That Alpha Is A Girl: Mated To Two

LINA'S POV

I adjusted the cap hiding my hair, my heart hammering as I stepped through the iron gates of Silverclaw Academy, the world's most elite-and ruthless-all-male Alpha boarding school. The air was thick with pine, sweat, and something primal, like the earth itself growled under my boots. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless, as if she knew we were walking into a den of predators. One slip, one wrong move, and they'd tear me apart. Not because I was weak, but because I was a girl.

If they found out, I'd be expelled-or worse. But I had no choice. My father's pack needed an Alpha, and I was done letting anyone tell me I couldn't be it just because I wasn't born a boy. The pendant around my neck pulsed faintly, its magic masking my scent and softening my curves into something boyish-shorter hair, sharper jaw, flatter chest. It wasn't perfect. Stress could crack it, and full moons were a nightmare. But it was enough. It had to be.

"Move it, newbie!" a voice barked, snapping me out of my thoughts. A beefy guy with a buzzcut shoved past, his shoulder clipping mine. I stumbled, catching myself against a stone pillar. His scent hit me-musk and aggression, pure Alpha. My wolf bristled, but I bit my tongue. Not yet. Not here.

"Watch where you're going," I muttered, pitching my voice low, rough. I'd practiced it for weeks, but it still felt like a lie in my throat.

He spun, eyes narrowing. "What'd you say, runt?" His buddies-two more slabs of muscle in Silverclaw's navy blazers-flanked him, smirking. The courtyard buzzed with other students, all male, all staring. Great. Ten minutes in, and I was already a target.

I straightened, meeting his gaze. "I said, watch it. Unless you're blind as well as clumsy." My pulse raced, but I forced a grin, the kind I'd seen my brother use to defuse fights. Or start them.

The guy's face reddened. "You look like you couldn't lift a pup. What pack even let you in here?"

"Good thing Alphas lead with their brains, not their biceps," I shot back. A few onlookers chuckled, and his smirk faltered. Point one for Lina.

"Big talk for a nobody," he growled, stepping closer. His breath was hot, sour. "Name's Bryce. Remember it when I'm wiping the floor with you."

Before I could retort, a new voice cut through, sharp and lazy. "Bryce, leave the kid alone. He's not worth the detention." The crowd parted, and my stomach flipped. A tall guy leaned against a tree, arms crossed, his navy blazer unbuttoned over a white shirt that hugged his frame. Dark hair fell into his eyes, and his smirk screamed trouble. My wolf whined, a strange tug pulling at my chest. For a second, I swore she whispered, Mate. I shook it off. Not now. Not ever.

Bryce hesitated, then backed off, muttering, "Whatever, Kade." His buddies followed, but not before Bryce threw me a look that promised trouble later.

Kade's eyes flicked to me, sharp and unreadable. "You're either brave or stupid, newbie. Which is it?" His voice was smooth, like he was used to being obeyed. The tug in my chest tightened, and I clenched my fists to ignore it.

"Guess we'll find out," I said, holding his gaze. My voice stayed steady, but my knees weren't as cooperative. He was too intense, too... everything. My pendant warmed against my skin, a warning. I couldn't afford distractions, especially not ones with perfect jawlines.

He snorted, pushing off the tree. "Don't die on your first day." With that, he sauntered off, the crowd swallowing him. I exhaled, my breath shaky. One crisis down, a million to go.

The courtyard was a sprawl of stone and chaos, students hauling duffels or sizing each other up like wolves circling prey. Silverclaw High was no ordinary school. It was a proving ground, where future Alphas honed their strength, strategy, and dominance. Combat tournaments, strategy trials, full-moon hunts-if you didn't cut it, you were out. And I had to outshine them all, disguised as one of them.

I hefted my bag and headed for the dorms, my boots crunching on gravel. The pendant's magic itched, a constant reminder of my lie. I'd spent nineteen years as Lina, daughter of the Ironfang Alpha, always in my father's shadow. He was a legend-strong, fair, unbeatable. But he was sick now, his strength fading. The pack needed a leader, and my older brother had walked away years ago. That left me. The elders laughed when I stepped up. "A female Alpha?" they'd sneered. "Impossible." I'd prove them wrong, even if it meant risking everything.

The dorm hall smelled of polish and testosterone, all dark wood and echoing shouts. I found my room-204, a cramped space with two beds, a desk, and a window overlooking the forest. My roommate wasn't here yet, thank the moon. I dropped my bag and checked the mirror. The pendant was holding: my reflection showed a lean, sharp-faced boy with cropped hair, tattoos and no trace of curves. But my eyes-hazel, too bright-gave me away. Too soft, too me. I tugged my cap lower.

A knock startled me. "Yo, you in there?" The door swung open, and a lanky guy with messy blond hair and glasses poked his head in. His blazer was too big, and his grin was all mischief. "You the new guy? I'm Jasper, your roommate. Hope you don't snore."

I relaxed a fraction. He didn't seem like a threat. "Linc," I said, using my fake name. Short for Lincoln, close enough to Lina to feel familiar. "And I don't. You?"

"Only when I dream of bacon," he said, flopping onto his bed. "Where you from? You don't smell like any pack I know."

My stomach twisted. The pendant masked my scent, but it couldn't fake a pack's signature. "Ironfang," I said, keeping it vague. "Small pack, out west."

Jasper raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Cool. Word of advice? Stay clear of Bryce and his goons. And Kade-he's top dog around here, but he's trouble. His dad's some big-shot Alpha, so he thinks he owns the place."

"Noted," I said, unpacking my bag to hide my nerves. Kade's face flashed in my mind-those eyes, that tug. I shoved the thought down. I was here to win, not to swoon.

Jasper kept talking, a steady stream of chatter about classes and the combat arena. I liked him already-his energy was infectious, like a puppy who'd read too many books. But I couldn't get too closestationary bikes. Maybe he'd be useful. "You're gonna need to be quick," he said, tossing me a protein bar. "First combat class is tomorrow. Hope you're ready to get your ass kicked."

I caught the bar, grinning. "I can handle it."

"Doubt it," he said, but his eyes twinkled. "This place is brutal. Last year, a guy got his arm snapped in the first week."

My wolf perked up, eager. She loved a challenge, even if I wasn't so sure. "Bring it on," I said, more bravado than confidence.

Jasper laughed. "I like you, Linc. You've got guts."

We talked a bit more-safe stuff, like the food (decent) and the teachers (terrifying). But my mind kept drifting to Kade. That tug, that word-mate. It couldn't be real. Fated mates were rare, and I wasn't here for romance. I was here to claim my birthright.

A bell rang, sharp and commanding. Jasper jumped up. "Assembly time. Headmaster's gonna give the welcome speech. Don't be late, or you'll regret it."

I followed him out, blending into the stream of students. The assembly hall was massive, all stone and stained glass, like a cathedral built for wolves. We filed in, and I kept my head down, avoiding eyes. The air buzzed with energy, every guy here a born leader-or so they thought.

The headmaster took the stage, a grizzled man with scars crisscrossing his face. His presence silenced the room, his Alpha aura heavy, pressing against my chest. My wolf whined, submissive. I gritted my teeth, forcing her to stay quiet.

"Welcome to Silverclaw High," he boomed, his voice like gravel. "You're here to become Alphas-or break trying. Only the strongest survive."

His eyes swept the crowd, and I swore they lingered on me. My pendant burned, the magic straining. Did he know? Could he sense it?

"You'll face trials that test your body, mind, and spirit," he continued. "Starting now."

The doors slammed open, and a gust of wind carried the scent of blood. My wolf snarled, alert. The headmaster's lips curled into a grim smile.

"All new students report to the arena for the Alpha Trials," he said. My blood ran cold. The Trials were brutal, public, and worst of all, they'd strip away any chance I had of hiding who-what-I really was.