The morning assembly hall buzzed with restless energy.

Headmaster Soren stood at the podium, his voice carrying across the packed room like a blade through silk. "The Alpha Ascension Trials will begin in four weeks. Three-stage evaluation. Combat, strategy, and dominance. Only senior alphas will be eligible."

The weight of expectation settled over me like armor I'd been fitted for before I was old enough to have opinions about it.

I was supposed to want this.

I did want this.

I also wanted ...