The breach turned out to be nothing—a rival pack's scouting party testing the wards ahead of the Trials, chased off before dawn—but the warning bell had already done its damage. By the time the sun rose fully over Mooncrest, the entire academy buzzed with the knowledge that the Moonmarked girl's enemies weren't waiting politely for the arena.
"They're not even hiding it anymore," Mira said, watching packs of visiting students filter through the gates, banners snapping in the wind. "Half of them are here to see if you're real. The other half are here to see you die."
"Comforting," Serena muttered, though her pulse hadn't slowed since the alarm.
Kael appeared at her side, jaw tight, eyes scanning the crowd of arriving Alphas and heirs with open suspicion. "The Trials start at midday. What
