Leaving the registration office, I followed Karen and Jasper through the academy's ancient corridors.
The imposing aura of the Alphas was everywhere. I tried hard to straighten my back, imitating Torian's gait, but my legs remained stiff. Silas's words, "Your scent… seems a bit off," stabbed at my heart like a needle, lingering and refusing to fade.
"Alright, this is the dormitory area," Karen stopped in front of a stone building, lowering his voice. "Third floor, Room 307."
Walking into the dormitory, the air was thick with mixed Alpha scents. It was slightly milder than outside, but still made the wolf spirit within me uncomfortable.
I climbed to the third floor and found Room 307.
Sweat beaded on my palms. My disguise was about to face its first direct challenge in this most private of places.
Karen unlocked the door with a key. The room was a double. Thankfully, there was only one roommate.
He was sitting at the desk reading a book. When he heard the door, he looked up, revealing a face with a gentle smile.
"Hey, new roommate? I'm Ryan," he greeted kindly, his eyes as warm as autumn leaves.
My heart jumped into my throat.
A roommate! What about showering? Changing clothes? Even going to the bathroom… These basic physiological needs had turned into a deadly crisis for my disguise in this boys' school!
I worked hard to maintain a composed expression, my throat tight, and I could only nod stiffly.
"Hello." Karen answered for me, stepping forward to block me from view. "This is Torian Vance. He just arrived and is a bit tired."
"Vance? Torian from the Vance family?" A trace of surprise flashed in Ryan's eyes, but he quickly returned to his friendly demeanor. "Nice to meet you as a roommate. I've heard your name before."
"Thank you." I squeezed out a smile that was more like a grimace. He had heard of my name? Then he surely knew what the real Torian was like.
"Alright, get settled in. I have some academy matters to discuss with you," Karen said to me while nodding at Ryan, then pulled me into the room. Jasper followed us in.
Karen shut the door behind us. His eyes quickly scanned the room before he walked to the window, pulled the curtains shut, and turned to me with a serious expression.
"Ryan seems friendly," Karen said in a low voice, "but don't let your guard down. Always pay attention to your disguise. Especially… when showering and changing clothes. I've spoken to dorm management to try and arrange solo times for you to use the public bathroom, but it's not guaranteed and the time is limited."
Solo bathroom times! Karen's efficiency brought me some relief, but the weight of anxiety immediately followed—because even alone, I would still have to face the truth of my disguise.
"The odor neutralizer's effectiveness diminishes with sweat and steam, especially during showers," Karen said as he pulled a small, sealed bag from his pocket containing darker, more potent concealment agent crystals. "These are stronger, but the side effects are greater. Use them only when absolutely necessary. Apply them immediately after showering to prevent scent leakage."
I accepted the sealed bag, its cold surface chilling my fingers.
"And then there are the academy's rules," Karen walked over to the desk, opened up an academy map, and pointed as he spoke. "The main building houses the classrooms and dining hall. The training grounds are to the south. The library is in the east tower, which might have clues about Torian's disappearance, but it's heavily regulated. The west tower is off-limits. You mustn't go near it—it's heavily guarded and has a special perception barrier."
"Special perception barrier?" I asked, looking toward the west tower, my heart racing. What could it perceive?
"I don't know the specifics," Karen shook his head. "It's very dangerous, in any case. Also, the academy has a strict ranking system. At the end of each quarter, The Bottom 10% at Season's End are culled. You need to improve your strength as fast as possible."
Final term culling! My wolf spirit stirred uneasily under the pressure. Strength—this was my biggest weakness.
"And then there's Ethan and Silas," Karen continued, his tone becoming grave as his eyes met mine. "They both know Torian and are top-tier Alphas with incredibly sharp senses. Ethan seems friendly, but he's curious about your changes. His concern is warm, but it could also lead you to reveal flaws. Silas… he's extremely dangerous. His suspicion is direct, and he may have caught a whiff of your unusual scent. He won't let it go easily."
"What should we do then?" Jasper interjected, concern appearing on his face. "We can't just avoid them forever, especially Silas. He's bound to cause trouble."
"There's no avoiding it; you'll have to confront it," Karen said. "Disguise, acting, and the concealment agent. When necessary, Jasper and I will provide cover. Jasper, keep using your social skills to divert attention and create distractions."
"Got it!" Jasper said, thumping his chest. "I'm great at stirring the pot!"
"Don't stir it too much or it'll backfire," Karen snapped at him, then turned his focus back to me. "Remember—never let your guard down. Don't let anyone see you when you're alone, and don't let your scent leak. If anything unusual happens, get away immediately or signal for help. Jasper and I will come as quickly as we can."
He placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "This is all we can do. The rest is up to you to handle."
My heart sank. Yes, this was all they could do.
In Wolfden, I'd ultimately have to face all crises alone.
The weight of the disguise, the dangers of investigation, the threats of enemies, and the scrutiny and allure from the two Alphas…
Karen and Jasper soon left the dormitory, offering an excuse to leave. Before departing, Karen gave me a worried glance while Jasper winked and made a thumbs-up gesture.
The room was now quiet, with only Ryan and me remaining.
Ryan was still at his desk, reading, as though the earlier conversation hadn't occurred.
I sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. The strong scent of the concealment agent hung in the air, reminding me of my identity at this moment.
Every inch of air in Wolfden was filled with challenges. This was the world of Alphas, and I, a disguised woman, had to survive here, find my brother, and uncover the truth.
Within me, my wolf spirit let out a low, rumbling growl—not of fear, but of surging determination.