Chapter 5: First Trial

The Welcome Trial was held in the open courtyard at nine the next morning, and the whole school came to watch.

Each first year stepped into the sand ring and sparred one volunteer from the upper years.

It was a custom, Polly told me, as we pushed through the crowd. It was meant to show a new wolf where she stood.

Warden Stannard sat on a stone bench at the edge of the ring with a clipboard on his knee.

He did not look at me once.

I was so aware of it that I walked into a pillar.

"Subtle," Polly whispered.

By ten, five first years had gone down. Two had been Alphas by public rank, and they had lost to third-years who were bigger and meaner.

"Harrowgate," the Warden called.

I stepped into the ring.

The volunteer who stepped in opposite me was a third-year with a shaved head and a neck as wide as my waist.

His rank was Alpha. Everybody in the courtyard knew it, because he had told them.

"The sealed one," he said, grinning. "I've been looking forward to this."

"Begin," said the Warden.

The third-year circled me.

"Nobody seals a Beta's file," he said, loud enough for the crowd. "So either you're hiding something, or somebody's daddy bought you a spot."

"Neither."

"Then show us."

He swung.

I ducked it and slid away, and pulled my own punch short, so it only brushed his arm.

He laughed.

He swung again, and I stepped around it.

I could feel the wolf in my chest watching and waiting, with perfect patience.

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