The entrance examination

The Apex Trials Academy was built into the side of a mountain, its towers clawing toward the sky. Fires burned from stone sconces, casting thick shadows along the walls. The entrance was two massive iron gates and was lined with skulls.

Raine's breath hitched as she caught her first glimpse of it

They were real dead people's skulls.

Her stomach twisted.

"Welcome to hell," Ezra muttered.

A group of new recruits had already gathered outside the gates. Some looked strong and big others looked confident. No one was as petite, shy and insecure like Raine.

A massive figure stopped Infront of her

"Step forward," he barked.

Ezra nudged her. "This is where I leave you."

Matteo had instructed him to make sure she arrived safely at the academy.

Raine turned to him, unsure why her chest tightened at the words. "That's it?"

He nodded. "From here, you either make it inside or you die at the gate. It's up to you, Rowan Vale."

Raine swallowed her fear and stepped forward.

"Name?" The hefty man asked holding a pen over a pepper and without sparing her a glance.

"Ra... Rowan Vale. My name is Rowan Vale " she answered. Twisting her legs on the concrete fall. She was only trying to not make it obvious how much she struggles to speak.

"Vale?" The man looked up, his eyebrows rising in suprise. " You can't be the Son of Alpha vale"

Raine rolled her eyes in the ground avoiding the gaze of the man before her. She has no idea who the hell Alpha vale is not to talk of Rowan. " Yeah..." She stuttered. It was best for her to admit, she was stealing his life after all.

"Seems the moon goddess is going to gift another amazing talent. I'm sure you wouldn't disappoint your late father. I trust you now and can ignore how tiny you look"

She nodded with a faint smile. Surviving the entrance exam was supposed to be her only concern but now she has to live up to some name. Even worse, they probably think she's natural gifted like the so Alpha vale.

The man made a sharp mark on the pepper and stepped aside. "Enter."

Raine forced her feet forward, slipping past the towering iron gates, which groaned as they shut behind her. A shiver ran down her spine at the loud sound of the gate. She was inside now, There was no turning back alive.

The courtyard stretched wide before her, illuminated by the glow of the flames . New recruits clustered in uneasy groups, Their eyes scanning their surroundings with suspicion. Some exchanged hushed whispers, others stood alone, sizing up their competition.

A voice boomed through the air.

"Form a line!"

Raine turned toward the source, an imposing figure stood on the raised stone platform ahead. Dressed in black armor with a fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders, his presence alone demanded obedience. His face was wasn't visible enough , but his silver eyes gleamed like a predator in the dark.

"Commander Gabriel, " someone murmured behind her. "The Alpha of Black Hollow pack."

Raine's stomach twisted. She knew nothing of the academy's leaders, but that man alone told her enough. She was at the very front of the man who had bought her at the auction twenty four hours ago.

"Tonight marks the beginning of your trials," Gabriel announced, his deep voice echoing across the courtyard. "Only those worthy will remain within these walls by dawn. If you fail the test, you die."

Murmurs spread through the recruits, but no one dared to voice out their fear.

"You will enter the Gauntlet hall," Gabriel continued, nodding toward a massive set of doors at the far end of the courtyard. "Inside, you will face three challenges designed to separate the strong from the weak. Should you survive, you will earn your place among us and become a student here "

The doors groaned open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond.

"Step forward."

One by one, recruits marched toward their fate. Raine swallowed hard as she moved with them, . She had no training, no power to call her own, only the stolen name of a dead boy.

And yet, she had no choice but to walk through that door.

A hand suddenly gripped her wrist.

She turned, finding herself face-to-face with a tall recruit. He had jet-black hair, dark eyes, and a sharp, unreadable expression.

"You're really Rowan Vale,?" he said, voice low enough that only she could hear.

Her breath caught.

Before she could speak, he smirked. "Try not to die too soon, princeling. It would be a waste of legacy besides watch your back because my only aim is to kill you"

Then he released her and intentionally hit her shoulder.

Raine clenched her fists and followed, swallowing the fear that threatened to drown her.

The moment she stepped through the towering doors, darkness swallowed her whole. The air was thick and damp, carrying the scent of old blood. Her boots barely made a sound against the stone floor as she moved forward, her breath coming in shallow bursts.

The Gauntlet had begun.

Flames came to life along the walls, revealing a long corridor with jagged stone edges. The other recruits spread out, some hesitating, others surging ahead as if they could outrun whatever nightmare awaited them.

Raine forced her feet to keep moving.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber. At its center stood a massive stone archway, symbols glowing along its surface.

A deep, harsh, and rough growl echoed in the hall

"The first trial"

Gabriel's voice rang out from unseen speakers embedded in the walls. "Is the Hunt. Make it through the Maze before you're caught. Fail, and you'll join the bones beneath your feet."

A heavy clang sounded behind Raine as the entrance sealed shut.

She had no time to process. The moment the doors locked, the ground trembled, and a monstrous howl split the air.

Then came the sound of claws scraping against stone.

Raine spun, catching sight of the others breaking into sprints, some darting into different paths of the Maze ahead. .

Then something lunged behind her , a blur of teeth and matted fur. Someone's scream was cut off abruptly, followed by the sickening crunch of bone.

Her stomach lurched. There was no freaking time to freeze or think.

She ran.

The labyrinth twisted in unpredictable turns, torches flickering against the stone walls as she weaved through narrow passages. Footsteps pounded behind her—other recruits, or worse, something else.

A sharp growl to her left. She pivoted just in time to see something massive lunge at her; A beast unlike anything she'd ever seen, twisted and half-wolf, with a monster head. Its glowing red eyes locked onto hers, and it lunged.

Raine barely dodged, slamming against the stone wall as the creature's claws scraped inches from her face

She wasn't strong. She wasn't trained. But at least she was fast.

Spinning on her heel, she sprinted down the next corridor, forcing herself not to look back as the snarl grew distant.

She wasn't going to survive this by brute strength.

She had to be smart.

Ahead, she spotted Arinze the same dark-haired one who had threatened her death earlier. He moved very quickly and without much struggling.

He reached the next turn and, instead of taking it, pressed his hand against the wall. A section of stone shifted open, revealing a hidden passage.

Without thinking, Raine followed him inside and the wall sealed shut behind her.

"You're fast for someone who looks like they belong in a library," the guy muttered.

Raine swallowed, still catching her breath. "And you knew about a secret passage. That's very Convenient "

A smirk ghosted over his lips. "The smart ones survive."

"Or perhaps you cheated! " Raine snorted .