Orphaned wolf

The arrival of the packs

We spend the next four days studying. Esther and Jamal spend part of their time playing football on the lawn with the other wolves, while Dia and I were stuck in the dormitory going over everything. We practiced our Latin, went through every royal bloodline from every species, from witches to humans. We barely went outside, and our skin became pale from the lack of sunlight. But when we walked away from our history and Latin test, we couldn’t help but smile.

“I forgot which of the human kings that forged the treaty between the humans and vampires. It is impossible to remember when they only live for 80 years. There are a thousand kings!” Ester wailed as we walked down to the dining hall to eat lunch with the rest of the students.

“I think it was Sven the third. But I agree, there are too many kings and queens. And they all have the same name,” Dia said and made a scrunched up grimace. I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. Dia was right, and the confidence suited her.

“Lets just eat. We still have the physical test tomorrow. We better get some food.” We trotted solemnly towards the stand. We each grabbed a plate and filled it with mashed potatoes, carrots, and the dry hamburger.

“I heard that the first pack members have arrived,” Jamal said when he joined our table. I listened with interest. What pack had arrived? Jamal didn’t finish his statement before the dean stepped into the middle of the room. Her grey hair was put up in a tight bun, making her look even more angry than she was.

“Many of you have probably already heard the news. But the first pack has arrived. I will just take this time to remind you of the very strict rules.” The dean looked around at us, “first, it is forbidden to fraternise with any of the pack members before the Selection. Secondly, it is strictly forbidden to fight each other while the packs are here.” The dean pulled out a slip of paper.

“Now, for the list of packs that will attend this year's Selection. The Blood pack, the Silver Moon pack, the Shadow pack, the Ash pride and the Silver pack…” the dean kept talking, but a buzzing sound surrounded me. It drowned out her voice. She kept on talking, and whatever she said made people scream, others began to cry, but I didn’t react. Pictures of a giant black wolf looking at me with red eyes flashed before my eyes. I saw how the wolf liked its fangs, how its pawprints were dragging blood through the forest, my parents’ blood.

“Kaya!” Dia shook my shoulders. Her eyes were wide, and fear had gripped her. Even Jamal and Esther looked worried.

“That was your old pack, wasn’t it? The Silver pack?” Esther’s voice was soft, but she might as well have screamed into my face.

“Yes.” Hate laced my every word. “They never come here. They don’t need new members, so why are they here now?” Dia looked frightened.

“Maybe they want you back?” I snarled at Jamal. I hated each and everyone in that pack, and I would never accept an offer from them. I would rather die.

“Sorry. I just thought…” he trailed off, and that when I noticed the atmosphere in the hall had gotten gloomy and dark.

“What happened?” Esther swallowed the lump in her throat.

“The dean just said that collectively the packs will only need 54 new members.” I gawked at her.

“But that’s not even… that’s… we are 150 students in the Selection this year!” No one answered me, for there was nothing to say. Nothing in the whole world could make this alright. In five days, a hundred wolves would be executed for something their parents did. Rage and hatred seared through me. My parents had abandoned one of the strongest packs and left me to become an omega. That had been their choice, and now I had to pay for it.

“I’m not hungry,” I said. Jamal, Esther, and Dia all looked at me, but I didn’t want their pity, and I didn’t know what to do about the Selection. I didn’t know how to save them all. With the bar being so high now, the chances of all of us making it through was dwindling.

“I’m going for a run,” I proclaimed. Dia looked like she was going to throw up any second, and I knew that I was being a coward for turning my back on her now, but I couldn’t just sit there.

“Kaya, wait!” Esther ran after me, but I ducked away and turned down a narrow hallway, leaving Esther to deal with the mess that I couldn’t. Coward, coward, coward.

The words echoed through my head as I ran through the forest. My paws slammed into the ground, and I didn’t care how many people heard my pant as I pushed my body to its max.

Running away when they need you the most? What a pathetic coward!

I snarled at my own mind, daring myself to run faster, drowning out every thought.

My old pack will be here tonight or tomorrow. I would have to look my parents’ killer in the eyes. My stomach contracted. I was angry at my parents for condemning me to this life. They had known what would happen to me, and still they ran away. I didn’t know what lives they had lived, but could it really be worse than this? Worse than having to fight to stay alive?

And now only a third of the students participating in the Selection was needed! It would be a blood bath, and the blood was on the hands of every wolf that came before us.

I ran without knowing where I was going and how fare I had come from the orphanage. It wasn’t before I noticed a second breath that I realised I wasn’t alone.

I stopped dead in my tracks. Anger pulsating from me. Whoever, had followed me, would be able to sense my f**k-off-vibes from a mile away.

Straying a little far from your home, haven’t you, pup? I turned around to face the wolf that had been stupid enough to come close. But I didn’t recognise the wolf. It was big, bigger than any wolf I had seen before. Its fur was grey with spots of black. The wolf's eyes were almost completely black.

I’m still on the orphanage’s grounds, only just! I was only about a minute or so from the border. If I crossed it, I would be killed immediately. And this stranger knew that.

I snarled at him, challenging him, edging him to get away from me. But he didn’t move. He stood his ground and only looked at me with a calm hesitation.

You should get home, little pup. These woods aren’t safe tonight. The stranger looked at something I couldn’t hear.

Don’t call me that! I was fuming. My body was hot and cold at the same time. And this wolf wasn’t making it better.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you when the thirsty males come hunting for you. It’s tradition for the males and females to run around these woods looking for… His gaze landed on me, and if I had been in my human form I would have blushed.

Is that why you are here, I snarled. The wolf crept closer, and I swore at myself for backing away.

Perhaps. But then I found something more interesting. A small, helpless pup, lost in the woods.

I told you to stop calling me that! And I am not helpless or lost. I wanted to bite the wolf so hard that he would scar. He looked like he could read my mind.

Is that a challenge? I didn’t know what part of it he referred to. Make it back to the house before me, and I’ll let you be. But fail… He let the rest of the sentence hang in the air. I knew he was from another pack, and therefore probably way stronger than me. He was only teasing me. But I was so angry at the world, my parents, the dean, and every damn wolf from the packs. So, I took the bait.

You’re on.

I didn’t wait for him to get ready, I just shot through the woods. My body was tired from the run already, but the challenge made adrenalin rush through my veins. I could hear the other wolf just behind me.

He ran behind me, using my body as a shield from the wind. His body was moving way too fast, and I could feel myself becoming tired. I knew that it was just a matter of time before he used it and surpassed me.

I couldn’t allow that to happen.

I changed direction, running towards a horde of trees. They had been planted too close, so no one ever went that way. Dia and had only been down that way a few times before. It was my only chance.

I steered my body to the left, closing the distance between us. The strange wolf barked in surprise, but I wasn’t done. This way was quicker if you could get through without hitting something, but it was also risky.

The wolf stopped to look at me for a second, before he realised what I was doing. He smiled. If it was because he thought he had won, or because he was enjoying himself, I couldn’t tell.

I sprinted through the trees, avoiding a collision. My eyes registered every branch, every creak, and every bent tree. My paws hit the ground, propelling me forward. I could see the house in the distance, could see how the light from the dormitories was turned off one by one.

And then I saw it. The light in our room was turned off. Dia was all alone in there right now. Guild bit into me. I had left her…

A branch hit my shoulder. I rammed into the ground, making dirt and fallen leaves splatter everywhere. I had lost focus for one second, and it had cost me my victory.

I tried to get up, but my shoulder gave in. I heard the other wolf crawl through a clump of trees. He looked down at me, his gaze unreadable. For a second it wasn’t him I saw, but another wolf, a wolf with red eyes.

I flinched and got up, but not before knocking into another tree. It dug its sharp branches into my skin, drawing blood.

It was a nice trick, until it wasn’t, he said, and came closer. I could smell his musk. It was a combination of sweat and damp earth.

I just got distracted. I walked past the wolf, but his eyes didn’t leave me.

I won. So now you owe me, he said. I snarled.

That wasn’t part of the deal, I said, not knowing what he had actually wanted.

It is now, pup. The wolf let me go, and I turned around when I made it to the clearing in front of the house.

Don’t call me that! But the wolf was nowhere to be found.

I sneaked into the sleeping quarters as silently as possible. I could hear the other fifteen girls breath softly. I crawled into our bunkbed, but instead of lying in my own bed, I crawled into Dias.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I put my arms around her. She curled in my arms.

“Me too. I am sorry to hear that your old pack will be here tomorrow. That can’t be fun.” I took a deep breath, letting go of my own selfish feelings.

“At least I had a pack once.” Dia smiled at me, even in the dark her smile could light up my world.

“I am scared,” she whispered into my neck. I held her closer, dwelling in her heat one last time.

“Me too,” I said subdued, “but I promise you, tomorrow we will cross that finish line together.” Dia’s eyes were already closed, and I didn’t know if she heard me, but I had meant every word. I wasn’t gonna leave her tomorrow. Not again.