Serena was walking through the corridors and finally arrived at her room in the thick of the night.

Damein was there, standing right at the center, like he was waiting for her all along.

“What’s the problem?” She asked cautiously.

Then in a flash…

Damein crossed the room and was in front of her. “I know your secret! Girl!”

“No!!”

Serena was abruptly pulled from her sleep.

She took in heavy breaths…trying to remind herself that it was just a dream.

It was just a dream…nothing more

Above her was a brightly lit white stone ceiling, washed in the multiple sunbeams that flooded the room and caused her to squint her eyes. 

For a brief moment, she thought she was back home at Mooncrest in her father’s manor and that everything about the Academy had been a dreadful dream.

Then, she attempted to sit up, and the pain shot through her lungs like fire. She could still hear the river's roar deep in her chest.

“Welcome back.” 

The voice belonged to the shadowy corner of the room. 

Her heart skipped one beat then a second slowly she turned her head, but she already knew who she would find. 

Damien Blackthorne leaned against the wall with his arms folded, his shadow long in the light of the morning. His eyes still glowed, sharper and colder than the river water in which she almost drowned, but there was also something else in his gaze that made her anxious, one that had nothing to do with any judgement he had of her. 

He pushed away from the wall and stepped toward her. “You almost drowned, Vale.”

Serena swallowed, really working to keep her voice even, masculine. “I didn’t cut the rope.”

“No," Damien whispered, stopping at the foot of her cot.

"You did not. You chose death instead of failure. Admirable- or stupid. I haven't decided yet." 

Heat rose in her neck. She fought to offer a sideways smile. "Maybe I just dislike losing." 

Damien kept his eyes on her longer than he needed to, looking at her as one looks at a catalog. She fought the desire to pull the blanket closer around herself. 

"You are reckless," he finally said, "that sort of recklessness gets wolves killed here." 

"Then I'll just have to be careful about which wolves I sit beside," she said, trying to add a layer of bravado to mask the anxiety stirring in her chest. 

For the first time, the corners of his lips twitched. Not a smile, but close. "Take care, bug slayer. Keep that up and I might start to like you." 

Her heart raced, but she found the strength to scoff. "I will take my chances with the river, thanks."

The healer returned before Damien was able to respond, checking Serena's ribs while clucking her tongue. "You will live. Don't push yourself in the next trial." 

Next trial?!

Serena's stomach knotted. She had barely succeeded in the first. What would she need for the next trial?

By the time she arrived back at the dormitory, the sun had sunk quite low in the sky and cast the walls with golden light. Damien sat at the desk, methodically buffing a dagger. The blade caught the light, narrow enough to cut a hair into two pieces.

He did not glance up as the door opened, “You will be fighting tomorrow.”

Her throat constricted, “Fighting?”

“Going into the sparring matches. A one-on-one fight. In front of the council and all of the elder Alpha’s. It's to test dominance.” He turned his gaze to her, studying her face with squinting eyes. “You don’t look ready."

“I will be fine.”

“You almost drowned in the river,” 

Serena bit down on her tongue. She wanted to snap back, tell him that she would be fine because she had been through worse than drowning in water, worse than people laughing at her, worse than him. But her chest tightened with fear of the other spell.

The witch had warned her. It would eventually crumble during her moon cycle. Her scent, her shape, her voice would all be a fragile seam of the disguise. 

And tonight, she had felt the first.

She had scrupulously hidden the bloodstains. She had wrapped the cloth tighter than expected, tighter than armor, but she felt the spell tug on her body, the seams creeping into her skin, what if Damien scented her even a fraction of her true self? If he did it was finished.

She steeled herself to return his gaze, firm. “I will manage,” she said again.

Damien looked at her for a long moment, his eyes inscrutable. Then he turned back to the knife. “I hope that is true for your own sake, Vale.”

The arena was alive with noise the next morning. Torches blazed against the stone walls, smoke curling into the rafters. The smell of sweat, blood, and anticipation hung thick in the air. The recruits were all lined up with stiff uniforms, tense faces.

Serena found her heart pounding at the sound of the headmaster’s voice carrying across the arena. “Today you will find out if you are wolves or pups. If you win, you will survive. If you lose, you will be shamed. Fight until your opponent yields or cannot rise.”

Packs of wolves were called to the centre one at a time, and pairs wrestled each other-- claws raked, teeth bared. The crowd roared with each new hit, each fall.

Finally, Serena heard her name-"Soren Vale!"-and it seemed to ring in her bones. She stepped forward, though it felt like she had a weight on her shoulders. Her jaw was set.

Her opponent was a boy of brute stature. He is a head taller than Serena and his muscles were bulging from underneath his uniform. He grinned and looked at her like a wolf eyeing its prey. “Mooncrest? I thought that pack was dead.”

Serena remained silent.

The whistle blew.

He rushed at her, delivering a fast punch toward her chin. She ducked just in time, feeling the air pass by her ear. Instinct took over, allowing her father’s training and all her nights spent practicing to flash in her mind, together with bruises she had hidden from the parents that thought little of it.

She moved like water, swift and sharp, to hit his rib cage, a strike to the throat, and a quick knee to the leg. The boy grunted and moved away from her, astonishment flicking across his face.

“Lucky shot,” he spat before charging in again.

Serena's heartbeat was pounding in her head. She evaded, struck back, and evaded again. But the spell was tugging against her body and her chest was awash with heat, her scent spilling from her as she lost focus. She fought harder, faster, wanting to end things before anyone realized what had happened.

Finally, she saw it. He was overly wide in stance and had his weight on the wrong foot. She sprung backward, turned into him, loaded her elbow, and slammed it right into his temple, where he dropped straight to the ground, unconscious.

The crowd erupted.

“Vale wins!” the headmaster roared.

Serena stood over her opponent, breathing heavily, with sweat running down her temple. For a moment, all was a triumph, sharp and intoxicating.

Then she felt it. 

Damien was burning a hole through her from across the arena.

There was neither clapping nor cheering. His eyes were locked on her, narrowed, his nostrils flaring as if he had picked up a scent that no one else was aware of.

Her stomach sank like ice.

That night in their dorm, Serena was mindful to appear casual while changing and unfolded every last inch of fabric too methodically. She could sense Damien's weighty gaze at her back like a disruptively heavy blade.

At last, he spoke. “You fight like no wolf I've witnessed before..”

Her heart started beating even faster now…

Damien stepped closer to her now. “You smell different.. fight different, act different, it’s almost as if you’re a…

…girl.”

Serena’s blood went cold instantly.

Morning came sharply. 

Bright sunlight sliced through the tall dormitory windows in landing directly across Serena's face.

She finally stirred up with a faint groan, instinctively turning away from the brightness. 

For one fragile, blissful moment, she forgot where she was.

She thought maybe she was at home, still Serena, still with her father... 

Then as she turned, a dull but sharp pain flared up from her ribs, almost like wake up call. 

Yesterday's incident! 

The Academy.. the dormitory... Damien.

Her eyes snapped open.

The room was quiet.

A peaceful silence, something she hadn't got since she came here. 

Damien was already up and out to where ever he needed to be. 

Carefully, she inhaled, letting the air flood into her lungs.

There was no sudden bloom of feminine scent, no change in her shape and no sign of breasts.

A small wave of relief washed through her.

She sat up slowly, getting a full look of her body.

 The spell still held. 

She swung her legs over the bed and rose, her feet hitting the cold floor.

She walked to the window, taking the warmth of the sun, letting it ground her when the door slammed wide open.

The force alone shook the walls of the room. 

Damien stood framed in the doorway, already dressed up, his dark hair damp from a morning wash. 

"Breakfast call," he said evenly. "Be down in five minutes. 

Lateness has consequences."

His blue eyes skimmed over her, a little moment longer.

Then he turned and left without another word.

The door shut.

The room felt smaller without him, somehow.

Serena exhaled slowly.

Five minutes.

She crossed immediately to the mirror bolted against the far wall.

Bracing herself, she looked.

A young man stared back.

She had sharp jaw, broad shoulders and flat chest. 

She lifted her wrist to her nose and inhaled discreetly.

Male musk.

"You will not fail," she whispered to her reflection.

"Not today... "

 By the time she stepped into the corridor, her mask of Soren was back in place.

The dining hall was chaos when she arrived.

Long wooden tables stretched across the cavernous chamber.

 Torches burned along stone walls despite the daylight streaming through high windows. The air smelled of roasted meat, sweat, and male competition.

Laughter erupted in clusters. 

Serena moved through it quietly, collecting a tray and stepping into line.

A broad-shouldered recruit ahead of her muttered just loud enough, "Bug slayer."

Snickers followed it too, but she ignored them.

When she reached the counter, a server dropped thick slices of meat and coarse bread onto her tray without much ceremony.

She turned sharply, observing the wide dining hall.

Tables were filling up fast.

She approached one near the far wall.

"Taken."

Then to another.

"This one it's taken already."

A third.

And it was the same reply, taken as well. 

For a moment, she wondered if they were truly taken or was it an isolation tactic.

Her gaze swept the hall again. There! 

One empty chair remained.

Across from it... Damien Blackthorn.

He was already seated, his posture relaxed but commanding space effortlessly. 

No one even dared to seat across him. 

But Serene wasn't anyone. 

She let out a sharp breath as she walked towards him.. 

Here we go.

She crossed the hall and dropped her tray onto the table across from him.

Their eyes locked instantly. 

Damien cut into his food slowly, deliberately, as if time obeyed him.

"Sleep well?" he asked without looking up.

"Like the dead," she replied evenly.

A flicker of amusement touched his mouth.

"Careful with metaphors, you nearly qualified."

She tore bread calmly. "Well, I'm still here."

"For now." He studied her openly now.

"You don't speak much about Mooncrest."

"There isn't much to say."

"A pack with no male heir," he countered casually. "That's plenty of things to say."

Her grip tightened around her fork, but she didn't respond to her.

He continued, his voice mild.

"You don't posture like the others around here. You just seem different."

"Shouldn't I be, I mean it's best I stand out, right?"

I shot back, my tone measured. 

Serene heart race harder wugh each question Damein asked, but she didn't let it show. 

She just kept chewing.

"Maybe you should stop sniffing me."

A low chuckle escaped him.

"I notice things. That's what keeps me alive."

He leaned forward slightly.

"What are you hiding, Vale?"

She met his eyes without flinching.

"I guess we'll never know."

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Before either could press further-

The massive dining hall doors slammed open.

The sound cracked through the room like thunder and silence fell instantly.

Every recruit in the room straightened.

Entering with measured authority was Elder Vasyers of the Alpha Dominion Academy. 

He is a high-ranking council member, his presence suffocating the room.

Even Damien rose.

Slowly, still confused, Serena followed as well.

Vasyers surveyed them like livestock under inspection.

"You have survived four days," he began, voice carrying without effort.

There was a pause.

"Most of you will not survive the next."

A ripple of tension passed through the hall.

"You were not brought here to be comfortable. You were brought here to be tested to your very limits."

His gaze swept across faces.

"To that end, the council has authorized a new evaluation."

He let silence sharpen anticipation.

"The Blood Moon Gauntlet."

Whispers broke like sparks.

Vasyers continued:

"A multi-stage trial of endurance, combat, and strategy. It's conducted beyond the Academy's protection and it ultimately results into public elimination."

The hall felt smaller.

"But," Vasyers added smoothly, "you will not compete alone."

Stillness.

"You will compete in pairs."

The tension in the room doubled.

"Failure of one," he said evenly, "is failure of both."

Shock rippled outward.

"Only twelve of you will remain at its conclusion and amongst you twelve you'll contest in more varying games to ultimately produce us two winners who will be crowned... 

King and Queen of Alpha Dominion Academy!"

"The Gauntlet begins at moonrise tomorrow. You will declare your partners by sunset."

There was a heavy silence and then the room erupted. 

Wolves moved from one to another trying to secure the best alliances and then chaos filled the room instantly. 

Strong recruits were immediately surrounded.

Serena remained seated.

No one approached her.

Of course not. Why would they? 

She took a slow breath, just waiting for it to be over so she pair with the other lackies that didn't get a partner. 

Then, as the noise began to fade slwoly, a shadow fell across the table.

Damien stood up and hhe conversations quieted instinctively.

Every head turned to their table now.

He did not look at the crowd.

He looked at her.

"I choose Soren Vale."

The hall froze.

The academy grounds were quiet, even more in the late afternoon to evening time.

Serena walked alone along the outer path that circled the lower training fields, her boots pressing softly into the gravel. 

The sky above Lunaris had begun to tint faintly red and orange. 

Serena's mind was on one thing. The same thing it had been on for the past few hours since breakfast... 

Tomorrow. The Blood Moon Gauntlet.

She exhaled slowly, her fingers brushing against the cool iron railing lining the field.

Seventy Two hours straight... 

Three days and nights in the Crescent-border forest with no one else but Damien Blackthorn.

There were no dormitory walls or doors to run out from.

It was just the vast and wild wilderness and.. him.

Her stomach tightened.

Damien noticed everything. 

The way she moved, the way she reacted, the way she smelled... or didn't.

Seventy-two hours meant no reprieve for her spell and no safe moments to recalibrate.  

And if it slipped, even once... she was done.

Shelly be exposed and all her dreams of becoming Alpha and proving doubters wrong go up in smoke. 

She swallowed the thought down and continued walking.

She needed air right now and empty her worries away.

That was when raised voices broke through the quiet.

She heard it..

First, it was a sharp and loud grunt and then the thud of a body hitting dirt.

Serena turned toward the lower sparring field.

Three upper-year Alphas had cornered a younger recruit near the stone boundary wall. The boy couldn't be older than sixteen. His uniform was already torn at the collar and his face has small bruises and marks. 

One of the Alphas shoved him hard as he stumbled back, barely catching himself.

"Come on, is that all you got kid," the tallest one sneered.

"You're weak. You shouldn't even be here." the other added. 

The younger boy wiped blood from his mouth.

"No. You're wrong, I earned my spit here."

Another punch landed across his jaw, this one dropping to the floor fully.

Serena froze and then was about to turn away.

It wasn't her problem.

She shouldn't get involved.

She already drew too much attention. Damien choosing her had shifted the Academy's eyes in her direction. 

She couldn't afford more and she couldn't risk putting herself in a situation where she ends up exposing herself as Serene.

The leader kicked the boy in the ribs.

The sound made something inside her chest snap.

She turned to walk away, but when she heard his cry of pain ringing through the fields.

Her feet stopped.

Damn it.

Before she could think better of it, she was already moving.

"Enough."

Her voice cut clean across the field.

The three Alphas turned slowly and almost immediately flickered in their eyes.

"Well, look who it is," the tallest one said, lips curling.

Serena stepped between them and the fallen boy without hesitation.

"Leave him alone."

They laughed.

"You're serious?"

Another Alpha circled lazily. "Careful. Blackthorn's pet might bite."

Her jaw tightened.

"I said leave him." She refuses to back down. 

The tallest one took a slow step toward her.

"You think being chosen makes you untouchable?"

Serena didn't move.

"I don't need his protection."

That earned a darker smile.

"Good," he said. "Because he isn't here."

They began closing in.

One to her left, one to her right and the tall one, directly in front.

Boxing her in.

He brushed the cold stone wall. 

Dead end! 

So it was a three on one.

Her pulse sharpened.

She could fight them.

She would win.

But she would win too cleanly and too fast, arousing suspicions. 

Her reflexes weren't just Alpha reflexes, not really. 

She'd trained her whole life to be sharper than most, trying to be better than her equals, because as a girl that was the only way she could get their attention.

The tallest Alpha cracked his knuckles.

"Let's see what you're worth without Blackthorn."

He lunged.

Serena shifted her weight, preparing to pivot-

"Wait."

The voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

All movement stopped.

The three Alphas stepped back instantly.

"Prince," one muttered.

Serena's gaze lifted.

He emerged from the shadow of the training pavilion with unhurried confidence.

Prince Valen.

She recognized him from the higher ranks... 

He came in 2nd rank to Damein alone in last year's ranking system. 

While Damein was a little more upfront, Prince was more quiet and to himself.

He walked forward, hands loosely clasped behind his back.

His eyes settled on Serena, studying her.

"Is there a problem?" he asked mildly.

The tallest Alpha straightened. "No, Prince. We're just settling a minor issue."

Prince's gaze flicked to the younger recruit behind Serena, then back to her.

"Doesn't look minor."

There was a small silence.

"Let him go," Prince said calmly.

No one argued.

The younger boy scrambled to his feet and bolted without looking back.

Prince's attention returned to Serena.

He stepped closer, but she didn't flinch, even a little. 

"Who do we have here?" he asked.

Serena lifted her chin slightly.

"Apparently, I'm Damien's little pet."

One of the Alphas snorted. The prince's lips curved faintly.

"Feisty."

His eyes held hers a moment longer than necessary.

"Interfering suits you poorly," he said quietly.

"Standing by suits me worse."

A flicker of approval crossed his features.

He turned slightly toward the other Alphas.

"You're dismissed."

They left immediately.

The prince remained.

"You've attracted attention," he said softly.

"So I've heard."

He studied her again, even more intensely this time.

"Tell Blackthorn," he said at last, "we still have an old score to settle."

An old score? 

Then he stepped back and walked away, his steps retreating. 

Serena remained still long after he disappeared.

Old score.

So Damien had enemies.

Of course he did.

The sky darkened fully by the time Serena returned to the dormitory.

Her mind was still playing what happened today.

She tried to imagine what would have happened if Prince didn't intervene then.

She reached the dorm door and paused.

Another night of pretending with Damein.. 

She pushed it open and froze.

Damien had someone pinned gently against the wall near his bed.

Their lips crushed passionately, hands wrapped around the other

A girl?!

Serena's mind blanked.

In an all-boys Academy!