"28"

Passing through the Southern Kingdom’s gates, the exhilaration builds up inside me. All the weight of anxiety comes to its peak while the coachman passes through the final checkpoint guarded by armed soldiers.

Not betas, hybrids or anything like the Northern Kingdom. The first to the last gates are guarded by soldiers and witches. Warlocks, powerful ones. With their magic, a cloud enters our carriage and with the cloud passing upon us, grazing our skin — the guards could tell what we are. The cloud continued to glide on our belongings, checking whether or not we were bringing something illegal.

“Villagers from the South! Two merchants and traders inside! A man, a woman and their coachman. A hybrid gamma!” Upon entering, the deafening scream of the warlock announced to the men behind him. "Let them pass! Open the gates!" He looked at the coachman, their muffled conversation unheard by Ahbaya and I.

“How exciting, right?” She smiled at me, her voice reeking of excitement, and hints