Todos os capítulos de The Girl the Alpha Academy Couldn't Break: Capítulo 71 - Capítulo 80

Neris's POV"Formation. Now."Evren's voice cuts through the chaos with an authority I've never heard from him before, sharp and absolute, and the ease with which everyone instantly obeys, Cassian included, tells me something has fundamentally shifted since we fled his uncle's estate grounds three days ago."Since when do you give orders like that," I ask, falling into step beside him as our small group moves through dense, unfamiliar territory, Cassian's former household guards still somewhere behind us, their pursuit relentless despite the distance we've managed to put between us."Since someone needs to, and apparently I'm the only one left with actual command training that doesn't involve diplomatic negotiation or academic strategy." He doesn't look at me, scanning the tree line ahead with a focus that's completely absent his usual easy humor. "Keep low through this stretch. There's a ridge line half a mile ahead that gives us visibility without exposing our position."I study him

Neris's POV"Control me?" I laugh, and it comes out sharper than I mean it to. "You're on the ground with a blade at your throat, and you think you can control me?""Not me, Neris." Theron doesn't flinch. "Them."He lifts two fingers.Behind him, a warrior steps out of the formation carrying an iron case. He drops to one knee and flips the latches. Inside, resting on black velvet, is a collar. Dull metal, no wider than my hand, etched with runes worn smooth in places by age.My wolf goes rigid inside me.Not growling. Not snarling. Backing away."What is that?" I whisper."Something our family has kept in a vault for three generations." Theron's eyes stay on mine. "Something that makes the First Blood very quiet.""Evren, kill him," Cassian says."Do it, little brother." Theron smiles against the steel. "Press down. See what happens."Evren's knuckles whiten on the hilt. Sweat runs down his temple. His eyes flick to the tree line, where a dozen crossbows have risen from the shadows. T

Neris's POV"Open the gates! It's Neris!"My voice comes out hoarse, raw from two days of running on foot through unfamiliar territory with no wolf's stamina to carry me, and for a moment the sentries atop the academy's rebuilt wall simply stare down at me like they're not entirely certain I'm real."Confirm identity," one of them calls down, cautious despite clear recognition."I don't have time for confirmation protocols. There's an army coming, and I need to speak with Aldric immediately."The gates grind open, and I stumble through them, exhaustion finally catching up now that the adrenaline of two days' desperate flight has nowhere left to go."Neris." Lucien's voice, disbelieving, as he rushes toward me from across the courtyard. His eyes catch on the collar immediately, something close to horror crossing his careful expression. "What happened to you. Where's Cassian. Where's Evren.""Cassian's injured, but alive, last I saw him. Evren's..." My voice catches. "Evren's still capt

Neris's POV"Evacuate! Everyone, fall back toward the southern tunnels, now!"My voice tears raw across the chaos as the enemy's main force pours through the shattered northern wall, considerably more numerous than anything our defenses were ever prepared to withstand."Neris, what about you?" Petra shouts, half-dragging a wounded student toward the evacuation route Lucien mapped weeks ago as a last resort."I'm staying. Someone needs to hold them long enough for everyone to actually reach the tunnels.""That's suicide," Cassian says, appearing at my shoulder despite his own exhaustion, blood streaking down one arm from a wound he hasn't had time to properly address."It's the only option that gets everyone else out alive." I meet his eyes, steady despite the fear clawing at my chest. "Get them to safety, Cassian. All of them. I'll follow once I've bought enough time.""I'm not leaving you here alone.""You're not abandoning me. You're saving two hundred students who are trusting us t

Neris's POV"You've been lying since the moment you sat behind that chamber podium."I say it the instant Vashcross's diplomatic composure cracks, something calculating shifting behind her careful authority now that the courtyard has emptied enough for genuine conversation."I've been considerably more honest with you than you realize," she says quietly. "Though I admit, not entirely, not until circumstances forced my hand the way they have today.""Then be honest now. What do you actually want from me?"She studies the ruined courtyard around us, the broken northern wall, the scattered remnants of a battle that nearly cost this academy everything, and something in her expression carries genuine weariness beneath the careful political mask she's maintained throughout every previous interaction."I never intended to destroy you, Neris," she says finally. "Vashti's broadcast, the declaration of war, even Kessel's manipulation, none of that represented my actual objective.""Then what wa