A new identity

The sharp tang of damp earth and moss clung to the air, mixing with the cold, metallic scent of the stone walls around Raine as she walked through the tunnel.

Her breath came in shallow, panicked bursts, her asthma still tightening her chest despite the quiet pace. She had to focus on each step, on keeping herself together. The last thing she needed was to faint in front of a stranger who already seemed to view her as little more than an inconvenience.

" I Promise I'm not a threat," Raine mind-linked quietly, though her voice cracked. She thought she had to say something, anything to break the silence that stretched between them like a gaping chasm.

The man didn't respond, but his hand tightened around the hilt of a dagger at his side. He seemed to be listening for something She wasn't sure what it could be.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tense silence, the man spoke without turning to her.

"You're lucky. They've all retired"

But She didn't feel lucky. If anything, her life had been a constant series misfortune and lucky has never been a word for her.

"You are joking" Raine scoffed, her voice shaky. "You think I'm lucky?"

He finally glanced at her, his eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "You managed to avoid being caught by your father's men. That's luck, considering the mess you're in. But don't mistake that for skill, girl."

She wanted to tell him that she didn't need luck. She'd made it this far because of someone's help and her will to live as a free person, not because some random chance or luck had spared her. But she kept the words in, not trusting her voice to stay steady.

"Matteo won't like you like this," he continued, tossing her a small, tattered bag. " You need to become pleasing a little" he stopped and turned to her

" Strip."

Her breath hitched. "Excuse me?"

"Strip," he repeated, his tone impatient. "You smell like money, like the kind of girl who's never had to fight for her life. That won't work here."

"I'm not stripping. I didn't escape being the alpha's sex slave to be a slave's sex slave"

The man chuckled "slave? You must have your nice way of paying someone back with words Besides you are you all bones and no flesh, there's nothing to take advantage of in you anyway. I could throw up by just looking at you and that torn dirty gown of yours. There's another cloth in the bag to wear "

Raine sighed. It wasn't a lie. Her collar bone are all propped out like she'd starved for months but who would second guess she eats more than a normal wolf. Thanks to fast metabolism she isn't able to keep any of that as fat.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled off her ruined dress, From the bag, she pulled out a pair of dark pants, it was rough, and oversized.

They reeked of sweat and leather, the scent clinging to her skin as she slid them on. They were better than the torn gown that has left her body exposed.

The rogue handed her a small, jagged knife. "Cut your hair."

Raine hesitated, but the look in his eyes told her there was no room for argument. With a deep breath, she grabbed a handful of her long, wavy orange hair and sawed through it. Strands tumbled to the ground, pooling like fallen autumn leaves.

"Now bind your chest," the rogue ordered, tossing her a strip of cloth. "You'll pass as a boy easier that way. Oh sorry I think you don't really need to bind anything. With this big polo I would never guess you are born with bobbies."

Her throat tightened, she rolled her eyes as she wrapped the fabric around her chest compressing her curves.

"Why look like a boy? Who am I now?" she whispered.

The rogue smirked. "No name yet. You will get one soon though. We could have spies in the rouge ps knsnf I'm sure by now, your father have sent a painting of you across the country with a price tag. You just need to not be recognised as ... What's that your name again? "

She nodded. It makes sense to her. " Raine"

The rogue seemed satisfied. "Now, let's see if Matteo will give a damn about you."

Matteo's camp was nothing like a proper pack settlement. It was crude, makeshift huts, They were burning barrels for warmth, and the unmistakable glares of people who trusted no one bore on them as they walked. Raine kept her gaze down.

It was like a small village with few hungry individuals staring at them as they entered Matteo's tent.

Matteo himself sat on a worn out arm chair with his legs spread apart, a cigar smoldering between his fingers. His eyes were sharp, and when he looked at her, it felt like he could see straight through her disguise.

"Who's this?" he asked.

The rogue answered before Raine "Peter sent him" he threw the blue stone at Matteo and he caught it skillfully.

Matteo exhaled smoke, studying her. "That so?" He leaned forward. "Tell me, little girl what's stopping me from gutting you right here?"

Raine's pulse pounded, the guy with her said she could now pass as a boy but Well she was pretty as hell so binding her chest and cutting her hair wouldn't automatically make her look like a dude "Because I can be useful."

Matteo chuckled darkly. "They all said that."

"I mean it." She lifted her chin. "I need protection, and I know what it takes to earn it. I'll do whatever you need."

The rogue beside her tensed, as if he hadn't expected her to say that. Matteo smirked, tapping ash onto the ground.

"Brave words," he mused. " But you can't talk? Were you really born that way or you just accepted what they told you?"

She twisted her lips not sure which of the options were her answers. She has never actually tried to talk. Probably because she lived alone and has no one to talk with except her mother who usually work from early hours of the morning to late night.

"Alright, then. Let's see how far you're willing to go." He gestured to a bloodied knife resting on the table beside him. "Bring me the head of the man outside. He was caught trying to trade our location for scraps. Prove your loyalty."

Raine's stomach twisted, but she didn't flinch.

She stepped forward, took the knife, and turned toward the entrance.

I can do this! Just like an army, executing a criminal. I'm just an army executing a criminal for the sake of everyone's peace and safety.

The man waiting outside was already on his knees, his face bruised, his expression were hopeless. He met her gaze, searching for mercy.

Raine's hands shook as she raised the blade with her lips smacked together .

The rogue who had brought her here watched closely. Matteo smirked, as if he already knew the outcome. Judging by how she was holding the knife it was just so obvious.

She had never killed before.

But she gathered the courage and forced herself to step forward. And then plunged the knife without looking

"I'm sorry" she muttered and ran back with the knife to Matteo who's mouth was now agape. He was speechless as he stared at the girl bowing with a kitchen knife extended to him.

"He's dead sir. I'm sorry I couldn't severe his head. This knife is meant for cutting carrots not heads"

"Dead? " Matteo scoffed. " You used your best strength and this is the result"

"I'm also surprised sir on how far my strength has taken me. I'm convinced that I will get better with training" she said with a trembling hands. The fact that she probably just killed someone hasn't settled on her yet.

His eyes widened to the point where they threatened to fall out of their socket. Then he scoffed " That was barely a scratch you weakling! Take her away and let her be useful in cutting carrots in the kitchen. How could Peter send yet some unskilled hopeless girl, does he think I run a charity organization?" Matteo growled. He took his sword and severed the man's head with one strike.

Witnessing that gave Raine an immediate hiccup. It continued for a while before she started to fill dizzy and passed out .

***

Later that night, as she sat by the fire, the rogue who had brought her leaned close. "You didn't even try did you? " he murmured.

"I did," she admitted, staring into the flames. "But it's rediculous how I ended up bleeding instead of the one I stabbed. How would Matteo kill so violently? I was just shocked a little that's while I fell asleep. I'm really not that weak"

He nodded approvingly. " Whatever, This is why you'll not survive. Give up and make dishes for him. "

Matteo approached them, tossing something onto her lap. A folded piece of parchment and ID

" His name was Rowan Vale. You will continue to live as him. All you need to know about him is written there"

"Thanks " she mind-linked

" Talk to me. I don't want that stupid mind-link thing of yours. Tell your wolf to help you. You can actually do it no one was born without a voice not when you even have royal blood in you. I heard you are the illegitimate Gemma's daughter. "

Raine sighed and cleared her voice . She opened her mouth but words wouldn't come out.

"You are not even trying Raine! " Matteo screamed in frustration.

"S_orry. Also, I don't think... I..I have a father. He's seized to be my papa" she talked.

Her voice was the sweetest thing she'd ever heard.

"There it is! Werewolf aren't born with disabilities. If your voice impaired then your wolf's voice wouldn't. There's nothing you can't do on your own "

She nodded and danced happily around the fire but then she suddenly stopped and talked slowly like she remembered something

" At which point of this am I supposed to meet my mother?"

" You have a mother?" The rouge asked.

Raine's brow furrowed. " Yes! I want to reunite with her. Father... I mean Gemma Anthony said 'take care of her ' to his men and I wonder what that means"

Matteo without mincing words replied " Coming from Gemma Anthony, your mother is either dead or locked away. Either way I will help you find her but you have to earn that first. Your wolf is dusk right?"

She nodded.

"Good, That means your potential are limitless if you put your mind to it Your first real job, Rowan Vale," he said, smirking. "You ever heard of the Apex Trials Academy?"

Raine froze.

The Apex Trials Academy was a whispered legendary school, a place where the highest-ranking wolves trained, where power flowed freely and only the most skilled or the most ruthless could rise. Everyone survived by killing who they are weaker than and as long as you pass the entrance test, no matter your rank in the real world, you will be admitted. You could become a poor omega today, and the leader of alphas tomorrow only if you have the strength, skill and magic. It's also a one way easy suicide route for people like Raine

"I've… heard of it," she answered with a dry throat "But that's just a story, isn't it? A way to give people like me false hope. I can never rise to the level of alpha's. "

The man's lips curled upward, but there was no warmth in the smile. "It's real. And you've just stumbled into a path that could lead you there."

Raine blinked, there was no reason for someone like her to be involved She was just a broken Gemma's daughter, weak, low-born, and hunted. She wasn't cut out for something like that.

"I… I'm sorry to disappoint you" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I'm not going to sacrifice my life when I just escaped death "

. " You have nothing left to lose. The Apex Trials Academy isn't a place for the weak, Raine. But it's the only place where someone like you has a chance of changing everything. If you want to rise above your station, if you want to escape the life they've planned for you, it's the only way to get revenge on your father. Your mother would want that"

"I won't even survive a night there. I will just be their worthless prey"

" Few minutes ago, you spoke for the first time in your life. That's why I believe you will survive and level up. The only thing I want in return is the death of three of their professors; Alpha Gabriel, Alpha Uzo and alpha Kieran. This time I don't need you to scratch them with a kitchen knife, I want their heads in a platter severed with a sword"