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?

sheer cliff–face at 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 need it, at some points, to do some quite literal bouldering. God, am I going to have

to the left and I freeze, hearing voices in the distance.

Voices, plural. Shit.

have found their friends or at least some temporary allies and are moving

directly for a set of bushes. I don’t have a chance, I know, caught alone like this. I’m such easy pickings, and

arrow even as I keep my eyes trained ahead, towards the voices. Passively, I thank the captain for making me load a crossbow so

makes me scowl, because every minute

isn’t going to help me, is

says, pointing left towards the ridge I

slightly, my own plan

in that

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

again as I figure out the import of their

get there first, they can be

trap.

endless string of curses forms itself in my mind because…what the hell am I going to do?

I going to get across? I certainly don’t have the brawn to

but I force myself to stay still and not do anything to draw attention to myself as the three

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

know these two..

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

don’t have any with

you

a little, displeased to see that warrior–track students like Wright have been given weapons. Like they