The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 89

My feet carry me quickly through the woods as I survey the map, swiftly making sense of it and matching physical landmarks with the points on the page. Inwardly, I think gratefully of my dad and my uncle Roger, who brought me along on those early camping trips and showed me how to do this sort of work, not leaving me out. I mean, Rafe and Jesse certainly got more training in this than me as we got older – they could find their way home in the dark, just by looking at the stars.

But me? I’m confident in my map reading skills, and I bless them now.

When I identify a ridge running along my right and realize that I simply have to follow this until I reach a man–made bridge – which seems, honestly, a little too easy

I fold the map and shove it deep into my back pocket. Then I set my sights ahead and hurry my steps, keeping my ears open for any other movement in the forest around me.

My wolf, inside me, has her hackles raised and her instincts trained on everything around us. Shift into me, she commands, her teeth bared even at the sound of the wind rustling through the branches. I’m faster, stronger. I can bite and tear anyone who comes near…

For a long moment I consider it, but then I shake my head and carry on in my human form. Too much risk, unfortunately, of being identified as female if I’m spotted as my rose- gold wolf. Not to mention my natural scent will be on full display, meaning that pretty much everyone would be well aware that there’s a girl running around the Examination.

Plus, my instincts will be that of an animal. It’s not that you lose your human thoughts as a wolf, just that they become…secondary.

And I really, really need to keep my wits about me.

My wolf growls, displeased with my choice, and mentally I bury my fingers thick into her hair. I will if I have to, I promise her, the feel of her fur against my hand bringing us both comfort and strength.

I continue forward, my mind set on our trek.

As I move into a clearer space along the ridge my eyes move, inevitably, to the jagged mountain that rises before me, slightly north–east from my current position. I swear,

lightly, as my eyes take it in and 1 slip the map out of my back pocket, consulting it to confirm what I already know.

Yup – there, right at the top. That’s our Final Destination.

I curse the stupid map, which makes the trek look ridiculously simplistic and short. Just cross the river! Then the plane! Up the hill, and to the end!

the reality of

some points, rocky shale just begging to crack and bring you crashing down to your death. I swallow heavily, missing my canteen suddenly, but simultaneously grateful that Rafe and Jesse made me do so much upper–body work. I’m going to

left and I freeze, hearing

Voices, plural. Shit.

me, some cadets have found their friends or at least some temporary allies and are moving in

a set of bushes. I don’t have a chance, I know, caught alone like this. I’m

back and silently loading an arrow even as I keep my eyes trained ahead, towards the voices. Passively, I thank the captain for making me load a crossbow so many times I could

is half a blessing – giving my scent time to disperse in the air – it certainly makes me scowl, because every minute gone is a minute wasted. Speed, I know, is the only

on my feet isn’t going to help

1 don’t recognize says, pointing left towards the ridge I was following.

nod slightly, my own

turns in that direction. “It has to be a trap if

ones to get there, won’t we?” says a third, his voice a little wicked. The first two turn to stare at him, and then they all laugh together – a

figure out the import of their words,

they can

trap.

mind because…what the hell am I going to do? If cadets spring a trap at the bridge, using it to harm

get across? I certainly don’t have

my route, my plan, but I force myself to stay still and not do anything to draw attention to myself as the three cadets prepare to move forward. I’m working out my plan

go even stiller, if possible. Because while I didn’t know the first three…these

know these

harm, even though he’s got a sturdy staff held in

don’t have

you

warrior–track students like Wright have been given weapons. Like they need them, when