Chapter 2.
1171 Words
For a moment, everything froze.
My breath caught in my throat. The walls, the weapons, even the flickering lantern above the Enforcer’s desk—all of it faded as my mind spiraled.
He knew.
He knew my name. My real name.
I forced myself to stay calm. Panicking now would only confirm his suspicions.
“I don’t know who that is,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Sir.”
Enforcer Riven didn’t blink. He just leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“No idea, huh?” His tone was unreadable. “Interesting. The name popped up when your ID was scanned through the central registry. Old Beta family records. From East Ember territory.”
I kept my hands on my thighs to hide the way they trembled. “I’m from Shadowclaw. We don’t exactly keep track of East Ember's lineage.”
He watched me, eyes sharp. “And yet, your scroll shares a unique marker with this Aria Valen. Very rare. Almost impossible to forge.”
My heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it.
This wasn’t just a mistake. Someone—somehow—had flagged me. The seal on my forged scroll must’ve triggered a match with the real records. Maybe the identity I copied had traces of who I used to be. Maybe…
Maybe I was already slipping.
“I followed protocol,” I said, meeting his eyes. “My pack leader signed off on my documents. If there’s an issue, I suggest you take it up with them.”
He studied me for another agonizing second. Then, to my surprise, he let out a soft grunt and stood.
“I’ll be watching you, Winters. Keep your head down. Step out of line, and I won’t ask questions next time.”
I nodded stiffly. “Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
I rose, forced my feet not to stumble, and walked out of his office with my back straight, even though my spine felt like it might snap from the tension.
Once the door shut behind me, I let out a shaky breath and pressed a hand against the wall.
Close. Too close.
I walked back to my dorm in silence, thoughts spinning like leaves in a storm. If Riven suspected anything, I wouldn’t last long here. But if I kept low, followed the rules, stayed invisible…
I could still survive this.
Kael wasn’t in the room when I returned. I dropped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, trying to steady my heartbeat. It didn’t work. Not really.
Orientation was in fifteen minutes.
I changed into the Academy’s uniform—black trousers, tight-fitting tunic with silver clasps, and a heavy vest over it all. It smelled like iron and sweat. Itched like hell too. But when I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn’t see Aria anymore.
I looked like every other cadet.
The training yard buzzed with noise as I stepped outside. Rows of young men lined up in formation, their uniforms crisp, eyes forward. I joined the back line, trying not to draw attention.
The Head Alpha stepped forward.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, silver hair tied back, and eyes so cold it felt like winter had settled in the yard. His voice rang out clear.
“You are not here to learn,” he began. “You are here to become. To suffer. To fail. And to rise.”
No one moved.
“You will bleed. You will break. You will learn to control what makes you monsters and use it as your greatest weapon. Those who survive this year will be stronger than any Alpha who came before them.”
His gaze swept the crowd and, for a split second, landed on me. My stomach dropped.
“Your journey begins now.”
The drills started immediately after. Sparring, combat forms, endurance runs. I barely kept up. My limbs ached, lungs burned, and sweat poured down my back. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
Every time I felt like collapsing, I pictured my father’s face—cold, calculating—and the Alpha waiting to take me as his bride. That future wasn’t mine. Not anymore.
Kael found me during the midday break, handing me a water flask. “You fight like someone with something to prove.”
I gave a small nod. “Maybe I do.”
“You’re fast. Not strong, though. You’ll need to bulk up.”
“Thanks for the tip,” I said dryly, taking a sip.
Kael tilted his head, curious. “What’s your story, Winters?”
I paused. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t smell like Shadowclaw. They carry more ash in their scent. You’re… different.”
My pulse jumped.
I shrugged. “Guess I’m just built weird.”
Kael laughed. “Aren’t we all.”
He didn’t press further, and I was thankful. For now.
That night, I barely made it to my bed. Every muscle in my body screamed. I had scrapes on both knees, bruises on my ribs, and my hands were raw from the sparring sticks.
Kael was already asleep, his arm flung over his face.
I sat on the edge of my bed and looked down at my hands. They didn’t look like a girl’s anymore. They were rough, dirty, covered in calluses.
I was changing.
But so was the danger.
Riven’s warning echoed in my mind. Who exactly is Aria Valen?
He knew something. Maybe not everything, but enough to be dangerous. If he kept digging…
No. I couldn’t think about that. I had to survive day by day.
The Academy was ruthless, but I’d expected that. What I hadn’t expected was the loneliness. The silence. The way I missed my mother’s voice, or the scent of moonflowers by my window.
I couldn’t miss them. I had to kill that part of me if I wanted to make it through the next day.
Sleep came in restless waves.
I dreamed of home. Of my father dragging me down a long hallway while I screamed. Of a heavy door slamming shut. Of claws and teeth and—
A loud crash jolted me awake.
Kael sat up too, eyes alert. “What was that?”
A second crash sounded, louder this time. Followed by shouting.
We both jumped to our feet. My heart pounded as we threw on our jackets and rushed into the hallway.
Other cadets spilled out of their rooms, murmuring.
Then we heard it.
“Barracks breach! All cadets, to the training yard—now!”
I looked at Kael.
He looked at me.
We both ran.
As we sprinted into the night air, I caught a glimpse of the sky—and froze.
Smoke curled above the training tower, red and black. Something burned. Something big.
But worse than that was what I saw next.
At the edge of the wall, near the northern gate, was a massive shadow.
A wolf. Huge. Unmarked. Not wearing Academy colors.
An intruder.
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