An Alpha Twice Removed

Ellies Flash Back

Ever since the day mom and dad died. Queenie has been walking around here like a zombie she gets off work early mornings nearly 5 am just in time to come home cook breakfast and clean the house before she has to go to her night classes at green land medical school in the hills of a green land drive. the university is almost 50 miles up the road and on the far end of town. But even still she finds the time to help Ezra and me with our studies before catching up on her own and some housework she forgot to do the day before. 4 pm she heads out to class always forgetting something on like just the other day she rushed out the door muttering something about being late and left the coffee pot on, sometimes even a faucet when she's really in a rush. mom used to be here to go behind her and turn things off. but now that it is just us, I have to go behind her constantly checking off my list of things queenie forgot to do. but I don't mind so much. any way I can be of help around here is a tremendous help to keep me from dwelling on the past and what it would be like if mom and dad were still here. I miss them every day and it's getting harder and harder every day that they are gone but queenie`s forgetful distractions seem to be keeping me at bay normally. after checking off my list going around after queenie and turning off lights and checking burners in the kitchen, bathrooms, and rooms I then closed and locked the door and headed off to school. I'm a freshman in green land high school though I haven`t really made many friends since living here in the green land pack. well except for middle school when we first arrived at the green land pack 3and a half years ago. I was really nervous my first day in a new town and new pack now a  new school!. it was too much for my young brain to handle, that was until I stepped into Mrs. Latimore's classroom #803. I followed closely behind my mom Diane peters and dad Thomas peters as Mr. kneed the principal of green land wolf elementary showed me to my new classroom. when I walked past my mom and dad and into the classroom finally letting go of my mom's hand I was so desperately clinging to her for dear life. the first thing I saw upon entering the room was about 20 or 25 desks full of children all except for about three or four empty desks in the back. And who'd assume to be the teacher, Mrs. Latimore, with her back turned to the class, writing away on the chalkboard. after a few awkward stares from my new classmates and about 10 seconds of us standing there frozen like idiots, the later principal kneed cleared his throat to get Mrs. Latimore`s attention. 

*Ahem*

" MRS. LATIMORE! if I may have your attention for just a second." 

"Oh! hello, Mr. kneed !? how may I help you today?" she asked.

"Well, Mrs. Latimore we have here a new student for your class this year. this is Ellie peters and her mother Mrs. Diane peters and this gentleman here is her father Mr. Thomas peters" he said gesturing to my father.

"I expect Ellie to fit right in, in your class Mrs. Latimore I'm sure you can get her up to date with all the work she needs to catch up to her peers right Mrs. Latimore??" he asked.

"Mrs. Latimore - I have the perfect spot for you, Ellie. why don't you go take a seat in the back of the class next to Rebecca I'm sure you two will hit it off great." 

And boy was she wrong. turning to my mom I hugged both mom and dad goodbye as they walked out to leave me in my now new class to make as they call it "new friends". As I walked to the back of the class past all the awkward looks and snickers and children whispering back and forth I got to the back seat Mrs. Latimore pointed to. pulling out the chair from beneath the desk to sit and put my book bag behind my chair. unable to focus on anything but the need to go home, as Mrs. Latimore turned around to the class and began the lesson. she asked us how many of us know what it means to be strong? all of a sudden hands shot up from around the room. 

"Who can tell me what it means to be strong? (she repeated)  hmm.. let me see?.. . Rebecca! she said. can you tell me what it means to be strong?" 

 "Yes!!."

She replied a little too excited for me I mean it is 8 am for goddess sake.

"It's when you have big muscles and scare everyone else into doing what you want right?" she asked.

"No Rebecca that's not what it means to be strong. can anybody else tell me what it means to be strong? "

This time Ellie raised her hand. 

"Yes, Ellie?" "can you answer what it means to be strong?"

"Well yes, Mrs. Latimore when I watch my dad train with my older brother Ezra he always told us that to be strong means having moral or intellectual power, the power of control to control yourself and or actions. he told him in order to become one with one's wolf you'd need to first learn to control your emotions and actions before you can go into your first shift or else your wolf would be too weak."

"Ahh, Wise wolf that man" . she replied. "however, Ellie hit the nail on the head there. can anyone tell me what it means to be an alpha?"

As usual, all hands shoot up.

"Hmm ..ah yes Christie id love a fresh pup to add to the conversation." Mrs. Latimore said.

"The alpha is a boss, he can tell everyone what to do. and boss people around." Christie answered. 

"Well yes and no Christie, the concept of an alpha wolf implies that the "alpha wolf" is competing with others and becoming top dog by winning a contest or battle to the death as our laws clearly state. that alpha's job is to now protect his pack members, the wolves who submit to him by default from losing the battle for power."

"However, most wolves live without an "alpha" leading them. but it is also a fact that those wolves are easy pickings to the rogue wolves that run the woods at night raiding and slaughtering villagers and pups for their own selfish gain. children that`s why it's so impeditive that we have an alpha wolf leading the pack at all times. to keep us safe, well-fed, and educated, when you get older you will be trained to fight."

" Now class for your homework I want you all to partner up and write me an essay on both the alpha and the beta title and its responsibility. oh. and Rebecca you`ll be partnering up with Christie and Ellie," she said. 

"Great!" Rebecca said not so thrilled.

"Hi! I'm Christie!" says oversized hoodie girl to Ellie 

"Ellie," Ellie says shyly*

**The lunch bell rings** 

As the bell rings alerting Mrs. Latimore`s class it was time to go to lunch, she then instructed everyone to pack up and head to the cafeteria. on the way out of the door from Mrs. Latimore`s classroom to the long pristine halls of green land wolf elementary Ellie was stopped by a voice calling out behind her "Hey wait up" the voice said .ellie turned around to see a smiling Christie clutching her notebook to her chest and rushing towards her with her pink-striped book bag still open, spilling pencils and erasers on to the floor as she rushed out of the room. Ellie slowed her fast walking pace so she`d catch up and maybe stop causing a scene hollering her name through the now near-empty hallway except for a few soft more jocks. 

"Wait up will ya" Christie huffed as she neared. 

"Yes?" Ellie responds a little irritated, she was really starting to get on Ellie`s nerves.

"So I was thinking, since you Rebecca and I have to do these essays together maybe you guys could meet me after school over at the java café by the mall. maybe we can get to know each other and get this project done on time?" 

"Uh well, I guess so. id have to ask my mom. what time should I be there?" 

"4:30 PM!" Came a voice from behind Ellie.

Upon turning around Ellie noticed Rebecca standing there stuffing books into her locker a little aggressively. she turned to the pair and said.

"I'll see yall there at 4:30 pm don't keep me waiting either," she said as she slammed her locker retreating towards the Greenland wolf cafeteria. 

Now standing alone in the empty halls Christie and Ellie walked together in almost complete awkward silence. Until Christie decided to speak up before opening the cafeteria doors.

"Don't worry about her, she's always like that...I'm sure she just needs more time to warm up to you," she says.

 Walking off to join her group of friends waiting for her in the center of the lunchroom. Leaving Ellie alone standing there at the door still debating on where to sit when her older brother Ezra looked up from the far right corner of the loud and crowded cafeteria to see his nervous little sister drowning in embarrassment. after a  few minutes of trying to ignore her pathetic "pity me" look on her face. he finally decided enough was enough and made his way over to her stuck like a deer in headlights. 

"Ellie ?"

....*No reply *

"ELZ!?!" he pleaded. 

"Huh?"

"Come on you can sit with us but just for today. okay?" he offered. 

But little did he know it wouldn't just be for today or the next. but for the rest of the school year. his younger sister was not as good at making friends as he was. nor was she as likable as the pack thought he was. Not that they ever gave her much of a chance anyway. no one outside of the Peter`s household ever took the time to get to know her. except ...maybe Christie . She seemed like she was nice. and Ellie didn't have many people around her that was nice enough to invite her to a moon day party or even a gathering, even if it is for a grade in Mrs. Latimore`s class it was appreciated. Ellie thought to herself.

After 2 hours of math in Mr. henrys algebra class, it was finally time for Ellie to head home. As the final bell rang signaling the end of school for the day, Ellie packed up her algebra notes and headed towards the door to her freedom. wondering if she`ll be too early as she went by the java café's right away and started working on her group essay. when she arrived at the small cafe by the mall, upon entering Ellie noticed a waitress in a pink dress clearing off a table containing 3 coffee mugs and a pastry. She looked up and waved at Ellie. 

"Hi table for one?" she asked her. 

"Uhh yes, but my friends will be joining shortly," she replied looking at the clock on the wall now reading 4:30.

 After completing 3pages on alphas and beta`s and 3 hot chocolate mugs later. Ellie decided its clear that both girls are not going to show. Saddened by the girl's unexpected no-show to a study date they invited her to, Ellie packed up and headed home leaving $10 to pay her bill and a $3 tip . She exited the java café disappointed and feeling foolish.

"How could I be so stupid?" she thought to herself. "why would any of them want to be friends with me? I'm no, Ezra. I don't have the looks and dark locks and muscles as he has or the beautiful long tresses queen has I'm not as gorgeous as her. I'm just Ellie!!" "SHORT AND SKINNY ELLIE" as they called me all through elementary. "I'm nothing I'm no one!" she said as tears swelled her eyes threatening to fall as she ran all the way home. That night she decided she didn't need friends she decided she didn't need anyone. But herself. somethings she still believes to this day.