BOY BY DAY, THE ALPHA’S MATE BY NIGHT

CHAPTER 8

SAGE POV.

I listened as some of the boys bragged about which house they were destined for and the kind of exams we might face. They were probably raised for this since birth, with stories of glory and rank whispered to them since they were pups. My father never talked about his past battles with me. He said it didn’t matter since I would never attend an academy. Girls didn’t need to learn how to fight, not when male werewolves and their destined mates could protect them. I was meant for “more suitable things,” like learning to smile politely at suitors and pour tea without spilling.

To be honest, I never cared much about fighting. But in some strange way, it felt good to prove my father wrong. He always said I would never set foot in an academy, yet here I was, in the best one there was—even if I did have to steal my brother’s spot and pretend to be him.

I made a mental note to find Henry and Kai after this brutal exercise. If anyone could catch me up on what I had missed, it would be them.

Master Aldric’s voice sliced through the chatter. “Pick a partner.”

The boys broke off into pairs, each one picking a familiar partner. They slapped each other's backs and smiled, pleased with their choice. I stayed back and watched everyone pick their partner until I and another guy were the only ones left.

He was a big guy, bigger than most of the others. His round face was flushed from the sun, and his eyes darted nervously around.

I took a breath and forced a smile. “Hey, you want to pair up?”

He looked me up and down. “Well…I don’t have a choice, do I?” He sighed dramatically, eyes dropping to my scrawny frame. “You are kind of skinny.”

I blinked, taken aback. “Wow, way to boost my confidence.”

He shrugged, unapologetic. “We will make do, I guess.”

I held back a snort. “Fine. What is your name?”

“Eli.”

“Alright, Eli. I’m Sage.”

“Now that you have chosen your partners,” Master Aldric began. “it’s time to reveal your first trial.”

The boys around me leaned in; I could feel their excitement, that burning need to prove themselves. I swallowed hard, ignoring the gnawing feeling in my gut.

Master Aldric paused for dramatic effect.

“The first trial,” he announced. “is wrestling.”

The crowd murmured in shock, low curses, and even a few snickers broke out among the boys. I heard someone whisper, “Wrestling? First? That’s insane.”

“Silence!” Master Aldric hissed. Instantly, the courtyard fell silent. He lifted his chin and watched us with cold eyes. “I see some of you are…displeased. But wrestling is the truest measure of strength and resilience. You will not be using your wolves. This is purely physical. Your partner is your opponent.”

I nearly choked. “Opponent? I turned to look at Eli. Why in the world did I end up with the one built like a damn fortress?

“Your match number will determine when you fight,” Master Aldric continued, his voice implacable. “When you are called, you step into the ring. First to pin or submit losses.” His eyes swept over us like a hawk. “There is no room for mercy. Strength and grit will decide your fate. If you cannot handle it, you do not belong here.”

I swallowed, fingers curling around the number tile Eli and I had picked earlier. Thirty-seven. The very last. At least I would have time to panic.

********

I watched as two massive boys wrestled each other in the dirty dust billowing up around their tangled limbs. One of them got pinned down so hard I swore I heard bones crack. I tried not to look, but it was impossible. Blood smeared the ground, sweat slicked their bodies, and the crowd of boys cheered and shouted like it was some grand spectacle.

“You alright?” Eli murmured beside me.

I forced a nod. “Yeah.”

I was anything but alright. My palms were slick with sweat, my head felt light, and I was pretty sure I was seconds away from fainting. I had never witnessed such raw violence in all my twenty-two years of living. I wanted to vomit right there in the dust, but that wasn’t exactly “manly” behavior.

“Match twenty-five!” Master Aldric’s voice thundered across the courtyard.

Two more boys stepped confidently into the ring; I stared, wondering how they managed to look so calm.

“They look strong,” Eli muttered, scratching his head. “Do you… I mean… you know what you are doing, right?”

I blinked at him, my mouth dry. “Of course,” I lie.

In truth, I had no idea what to do. I had never fought anyone in my life. I wasn’t supposed to. Girls didn’t wrestle. We wore gowns, practiced needlework, and read poetry in the garden. I could recite every line of The Wolf and the Moonlight, but not a single move that might keep me from being crushed.

I tried to recite my favorite poem, an old verse from a tattered book that had belonged to my mother. I used to whisper the words when my stepmother punished me, letting the rhythm carry me away from the sting of her hand. But now, the lines would not come. My mind was too full of fear.

“Thirty-seven!” Master Aldric called out. I flinched, my head snapping up.

Eli glanced at me. “Hey, don’t worry. I will go easy on you, alright?”

I forced a shaky smile. “Sure.”

We stepped forward, and the crowd parted like we were about to be executed. My feet felt like lead, each step heavier than the last. My stomach churned violently, and I pressed a hand to it, praying I wouldn’t throw up in front of everyone.

“Are you ready?” Master Aldric called out.

No. “Yes,” I said,

Master Aldric raised his hand. “Begin!”

Eli attacked first, his shoulder slamming into my stomach, and I hit the ground with enough force to rattle my bones. Dust stung my eyes as I scrambled to my feet.

I tried to brace myself, fists clenched, but it was pointless. He came at me again, and I was back on the ground, the world spinning around me. This time, I didn’t bother scrambling up right away. I just lay there, staring at the grey clouds drifting lazily across the sky, wishing I could disappear into them.

Someone cleared their throat, and I blinked. Master Aldric stood over me, arms crossed.

“Disappointing,” he said, shaking his head. This is the worst fight I have seen in all my years of teaching.”

I pushed myself up, brushing the dirt from my palms onto my trousers. Eli moved to help me, but I shook my head. I wasn’t about to look any weaker than I already did. The crowd snickered, some openly laughing, while those who had suffered similar fates gave me sympathetic nods, though their defeats had been far more dignified.

I looked up and saw Roman watching me with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, I felt embarrassed that he had watched me fail.