The Evaluation

ARIN

I stared at the wooden podium set in the center of Solmere's main square. My heart pounded, and a thin layer of cold sweat coated my forehead. I'd been thrilled when I'd learned that the emissaries from the most prestigious academy would visit our town, but now, as the meeting was about to begin, my insides began to twist.

No one truly knew why the emissaries had come. Rumors had it that they were looking for those with unique powers. Allegedly, the three royal Alpha families had founded special scholarships for a few lucky ones. Landing such a scholarship could have been like the greatest gift from the Goddess. The only problem was that I had never been lucky, and as a wolfless Omega, I doubted I held any unique power, but the girl could still dream… right?

“What is she even doing here?” A not-so-discreet comment made me flinch. “Shouldn't she be, I don't know, cleaning your house or something?”

I curled my hands into fists and concentrated on breathing. I didn't dare turn around to see who had said it. Then again, I didn't have to. It had to be one of Alette's friends, and I could bet that the Alpha's mean daughter herself stood somewhere close, too.

“Father said that the Mystic Flame Academy's emissaries wanted every eighteen-year-old to show up here. No exceptions,” Alette's high-pitched, nasally voice buzzed behind me. “Even the filthiest and most useless ones.”

That last comment had been meant for me, but I ignored it. I wouldn't let her provoke me. Not today. Not in front of the people who could change my life.

I rolled my shoulders back and kept my eyes on the podium. Alpha Reis ascended the steps first, then sauntered to the back of the dais, leaving the front to the three men in long black robes. Murmurs spread through Solmere's main square. It seemed like more than half of our town had come here to support their children or friends. Unlike those around me, I had no one to support me; I had a lot of people to mock me instead. But I wouldn't give up. I had even prepared a speech to help me prove I could become an excellent healer. Once they let me speak—

“There will be no speeches or written tests today.” For me, the emissary's words were like a punch in the gut, but the rest of the young wolves on the square sighed in relief.

The emissary pulled down his hood, exposing his wrinkled face framed in a mass of reddish and silver hair. He stepped to the edge of the podium and smoothed his beard. His gray eyes met mine for a heartbeat, and my breath hitched. That man oozed power. I could bet he was a ranked wolf, someone from a noble family. But why would the academy send someone like him as a simple envoy traveling from town to town?

“I will ask you to come forward, and the amulet will decide whether you are worthy of studying in the academy or not.” He pulled out a round, blue crystal from his pocket and squeezed it in his hand.

The first five wolves climbed the podium as the rest of us formed a long line. The red-haired emissary stepped toward the first candidates, frowning. His evaluation hadn't lasted longer than a few seconds before he called out, “Next!”

And that was it. They failed… or at least, it seemed that way. I swallowed, then moved a few steps forward as another five candidates presented themselves before the emissaries. “Next!”

Chills licked the nape of my neck, and the tiny sliver of hope I had began to fade. Alette pushed in front of me and huffed. “Why would you even want to go there? You think that one of the Alpha heirs would want a useless bitch like you as his future Luna?”

My jaw clenched. Everyone knew that all the most powerful Alpha heirs of the Lunamoor Empire studied in the Mystic Flame Academy. If someone wanted to climb up the social ladder, the academy was a perfect place for it. But my dreams were much simpler. I wanted to live in a small town with a loving mate by my side and heal people there. I'd never cared about ranks or politics.

“Unlike you, Alette, some want to go to the academy to study,” I strained through my teeth.

“Oh, please!” Alette folded her arms across her chest. “Who do you want to fool? I bet you're thinking that you can charm someone with that innocent face of yours, but you can forget about it.” Her blue eyes roamed up and down my body, and her lips curled up in a cold smile. “If anyone from our town gets that scholarship, it will be me.”

A few remarks formed on the tip of my tongue, but I sealed my mouth before any of them could slip free. Not because I believed that Alette was right, but because, no matter how much I hated her, I couldn't say anything to offend Alpha Reis's daughter. Drawing a deep breath, I turned toward the podium again.

“Next!” called out one of the envoys, and I forced my feet to climb the steps.

A shiver skidded down my spine. This was it—a trial that could change my life. Alette, her three friends, and I stood in line, waiting to be assessed. We were the last candidates. The reddish-haired man approached us, and my insides twisted.

“You!”

My heart all but stopped as I saw his finger pointing at me. Beside me, Alette burst into laughter, and her spiteful friends followed suit. I didn't move. I wasn't sure I was still breathing as the emissary inched toward me.

“Who are you?” he asked.

My throat worked on a hard swallow. “I'm Arin Knox,” I choked out, and a wave of snickering spread throughout the square.

His gray eyes squinted. “Rank?”

I cleared my throat. “Omega.”

He huffed out a laugh, and a wave of embarrassment flooded me whole.

“She's just an orphan!” someone from the crowd shouted. “She's wolfless!”

Alette stepped forward and dropped into a curtsy. “I apologize for her, Sire. My father tried to be thorough and told every young wolf to come here. Clearly, he should have skipped omegas—”

“Remarkable,” the emissary whispered, his eyes on me. A feral smile curved his lips, and all my muscles tensed. “I'm one of the professors at the Mystic Flame Academy. I want to offer you a special scholarship.”

I blinked, needing a moment to process it. “You want me… to study in the academy?” I breathed.

The professor shot me a look. “Do you have trouble hearing?”

A nervous laugh escaped my mouth. “No! I-I just… wanted to make sure…”

“She can't get that scholarship!” Alette snarled.

The professor turned to her, his bushy brows rising. “And why is that?”

Alette fisted her hands, anger burning in her eyes. “Because…. because… she cleans at our house! She's our slave! We won't let her leave!”

Fear flooded every inch of me. This was my chance—perhaps my only chance—to get out of here. I was so close!

Alette grabbed my arm, pulling me back as she stepped toward the emissaries. She might not have the authority to stop me from going, but her father certainly had. He had welcomed me into his pack, and he owned my life. Only a high-ranked member from one of the royal families could defy him.

The red-haired professor turned to Alpha Reis. “Is this true? Is she your slave?”

Blood drained from my face as Alpha stepped forward, the wooden boards rattling beneath his feet. His icy-blue eyes locked on me, and a deep frown appeared.

“Father, tell them!” Alette demanded.

Alpha Reis lifted his large arm, his finger pointing at me. “I gave her shelter when she was young. She will work until she dies to repay her debt.”

My stomach dropped. “Alpha… please!” I breathed as my eyes filled with tears.

“Did you shower her with gold and gems when she was a kid?” A woman's voice sounded. Another emissary lined up with the red-haired professor, lowering her hood. Her nearly white hair fell to her shoulders in shiny waves. She confidently stepped toward our Alpha and lifted her chin. “Well, did you?”

Alpha Reis blinked. “What?”

The white-haired woman clicked her tongue before turning to me. “You had to work to earn your keep, right?”

I nodded. “Y-yes… I'm… responsible for cleaning Alpha's mansion, doing laundry, and I often help in the kitchen, too.”

A sly smirk pulled at her lips. “And you have been working there since…?”

“Since I learned how to walk,” I answered quietly.

The female emissary whirled to our Alpha. “I believe she already paid her debt tenfold.”

Alpha Reis snarled. “I decide when her debt is paid!”

“How much do you want then?” the red-haired professor asked calmly.

My mouth dropped open. Was he trying to… buy me?!

Alpha Reis laughed, then scratched his beard. “How about fifty golden bars?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Holy Goddess! I would need more than two lifetimes to earn it!

“Done.” The professor extended his hand to Alpha Reis.

Alpha looked at his hand and huffed. “You can't give me that much gold.”

“I can't,” he agreed. “But my brother can and will.”

Alpha's eyes narrowed. “And who is that brother of yours?”

The professor smirked, then grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. “My name is Morvain Thornton, brother of Alpha Zorath Thornton.”

A wave of gasps rushed through the crowd. “Thornton?” I choked out. “One of the three royal Alphas ruling the empire… is your brother?”

The professor's eyes shifted to me. “That is correct.” A cunning smile stretched across his lips. “And whether you want it or not, I'm taking you to the academy.”