I’m shaking as the Captain ces the list on the podium in front of him, all thoughts leaving my mind as


    he studies the names. Because as much as I’m desperate to figure out what happened, all I can do is


    listen and wait.


    “The cadet in the number 1 position,” the Captain says, his voicepletely without emotion, “is Rafe


    Sinir.”


    A shout goes up from the gathered candidates as their champion walks forward to shake the Captain’s


    hand and pass through the doors into the Academy. And even as anxiety still rolls within me, I can’t


    help the smile that bursts onto my face.


    No one is surprised at his taking first – Rafe has stayed at the top of the list this entire time, and as


    Dominic Sinir’s son and near–identical replica, he was sort of a shoe–in for the spot. But I’m prouder


    than all of them, because he’s my big brother and as much as Rafe made it look easy, he worked his


    ass off for this his


    whole life.


    Rafe deserves it, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder of him. My eyes well with tears even as I cheer


    for my brother, because I wish mom and dad were here to see it. That’s not allowed, of course, but still.


    I know they’d be so proud they could burst.


    Jesse is called third, and I cheer just as hard for my cousin alongside everyone else as I catch sight of


    his cheerful face as he shakes the Captain’s hand. Jesse lets out a good–spirited whoop that makes


    meugh as he dashes for the doors, clearly so eager to get inside he can’t help but run.


    My eyes return to the Captain then, and I lose track of time as I listen to the names go by, watch hands


    shake as cadet after cadet is admitted. Jackson’s name is announced next,ing in at S – I expected


    him to be higher, but he must have lost time on the obstacle course either helping me or screwing me


    over.


    I scowl as n Wright is called, but the distaste is wiped away when Luca’s name is announced soon


    after, a big cheer going out for our resident celebrity. Luca showboat that he is riffs a little bit, waving


    out to the crowd of candidates as he walks to the Captain’s podium to shake his hand.


    –


    The Captain rolls his eyes a little at Luca’s vanity as he shakes his hand, but he can’t help but smile


    either. Luca – he’s a little bit irresistible, isn’t it? I bite my lip a little


    as I watch him pass through the doors, because I am well aware that I’m the one who is the least able


    to resist his charms.


    The numbers pass in a haze now through the twenties, the thirties, the forties and fifties – I don’t even


    pay attention, because I know I didn’t get that high. Pretty much everyone ahead of me on the field has


    been cleared out by now, which makes sense.


    As the numbers hit thete sixties, though, my stomach starts to turn. Because some of the young men


    behind me have been called, having risen in the final ranking, which means that some of us who were


    safe before the final ranking are going to be cut.


    The Captain reaches the seventieth name. And it’s not me.


    A boy behind me moves forward, rushing across thewn to shake the Captain’s hand.


    My heart sinks. Because, I mean, I knew I was going to take a hit in the ranking, but seventy was my


    spot.


    I hold my breath as the guys to my right are called, as the numbers make their way through the


    seventies.


    As number eighty is announced, and it’s not me, my heart sinks.


    The numbers continue to crawl upwards.


    As each passes, I be increasingly convinced that Jackson tricked me. I mean – he’s clever, I


    always knew he was smart. But how could I have been so stupid?


    The Captain announces the 86(th) candidate. Still not me, and still not Ben. I turn now, risking it,


    knowing that there can’t be any consequences worse than being cut from the Academy. My eyes


    immediately meet Ben’s, and I know that his expression matches mine.


    Dread fills every inch of me and Ben feels precisely the same. Thirty–four people are still left standing


    on this field, and only ten of us will be cadets.


    What are the chances that both of us will make it?


    Hell, what’s the chance that even one will?


    Chapen a


    About 30 percent chance for one, my wolf unhelpfully supplies, and inwardly I scowl at our propensity


    for fast math. But just about 6 percent for both of your


    Shit. Shit. I mean, I know it’s more than just a random selection – that our previous rankingse into


    y…


    But as the Captain continues to announce names? Our odds continue to


    go


    down.


    The Captain announces number 90 and I hang my head, wondering what the hell I’ll do next. I mean, I


    guess I’ll go home, but how the hell will I get there? Rafe and I we never even discussed the possibility


    –


    I mean, there’s a train, right?


    “Number 91,” the Captain says, his voice nd and a little bored.


    And someone will let me use a phone I guess I’ll just…call my mom


    “Ari rk.”


    My head whips up and I gasp.


    Because-


    That’s-


    That’s my name –


    I mean, it’s not my name, but –


    –


    A hysterical littleugh bursts from me as I stumble forward. I can feel eyes on me as a small, half–


    hearted cheer goes up – nothing like the cheering at the beginning, but most of the cadets are inside


    now, and most of the people behind me are feeling just as horribly as I was a moment ago –


    The Captain locks eyes with me and I hurry my pace, eager to get across thewn and shake his hand


    before he does something ridiculous, like realizes he made a mistake –


    Or figures out that I’m a girl –


    My feet move almost without me realizing it, and suddenly I’m right in front of him, reaching out my


    hand.


    “Well done, rk,” the Captain says, a little smirk ying at his lips. I stare at him in surprise even as


    he sps my hand because he didn’t say anything to most of the other new cadets. “Bit of a surprise,


    weren’t you? I’ll be seeing more of you


    inside.”


    I stumble away, still shocked, as the Captain releases my hand and continues on


    with the names.


    He’ll be seeing more of me inside? What – what does that mean?


    But I don’t have time to think about it, because suddenly the ck doors of the Academy are in front of


    me, and my heart is absolutely pounding as I walk up to them.


    Because…I mean…


    I did it.


    I feel tears slipping down my cheeks as I walk slowly towards the doors, staring up at them, really


    realizing for the first time that…that I’m a cadet at the Alpha Academy. That I earned my spot, proved


    myself alongside everyone else.


    That I belong here.


    A huge rush of pride blooms in me as I cross the threshold and ept my spot as number 91, Ari


    rk. Cadet of Alpha Academy.


    A huge shout goes up as soon as I step through the door, and I gasp as someone grabs me off my


    feet, spinning me in the air.


    But I know instantly, by touch and feel, by scent, that it’s my brother –


    And I give a little shriek of happiness and wrap my arms around his neck, tucking


    face against his neck as I cry and shout for the joy of it.


    my


    “You did it, Ari!” Rafe shouts, his voice breaking in his excitement and his pride. “I f**king knew you


    could do it! God damn it, I’m so proud of you!”


    He spins me twice more before putting me back on my feet, and I stumble back a step, dizzy, but


    grinning up at him –


    It doesn’tst long, because Jesse grabs me next. “Shrimp!” he shouts, “I always


    thrilled believed in you, my Shrimpy little cousin!” And I burst outughing now,


    and loving him loving all of them


    –


    Jesse puts me down, pressing a big kiss to my cheek, and then I’m in a third set of


    arms.


    And let’s just say that I’m d that the entrance hall is filled with joyful shouts, because when Luca


    presses me close and that summer–sun, citrus–and–apricots scent hits me…


    Well, the little moan that escapes my mouth is…deeply embarrassing, to say the least.


    “Good job, Shrimp.” Luca says, his voice soft, and I tilt my head up to smile at him. His eyes sparkle as


    he looks down at me, running a hand over my head like he’d be stroking it over my hair if he could see


    it. The intimacy of the gesture, it sends a shiver right down my spine. “I knew you could do it.”


    “No, you didn’t,” I say on impulse, wrinkling my nose up at him. “I bet you had all sorts of bets against


    me –


    “I did not!” he protests,ughing.


    “Admit it,” I say, pointing a finger up at him. “You had at least five bucks on me getting my ass kicked


    out of here –”


    Lucaughs harder at this, shaking his head, but his arms cken when another roar goes up at the


    door. And I spin, moving away from him, my mouth spreading into a wide smile because the next


    candidate whoes through the door?


    I know that face, that wide smile.


    “Number 95!” Ben shouts, throwing his hands above his head as he leaps through the door.


    o too as


    And suddenly I’m we all move forward to hug our friend, weing him to the crew.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Ben – he’s thest of us to make it through, but he’s one of us now. We all are – cadets, equals. I wrap


    Ben in a warm hug, telling him how d I am that he made it, him whispering the same to me. And


    then we both pull away,ughing and shaking our heads at each other, wondering how the hell we


    made it through.


    But we don’t do that for long, both of us turning towards the long hall through the


    cliff, to where our future waits.


    “Come on, baby sister,” Rafe whispers just so I can hear, slinging an arm around my shoulder, Jesse


    coming to my other side. “Wee to Alpha Academy. Let’s get the adventure started.”


    And the three of us march forward together, eager to see what the future holds.