I ruled this Academy long before I was officially crowned its top rank inhabitant. I was staying only to win battles that no one could have been in the past 100 years and build my own throne. Even if I had to make steps carved of blood and death.
And I liked it that way. But…then he crossed the Academygates.
I could feel it the moment a new presence broke into my world. It was not like others. Not bold, not overconfident instead observing, quiet, careful but his amber eyes locking with mine burning ones with a stubborn defiance.
The moment our eyes met, it stirred something within me that I could not pinpoint. And my wolf that only showed his teeth to the strong, challenge, blood, violence and victory awoke in my mind, secretly watching the boy standing among my aura without flinching or fearing.
On top of that his scent or rather, the lack of one made my instincts twitch. Every wolf had a scent. Every single one.
Except this one.
Interesting.
I’d been watching from the balcony, arms crossed over my chest as the new recruits arrived and ran away. All were forgettable, losers that were accidentally born as Alphas, and would only be blessed with the Alpha position when their father chose them based on their bloodline.
But him… this small Alpha with a questionable appearance, was a puzzle. And I didn’t like puzzles. Not in my territory.
His presence whispered that he didn’t belong here. His shoulders squared, but there was something too precise about the way he moved. Like a soldier pretending to be a thug. Loose clothes like losers but a strong aura with a pretty little face? Everything was odd about him.
And when I questioned his identity, he tensed, not visible to anyone else, but I caught it. He never tore his big and beautiful amber eyes away. Unreadable. Cold. But I’d been Alpha long enough to recognize fear pretending to be bravery. However this one was hesitant.
He answered in a tone that was too carefully crafted to be natural. “Seth Darven.”
The name mingled in my senses like poison.
His absence of a scent prickled at me. My instincts screamed there was something greatly wrong. Only a faint trace of herbs, some artificial masking agent. Or perfume. Clever. Too clever.
He had to be hiding something. I expected him to crack.
Most did. But his expression didn’t so much as twitch.
Impressive. Way too impressive. This little wolf was not what he looked like.
And the way he talked back to me…he was not afraid even a little bit. Wolves knew better than to raise their voice to me. This one either didn’t, or he didn’t care. Both possibilities made my blood stir. And a trill of interest coiled in my gut. Dangerous. Reckless. And exactly the kind of thing I hated… or craved.
And I wanted to play with this new pup a little longer.
But then Jordan and his pathetic pack of lap dogs cornered him like vultures fighting over a carcass. My observation was interrupted. The mocking taunts. The way Seth sat there, unmoved, unbothered pissed me off for some reasons. Then Jordan made the mistake of grabbing his collar.I moved before I realised. Slamming my drink onto the table with a metallic crack that shut the entire room up.
“How dare you let them bully you?” I murmured, lifting his chin between my fingers. His skin felt delicate beneath my touch. His amber eyes widened in shock.
The bell rang in the distance, sending the rest of the Alphas sprinting out of the cafeteria without a backward glance.
Except Seth, he jerked his face away and rose with a small frown on his face.
“What you’ve been doing since I arrived – staring, touching, that’s bullying too, Alpha Ronan,” he said calmly, stepping closer. “If you want me to deal with them, I should probably start with you, don’t you think?”
For a brief, sharp moment, our eyes locked. But like usual he did not let my gaze linger on his longer. Before he turned away, grabbing his tray.
I did not move away from his path. He brushed passed me too closely. I closed my eyes and inhaled in that moment.
Once again the herbs and perfume. Nothing else.
My wolf growled low in my mind, restless.
“Who’s that cocky little bastard you’re letting roam around?” Asher muttered, having leaned against the wall the entire time.
“That’s what I intend to find out,” I replied, eyes tracking Seth’s retreating figure. Particularly the way his ass looked, even in those loose pants. “But for now let him think he could run,” I murmured.
Let him think he could hide. Let him believe this was over.
Let him imagine he could win, either this battle for the throne or the fire he’d just set between us.
Because in my world, nothing stayed hidden for long.
And if Seth Darven thought he could walk into my territory without answering to me… he was about to learn the hard way.
As he reached the exit, he glanced back over his shoulder, meeting my gaze one final time.
The corner of my lips curved into a cold, feral grin.
“Run, little wolf.”
SERAPHINA
I exited the cafeteria with a calm, measured stride, though a storm of panic violently churned inside. Was he staring at my back?
Involuntarily, my fingers brushed over my hips again and again, checking that the fabric hung loose enough to conceal my shape, ensuring nothing about my appearance invited the wrong kind of attention. Everything seemed in order. So why did it feel as though his gaze had already stripped away every careful layer I’d put between myself and discovery?
“He notices us far too much,” Phina murmured in the back of my mind, and I couldn’t deny it.
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the sharp sting grounding me. What is this Alpha’s deal?
My spiraling thoughts were interrupted when a sharp siren blared, followed by a booming announcement instructing all trainees to gather on the Academy grounds within half an hour.
The massive, open training grounds buzzed with energy as dozens of Alpha heirs assembled, their towering forms radiating confidence, raw strength, and unfiltered dominance. As I took my place among them, an undeniable thrill ran through me. This is it. I finally made it. My dream… the official challenge.
Noticing everyone forming rows, I quietly moved to stand at the far end of the fourth line, only to realize Finn hadtaken the spot beside me.
“Hey,” I ventured, deciding to greet him first.
He offered a faint, reassuring smile. “I was worried when you were the only one teft in the cafeteria with Alpha Ronan. Are you alright?”
I gave a soft chuckle. “Yeah, what could possibly happen to me?”
He chuckled as well, and for a brief moment, we both looked ahead. But the air around us had thickened, the charged atmosphere palpable among the gathered Alphas.
“What’s with this sudden tension?” I murmured, just loud enough for Finn to catch.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Finn turned to meet my eyes, his expression sober. “Here, every challenge isn’t just about strength. It’s about exposing weakness… weeding out anyone who doesn’t belong.”
A knot tightened in my stomach – not from fear, but from the crushing weight of what his words implied. At this moment, no one was more out of place than me. The one who, if discovered, would be labeled as the ultimate outsider. The one who didn’t belong.
My gaze drifted over the gathering, instinctively searching for familiar figures. That’s when I spotted him, Ronan, standing on a raised platform above the others.
Only now did I fully register how tall he truly was, his presence towering, making everyone else seem smaller in comparison.On the opposite side, another striking figure caught my attention. Dante. His devastatingly handsome face was etched with arrogance, a cold smirk curling his lips. The way his gaze flicked over the others spoke volumes – to him, they were nothing but insects underfoot.
But what really intrigued me were the other three Alphas standing apart from the crowd. “Why are they separated from the others?” I wondered aloud. “Are they treated differently because they belong to the hierarchy?”
Finn followed my gaze and gave a knowing nod. “I heard the hierarchy’s chosen not to participate in this round of challenges.”
I raised a brow. “Why?”
“So the others have a chance to win, probably. If they stepped in… well, who do you think would stand a chance?” He gestured meaningfully toward them.
I pressed my lips together, eyes briefly flickering toward Ronan. The hierarchy might have opted out of this round, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t join at any moment if they wished.
And then – as if sensing my thoughts – Ronan’s eyes shifted, locking onto mine with unnerving precision. My heart slammed against my ribs. I tore my gaze away instantly. Shit.
hoped he hadn’t mistaken my glance for anything more.
Out of so many towering Alpha heirs, how had he managed to find me? I was barely noticeable among their imposing forms.I kept my head lowered, doing everything I could to remain inconspicuous, even as a flicker of unmistakable interest from Ronan made my skin prickle. His intense violet gaze hadn’t strayed far from me since last night.
And that… was a problem.
As Alpha Instructor Gideon entered, a heavy silence crashed over the grounds like a wave. His name alone carried weight, but his presence was something else entirely. Sharp, merciless, and as cutting as the gleam in his steely gaze, he stood at the center with an expression carved from stone. His eyes swept across us like a predator sizing up his prey.
That wolf was a legend in his own right, rumored to have torn through rogue packs single-handedly. His name was synonymous with bloodshed, discipline, and an unforgiving standard no one dared fall short of.
“Welcome to the third challenge,” he announced, his voice a low growl that seemed to crawl over our skin.
Third challenge?
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