3: The Invitation

Blaire sat on the hard wooden bench outside the principal's office, gripping the strap of her worn-out backpack. Her heart pounded against her ribs, each sound in the empty hallway amplifying her anxiety. The hum of the overhead lights. The distant chatter of students in the courtyard. The occasional shuffle of footsteps.

She had no idea why she was called here. Nothing good ever came from being summoned to the principal's office. Had she done something wrong? No—if it were a disciplinary issue, they would have called her mother, and Blaire doubted her mother even remembered the school's phone number.

The door creaked open, and the principal, Mr. Caldwell, stepped out. His sharp green eyes landed on her, his expression unreadable. He was a strict but fair man, someone Blaire had only spoken to a handful of times during her years at Thrive High. He gestured for her to come in.

Blaire swallowed hard and stepped inside, her stomach twisting in anticipation.

The office smelled of old books and coffee, the walls lined with trophies and framed certificates from past achievements. At the large wooden desk, a woman in a dark suit sat, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She had the composed air of someone important, someone who wasn't used to waiting.

Blaire immediately recognized her. Ms. Delacroix. The Aetheris Academy representative.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Miss Delpine, take a seat," Mr. Caldwell said, closing the door behind her. Blaire sat stiffly, her hands resting on her lap.

Ms. Delacroix studied her, her dark brown eyes sharp and calculating. Then, without preamble, she spoke.

"You passed the written exam."

Blaire barely had time to process those words before Ms. Delacroix continued.

"As you know, the Aetheris Academy selection process is rigorous. The written exam was the first step, but it is not the final test. Those who pass will move on to the physical trials."

Blaire's throat felt dry. She had passed. She had actually passed.

"Only ten students from this entire region will be selected," Ms. Delacroix continued. "You will compete against students from other schools, many of whom have trained for this opportunity since childhood. The physical trials will test your endurance, strength, and mental resilience." She paused. "Do you accept the challenge?"

Blaire clenched her fists on her lap. This was it—the chance she had been waiting for. A way out. A way forward.

"I accept."

Ms. Delacroix nodded, seeming unsurprised. She slid a folder across the desk. "Inside, you'll find all the details regarding the next phase of testing. The trials will take place in seven days at Silvercrest Academy."

Silvercrest. The most prestigious human-run school in the region. The stark opposite of Thrive High.

"You are dismissed," Ms. Delacroix said, already turning her attention to another set of documents.

Blaire rose from her chair, gripping the folder like a lifeline. She barely registered Mr. Caldwell's nod as she walked out of the office, her mind buzzing with a mixture of excitement and fear.

She had done it. But now, the real challenge began.

The news spread fast. By the time Blaire reached the cafeteria, whispers followed her like shadows.

"Blaire Delpine passed?"

"No way. Someone must've made a mistake."

"Didn't she barely scrape by in the midterms?"

She ignored them all, grabbing a tray and moving toward the food counter. But before she could reach it, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Well, well, well."

Tiffany.

Blaire turned slowly, already bracing herself.

Tiffany stood there with her arms crossed, her blonde hair shining under the cafeteria lights. She wore her usual smug expression, but there was something new in her eyes—something between disbelief and irritation.

"You must have cheated," Tiffany said, loud enough for nearby students to hear. "There's no other way someone like you could have passed."

Blaire met her gaze steadily. "You're right," she said, keeping her tone deliberately casual. "I hacked into the Aetheris Academy servers, rewrote my score, and convinced a top-tier representative to hand me a folder with my invitation. Brilliant deduction, Tiffany."

A few students snickered nearby. Tiffany's expression darkened.

"You think you're funny, don't you?" she hissed, stepping closer. "But let's see how long you last in the physical trials. Just because you got through the first round doesn't mean you'll make it all the way."

Blaire didn't respond. She didn't need to. She simply turned and walked away, her heart pounding with adrenaline.

Let them doubt her. She would prove herself soon enough.

Across Town at Aetheris Academy

Far away, in the imposing towers of Aetheris Academy, a different kind of tension filled the air.

Larkin Ashborne and Orion Kingheart strode into the dean's office, their presence commanding the space as if they owned it. The dean, a tall shapeshifter of eagle descent, sat behind a sleek black desk, his cold, calculating eyes narrowing as the two alphas entered the room.

Larkin's dark gaze fixed on the dean, and though he didn't say a word, the weight of his stare was enough to make the air thicken with unspoken menace. The eagle-shapeshifter's wings flickered nervously beneath his human form as he observed the two alphas.

Orion, ever the confident and playful one, broke the silence first. His voice was smooth, dripping with charm. "Dean, we've come to ask for a small favor," he said, his grin never wavering. "We'd like to attend the physical exam. See for ourselves who's making it through."

The dean's brows furrowed at the request. "The physical exam is reserved for the candidates only," he replied, his voice cool but steady. "It's against the rules for outsiders to watch."

Larkin didn't speak. Instead, he took a single step closer to the dean, his aura thick with power and dominance. The room seemed to shrink under his gaze. Even Orion, who was used to his friend's overwhelming presence, could feel the tension shift.

Orion chuckled lightly, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Rules are made to be bent, aren't they?" he said, leaning casually against the edge of the desk. "Besides, we're not just any alphas. We're the ones who decide who's worthy of our attention. Shouldn't we get to see who's competing for it?"

The dean shifted uncomfortably, his posture stiffening as he realized the predicament he was in. Larkin's influence was unmatched. His dark eyes had a way of compelling others to bend to his will, and the dean could already feel himself succumbing to the pressure. He couldn't refuse them—at least not without consequences.

"Fine," the dean finally muttered, his voice tight with reluctant acquiescence. "You can observe, but no interference. Understand?"

Larkin's eyes gleamed with an unsettling calmness. "Of course, Dean," he said, his voice a silken whisper that carried a hidden threat. "We'll stay out of the way. For now."

Orion, ever the optimist, grinned broadly. "Great! We'll be looking forward to it." His wink toward the dean was enough to make the older man grit his teeth in frustration.

The dean knew he had lost. He had given in to their demands, and now, he was nothing more than a figurehead. His authority meant nothing in the presence of these two alphas.

He could only hope they wouldn't cause too much disruption.

At the Outskirt of Solhaven

That evening, Blaire sat on the old, sagging couch in their living room, staring at the contents of the folder.

Date of Physical Trials: Seven days from now.

Location: Silvercrest Academy.

Requirements: Athletic attire. No external assistance allowed.

Her fingers traced the embossed seal of Aetheris Academy on the letter.

This was real.

This was happening.

Her mother was asleep in the bedroom, the door shut. It was better that way.

Blaire exhaled and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

She needed to prepare.

She had always been athletic, but this was different. The academy would be testing the limits of what a human could do. And she was competing against the best of the best—students who had been given every advantage since birth.

But she had something they didn't.

She had nothing to lose.

The next morning, Blaire woke before dawn and dressed in her running clothes. The streets were quiet as she stepped outside, the air crisp against her skin. She adjusted her sneakers—worn but still reliable—before taking off in a steady jog toward the forest path near her house.

Her breaths were controlled, her strides even. She pushed herself harder than usual, her legs burning as she increased her pace. She needed to be faster. Stronger.

She wasn't just competing against other students.

She was fighting for her future.

By the time she returned home, sweat clung to her skin, her muscles aching in protest. She leaned against the front door, catching her breath.

She could do this.

She had to.

Seven days passed in a blur.

On the morning of the trials, Blaire stood at the bus stop, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

The bus arrived, sleek and modern—a direct contrast to the beat-up school buses she was used to. As she stepped inside, her gaze swept over the other students. Some looked nervous. Others confident.

The bus rumbled forward, carrying them toward their future.

No turning back now.