A MIX OF TWO WORLDS

The next morning, the sounds of the school grounds buzzed with activity as students hurried about, preparing for the day ahead. Alex walked beside William, still processing the events of the previous day.

Every time he thought he had a grip on this strange new world, something else about it seemed to slip through his fingers, leaving him confused. Today felt different, though. There was something in the air, a subtle tension that he couldn't quite pinpoint. He couldn't ignore it.

He and William had been chatting in the tower after breakfast when the sharp knock at the door came. William exchanged a glance with Alex before standing up to answer it.

Nathan White, the Gamma of the pack, stepped in with his usual calm demeanor. His presence was imposing, but his voice carried no urgency.

"It's time," Nathan said simply, his gaze moving between the two. "Tanaka wants to speak to all of you. Gather outside."

Alex blinked. "Now?"

"Yep, now," Nathan replied, his tone making it clear that it wasn't a suggestion.

William was already on his feet, heading toward the door. "Come on, let's go. You don't want to keep them waiting."

Alex followed suit, though a pit of unease began to settle in his stomach. The last few days had been overwhelming, and now he was about to face some kind of trial, something that seemed far bigger than he was ready for. He didn't even know exactly what the trials entailed, but there was something about the word itself that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

They made their way through the tower and out into the school grounds, where a large crowd of students had already gathered. A few were chatting in low voices, but as soon as Tanaka Hatake, the Alpha, appeared, the murmurs died down.

Tanaka's presence commanded attention. He stood tall, his silver hair catching the morning sunlight. His gaze swept over the crowd, and the students fell silent in an instant.

Standing next to him was a woman with striking features, her silver hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She was speaking animatedly with Tanaka, her laughter ringing through the air.

There was something about her, something regal in the way she carried herself. Alex couldn't place it, but he felt an unexplainable pull toward her, a sense of familiarity he couldn't quite define.

"Who's that?" Alex asked William quietly, his eyes still on the woman.

Before William could answer, a girl standing nearby spoke up. "That's Rina," she said, her tone respectful. "She's just returned from family business."

Tanaka gestured to the assembled students, and everyone's attention shifted toward him. The students who had been standing in groups now formed a more orderly arrangement, all eyes on the Alpha.

"We've gathered today to begin the selection process for the trials," Tanaka began, his voice commanding. "We don't know exactly what challenges they'll bring, so our selection will be diverse. It's not just about strength; intelligence and cunning will be just as important. I want the best of all of you to represent our faction."

Alex felt the weight of the moment. The trials whatever they were, would be a defining moment for everyone. The pressure was already building.

One by one, Tanaka, Ethan Fang, the Beta, and Nathan White, the Gamma, stepped forward to announce the first few names,those who were the obvious choices: strong, capable, and fearless.

Alex stood at the edge of the gathering, still unsure of what his role was, whether he would be picked or not.

As each name was called, his anxiety began to grow. He was an outsider here, just beginning to understand the strange world he'd been thrust into. He didn't belong with the veterans of the pack, those who had been raised in this culture.

When the last name was announced, Tanaka's gaze swept over the crowd once more. His eyes landed on Alex, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow down. It wasn't that Alex was special,he didn't believe he was but there was something about the Alpha's stare that made him feel like he was the only one standing there.

Like the weight of all eyes in that courtyard rested solely on him.

"I don't want to get involved," Alex muttered to William, his eyes still on Tanaka. "After seeing that fight yesterday, I'm not sure I'm ready for whatever comes next."

William's expression didn't change. He merely looked at Alex with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "You don't get to choose, Alex," he said softly. "You refuse to participate, and it'll be seen as a challenge to Tanaka's authority. You really want to do that?"

Alex hesitated. He hadn't thought of it that way. Refusing a direct order from the Alpha wasn't something he could take lightly, especially not in front of everyone. Reluctantly, he straightened up, trying to shake off the sense of unease that still clung to him. He wasn't ready for the trials, he wasn't ready for any of this but the decision had already been made for him.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Tanaka's voice rang out again, loud and clear.

Alex froze, caught off guard. He hadn't expected to be picked, let alone so decisively. He opened his mouth to protest, but hesitated as he glanced at William. William gave him a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head, signaling that Alex had no choice.

"You're coming with us," Tanaka said, his words final.

Alex could feel his heart racing as he moved forward, his feet heavy with reluctance. He hadn't even had a chance to properly process what was happening before he was thrust into it. The crowd parted to make way for him, and as he moved toward Tanaka, the weight of the Alpha's gaze was like a physical presence, pressing down on him.

When Alex reached the center, Tanaka locked eyes with him, and there was a brief, intense moment of silent recognition. A glimmer of something, maybe approval or curiosity flashed in Tanaka's eyes.

The Alpha smiled, but it wasn't the smile of a man who had just made a decision. It was the smile of someone who had expected this outcome all along.

"What's your full name again?" Tanaka asked, as if it was a question he already knew the answer to.

"Alex Wolfgang," Alex replied, his voice steady, though uncertainty lingered in his chest.

Tanaka's smile widened, and then he turned to Rina, the female Alpha, who had been watching the exchange. "Would you look at that," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "He's a Wolfgang too."

Rina, who had been standing nearby, turned her attention toward Alex, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed the name.

A moment of silence passed before she stepped forward, her smile both warm and tinged with something else, a hint of recognition, perhaps, or a deeper knowledge.

"Well, well," she said, her voice carrying a softness that didn't quite match the intensity of the moment. "Hello, cousin."

Alex blinked, confusion flashing in his eyes. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. Rina was also a Wolfgang. His family,his heritage was more complicated than he'd ever realized.

He'd heard rumors, whispers about his family's past, but this was different. This was real. This was undeniable.

"Cousin?" Alex repeated, his voice barely a whisper.

Rina nodded, the corners of her lips curving into a knowing smile. "Yes, cousin. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

The crowd around them buzzed with quiet whispers, and Alex felt the weight of their stares. He hadn't known about Rina's existence, had never heard anything about her before now.

Why had his mother kept this from him? Why had no one mentioned the female Alpha, a part of his family, let alone someone so clearly important?

The tension in the air was thick, and for the first time, Alex felt completely out of place. His world, which had once been confined to the human realm, was now entangled in something far greater and more complex than he could have imagined.

Tanaka, noticing the growing silence, clapped his hands together, drawing attention back to him. "Now that we've got that settled, let's proceed with the selection. Rina will be part of the team guiding you through the trials. Get ready, because things are about to get interesting."