Chapter Two
1411 Words
"There she comes" My father's eyes beamed from the dining table as I emerged from the bedroom, bedecked in the striped blue Belcaris Academy school uniform and the loathsome gold badge "Our Alpha in Chief".
"Our still wolfless Alpha in Chief" My sister corrects with an eye roll.
"Stop it, Solene" My mother said, glancing at me with something that's almost akin to pity. God . I hate how much of an embarrassment I had become. "Sia is your elder sister."
"Older by fifteen minutes only" Solene reminds them testily, her perfect wolf grey eyes glaring at me while her hands hover undecided at her fork.
I ignore her. "Good morning, dad" I sit directly opposite my mother. It is also unfortunately the one seat directly besides the portrait of Marcus Thorne, my elder brother who had died in a clan war three years ago and left the ridiculous title of Alpha in Chief to me.
I had failed him also.
"We have requested an audience with Vera Wavelength this evening after school" My mother says kindly, touching my hand while I grab my spoon.
"Who's Vera Wavelength?" I asked between mouthfuls of omelette.
"The famous Lycanologist we are hoping will somehow cure your incurable condition" Solene snorts.
The omelette suddenly tastes like cement in my mouth.
I swallowed with some difficulty.
"Mom..." I managed quietly. "I'm not sick."
"Nobody said you were." Her smile was gentle, very painfully so. "Vera Wavelength has spent thirty years studying wolf latency. If anyone knows why your wolf is taking so long, it's her."
Solene laughed into her orange juice "Assuming she even has one."
My spoon clattered against the plate.
The dining room fell silent.
Father lowered the newspaper he had been reading and fixed Solene with a level stare. "Apologize."
Solene snapped "For stating the obvious?"
"For insulting your sister."
She leaned back in her chair with exaggerated innocence.
"Fine." She looked at me without the smallest trace of remorse. "I'm terribly sorry your invisible wolf hasn't arrived yet."
I rolled my eyes. "That wasn't an apology."
Solene said emphatically "It's the best I can give under pressure"
Mother sighed into her tea.
Father said hurriedly "Now, that is enough, girls. We have more pressing issues at hand. Sia, you are beginning your military training this weekend. To prepare you for your eventual title."
I swallow.
The title of Alpha in Chief was nothing easy. It had belonged to the Thorne family since the founding of Belcaris four hundred years ago. And if I could not harness my wolf, what good would that do?
Being wolfless in Belcaris at nineteen was an embarrassment. Being wolfless as an Alpha's daughter and heir was the highest height of it.
"Yes, father" I nod, even if my appetite had suddenly frizzled away.
"What about me?" Solene stared expectantly at our father.
"You will focus on school and dresses and proms and whatever you do best" Father said with a dismissive shrug "You are in your final year. Try to enjoy it"
"Sia is also.."
"Sia is the successive Alpha in Chief " Father bangs a hand loudly on the table and glares furiously at Solene.
I cover my face with my hands. God. Not again.
"So, the wolfless one gets to begin training with the Belcaris Command and I don't??" Solene's eyes pinch holes into me "It's been four years since I shifted and you are picking Sia because of some stupid title?"
Yes. Solene wolfed out on our fifteenth birthday. She doesn't fail to remind us all.
Father's jaw tightened.
"Not because of some stupid title," he said, his voice low enough to make the room still. "Because the title existed long before either of you were born."
Solene folded her arms. "Convenient."
"It is tradition," Father replied patiently as if willing himself not to get angry "The firstborn of the Thorne bloodline inherits the office of Alpha in Chief. The Moon Goddess has never erred in that choice, and neither will I."
Solene's laugh was sharp. "The Moon Goddess also forgot to give your precious heir a wolf."
Mother's teacup landed on its saucer with a delicate clink. "Solene..."
"No, Mother." She pushed her chair back slightly, her carefully pressed uniform shiny in the morning light "Tell me I'm wrong."
No one answered. I stared at the tickling clock. God, I would really be late for school after all. My eyes rested on Marcus, the portrait showing the midnight black hair and the Thorne jawline.
A lump rose in my throat. If he hadn't died, I wouldn't be having this daily breakfast wars and hooky dooky over a four hundred year old title.
I hated him for dying and putting this heavy weight on my shoulders.
And I hated myself for failing him.
A sharp knock echoed against the dining room doors.
Three quick raps.
Before anyone could answer, the doors swung inward and a man in the black-and-silver uniform of the Belcaris Command stepped inside. The jade wolf insignia stitched across his chest gleamed beneath the chandelier.
He bowed deeply. "Alpha Thorne."
Father's attention shifted immediately.
"What is it, Captain Harris?"
"The Mayor's office has just sent confirmation, sir."
He extended a sealed envelope bearing the crest of the Blue Canine Pack. Father broke the wax with practiced ease and scanned the contents in silence.
Mother tilted her head. "Has he arrived?"
Captain Harris nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Mayor Eleazar Ash's son crossed the eastern gate twenty minutes ago. His convoy is expected at Ash Manor shortly."
Father folded the letter. "So Tyleen has returned."
There was the faintest hint of approval in his voice.
Captain Harris continued, "The Mayor requests your presence at the welcoming ceremony. The Command has already assembled the honor guard."
Father glanced at the tickling grandfather clock. "I'll leave as soon as breakfast is over."
"The council leaders will also be attending, sir."
"Good."
Solene snorted "So the famous prince is finally back."
Mother shot her a warning look. "He isn't a prince."
"No," Solene replied with a shrug. "He's only the mayor's son. Belcaris just treats him like royalty."
I busied myself with cutting my omelette into unnecessarily tiny pieces.
Unfortunately, my ears had stopped listening to the cutlery and were listening only to the conversation.
Captain Harris smiled politely. "I heard the academy has been in an uproar since the announcement. The senior girls have practically declared today a festival."
Heat climbed into my cheeks.
Georgie hadn't been exaggerating after all.
Father stood, pushing back his chair.
"Tyleen has spent three years training under the Four Elders. His return is important, not because he is Eleazar's son, but because Belcaris needs capable young leaders."
His eyes settled briefly on me.
"You would do well to remember that, Sia."
"Yes, Father."
I lowered my gaze, praying no one noticed the ridiculous smile threatening to betray me.
Another knock sounds on the door and it slowly gives way to reveal Vale Krugger, looking particularly boisterous in his uniform and that idiotic but really brilliant smile.
"Well, my man is here. " Solene sneered triumphantly "I'm off to school, mom" She grabs her bag and perks our mom on the cheeks. The omelette suddenly sits like bile in my stomach.
My father smiles at Vale. Everyone seems to approve of Solene's relationship with Vale, forgetting that I was dating him for almost six months before Solene invited him home last year and f****d him on my bed.
God.
This was going to be the hardest year of my life.
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