The loud clang of the training yard bell woke me up. It was still dark outside, but Headmaster Thorn stood in the doorway, his voice sharp and commanding.

“Get up. Now. You have ten minutes to meet in the arena.”

Everyone groaned. Finn stumbled over his boots, muttering under his breath, while Jaxon shoved past me, hitting me into the wall. “Move it, *rookie*,” he sneered.

I bit my tongue. *Stay calm. Stay focused.*

---

The arena was a big sand pit with stone seats around it. Thorn stood in the middle, with four older students in black uniforms. They were senior cadets—*enforcers*.

“Today’s exercise is about *strategy*,” Thorn said. “You’ll be split into teams. One team defends this fortress”—he pointed to a wooden tower with a banner on top—“and the other attacks. Defenders hold the banner for one hour. Attackers try to take it. Senior cadets will watch and score your leadership.”

Jaxon stepped forward right away. “I’ll lead the attackers.”

Thorn looked at me. “Aiden. You’ll lead the defenders.”

My stomach dropped. *Defending* meant working with others, not just surviving. Finn gave me a small nod.

A tall recruit named Elias frowned. “Why does *Aiden* get to lead? Jaxon’s stronger.”

“Strength isn’t just about muscles,” Finn said, surprising everyone—including me.

Jaxon smirked. “Have fun losing, *Aiden*.”

---

Inside the fortress, I looked at my team—Finn, Elias, and two quiet twins, Mara and Ren. They all looked at me like they didn’t trust me.

“First rule,” I said, trying to sound like my father. “No one fights alone. We guard the stairs and the back window. Mara and Ren—watch the roof. Elias, block the door.”

Elias crossed his arms. “And what are *you* going to do?”

“I’ll coordinate,” I said, tossing him a wooden practice sword. “Unless you want to explain to Thorn why we failed?”

He grumbled but did as I said.

Finn leaned closer. “You sound like a real Alpha.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, but I felt my face heat up.

---

The attack came fast. Jaxon’s team slammed into the door, shouting loudly.

“Mara—*roof!*” I yelled.

She jumped as a recruit climbed over the edge, tackling him mid-air. Ren threw a sandbag, knocking another attacker off the ladder.

Elias cheered. “Didn’t know you two could fight!”

The twins smiled slightly.

Jaxon’s voice rang out from below. “Boring defense, *Aiden*! Come out and fight!”

Finn tensed. “He’s trying to trick you.”

“I know,” I said. I peeked through a crack in the wall. Jaxon stood alone below, smirking. The rest of his team was missing.

*Think. He’s distracting us.*

“Mara—check the west wall!”

Too late. A crash came as attackers broke through a weak plank. Jaxon’s team rushed in, swinging wooden swords.

Chaos broke out. Elias fell, swearing. Ren fought two boys at once. Finn dodged a swing, looking panicked. “Aiden—!”

Jaxon charged at me, his wooden sword aimed at my ribs. I blocked, but he pushed me back. “You’re not cut out for this,” he hissed.

“Says the guy who can’t win without cheating,” I shot back.

His sword slammed into mine. “Cheating’s what Alphas *do*.”

A scream cut through the noise—Mara, pinned by an attacker. Without thinking, I threw my sword at the boy’s head. He stumbled, and Mara kneed him in the stomach.

Jaxon used the moment to slam me into the wall. My binding snagged, and the fabric tore.

“What the—?” He froze, staring at the loose cloth.

Panic shot through me. *He knows.*

Finn crashed into Jaxon, tackling him. “Get the banner!” he yelled at me.

I scrambled up the ladder. The banner was inches away—

A hand grabbed my ankle. Jaxon. “Not so fast, *Aria*.”

The name hit me like ice. He *knew*.

I kicked free and grabbed the banner. “Defenders win!” Thorn’s voice boomed.

Jaxon’s grip tightened, his whisper harsh. “You’re dead.”

---

Back in the dorm, Finn cornered me. “Jaxon knows, doesn’t he?”

I nodded, my hands shaking.

“Then we shut him up,” Finn said, his voice firm. “He’s not the only one with secrets.”

“What do you mean?”

He hesitated. “My brother was an Alpha. He challenged the council… and disappeared. I’m here to find out why.”

The confession hung between us. Finn had never talked about his family before.

“So?” I said.

He grinned, his nervousness gone. “So we help each other. Starting with shutting Jaxon up.”