Becoming a Scholar.
Sage didn’t just conduct a search—she executed a full-cavity inspection. It felt as though her eyes missed nothing, her hands hovered near every scar, and her questions pierced deeper than I had thought possible. Every inch of me was under scrutiny, her gaze hunting for any signs, marks, or brands that might have linked me to the Rebellion.
But as her search came to an end, I sensed her disappointment. She found nothing—no proof to justify her distrust of me, no reason to label me a threat outright. The disdain lingered in her voice when she finally dismissed me to the guest house, a modest but well-maintained structure just down the road from the Alpha’s castle.
I wasn’t allowed to leave the premises, though they made sure to bring me dinner. As I sat down with the
