Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers
Chapter 35: The Wrong Name on the Slip

Chapter 35: The Wrong Name on the Slip

Evaline:

A chill licked down my spine as I watched him make his way through the central arena, stopping at the raised officials’ platform, nodding to a few of the instructors gathered there.

I barely registered the murmurs of students around me, their excited whispers, dreamy sighs, or awestruck stares. The girls in the crowd were clinging to each other and gushing like he was a prince from a fantasy novel.

But for me, he was no fantasy. He was a nightmare.

I was thankful for the cap pulled low over my brow, and the mask I had dug out this morning for no particular reason. I hadn’t worn them since my first day here as I wanted to blend in like every other applicant. But something in my gut had told me to cover up today. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was luck. Or maybe some part of me had sensed this was going to be the most important day yet.

Even so, could a piece of cloth really hide me from him?

My eyes quickly darted to Alpha Kieran. He was standing tall on the opposite side of the platform, speaking with two senior instructors. Calm. Composed. As if this was just another ordinary test.

But something about seeing him... made my chest loosen just a little.

It was relief.

A strange sense of security washed over me the moment I spotted him. He was the man who had brought me here and wanted to me to make it through the exam.

He didn’t look at me. Not even once. His gaze was fixed on whatever conversation he was having with the others. But the more I looked at his calm demeanor, the more I started hearing that cruel voice in the very back of my head.

"You okay?" Mallory’s voice pulled me back.

I blinked before turning my attention to her. Kyros was looking at me too with his brows knitting together in concern.

"You have gone pale," Mallory added. "And you look like you just saw a ghost."

I swallowed. "I’m fine," I said, my voice thinner than I liked. "Just nerves, I guess."

Kyros didn’t look convinced, but thankfully, neither of them pressed further.

And then, Alpha Oscar stepped forward to address the crowd. His voice sliced through the air like polished steel.

"Good afternoon, applicants."

The murmurs died instantly.

The man had presence. Authority. Even power in the way he stood, it was unshakable and grounded.

"I am Oscar Thorne," he said and his deep voice sent another round of dreamy sighs among the students. "I am one of the instructors at Silver Moon Academy, and I look forward to meeting many of you again... as students in the second term."

He continued, "Reaching this final stage is not a small feat. You have shown wit, strength, and resilience. Now, for your final test, you will face one-on-one combat. No wolves, no powers. Just skill. Strategy. And determination."

He looked around, gaze lingering on each section of the arena.

I tensed when his gaze passed near me... but his eyes didn’t pause, letting me breathe.

Another instructor stepped forward and began reading out the matchups. I tried to listen, but my thoughts were like waves crashing over one another.

He doesn’t know you are here. Not yet.

But he might.

If he asked to see the applicant list, if he saw my name, or heard it... it would be over for me. Even if there might be many Evalines in the world, he would still not ignore that name. Would he?

"Selene versus Liora Stone," the instructor called, pulling my attention back to reality as heard the familiar name.

Selene stepped forward with a bored expression. She looked ready to win and get done with the test.

"Noah Rivers versus Mallory Campbell."

Mallory groaned. "Of course I get paired with Noah." She didn’t look too worried about facing someone as physically strong as Noah.

Then the instructor’s voice shifted.

"For the top five scorers in the first and second tests, you will be matched against instructors and senior students."

My heart skipped. I glanced sideways and found Kyros straightening and tightening his jaw with focus. He was looking forward to the test.

On the other hand, my heart was ready to jump out at any minute. The dread of my name being called out by the instructor, was making my vision go dark.

But then...

"The top five applicants, please step forward and draw a slip." The instructor announced, and a wave of relief washed over me.

I followed Kyros, keeping my head low.

As first on that list, Kyros was the first one to draw the slip. When he opened it, his lips curved. "Senior Instructor Mara," he announced before walking to the staging area.

As the second on the list, it was my turn.

I took in a deep breath and reached out to pick a slip from the dozen others that were filling the glass bowl held by probably a senior student.

I chose a random one, trying hard to stop my fingers from trembling. Pulling it out, I unfolded it.

And my heart dropped.

Oscar Thorne.

The paper might as well have turned to ash in my fingers.

The world dimmed around me and a buzzing roar echoed in my ears. I stared at the name like it might magically shift into someone else’s.

But it didn’t.

"Your opponent-" the instructor called, but I had no voice to answer him. I just stood there, staring at the name in shock.

"Ms.-"

"Let me."

I looked up as my ears registered the familiar voice, and I found Alpha Kieran stepping in front of me and taking the slip out of my hand. He didn’t look at me, not until he saw the name on the slip.

When his gaze found mine, I finally felt his calm demeanor faltering... though just for a mere second. If not for the fact that I was standing right in front of him, I might have completely missed it.

He then turned to face the other instructors and the crowd of applicants before announcing my fate out loud. "Our second best applicant will be facing none other than... Instructor Oscar."

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