Chapter 8. Choose Your Alpha

ARDEN

“How do they even know about such data?” I asked, furrowing my brows, my heart racing as a sense of vulnerability washed over me. How can they know who’s a virgin or not?

“They collected the data during the entrance exam, remember?” Tessa replied, and I froze. The memory surged back—one of the questions had been about it.

“But others could lie,” I countered, attempting to brush aside the gnawing fear.

“But they won’t,” Tessa insisted. “Virgins have a mark on their scent glands that sets them apart. The school can easily verify the truth.”

“Isn’t it… strange, though?” I asked, tugging my hair closer to my scent gland. The notion of hiding the mark for the entirety of the semester hung heavy in the air.

“It is strange,” Tessa sighed. “But it’s been this way since Mr. Winters took over as headmaster. He said it was an ode to the Moon Goddess, who symbolizes purity. A leader who can claim someone’s purity is deemed worthy.”

I exhaled a sha