Jasmin's POV
The dying afternoon light stretched long shadows across the Academy grounds as I walked into the unfamiliar territory where our instructor had summoned us. Dense forest surrounded the clearing, nothing but endless green canopy and towering trees. The air carried the rich scent of disturbed soil mixed with raw anticipation. Around me, excited voices buzzed as every Alpha gathered for the trial we'd been brutally preparing for over the past few days of merciless physical conditioning.
"You seem distracted," Clyde said, matching my stride. "Something's been eating at you since yesterday. You barely spoke during the entire trek here. What's going on?"
Every muscle in my body went rigid. Harris's words from the previous night crashed through my thoughts like thunder. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"
