"Sleep felt impossible with the weight of tomorrow on my shoulders."

The dormitory had gone quiet hours ago, but my mind refused to follow. I lay on my narrow bed, staring at the ceiling beams barely visible in the darkness. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Gideon's smile. Heard the crowd's eager whispers. Felt the weight of all those eyes waiting to watch me fall.

Tomorrow, everything I'd scraped and clawed for would be tested in front of the entire Academy.

My wolf stirred beneath ...