All Chapters of THE ALPHA I WAS TO KILL: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The walk back to the dormitory felt longer than usual. Not because the corridors had changed. Because my mind was stuck with the name, Vale. I could not focus on Lila; wherever she went, the name wouldn't leave me alone. It echoed with every step, slipping into every thought like water through cracked glass.“Daughter of Vale.” The voice in the tunnel hadn't called me Nira. It hadn't called me Unranked Elite. It had called me...Vale.The dormitory door creaked open; Lila was already inside, curled up on her bed, reading a book. She looked up the moment I entered."There you are.""You've been waiting?" I froze. "You disappeared." She shut the book."So did you."For the smallest second...Neither of us smiled."Fair point." Then she laughed. "I couldn't sleep." I tossed my hoodie onto the chair."So you went exploring?" She studied me."Something like that." I paused. "I almost got crushed by a collapsing tunnel.""That's either the weirdest joke you've ever made...or you've finally

Only when I was certain no one was coming back did I leave my hiding place. The narrow wooden door looked ordinary again, as if it had never existed. I ran my fingers across the cold stone: no keyhole, handle, crack, nothing. "...You're mocking me now," I muttered. The academy had become very good at pretending its secrets didn't exist.The next morning, I skipped breakfast. If there was one place in Grimhalden that still felt honest, it was the library; books couldn't lie.The library was almost empty. Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, painting strips of blue and crimson across the floor. Only one student sat near the back.He was surrounded by piles of books that looked older than the academy itself. He didn't notice me, or maybe he simply didn't care. His dark hair fell over his eyes as he scribbled something into a leather notebook. I wandered between the shelves until I reached the history section."Excuse me."He looked up. His eyes flicked toward the book in

The scroll seemed endless. Kael began reading the teams one by one."Team One..." A group of students stepped forward."Team Two..." Another group gathered.The names blurred together, each representative in their various teams. until—"Team Seven…Adrian Blackthorn," He stepped forward without expression."Cassian Reed," Cassian closed the book he had been carrying beneath his arm and walked to Adrian's side."Selene Ashcroft," A tall girl with silver-blonde hair stepped out of the crowd. Her academy coat hung neatly over one shoulder, and a sword rested against her back as though it weighed nothing. She didn't look at anyone. Until..."...Nira Peterson."Her blue eyes found mine, cold, calculating, and disappointed. Like I'd already failed before the trial had even begun."And..." Kael glanced at the final name."Maeve Hollow." A petite Delta girl hurried over, clutching a leather satchel almost as big as her."I brought extra bandages..." She smiled nervously."We haven't even start

The fire had almost died, Moonlight filtered through the branches, against the endless black of the Whispering Forest.Lila slowly opened her eyes; everyone on her team was asleep or pretending to be. She remained still for several seconds, listening to their heartbeats to be sure, and to the whispering trees that were heard. She quietly sat up, with the silver wolf key hung around her neck, tonight instead of hiding beneath her bed. Her fingers wrapped around it."I'm sorry," she whispered.She slipped away from the camp without making a sound.The forest changed after midnight, and the air felt colder. The whispers became clearer, not words, just distant voices. Lila walked confidently through twisting roots and hanging vines.She never looked lost; she moved as if she had walked this path before. After several minutes, she stopped before an enormous white oak. Its trunk was wider than a house. The bark carried hundreds of carved wolf symbols; Lila pressed the silver key into one.

The blue flames danced against the black walls, throwing strange shadows across the room. I didn't move, neither did she. The silence between us felt heavier than the chains had."You can stop trying," I finally said. "I'm not leaving."The Witch studied me for a long moment before shaking her head."I know.""You knew I'd refuse?""You carry his eyes.""My father's?"She didn't answer. Instead, she turned and walked toward the far side of the chamber."Come.""I'm not following you." I squeezed my face."You don't have a choice."She raised one hand, and the stone beneath my feet vibrated. Before I could react, the floor slowly shifted beneath me. It wasn't moving fast enough to throw me off balance, but it carried me forward like an invisible current."Seriously?" I muttered. "I hate magic.""You hate things you don't understand.""I understand enough to know this place is trying to kill me."A faint smile crossed her face."No… This place isn't trying to kill you.""It has been wait