Alma

Chapter Six: Dante

Dante

Alma has basically become the only thing I hear about this week. My wolf is already on edge given the excitement in the pack bonds, and the palpable dominance spilling from each of the members of the school pack. Yesterday, I had felt the distress of a first year packmate and went to check on them, only to find a female Fae in a fight with an Oni. The Oni was holding her by her throat, but instead of panicking, the Fae had immediately gone on the defensive, shredding the Oni’s arm apart. I watched closer as I made my way to the duo, and had seen that the Fae was not using magic, but instead drawing on an animal, indicating she was shifter. So, being the sensible alpha I was, I simply dragged the female, which are rare enough as it is, away from the fight.

I was not prepared for my wolf’s reaction to her. He immediately pushed for control, showcasing his dominance for anyone in the area to feel-- he wanted no one near the female. I was sure it was because she was a danger to the people around her. But, he also respected her, and wanted to watch over her; so I kept an eye on her for the rest of the evening, and found that although Alma is a little abrasive, she seems to be an okay person. She was definitely dominant, and was not going to hide it for anyone. She would be a fierce Luna.

During training this morning, I was ready to command most of the males to shut up. Everyone had heard about the fight between the Oni and a female shifter, lovingly dubbed “the dirty half-breed”. Alma didn’t seem to notice, more concerned with the terrified coyote shifter who had been stuck as her partner; no other females were willing to spar with her, and the males were afraid of tarnishing their reputations. Personally, I am pretty sure Alma would have carved me up bit by bit, which would have caused rebellion among the pack. I know she could give me a run for my money in a fight, especially after finding out from a few of the guys just how many fights she has won. I sent a text to the head librarian, asking for the fight records for Alma-- every student had a fight record and they were available to the public. Twenty seven fights in the past three months alone, all against males much larger than her. However, there was not one instance where she had attacked a female. In fact, in most of the cases, she did not attack first. My wolf is curious, but also angry. He thinks that she is retaliating, but also thinks she may be unstable, which could be dangerous. Her fight records make me think the males did something to cause her to nearly kill a few, and hospitalize nearly a dozen.

Throughout the rest of the day, all I hear about is the Oni fight, and how many males want to challenge her, just to show they can best her, that she is nothing more than an unmated female. More than once I commanded one of my wolves to not so much as think about fighting her, or they would face me. My wolf was not playing around either, fighting me for control each time he heard a male talk about challenging her just to “put her in her place”. It really is beginning to wear down on my wolf, which in turn is wearing down on me. We both want to watch over Alma, and make sure she doesn’t have to shed more blood. But, being the alpha, my wolf and I can’t just call her to our side all the time-- that would cause unrest not just to Alma, but to all of the wolf shifters at the school.

Alma still appears impervious to what is going on around her. Her face and body language when I see her around say she is happy, or at the very least content. But up close I can see her eyes are worried, flashing between her and her wolf. Something is wrong, I know it, but I don’t want to push her too much by just walking up and asking. I don’t want her to act out, or make her think I’m weird.

Because of all the gossip going around about the fight between Alma and the Oni, I found myself searching for her today. Between classes, I look for her face in the crowd, the lighter skin that holds a shimmer to it linked with Fae descendancy, the sparks that can be seen in her brown hair, and her silver eyes that dare anyone to challenge her. During history class I pay more attention to her, or staring off thinking about what could have spurred twenty-seven fights, than the lesson itself. I watch to see her reactions to the whispers around her, but find her to look completely engrossed by the lecture, although she occasionally breaks character; I can tell by the way she bounces between content with life and worried, weighed down, and annoyed. Like most Fae, she has no blemishes, no birthmarks or freckles, though she does have a jagged scar along the right side of her face, from her temple to her jaw that I am desperate to know the story of; but, I won’t ask.

History is only my second class of the day, and after it ended, I found my mind occupied with worry for her. Normally, my pack comes first, but today my wolf and I are in agreement that this female, who last week, even before yesterday, we hadn’t given a second thought to or know is now our first concern. Her short temper is sure to cause trouble, as it seems to have in the past. But, I also wanted to figure her out; she is a puzzle.

The day drags on, until finally, during fourth period I am able to leave the classrooms. Fourth period is lunch, and social hour. I stand in the corner of the lunchroom, scouring the crowds for Alma, when Aubrey, the school’s temporary Luna wolf approaches me. Aubrey is from a large, but not powerful, pack. During our first year, she appointed herself as Luna, and the females of the pack went along with it, not really caring. However, no one really listens to Aurbrey, especially the more dominant females, meaning she comes to me to complain.

Aubrey is a dominant wolf, but only barely. She has never had to fight or defend her title, so many members of the pack don’t respect her as Luna. In fact, it seems like many people don’t like her, including her sister, Katira, who is currently a second year student-- their parents were not lucky enough to have a son, and as such their pack will go to one of the daughters. According to Aubrey, it is the daughter that finds her mate first. According to Katira, it is the daughter that is more dominant, which personally makes more sense.

“Dante, the females won’t shut up about that worthless halfblood and I don’t know what to do about it. What do you recommend?” Her voice is whiny for a 21-year-old.

“Give me their names and I’ll speak with them,” I tell her, sounding agitated as my wolf pushes forward at the mention, again, of Alma in such a derogatory way. His ears perk up and I feel his tail thump once in my mind before a now-familiar voice starts talking.

“I mean, gosh, I could speak with them, Alpha-grump. But they wouldn’t like that too much, would they, oh Great Luna?” I hear the center of attention say from behind Aubrey.

Aubrey growls at Alma, who doesn’t respond. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you it’s rude to eavesdrop? Oh wait, they couldn’t because they were killed for being stupid enough to even have you.”

I don’t know what I expected to happen as Alma moves to pin the female, but I am surprised anyhow. “I wouldn’t say another word, Aubrey.” I chide gently, not bothering to try to reason with Alma; my wolf trusted her not to do anything stupid, and I wasn’t going to stop Alma if there wasn’t a need for it.

With Aubrey pinned against the wall, Alma tightens her grip on the female’s throat while she speaks low. “I agree with him, Aubrey. If you apologize and submit, I’ll let you live and continue your false life as alpha bitch.”

Aubrey looks angry, but does as she is told. Alma nods and backs away from the now-forgotten female before turning to me. “I have history notes for you because the others in class are too scared to call you out for not paying attention. Here you go. I’m leaving now. You should probably get something to eat. Your wolf looks pissed off.”

My wolf is currently content with how Alma handled Aubrey, but he also wants to see what she does after classes, which isn’t all that odd considering Alma is one of the few pack members my wolf, nor I, truly don’t know.She hands me a notebook and spins quickly on her heel, leaving. I follow her out, wanting to know why tears are shining in her eyes. By the doors leading to the quad, the typical group of Oni are standing around, and they look happy to see Alma by herself, following her out of the room before me.

I watch warily as the group walk on the stone and flower-lined brick path to the center of the quad. The greenery and flowers, which were always in bloom thanks to some nature Wielders, seem to try and brighten the mood, but my wolf tells me something bad is probably going to end up happening. Alma turns around to face the group, her face an empty mask. There are four of them in total, hardly fair odds. “If you are here to avenge your buddy, you might as well get this over with. If you’re here to boss me around, I will probably kill you in the state I am in now, so I strongly suggest you don’t bother.”

Alma seems to have either no control or complete control of herself as she extends her fangs and claws, arming herself. She pins her pointed ears back so they are flush against the side of her head, where they are less likely to be torn off by an Oni. She doesn't drop into battle stance, stead standing patiently in the middle of the quad, where everyone would be able to see what was happening. My wolf grows restless, wanting to help her in the fight, but I hold the both of us back. The shimmer of Alma’s hair and skin turn brighter, looking like sparks instead of glitter, to the point where I think she will burst in flame for a moment.

The Oni have no qualms with Alma’s statement, actually laughing at her before they shed their human forms nearly simultaneously, preparing to attack. Alma doesn’t wait for them to take one step. “All of your red asses are going to the infirmary,” she grates out as she launches forward, sweeping her claws in an arc, giving each Oni a large gash across their throats. They fall to the ground, hard. Alma had waited barely long enough for the clan of Oni to finish phasing before they had hit the ground. My wolf is sure to let me know that there is definitely something wrong with Alma, as his fur brushes the inside of my mind. I thank him for the obvious information.

“Alma!” I demand her attention, and I find her expressionless face looking back at mine.

“I didn’t kill them. You can’t kill an Oni unless you remove their hearts or decapitate and burn their heads. I already notified the infirmary, and they have people on their way.” Her voice is as flat as the smoothed cement sidewalk.

“Why?”

“So I didn’t get killed, now I have a class to get to.”

“You have blood on your shirt, Alma.” I tug the bottom of her white blouse lightly, which is stained with specks of red.

“Oh no, whatever will I do!” She exclaims, sarcastic. “They add character to the shirt. See ya.”

She again turns her back to me and walks off, and I growl my frustration out. “What?” She snarls as she stops, not looking back.

“Is this how you are every day, with everyone? No wonder you get in so many fights.”

Alma straightens up and turns around, her eyes glowing again. She doesn't have a very tight leash on her wolf. I probably said the wrong thing, but she needs to understand that she can’t be like this all the time or it is going to get herself hurt, if not worse.

“Actually, I can be downright pleasant, thank you. Just damn peachy. However, dominant females? Apparently, all straight males want one, and think the way to get one is to demand it. Sorry if I get a bit touchy and a bunch bitchy when I am told to go with a guy back to his room. No, thank you. That is why I get in so many fights; because I am no one’s play thing.”

She is fuming, her cheeks flushed and nostrils flared as her pointed ears pin against her head. Honestly, she looked harmless, and even kind of adorable. If I didn’t think she would attack me, I would tell her this. But I don’t, knowing that I have definitely already said one wrong thing; I'm not looking to make her angrier. “How long has this been going on, and why didn’t you come to me?” I demand.

“Take a wild guess, Dante.”

The bell rings and the people pour out onto the quad, screaming as they see the bunch of Oni on the ground. As the crowd thins out, Alma disappears.