Chapter 2 2. ENTERING THE WOLF DEN

SERAPHINA

Lupine Academy was the most elite training ground for Alpha heirs. A brutal, male-dominated proving ground where the next generation of leaders was forged. The top student didn't just graduate with honors, he built an empire and ruled every werewolf pack in the realm.

I had dreamed of it since I was a small child, the tests, the strategy, the raw competition. Of course there was one problem.

They only accepted males.

That hadn't mattered before. I was meant to stay with my pack, as its future. As its Alpha.

But now? An arranged marriage.

My mind moved fast, replaying every detail I knew about the Academy. New recruits join this time every year. My father had forbidden me from even watching the trials, but if I moved now under cover of night, I could still make it in time.

I didn't need permission. I just needed a disguise and I was already on it.

I stood in front of the mirror, my heart pounding as I pulled the cloth tighter around my chest, flattening every trace of my femininity. My breath came shallow, restricted - just like it needed to be.

This was the only way in. The Lupine Academy didn't accept females. But they wouldn't see one.

They'd see Seth. Seth Darven. Aunt Marrisa's son that was supposed to attend the Academy but he refused and now I was replacing him.

I slipped on his old clothes - loose, worn, but perfect. My fingers slightly slowly only once as I lifted the perfume my best friend and also a witch, Lily had brought. One spray, and the scent of my lineage, my body vanished. No one could pick my feminine scent and I could not do that as well. Even my long hair shimmered, appearing short in the mirror.

It was all an illusion. Even for me.

But there was a huge disadvantage that I could not hide my identity if I shifted into my wolf but at least I had something to hide my scent and hair.

With one last glance at the bedroom, I'd once called mine, I pulled open the window, threw my luggage down, and leapt into the darkness below.

I ran away from the pack and the marriage.

After a day of relentless travel, I finally arrived at Lupine Academy, a testament to centuries of werewolf heritage and tradition, nestled deep within the heart of the Blackpine Forest. As dawn broke, I emerged from the treeline and paused at the edge of a clearing, my heart skipping a beat at the sight before me. It was as if I was teleported from the modern time to the ancient time. The place I had only heard about and longed to see was now a reality. Only this was more than a visit; I was about to become part of it.

The academy's architecture was a harmonious blend of ancient craftsmanship and natural elements. Towering spires reached skyward, their tips disappearing into the morning mist. Dense woods surrounded the main edifice, serving both as a natural barrier and a training ground.

Established over nine hundred years ago by the revered first Alpha King of the realm, the academy was founded with a singular vision: to cultivate and train the next generation of Alpha leaders. Every five years, a special battle was organized among the students. The winner would become a powerful leader, a Supreme Alpha, with the authority to create their own pack and lead all four regional Alphas. Alpha heirs impatiently awaited this day, but during the last hundred years, no one had won this battle. I was here to change that, to win the impossible battle and design my own throne.

Approaching the wrought-iron gates, I noted the intricate designs of wolves in mid-howl and moons in various phases-each symbol telling the story of battles fought and won. A thrill ran through me. This was it, the beginning of my journey to claim the leadership denied to me by birthright. With a final glance at the towering structure before me, I stepped forward, crossed the iron gates, and walked through the green clearing. Each step filled me with excitement and happiness until a group of seven or eight male wolves burst out of the large door of the edifice, some stumbling in their haste, their expressions full of fear and horror.

"What is going on?" I murmured, watching them in confusion and growing panic. One of them fell to his knees a short distance from me, coughing up blood.

I rushed to his side, noting his ID, which indicated he was a new student joining today, like me.

"Are you alright?" I asked, noticing the other wolves were in no better condition.

He coughed more violently. Something felt off. He was clearly an Alpha, so what could have affected his wolf so severely that he was coughing blood? "What happened? Why are you all running like this? And why are you coughing blood?"

He only lifted a shaking finger and pointed at the large wooden door of the academy from which they had all fled. Then he got up and dashed toward the academy doors without looking back.

I stood upright, cautiously advancing toward the grand entrance, my wolf, Phina, alert within my mind. The other day when Seth came to visit me he had said that the wolves at Lupine Academy were far deadlier than one could imagine, monstrous beings who preyed upon the weak and newly initiated Alpha heirs. Survival among them was rare. Moments ago, I had witnessed firsthand the new Alpha recruits fleeing in terror. Yet, this did not waver my determination.

Crossing the threshold, I realized how Seth's words were true. The air was thick with masculinity; male Alphas dominated the vast hall. The moment I stepped in, the air shifted.

Laughter and chatter ceased abruptly, plunging the hall into silence as they sensed my presence. Predatory eyes turned toward me, assessing, sizing me up. Some scoffed, dismissing my smaller frame clad in the academy's uniform. Others, particularly the strongest among them, appeared intrigued. Unfiltered dominance permeated the space. Every student here was an Alpha heir, forged in brutality, and I had just entered their world.

This was my first encounter with so many male Alphas. I had entered the wolf's den.

"Fresh meat," someone jeered.​

Under their penetrating gazes, I proceeded cautiously, ensuring my strides and posture mirrored that of a male. Maintaining a low profile was imperative; attracting undue attention risked exposure.

Mid walk, my eyes were drawn to the visual representation of the academy's hierarchy. A massive stone leaderboard etched with the names of the top Alpha contenders.​

At the pinnacle sat Alpha Ronan Volkstane, son of the Southern Alpha.

I blinked, recalling Seth's mention of him. Alpha Ronan was ruthless, undefeated, and dangerously unpredictable-the exact type of individual I needed to avoid.​

My gaze then shifted to the second position.​

Alpha Dante Blackwood, son of the Eastern Alpha.​

Unfamiliar with him, I surmised that his high rank signified considerable danger.

Pressing my lips together, I studied the rankings. It appeared I had joined late; the battles and competitions had commenced long ago, and my name was absent from the list. I needed to discreetly ascend through the ranks to achieve victory. Unbeknownst to me, my very presence had already disrupted the established balance.

A sudden, oppressive aura touched Phina, stirring her within my mind. I tore my eyes from the rankings, scanning my surroundings. What was that sensation? Why were these wolves releasing their auras? Their eyes, filled with mockery, lips curled into sinister smiles, their sharp auras encircled me, intensifying their oppressive energy. Within moments, I was besieged by their combined dominance. Suddenly, I understood why the other new recruits had fled.

Phina growled in my mind, "We're being forced into a dominance match."​

I calmly and silently agreed with her. This wasn't a physical fight but a ritual where wolves asserted their strength through sheer presence. Those unable to withstand it would be instantly subdued, much like the others I'd already met. A direct defeat.

Assailed by the dominance of numerous Alphas, a discomfort coursed through me, and Phina grew increasingly uneasy. Yet, I stood tall, averting my gaze to avoid appearing overly strong. The longer I endured, the more their egos suffered. One by one, they intensified their efforts, attempting to subjugate me with their dominance, until, frustrated, they withdrew.

I took a discreet, deep breath, believing the ordeal over with. Until, a dangerously sharp aura struck me. I gasped, and Phina froze within my mind. What was this? It was the strongest, most lethal aura I'd ever encountered-the aura of a beast.

A cold, piercing presence fixated on me. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to the balcony, locking onto a pair of violet eyes that seemed to penetrate my very soul.​

I froze as his striking features came into view-a strong jawline, sun-kissed skin, and brown hair that fell just past his ears, tousled in a way that added to his effortless charm.​

Standing tall with a powerful, muscular build, the Alpha exuded an aura of deadly dominance and godly allure that demanded submission. The longer our eyes locked, the more his gaze intensified.

A sudden uproar erupted around me.​

"He didn't flinch under Ronan's aura!"

"Yeah, no one has ever withstood Ronan's aura before. Who is this wolf?"​

The handsome wolf's expression darkened at the murmurs. I blinked. Wait, did they just call him Ronan? Ronan Volkstane?!​

"This new meat won the dominance match against Ronan Volkstane!" someone shouted.

Shit! It shouldn't have unfolded this way. I immediately tore my eyes from Ronan.

Turning to exit the hall, feigning ignorance of the commotion, I suddenly collided with a broad chest, well-defined and tapering down to a lean waist-the epitome of masculine perfection, blocking my path.​

I froze and slowly looked up to find Alpha Ronan Volkstane towering over me. The surrounding hall fell into a dead silence as he demanded, "Who are you?"