Chapter 4

The orientation was no doubt more chaotic than expected. The academy was packed with more than 100 wolves. I didn't know so many packs existed, but the academy was the only alpha academy in the world. Future alphas from all lands and continents came here. The usual awaited royalty hadn't arrived yet, and every boy on the field murmured guesses about how each man would be.

"How would Donovan Silverclaw be?" one boy asked. "I hear he once killed three assassins who came to kill him."

"That's nothing," another argued. "Haven't you heard, the Lycan Prince is coming. He once killed five wolves by accident, on a full moon during a training exercise."

"And what about the alpha twins?" another asked. "I hear they merge into one big wolf when they want to. Rumor is, their deformity is because of a curse placed on them at birth."

"Deformity or not, no one wants to stand against them when they shift."

I stayed quiet, listening to the chatter while my stomach twisted. Donovan was here somewhere. The man who killed my brother was walking these same halls, breathing the same air.

"Ari!" Riley appeared at my elbow again, practically bouncing with nervous energy. "Did you hear what they're saying? The Lycan Prince supposedly has claws that can slice through steel. And the twins…"

"I heard," I cut him off.

"I can't believe we're here with actual royalty. My sisters would die if they knew I was in the same building as future kings and princes."

I nodded absently, scanning the crowd. More future alphas continued to file.

"I need to use the restroom," I mumbled to Riley.

"Want me to come with—"

"No." The word came out sharp. "I mean, I'll be quick."

I slipped away before he could respond, weaving through clusters of talking boys until I found the washrooms. Inside, I locked myself in a stall and quickly loosened my shirt, checking the bandages wrapped around my chest. They'd shifted slightly during the journey, and I could feel them cutting into my ribs.

I unwound them carefully, my breathing becoming easier as the pressure released. Then I rewrapped them tighter, making sure everything lay flat. The binding was uncomfortable, but it had to be flawless. One slip, one moment where someone noticed something off about my silhouette, and I was dead.

When I emerged from the stall, I caught my reflection in the cracked mirror above the sinks. Short hair, angular jaw, the loose clothes hiding any remaining curves. I looked like a boy. I had to.

Back in the orientation hall, Riley immediately latched onto me again.

"There you are! They're about to start room assignments. I hope we get to be roommates—wouldn't that be perfect? We could help each other through training."

The prospect of sharing a room with Riley's constant chatter made my head ache, but I managed a weak smile. "That would be great."

A stern-faced instructor stepped onto a raised platform at the front of the hall. "Attention!" His voice boomed over the crowd. "Room assignments begin now. When your name is called, collect your key and report to your dormitory immediately."

The process was painfully slow. Names were called alphabetically, and boys shuffled forward to receive their room assignments. Riley fidgeted beside me, running his hands through his messy hair.

"Goddess, I'm nervous," he whispered. "What if I get paired with someone who wants to kill me in my sleep?"

"Kill you?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You haven't heard the stories?" Riley's eyes widened. "They say alphas have been killed in their sleep if they disagree with their roommates. No one asks questions here. It's survival of the fittest."

My blood chilled. "That's just rumors."

"Maybe. But you should pray to the moon goddess that you get a good roommate, though it's basically impossible."

"Why?"

"Most alphas are egotistic. Everyone's trying to show who's boss from day one." Riley leaned closer. "My advice? Either try to befriend whoever you get paired with, or hope it's a future alpha from a smaller pack than yours."

He grinned. "Though that's impossible for you since your pack is basically nonexistent on the map."

I wanted to tell him that my pack controlled half the underworld, that we had connections and resources most alphas could only dream of. Instead, I just shrugged.

"Blackwood, Ari!"

My heart jumped. I walked forward on unsteady legs, accepting the key from the instructor.

"Hall Two, Room 15," he said without looking up.

Behind me, Riley let out a disappointed whine. "Damn! I was hoping we'd be roommates. Good luck, man. Try not to get murdered on your first night."

I made my way through the stone corridors, following signs until I found Hall Two. Room 15 was at the end of the hallway. I slid the key into the lock and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

The room was simple but almost luxurious compared to what I'd expected. A good sturdy bed with a thick mattress sat against each wall. A sink occupied one corner, and a two-part study table divided the space down the middle. On the far wall hung what looked like a weapons chest, though it was currently empty.

I set my bag on the bed closest to the window and sat down heavily. Riley's words echoed in my head. The first challenge takes out fifty percent of the students. Those who fail must fall under the rule of another alpha. Future alphas who fail the academy either die or return home with their status lowered, with the promise that their packs will be conquered.

Everyone here was fighting for their pack, just as I was fighting for mine. The difference was, I wasn't just fighting to prove myself—I was fighting to survive long enough to avenge Joshua and protect my family from the war Donovan planned to wage.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I opened the door to find Riley standing in the hallway, grinning widely.

"Surprise!" he said. "They reassigned me. Thank the goddess it's with you!"

Despite everything, I felt a small surge of relief. Riley might be annoying, but at least he wasn't trying to kill me.

"How did that happen?" I asked, stepping aside so he could enter.

"No idea. Maybe the moon goddess heard my prayers." He tossed his bag onto the other bed and flopped down. "This is way better than I expected. We're going to dominate this place, Ari."

I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere. Tomorrow, the real challenges would begin. Tomorrow, I'd have to face whatever brutal tests the academy had planned while keeping my identity secret and staying alive.

The alarm at the top of our beds rang at dawn, a harsh metallic sound that jolted me from restless sleep. Riley groaned and buried his head under his pillow.

"Too early," he mumbled. "Way too early."

"Come on," I said, already pulling on my clothes. "We don't want to be late to breakfast."

Riley dragged himself out of bed, still complaining about his seven sisters and how much he'd sacrificed to come to the academy. "If I fail here, the alpha twins' pack will swallow ours whole. My family is counting on me."

We made our way to the dining hall with the stream of other boys, all looking varying degrees of alert. The hall was massive, with long wooden tables that could seat hundreds. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the air, making my stomach growl.

Riley headed straight for the food line, but I hung back, scanning the crowd. That's when I saw him.

Donovan stood near the far wall, head held high, chatting and laughing with another future alpha. He looked exactly the same—dark hair, strong jaw, the easy confidence that had once made my heart race. Now it made me sick.

I kept my head held down when I walked past his table. In comparison to other men here, I was small. Short and barely any muscle. Being invisible was expected.

As I wove past him, he caught my wrist and stopped me. I froze, electricity jolting through me at his touch.

“You!’’ He says, standing so he was behind me. I turned around to face him. The second he looked at me, I could see the wheels turning in his head. Like he was trying to figure out where he knew me. Much worse, my wolf responded to his own. My wolf: Luna, released pheromones that Donovan’s easily recognized. My scent was unique, and Donovan had mastered it.

As he looked at me, all hard-faced and different from the man who’d pampered and pretended to love me for the last one year, I had one question in mind: Would he recognize me?