บททั้งหมดของ First Female Alpha : บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Aria's POVThe summons came at dawn on Friday morning, but this time it wasn't delivered by a stern-faced official with questions about my documentation. Instead, it was delivered by Academy messenger with the official seal of the new administration."All final-year students," the announcement read, "are required to attend the Academy Trials briefing today at 10 AM in the Great Hall. Attendance is mandatory. Academy Trials will commence Monday morning."Monday morning. Four days away."Ready or not," I said to Caspian, who was reading his own copy of the announcement."Mostly not, but that's never stopped us before.""The timing is either perfect or terrible.""How so?""Perfect if the investigation clears me before the trials begin. Terrible if it doesn't and I'm trying to compete while under suspicion of identity fraud.""There's a third possibility.""Which is?""That the investigation results don't matter because the trials are designed to evaluate what you can do, not who your pa

Aria's POVMonday morning arrived with the kind of crisp clarity that felt like destiny announcing itself. I woke before dawn, not because of nerves—though there were plenty of those—but because my body seemed to understand that today was different from every other day I'd spent at the Academy.Today was the day I proved myself worthy of becoming the first female Alpha in generations.Even if no one would know that's what I was doing."Ready?" Caspian asked as we made our way to the Academy training grounds at 7:45 AM."As ready as someone can be for a performance that has to be perfect but not too perfect, impressive but not suspiciously impressive.""You'll find the balance.""I'd better. Because if I mess this up, everything I've worked for becomes meaningless."The training grounds had been transformed overnight into what looked like a military command center. Multiple stations, each designed for different trial phases, with Academy officials, pack observers, and evaluation person

Aria's POVThe Academy's Great Hall had been transformed for the awards ceremony, filled with pack representatives, Academy officials, and family members who had traveled from across the region to witness their heirs' graduation recognition.I stood with the other award recipients at the side of the hall, wearing formal Academy dress uniform and trying not to look as nervous as I felt. The combat trial had gone well, but my performance had definitely attracted attention I wasn't sure I wanted."Ladies and gentlemen," Headmaster Thornfield announced from the podium, "tonight we recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and service to the Academy community."The ceremony began with standard graduation honors—academic achievement, combat excellence, service recognition. Names were called, students stepped forward to receive certificates and acknowledgments, proud families applauded from the audience.Normal Academy tradition, except that nothing about th

Aria's POVI found Caspian in the Academy's training courtyard at dawn, working through combat forms with the kind of focused intensity that suggested he hadn't slept any more than I had. He looked up when I approached, his expression unreadable in the early morning light."Aria," he said, using my real name for the first time in public."Caspian."We stood facing each other in the space where we'd sparred dozens of times over the past months, where I'd carefully hidden my full capabilities while he'd pushed me to be better than I was pretending to be."So," he said finally. "The first female Alpha. That explains a few things.""Such as?""Such as why you fought like someone who'd been training for pack succession instead of general Academy preparation. Such as why you never quite seemed like you belonged with the rest of us.""I'm sorry I lied to you.""Are you? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you accomplished exactly what you set out to accomplish."There was somethin

Aria's POVThe first real test of my Alpha credentials came three days after returning home, in the form of a territorial dispute that couldn't wait for lengthy deliberation or careful consensus building."The Shadowpine Pack is claiming hunting rights to the eastern valley," my father announced during the morning pack council meeting. "They're citing a boundary agreement from 1847 that allegedly gives them access during winter months.""What's our position?" I asked, settling into the chair that had been added to the council table specifically for my participation as Alpha heir."Our position," Elder Marcus replied, "is that the 1847 agreement was superseded by the 1923 Regional Accord, which clearly establishes the eastern valley as Silver Moon territory year-round.""And Shadowpine's response?""They're claiming the Regional Accord didn't properly address seasonal hunting rights and therefore the original agreement remains valid."I studied the territorial maps spread across the ta