Ronan’s POVSleep didn’t come easily anymore.Not since that night.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Arden standing in that training cell, calm, sharp, composed to the point of madness. Most people fold when pressed. He didn’t. He didn’t break eye contact, didn’t flinch, didn’t give me the satisfaction of knowing whether I’d actually cornered him.And that, somehow, was worse than being lied to.The academy was quiet after midnight. The combat rings are silent, lights dimmed, surveillance reduced to minimal cycles. The air smells of old sweat, ozone, and faint traces of dominance burned into the walls. Most Alphas sleep heavy, satisfied after a day of breaking bones and earning ranks.I never learned how.My dorm sat in the top east quadrant of the Alpha tower, where the high ranks were kept separate; for focus, or for containment, depending on who you asked. I sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, staring at the biometric feed flickering across my wall screen.Arden’s nam
Last Updated : 2025-10-22 Read more