Two Alphas: One Broken Girl

Chapter 6- Unexpected Visitor

The rest of the day continued in a blur- literature, lunch, arithmetic, and finally spar class. Werewolves value athleticism above all else, so every year included such classes. The first three years focused on agility, speed, and strength- we ran obstacle courses, scaled walls, lifted weights, and raced, but the seniors took spar which was focused on hand-to-hand combat and even wolf wrestling for the 18-year-olds. Today was my last day in the seventeen’s group of senior spar class. My stomach quivered nervously at the thought. Was I even going to phase tonight? I HAD to. I had TWO wolves, apparently! Although, the Orion wolf said my wolf wasn’t ready. Would she be ready tonight. I ground my teeth as I tied my ratty sneakers in the locker room. Why was he still silent after dropping such an atomic bomb on me? I wondered if he was mad at me for not saving him like my family and even I was. I pushed the thoughts away so I could focus on this challenging class. I had always been impressively agile, but I was not strong or fast compared to many of my classmates, so I always had a hard time keeping up.

As I exited the locker room, I spotted Lizette and Bria sitting on the bleachers and waved to them. They were my only two friends. I didn’t have much time outside of school and housework to socialize, but it was nice to have some people to be around at school who didn’t treat me like a pariah.

“Hey, girl! Are you excited for your birthday?” Liz enthused. She was chocolate skinned with short dark hair and dark eyes. She was tall for a girl with attractive slender legs. She was not athletic, and her bookishness gave her a nerd reputation.

I smiled at her wanly, but Bria interrupted before I could speak.

“Are you doing ok? I heard you had an intense encounter in the hall this morning and since today is, you know… just, how are you?” Bria was very curvy with a wide face and ash blonde hair and green eyes. She was similarly outcast for being a big-girl and was considered weird for her fascination with witches and magic.

Liz looked nervous that she had hurt my feelings for not considering the significance of today for me, but I was grateful that she never spoke out of pity.

“It wasn’t a big deal. Honestly, girls, I’m fine and of course I’m excited.”

“Are you nervous about shifting??” Liz exclaimed eyes wide.

I was the oldest of the three with Liz having her birthday next month and Bria not until March.

“I mean, a little.” I admitted. I considered divulging my fresh discoveries, but I didn’t know how to begin. I twirled my fingers through my hair anxiously and decided to change the topic. “So what did y’all get up to this weekend?”

“We went to the movies Friday, I wish you could have come! And then on Saturday my brother took me to the dance.”

I had forgotten there was a young people’s pack dance on Saturday. I would not have been permitted to go into the public eye even if I had dared to ask my parents.

Bria grinned, “The dance was a lot of fun. Liz danced with like four different guys! I didn’t even have to use the love potion I got at the Fae summer faire!” she chucked.

“Were the alphas there? Did they dance with a lot of girls?” I demanded.

“Um yes, they were there for a little while and, you know how it is, they were surrounded all night.” Liz said surprised by my interest. “why do you ask?”

“Just wondering.” I mumbled blushing.

Liz and Bria looked at each other with wide eyes, I sensed an inquisition. I winced, but before they could launch in coach River started the class.

As soon as class ended, I claimed I had a lot of work to get done before dinner as an excuse to avoid the questioning. I wasn’t ready to tell them about meeting the men in the woods this morning and I had no excuses to explain my interest in them since I couldn’t even explain it to myself.

I did have a lot to do since I wanted to get dinner done early and have plenty of time to prepare for midnight in case I did get to phase.

I rushed through preparations but was too anxious to eat anything myself. My stomach kept doing back flips. I flopped onto my bed and groaned. It was 9 o’clock and the anxiety was eating alive. A knock on my door brought me bolting upright. No one knocked on my door unless they were going to yell at me to do something for them, but this knock was timid, almost friendly.

I tip-toed to the door “yes?”

“Hey, um, it’s me. Can we talk” I blinked in surprise at the sound of my sister’s voice. I recovered quickly and opened the door.

Olive stood there chewing on her lip.

“What do you need?” I asked, uncertainly.

She hesitated and then walked in and went to perch awkwardly on my bed. I shut the door and spun around to face her pressing my back up against the door defensively.

“I just… you’re turning 18…” she started awkwardly. She flipped her smooth hair back behind her shoulder and met my gaze uneasily.

“Astute.” I murmured before I could stop myself.

She frowned at me, “Ok, well, I just wanted to check and see… if you know what to expect I mean.”

“Oh,” my mind went blank with surprise. “I think so. But, um thank you.”

She continued to frown at me, appraising me. I felt self-conscious of my unruly hair and unmade face- she was genuinely so beautiful with a perfect complexion.

“Well, you’ll want to be outside and take your clothes off, of course. And it will HURT.”

I nodded mutely.

“Ok, um, I guess you get it then.” She said standing abruptly but seeming satisfied that she completed her mission in coming here.

“I guess.” I replied. It sort of sounded like a question.

She actually cracked a small smile- “You’ll be fine. You always are.” The way she said that sounded like a compliment.

I smiled back cautiously. And stepped to the side because she was moving towards the door to leave.

This had been one of the strangest days of my life.