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 it?

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

the left and I freeze, hearing voices in the

Voices, plural. Shit.

some cadets have found their friends or at least some temporary allies and

my breath, quickly scanning the ridgeline and darting directly for a set of bushes. I don’t have a chance, I know, caught alone like

keep my eyes trained ahead, towards the voices.

– it certainly makes me scowl, because every minute gone is a minute wasted. Speed, I know, is the only thing I’ve got on my side here but if I have to duck under a

isn’t going to

pointing left towards the ridge I was following. “This way – we follow to

own plan

another says, shaking his head, even as he turns in that direction. “It has

to be the first 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 –

figure out the import of their

there first, they can be

trap.

string of curses forms itself in my mind because…what the hell am I going to do? If cadets spring a

going to get across? I certainly

force myself to stay still and not do anything to draw attention to myself

stiller, if possible. Because while I didn’t know the

these

mean any harm, even though he’s got a sturdy staff held in his left hand.

you don’t have any with

you

scowl a little, displeased to see that warrior–track students like Wright have been given weapons. Like they need them, when their bodies themselves are