Max's POV
"Alpha Max Greyson." The instructor's voice cut through the pre-dawn air as I stepped into the clearing, a massive tiger draped across my shoulders like a bloodied crown of victory.
The dead weight pressed into my muscles, warm and heavy with the scent of the hunt still clinging to its fur. Every step felt deliberate, calculated, as the instructors watched from their positions along the perimeter. Torchlight flickered across their impassive faces, casting dancing shadows that made them look more like judges than observers.
I didn't acknowledge their silent nod of approval.
Instead, I hurled the tiger to the ground with a satisfying thud. Its lifeless body hit the earth, amber eyes staring sightlessly at the stars that were already beginning to fade as dawn crept closer.
Done.
