Alpha Tyrone is a Girl

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

"Ughh, men, I hope I don’t die,” I sighed, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

I stood right in the middle of the big field at Minnesota Academy. The sun was hot on my back as I took a moment to look around, tilting my head and just taking it all in. As I stood there, my mind wandered back to all the things I had always wanted to do. Things I was told I couldn't because I ended up being a girl. I had tried so hard to convince Dad, but he always thought those things were for Tyrone. Just the thought of not being stopped from shooting arrows, going hunting, fighting, playing football, and training made a spark of excitement light up inside me.

'Great choice, Tyana,' my wolf murmured in my head, a feeling of agreement washing over me.

I turned my gaze to Mathew and asked, my voice sounding deeper than usual, "So, where do we go now?"

He looked around, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I think we need to find the main hall. That's what the guards at the gate told us. I heard there are a few games or tests we have to do before we're fully accepted as part of Minnesota." As he spoke, I subtly tucked more of my hair under my cap, trying to keep it hidden while my eyes scanned the groups of boys moving around the academy grounds.

'Wow... these boys are beautiful,' my wolf said dreamily, a surprising thought that made me internally raise an eyebrow.

Okay, it's not like I've never been around guys before, growing up in a pack meant there were always males around. But the sight of so many of them, all in one place, and all around a bigger age… that was definitely new. I even used to have a huge crush on Mathew, though I never told him. That crush had to fade away because of Tyrone, who was fiercely overprotective. I'd overheard him telling all his friends that I was off-limits, and not many in the pack were brave enough to go against Tyrone.

A small smile crept onto my lips as I continued to look around. Boys… so many boys. Some were undeniably sexy and handsome, and they all seemed to carry themselves with a sense of purpose. They looked like they had been training hard for years, preparing themselves to become candidates for the academy, all so they could pass the entrance tests. It was a fascinating sight, a whole new world opening up before me.

"So, the main hall, huh?" I repeated, trying to sound casual as I adjusted the cap on my head again, making sure no stray strands of hair were visible. "Do you have any idea where it might be? This place is huge." I let my gaze sweep across the sprawling fields and numerous buildings in the distance. It was far grander than anything I had imagined.

Mathew nodded, his eyes also taking in the surroundings. "Yeah, it seems pretty big. But I think it's probably towards the center. Usually, the main administrative buildings are located in a central area." He pointed vaguely towards a cluster of larger buildings with impressive architecture in the distance. "We should probably just head in that direction and ask for directions if we get lost.”

"Sounds like a plan," I agreed, starting to walk in the direction he indicated. The ground felt firm beneath my boots, and the air buzzed with the energy of so many young werewolves gathered in one place. It was both exhilarating and a little intimidating. "So, these 'games' or tests… any idea what they might involve?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Mathew shrugged. "Not really. The guards weren't very specific. But I've heard rumors. Some say there are physical challenges, like races and strength tests. Others say there are tests of skill, maybe combat or strategy. And then there might be mental challenges too, like puzzles or knowledge-based questions." He paused, then added with a slight grin, "Knowing this place, it's probably going to be a combination of everything.”

"Combat?" My ears perked up at that word. That was something I was actually good at, despite my father's reservations about "Tyana's duties." I had spent countless hours practicing in secret, honing my skills with makeshift weapons and sparring with Tyrone whenever he could be convinced. "I wouldn't mind a bit of combat."

Mathew chuckled. "I figured you wouldn't. You've always been more… spirited than most of the girls in our pack." He glanced at me with a knowing look. "Just try not to break too many noses, okay? We need to get accepted, not sent home in disgrace.”

"No promises," I said with a playful smirk, my wolf giving a mental nudge of amusement. The thought of actually being able to compete, to test my abilities against others, was incredibly exciting. It was a chance to finally be seen for who I was, not who my father wanted me to be.

As we walked, the crowd of young werewolves around us thickened. I tried to appear nonchalant, focusing on keeping my head down slightly and mimicking Mathew's relaxed posture. It was strange being surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces, so many pairs of eyes that might linger a moment too long.

'Easy there, tiger,' my wolf purred, sensing my slight unease. 'Just blend in. We're doing great.'

"Hey, Mathew!" A voice called out, and I saw a couple of other young men approaching us, their expressions friendly.

Mathew smiled in recognition. "Hey, Liam, Ben. What's up?"

"We were just heading towards the main hall," Liam said, glancing at me with a curious look. "We figured we should probably get there sooner rather than later. Are you guys heading that way too?”

"Yeah, that's the plan," Mathew replied. "Liam, Ben, this is… uh… Tyrone." I offered a brief nod, keeping my voice low.

"It's really nice to meet you, Tyrone," Ben said, and he smiled in a way that felt warm and welcoming. Liam also nodded hello. But when Liam looked at me, his eyes stayed on me a little longer than I expected. There was something like curiosity in his look, and it made me feel a little uneasy. Without making it too obvious, I moved a little bit, hoping the shadow from my cap would hide my face a bit better.

"Hey," I said, but my voice came out sounding really high-pitched and girly. I quickly coughed to try and make it sound normal again before speaking.

"Hey, what's up?" I replied. When I said that, both Ben and Liam looked at me with these really strange looks, like I was some kind of weirdo they'd never seen before.

Then Ben said, "Seriously though, Mathew never told us you were this small." He stopped for a second, looking me up and down like I was some kind of strange animal. "Um, how old are you again?" He sounded genuinely confused.

"Hhhuhhuuh," I started to laugh, trying to make it sound deep and confident, but it just came out really weird and awkward instead. My cheeks were starting to feel hot. "I'm old enough," I finally managed to say. "I just... Well, I grew in my own way, you know? Being intelligent makes you develop younger in some areas," I added, trying to sound convincing and hoping they would just drop it. "So, don't worry about how I look. I can still totally beat your ass up if I wanted to… it's not about how big you are, it's about how strong you are on the inside!" I finished with a big, forced laugh, but when I looked at Ben and Liam, their faces were still serious. They didn't seem to find it funny at all. They just kept staring at me with those same confused expressions. This was way more awkward than I thought it would be.

"Right? Strength on the inside, that's what counts," I repeated, trying to sound more confident this time, even though I could feel my face flushing. I really hoped they would just change the subject. This was not the grand entrance I had imagined.

Ben exchanged a quick glance with Liam, and then he kind of shrugged. "Alright, man. If you say so." But his tone still had this hint of disbelief in it. Liam just nodded slowly, his eyes still lingering on me for a moment before he finally looked away.

Mathew stepped in a little closer to me, placing a hand briefly on my shoulder. "Anyway," he said, directing his attention back to Liam and Ben. "We should probably try and find out where we're supposed to register or whatever. Did you guys see any signs or anything?" He was trying to steer the conversation away from my… size. I was grateful for that.

Liam shook his head. "Nah, not really. It's pretty chaotic here. Lots of people are just milling around. We were thinking of just asking one of the older students. They seem to know what's going on." He gestured towards a group of older teenagers who looked like they were in charge, some wearing badges.

"Good idea," Mathew agreed. "Hey, Tyrone and I will stick with you guys. Safety in numbers, right?" He gave me a quick, reassuring smile.

I nodded, trying to act like the whole "size" conversation hadn't bothered me at all. "Yeah, sounds good." Internally, though, my wolf was still a little riled up.

'Seriously? "This small?" What's that supposed to mean?' she grumbled in my head. 'We'll show them. Just wait until the tests.'

'Easy, girl,' I mentally replied, trying to soothe her. 'Let's just focus on finding where we need to go for now.’

Just then, a voice boomed, "Alright everyone, come on over here and form a group." It was an older man speaking, and slowly, we all started to walk towards him, bunching together. He looked at us all with eyes that seemed to have no warmth at all. "It's time for your very first test," he announced, his gaze making me feel uneasy.

He continued, his voice flat, "This first game we're going to play is called The Sumo... and the rules are simple. Everyone, clothes off." My head suddenly felt like it was spinning.