mused. Alexander barely glanced at him and calmly removed the arm.

"I've asked you not to call me that." The Royal Seriousness said. The blond Alpha grinned wider, completely amused and enjoying the whole ordeal.

"And I've ignored you every single time." He mused. A few nearby students chuckled. Including me.

Alexander sighed. "I noticed."

...Well...

...One looked like he'd negotiate peace between kingdoms.

...The other looked like he'd accidentally start one.

The blond Alpha suddenly looked straight toward our group. His bright blue eyes landed on me. He smiled.

Then...

He waved.

I looked behind me, and there was nobody. I looked to my left, and still nobody.

"...Me?" I mouthed with wide eyes, pointing a finger at myself. He nodded enthusiastically.

...Ohhh...

I awkwardly waved back. His smile somehow became even bigger. Alexander followed his friend's gaze. Our eyes met again. This time... He looked even more confused than before.

...Why does Ice King keep looking at me? Did I accidentally steal his parking spot? Wait... I didn't even have a car.

Before the silence could become awkward, another voice interrupted. "I hope being royalty hasn't made you slow, Blackthorn."

A tall student with sharp features stepped confidently through the crowd. Unlike Alexander's effortless calm, this man carried himself like someone who enjoyed being watched.

"Dareth," someone whispered.

"The strongest Alpha." Another whispered. I noticed how everyone was so zoned in on the drama or whatever this was.

Dareth stopped in front of Alexander with an arrogant smile. "I've been waiting to beat you."

Alexander looked at him for exactly one second. "I hope you've improved."

"I have."

"Good."

"Because you still lost the last three times," Alexander said casually.

Several students gasped. The golden, charming guy burst into laughter. Even Dareth's confident smile twitched.

...Alpha males... Such fascinating creatures.

...Give them enough muscles, and eventually everything becomes a competition.

Professor Hawthorne cleared his throat loudly. "If you're all finished measuring egos..."

Golden boy coughed into his fist. Alexander looked completely innocent and clueless. Dareth rolled his eyes.

The professor continued. "As I was saying... Orientation concludes with your first academy assessment."

Excitement spread instantly through the freshmen. "The Freshman Survival Trial." Murmurs erupted.

"The rankings from today's trial will determine your dormitories, training groups, and initial academy standings." The professor said, and my smile disappeared.

...Wonderful...

...Nothing says 'welcome' like organized suffering.

Before Professor Hawthorne could explain further... Another black SUV entered the academy.

Late.

Now it was kind of annoying. I hate interruptions...

Every head turned. The professor pinched the bridge of his nose. "You are late." He said, and I felt a tiny little better. At least he was annoyed too.

The driver's door remained closed. Instead, the rear door slowly opened. A young man stepped out wearing his academy blazer beneath a long black coat despite the pleasant weather.

Dark hair, sharp jaw. His hands were tucked into his pockets. He looked around once, his expression unreadable. Like arriving late to Alpha Academy was the least interesting thing he'd done today.

Professor Hawthorne folded his arms. "Reason for being late?"

The stranger shrugged. "My train disagreed with your schedule." That latecomer said.

A few students laughed. "There are no trains on this mountain," the professor replied dryly.

"Then my excuse needs work." He said politely. Even I smiled because he felt like.

...Confident. Suspicious and a walking Red Flag.

The professor sighed. "Name?"

Silence lingered for a heartbeat. Then the stranger answered. "Denzel Darkmoor."

The laughter vanished. Completely. Several professors exchanged uneasy glances. Dareth's relaxed expression hardened. Golden boy stopped smiling. Alexander slowly turned toward the newcomer. 

I noticed all of it. Every reaction. Every tiny shift in expression.

...Well. What am I missing?

...Apparently, it looks like walking Red Flag comes with a reputation.

I stared at Denzel intently, trying to decode him. Then, without warning... Denzel looked directly at me. Not past me, not through the crowd. Just directly at me.

His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes flashed for a tiny second. Was it recognition? As if... He already knew who I was. A strange chill ran down my spine.

...Scary... Boo. Definitely stranger danger.

Before I could make sense of it, Professor Hawthorne's voice echoed across the courtyard. "Since everyone is finally here..."

He turned toward the dense forest surrounding Alpha Academy, and we all glanced in that direction as well. A massive iron gate began to rise with a deep metallic groan, revealing a sprawling wilderness filled with towering pines, rocky cliffs, rope bridges, and obstacles disappearing into the trees.

The professor smiled. "Freshmen..." His voice carried across the mountain.

"Your Survival Trial begins now."

A deafening horn echoed through the valley. And every first-year student surged forward with such speed as if struck by lightning.

I barely even blinked, and everyone disappeared as I looked around, dumbfounded.

...Oh. Definitely not a prank...

I was still holding Vanessa's luggage, immediately remembered I wasn't supposed to be carrying it anymore, and I dropped it on the grass...

...and ran for my life.