The swimming coach, a robust alpha with a voice that echoed in the indoor pool, paced in front of the students as he gave instructions. Aleya, now Aleron, stood at the edge of the pool with her arms crossed and a carefully calculated expression of discomfort.
“Alright, pups! I want everyone in the water within the next two minutes. This is not a day to slack off.”
Aleya swallowed hard, watching the other boys take off their shirts, revealing muscular torsos glistening under the light. Her wolf, Luna, wasted no time making a comment.
“Do you realize this is the closest we’ve ever been to paradise? Look at those abs. They’re art in motion!”
“Shut up, Luna,” Aleya thought, her heart racing. If anyone noticed her nervousness, she was doomed.
She raised a hand, adopting an unsure tone but one sufficient to grab the coach’s attention.
“Yes, Aleron?” the man asked, stopping in front of her.
“Uh… I can’t get in the water. I’m allergic to chlorine.”
The coach frowned, glancing at his list. “Allergic to chlorine? That’s not in your file.”
Aleya quickly improvised. “It’s a recent condition… The doctor from my pack recommended avoiding chlorinated pools until it’s confirmed.”
The coach sighed, clearly annoyed. “Fine, but I need a medical note. Go to the infirmary after class and make sure it gets checked.”
“Yes, sir,” Aleya replied, feigning relief as she sat down on the nearby bench.
As she watched the boys dive into the water, her eyes couldn’t help but wander over their bare torsos. Luna chimed in again, laughing in her mind.
“Please! Have you seen Cassian? That guy looks like he’s carved from marble. And Lucien… well, let’s just say I understand why he has that attitude.”
“Focus, Luna,” Aleya murmured mentally, quickly averting her gaze.
Sitting in the infirmary waiting room, Aleya pulled out her phone and began investigating her roommates. Using Woolfgle, the most comprehensive database on elite clans, she entered their names one by one.
Cassian Lockhart
Parents: Marcus Lockhart and Elizabeth Devereaux.
Estimated fortune: 1.2 billion crowns.
Achievements: From a young age, Cassian excelled as a prodigy in extreme sports, winning international competitions in skydiving and surfing by age 17. He’s also known for his charisma and diplomatic skills, positioning him as a future standout leader within his clan.
Education: Alpha Academy, specializing in Pack Strategies.
Hobbies: Extreme sports, hunting, and automotive racing.
Notable facts: Second heir of the Lockhart clan, which gives him more freedom compared to his older brother, who is currently training to lead.
Axel Whitmore
Parents: Henry Whitmore and Diana Blackthorn.
Estimated fortune: 850 million crowns.
Achievements: A renowned inventor and musician. At age 15, he designed a key mechanical component for the Whitmore clan’s transportation system, earning a regional engineering award. Axel also masters several musical instruments and has composed pieces performed at official clan events.
Education: Alpha Academy, focusing on Technology and Arts.
Hobbies: Restoring vintage vehicles and composing music.
Notable facts: Although not the main heir, he’s considered the “creative heart” of the Whitmore clan.
Lucien Reinhardt
Parents: King Aldric Reinhardt and Queen Evelyne Reinhardt.
Estimated fortune: Immeasurable (the royal family controls resources across multiple clans and territories).
Achievements: The royal family’s firstborn and heir to the throne. Since childhood, Lucien has stood out as a prodigy in multiple disciplines: junior swimming champion, chess tournament winner, and undisputed leader in simulated warfare strategies. At 18, he established a commercial alliance that increased the kingdom’s wealth by 15%.
Education: Alpha Academy, studying Strategic Leadership and Diplomacy.
Hobbies: Polo, fencing, and financial analysis.
Notable facts: Known for his distant and demanding attitude, Lucien is considered the Reinhardt lineage’s most valuable gem, destined to lead with a firm hand.
Aleya set the phone aside, trying to process all the information. “Great,” she thought. “I’m surrounded by perfect alphas. And here I am, pretending to be one of them. What could possibly go wrong, right?”
Luna laughed in her mind. “Oh, sure. Nothing at all. Just remember: don’t get dragged into an ego… or muscle competition.”
Aleya sighed. If there was one thing she learned from her research, it was that she’d need to be extremely cautious not to stand out more than necessary, especially with Lucien.
Aleya let the phone rest in her lap after reading her roommates’ biographies. For a moment, her thoughts wandered. “Why do these three, with all the money they have, live in the academy’s common dorms? If I had their resources, I’d be enjoying a private suite with full service.”
Luna chimed in, amused. “Because, darling, if they did that, they’d come across as pompous elitists. They’d be the talk of the campus and ruin their image as alphas close to the people.”
“Which is ironic,” Aleya replied in her mind. “They’re as elitist as can be. But, of course, keeping up appearances is more important than comfort.”
She glanced at her phone before murmuring, “And what about me? What would someone find if they looked up my name? Probably nothing.”
Curiosity got the better of her, and she typed her name—Aleron Silverfang—into the Woolfgle search bar. The result was depressing: just a formal photo from the day she entered the academy, her hair short and her expression as rigid as a block of ice.
“Pathetic,” she thought, letting the phone drop onto the bed. “Not a single interesting line. Compared to them, I’m a ghost in the system.”
Luna let out a laugh. “Well, look on the bright side. The less information there is, the less chance someone will uncover your little charade.”
Aleya snorted, trying to convince herself that her anonymity was an advantage. However, she couldn’t help but feel small next to those three alphas who seemed to have it all: power, wealth, and, to top it off, the recognition of everyone around them.
“At least I have something they don’t,” she thought, forcing a smile.
“Oh? And what’s that?” Luna asked, curious.
“A secret identity,” Aleya replied sarcastically as she settled into the bed, ready to plan her next move.
