Alex's POV
The moment I stepped into the dining hall, I felt like I’d been thrown into the lion’s den. The place was packed, easily more than a hundred guys, all loud, all rowdy, and all so very male.
There was this heavy mix of sweat, spices, and testosterone lingering in the air, and for a second, I wondered if I could actually handle doing this every day.
I kept my head low, avoiding as many eyes as I could. The last thing I needed was to attract attention, not when I was already hanging on by a thread with this stupid bandaged ankle and the throbbing reminder of being shoved during the run.
I wasn’t sure if it was someone’s idea of hazing or if it was personal, but either way, I wasn’t about to paint a bigger target on my back.
As I reached the food line, I grabbed a tray and sl
