A'S

tighter with every step. The Alpha Trials. I'd heard the stories-grueling tests of strength, cunning, and control, designed to weed out the weak. My pendant pulsed against my chest,

eyes darting nervously. His glasses slipped down his nose, and he shoved them

ke name, Linc, still felt foreign on my tongue, b

als change every year. Could be combat, could be a

I'd trained for this-not as much as these guys, born and bred for dominance, but enoug

meat!" one shouted, and laughter rippled through the crowd. I kept my head down, blending into th

zzcut gleaming in the sun. His buddies snickered, circ

r, but I kept my voice steady, low. "If I cry, it'

ll, lean, with silver streaks in his dark hair-strode toward us. His eyes were piercing, like he could see straight through my pendant's magic. My breath

"Save your energy for the Trials, not schoolyard nonsense." His gaze lin

d, my heart poundi

omeone here." He didn't sound convinced, but he moved on, barking orders to

shuffled into the arena. "Teaches pack lore

doing little to hide the strength beneath. That tug in my chest wouldn't quit, and it scared me mor

ts roared like a storm, and my wolf bristled, itching to prove herself. We newbies-about thirty of us-gathered i

he Alpha Trials," he boomed, silencing the crowd. "Silverclaw High forges

il. Not for me, not for my father, not for the

ace a gauntlet-obstacles, traps, and your peers. Reach the other side

urned into me, and I spotted Kade in the stands, his smirk sharp as a blade. He wasn't competing-probably a privil

ring's edge. I ended up between Jasper and a wiry guy who smelled like fear. The ga

. "Stick with me, L

for his optimism.

blame him. My own were clammy, the penda

er raised a

winging blade that dropped from the ceiling, its edge glinting. Someone behind me screamed, and I didn't look back. My wolf urged me on, her

e of stone walls, vines, and shadows. Fire pits flared at random, singeing my sleeve.

ff, and panic spiked as my hair-tucked but too long-brushed my ne

e ground hard, cursing, and I sprinted, my wolf how

above. A net dropped, and I slashed it with my pocketknife, barely dodging a spiked log that swung from

in the stands anymore, his arms crossed. "Not bad, newbie," he ca

meant. His smirk widened, and that tug in my chest turned mol

linting. He was toying with me, but why? Before

ocks. The crowd roared, their scents overwhelming. I grabbed the ropes, my arms burning as I hau

r, leaner, his scent unfamiliar but sharp with intent. He watched me, his eyes cold, c

horn blared. The Trial was over. I'd made it. Jasper whooped, slapping my

ssed," he said, his voice cutting through the cheers. "The rest, pack your bags." His

out from the stands. "Nice moves, Linc

the stranger, but he was nowhere. My wolf snarled, restless, and I knew one thing for sure: the