The forest was thick and unyielding, the kind of place where the trees seemed to close in around you. Kael and I moved quietly, our footsteps barely making a sound on the damp earth. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and moss. It was a good day for travel, but my nerves were on edge.

“You sure you know where we’re going?” I asked, glancing at Kael.

He shot me a look, his usual smirk in place. “Do you?”

“No,” I admitted. “That’s why I’m asking you.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Relax, Aiden. I’ve got this.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Kael had always been the more confident one, the one who could navigate any situation with ease. It was one of the reasons I trusted him.

We walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a bird. My mind wandered, replaying the last few days in my head. The haircut, the voice training, the binding—it all felt like a dream, like I was living someone else’s life.

“You’re quiet,” Kael said, breaking the silence. “Thinking too much again?”

“Maybe,” I said, my voice low and steady. It still felt strange to speak like this, but I was getting used to it.

“Don’t,” Kael said, his tone serious. “Overthinking will just mess you up. You’ve got this, Aria—Aiden. Whatever. You’re ready.”

I nodded, but the doubt lingered. What if I wasn’t ready? What if I couldn’t pull this off?

“Hey,” Kael said, stopping suddenly. He turned to face me, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “You’re not doing this alone, okay? I’ve got your back. No matter what.”

I met his gaze, the weight of his words settling over me. “Thanks, Kael.”

He grinned, the seriousness melting away. “Anytime. Now, let’s keep moving. We’ve got a long way to go.”

---

The sun was high in the sky by the time we reached the edge of the forest. The trees thinned out, revealing a wide, open plain. In the distance, I could see the faint outline of mountains, their peaks shrouded in clouds.

“Ironclaw’s on the other side of those mountains,” Kael said, pointing ahead. “We’ll need to cross the plain and then climb. It’s not going to be easy.”

“Nothing worth doing ever is,” I said, my voice firm.

Kael raised an eyebrow. “Since when are you so philosophical?”

I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Since I decided to infiltrate an all-male Alpha school.”

He laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. “Fair enough.”

We started across the plain, the tall grass brushing against our legs. The sun was warm on my skin, and for a moment, I let myself relax. It was a rare moment of peace, and I wanted to savor it.

But it didn’t last long.

“Hey!” a voice called out, sharp and commanding.

I froze, my heart pounding. Kael stepped in front of me, his body tense.

“Stay behind me,” he said, his voice low.

I nodded, my mind racing. Who was out here? Rogues? Another pack?

A group of figures emerged from the grass, their movements quick and deliberate. There were three of them, all male, and they looked… young. Around our age, maybe a little older.

“Who are you?” one of them demanded, his eyes narrowing as he looked us over.

“Travelers,” Kael said, his voice calm but firm. “We’re just passing through.”

The boy who’d spoken stepped closer, his gaze flicking between us. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a confident stance. An Alpha, or at least someone who wanted to be.

“Passing through to where?” he asked, his tone suspicious.

“Ironclaw,” Kael said, not missing a beat.

The boy’s eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. “Ironclaw, huh? You think you’ve got what it takes?”

“We’ll find out,” Kael said, his tone light but with an edge of challenge.

The boy studied us for a moment, then shrugged. “Alright. Just don’t get in our way.”

He turned and walked away, the other two following close behind. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“That was close,” I said, my voice low.

Kael nodded, his expression grim. “Yeah. We’ll need to be more careful. There are going to be a lot of guys like that at Ironclaw.”

I swallowed hard, the reality of what I was about to do hitting me full force. This wasn’t just about proving myself. It was about surviving.

“Come on,” Kael said, his tone lighter now. “Let’s keep moving. We’ve got a long way to go.”

I nodded, falling into step beside him. The plain stretched out ahead of us, the mountains looming in the distance. It was a daunting sight, but I couldn’t afford to hesitate.

As we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, but there was nothing there. Just the tall grass swaying in the breeze.

“You okay?” Kael asked, noticing my unease.

“Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just… nervous, I guess.”

He nodded, his expression understanding. “You’ll be fine. Just remember who you are.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I was Aiden now. And I was going to make sure no one ever doubted me again.

---

The sun was setting by the time we reached the base of the mountains. The air was cooler here, the ground rocky and uneven. I could see the faint outline of a path winding its way up the slope, but it didn’t look easy.

“Ready for the hard part?” Kael asked, his tone teasing.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, my voice steady.

He grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. “Then let’s go. Ironclaw’s waiting.”

I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. This was it. The beginning of everything.

As we started up the path, I felt a surge of determination. I was Aiden now. And I was going to make sure no one ever doubted me again.