Undercover At The Alpha Academy

Disguises and Dangers

“I should’ve brought warmer clothes,” I muttered, shivering as the cold wind snuck down my collar like icy fingers. The night clung to my skin, sharp and unforgiving. Each step through the forest floor was a betrayal- twigs snapping like tiny warning shots, announcing my every move.

My breath curled in the air like smoke, vanishing into the moonlight before I could catch it. I didn’t dare look back. If I saw the house, the only home I’d ever known- If I turned around. I might give up. And I couldn’t afford that.

I clutched the straps of my backpack like it was my lifeline, grounding me to this reckless decision. I had no real plan. No map. Just one direction:

Dawnwood Alpha Academy.

A place whispered about in hushed tones, where only the elite among werewolves were trained to lead. It had always been Stephan’s future. My brother was the chosen one. The heir. Strong, wise, honorable. The pack’s golden boy.

And me? I was the girl meant to keep her head down, smile pretty, and marry a Beta for alliance. But not anymore.

I walked until my calves ached, until the trees gave way to a dirt road stretching out into nothing. I crouched behind the underbrush, heart hammering. A few minutes passed- then headlights appeared like a distant promise. A dusty blue pickup truck rattled down the road. It looked ancient, but it was moving.

I stepped out, trembling, arm raised.

The truck screeched to a halt, headlights bathing me in pale yellow light. A man, roughly my father’s age, rolled down the window, squinting at me through the gloom.

“What are you doing out here, young lady? It’s dangerous this time of night. There are wolves around.” His voice was gruff, but not unkind.

A human. I’d never met one in person before.

“I got lost,” I said quickly. “I was heading to… Dawn-” I stopped. Humans didn’t know about Dawnwood, did they?

“Dawnwood?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean that prep school past the hills?”

“Yes,” I said, surprised. “That’s exactly it.”

“It’s a long walk- three hours by train. I can drop you at the station if you’d like.”

“Oh, thank you! But if you just point me-”

“Just get in already!” a tiny voice piped up from the back seat. I blinked, spotting a small girl peeking over the front seat with a cheeky grin.

“Rylie,” the man scolded gently, “Don’t talk to strangers like that. Say sorry.”

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, not meeting my eyes.

I hesitated for a moment. They seemed harmless… kind, even. Nothing like the wolves I was used to.

“…Okay,” I said softly, and opened the door.

“Thank you.”

The warmth of the truck was instant, and for a while, I just listened. The man and his daughter talked easily, laughing over silly things like cartoon characters and cereal brands. It was so… normal. It made me ache a little. My father never joked with me like that. He barely smiled.

“Do you have candy in your bag, lady?” Rylie asked suddenly, making her dad choke on his coffee.

“Rylie!”

“What?” she said, giggling.

“She’s not normally like this,” the man said with a sheepish smile. “She’s a good kid, right Rylie?”

The girl just laughed harder, and he shook his head fondly. I smiled faintly. This was what real love looked like.

.

.

.

“We’re here,” the man announced as we pulled up beside a small train station. “Rylie, say goodbye.”

“Goodbye! Stay safe!” she chirped, waving wildly.

I waved back and stepped out. The air was colder here. Sharper. I made my way into the tiny convenience store next to the station. If I were going to survive at Dawnwood, I had to go as someone else. Not as Alice. As Steven. There could be people who knew Stephan; he had a lot of friends, so it's better if I choose a different name.

I found the scissors aisle and froze. Did I really have to cut my hair? That was Stephan’s thing, not mine. Then I spotted the hats- baseball caps, beanies, even wide-brimmed ones. Perfect.

I grabbed a few, along with oversized clothes from the boys' section, and headed for the bathroom. The transformation was shaky. I tucked my hair under a hat, darkened my eyebrows, added a few freckles, and stuffed my chest with ace bandages. I didn’t look like a boy exactly… but maybe like a scrawny teenage Alpha-in-training.

It would have to do.

As I packed up, a woman walked into the bathroom, caught sight of me in my half-disguised state, and screamed.

“Oh no,” I breathed and bolted.

I sprinted out the door, backpack flapping, barely checking if she was chasing me. I turned a corner and slammed straight into a brick wall.

Or, what felt like one.

“Watch where you’re going!” a voice snapped.

I fell back, groaning, and looked up. And instantly regretted it.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Unreasonably attractive. Dark hair, even darker eyes. And glaring at me like I was gum on his boot.

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered.

He narrowed his eyes, and I panicked. Right. I was supposed to be a boy.

“That’s, uh, how I usually sound when I fall on my back,” I said, lowering my voice awkwardly.

“Did I ask?” he shot back. “Get lost.”

Rude.

I started to pick up my bag when the acceptance letter slipped out and landed near his boots. He caught the emblem—Dawnwood’s crest—and his demeanor changed instantly.

“Dawnwood Alpha Academy?” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “What’s your name, wolf?”

“Steven,” I replied quickly. My throat tightened.

“What pack?”

“…Moonveil.”

His eyes darkened like a storm rolling in.

“Liar. Moonveil’s Alpha heir is someone else.”

Before I could react, he lunged - grabbing me by the throat and lifting me off the ground.

I gasped, struggling. I had to think of something, and fast.

“They-they think he’s unfit to lead,” I croaked. “So they sent me instead.”

He stared at me, eyes boring into mine… and then dropped me. I hit the ground, coughing violently.

“If I see you again, I’ll kill you,” he growled, and turned away.

I lay there, shaking. What just happened?

Eventually, I picked up my letter. Inside was a silver-trimmed train ticket with the academy’s seal. My way in.

I made it to the platform just as the train screeched in. I boarded quietly, slipping into an empty cabin and sinking into the seat.

Just breathe. Just get there.

I barely had time to relax when the door slid open. A boy with curly hair peeked in, his eyes lighting up when he saw me.

“Hey! First year?” he asked, stepping inside before I could answer.

“…Yeah.”

“I’m Michele of Fangroot. But you can call me Milo,” he grinned, sliding into the seat across from me.

“Steven of Moonveil,” I said warily.

“Moonveil? Nice. Listen, word of advice—avoid Adrien.”

I froze.

“Adrien?”

He looked surprised. “Yeah. Adrien of the Ravenclaw pack?”

Ravenclaw. The name hit me like a punch to the chest.

Ravenclaw’s Alpha was going to the academy? They’ll kill me if they find out who I am. I had to get off this train.

I grabbed my bag and ran out into the corridor-straight into the man from before.

Milo’s voice rang out from behind me. “Adrien! Long time no see!”

My blood ran cold.

I looked up.

Adrien was looking down at me, his gaze sharp as a blade and laced with silent warning-like a predator who’d just found prey trespassing on his territory.

I’m screwed.