Two Alphas: One Broken Girl

Chapter 5- Duality

The trek to Jade Moon Academy High passed in a blur, consumed as I was by the morning’s discoveries and the many questions it left me with. I tried to ask the voice in my head questions the whole way, but it seemed to be done speaking to me for the time being. It was unbelievably frustrating. I was only able to convince myself that I hadn’t imagined it because I could still sense the presence within me.

I chewed my lip as I ascended the marble steps to the elegant old school glancing up, as I often did, at the massive stained-glass window above the doorway which depicted a thousand year old alpha standing victoriously atop a mountain, his Luna at his side. The colorful strips of glass appeared to glow in the morning light and cast colored mosaics of light into the hallway below. It’s often said that an alpha is only as strong as his Luna and my mind wandered to the humiliating encounter in the woods this morning. We had two strong alphas, but they did not have their Lunas. I chewed my lip harder. The previous alpha, their father, Alpha Aldron had lost his Luna Maeve not much more than a year after she took up the post at his side. She died giving birth to the alphas. A sliver of sorrow cut through my heart for them. I knew what it was like to lose someone. Not to mention I usually felt motherless myself.

Excited chatter echoed through the hall around me. The sharp clang of a slamming locker just beside me snapped me into focus. My stomach flopped uncomfortably.

“Yo! Carrot top!”

I fought the urge to bare my teeth at Melchior. He was a top athlete and a she-wolf favorite of the senior class. I simply tried to continue walking without acknowledging his hulking presence. I heard the chuckles of one of his cronies (he was always surrounded by a flock of equally irritating wolf boys).

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” he snapped snatching a handful of my hair.

I gasped, stopping short as he yanked my hair hissing in pain. I fought the tears that sprang up in my eyes and turned my head to face him.

“Please let go!” I spit at him.

The pack of boys laughed and ooooh’ed at my attitude egging on their chosen leader.

Melchior frowned at me, “Someone has some balls this morning, I see. I need your alchemy homework, nerd.” He sneered confidently at me.

“Fat chance,” I mumbled extricating my hair from his surprised fingers.

His possie went wild at that, and I could feel the eyes of other spectators in the hallway as I took my chance to make my getaway my cheeks flushing red hot.

Melchior was quick, however and, though he allowed me to slip out of his grip, his other hand flashed out grabbing onto my book bag and yanking it off my shoulder in one clean motion.

I let out a small, surprised shriek as he continued on to simply rip my poor worn bag open and dump the contents onto the tile floor.

I stood there shocked for a moment feeling the stinging of my shoulder where the bag had been seconds before and watching my papers flutter out around us.

Not only were his buddies laughing and shouting in delight now, but what felt like most of the school. I was unable to control the angry tears that ran down my hot cheeks as Melchior bent over and picked up my notebook. He flipped through it quickly until he arrived at the assignment which he unceremoniously ripped out. He winked at me, dropping the notebook.

“Thanks, Carrot top.”

I stayed rooted to the spot as I heard the bell ring and the hallway quickly emptied out. I forced my body to unfreeze and stiffly bent over to gather my things, but I found one straggler already stacking my things.

“I think your bag’s a total loss,” Roland smiled shyly at me.

“I know. I’ll have to figure something else out.” I said smiling shyly back and quickly wiping the tears off my face.

Roland appraised me with his chocolate brown eyes as he offered me the stack of books. “Sorry they’re such jerks to you.”

I sighed and ran my fingers through my frazzled curls. “It’s fine. I’m used to jerks.” I retorted dismissively taking the books.

“I know.” He sighed sadly. He shifted anxiously and shoved his hands in the pockets of his artfully faded jeans. “Look, I’m sorry. I feel like I don’t stand up for you like I should.”

“Roland, you’re not my brother,” I said gently, my lips turning up into a small, crooked smile.

He grimaced at me, “I know, but I know Ry would want me to look out for you. He really was my best friend, you know.”

“I know, and he would be grateful to you, I promise you.” And I could promise him because I felt Orion’s wolf’s pride in my chest.

“I know today is a hard day…” Roland began, but I cut him off before he got into more dangerous territory.

“-we’re totally late, and I have Aberdeen and he’ll kill me.”

“yeah, ok.” Roland allowed, not fooled by my interruption.

I really was late, though, and Mr. Aberdeen’s history class was famously strict and challenging. I winced as I crept into the classroom. The long, slender old elf did not look up from his book as he was reading a passage, but I saw his pointed ears quiver with annoyance and I knew he would give me grief after class.

I plopped into my seat at the back of the room and looked stubbornly at the wood grains on the desk to avoid the many curious eyes I felt on me. This morning’s hallway humiliation along with the common knowledge of today’s significance for my family was making me the hot topic for gossip, clearly.

I was unable to focus on class. The vampiric crusades of the 1300s and the werewolf/witch 100 years’ war weren’t even enough to pull me from my abstraction.

I heard the click of the door shutting and was shocked to find the room empty but for me and Mr. Aberdeen. He had shut the door and was walking towards me.

I stood up like I’d been shocked by a lightening bolt. And grabbed my books.

“Wait a moment, please.” He said in a surprisingly gentle tone.

I stared, my eyes wide, “I have to get to alchemy…”

“I’ll write you a note. You’re a star student, one missed lesson won’t kill you. I have my free-period now and I was hoping to have a chat with you.” He sank fluidly into a chair in front of my desk. He was a classic elf by appearance- tall, pale colored hair, pointed ears, slanted eyes, and graceful. He was the only elf I had actually met since they typically did not fraternize with wolves.

I slid back into my seat, my eyes still wide, and just stared at him wonderingly.

He sighed, “Gracious, I’m not going to bite. I know I’m usually hard on you children, but the majority of you are so lacking in discipline. You, however, I have never had to worry about, in that sense at least.”

“Oh,” was all I could think to say to that and I just continued to stare, wondering what he could possibly want to talk to me about.

“Ophelia, I understand that today bears great significance to you and I can see that you are struggling. I just wanted to offer my guidance.”

His eyes were such a light blue, even lighter than Alec’s. I mean, ALPHA Alec’s. Warmth shot through my stomach at the thought. I shook my head to clear it. “Thank you, but I’m fine.” I said politely but stiffly.

Mr. Aberdeen stroked his silvery blonde beard, “I can also answer any questions you may have. I don’t get the sense you have anyone else to seek guidance from in your life.” He theorized kindly.

The mention brought some of my many questions from this morning rushing back to the forefront of my mind. Before I could stop myself I blurted out, “Have you ever heard of someone having two wolves?”

If anyone knew it would be him, He looked at me curiously, “In what sense would one have two wolves?”

I swallowed convulsively, “Um, well, lets say, hypothetically, that someone died and their wolf went into someone else, but that someone already had a wolf.”

His wise eyes were alight with curiosity, “there has not been such a phenomenon recorded in history, but I suppose it doesn’t mean it is impossible.”

I rushed ahead, “but what would that mean for the person, with the two wolves, I mean- hypothetically,” I tacked on hoping he wouldn’t think I was crazy.

Mr. Aberdeen regarded me for a moment, “Well, keeping in mind the nature of wolves, I can’t imagine two wolves cohabitating peacefully in one individual. And werewolves are so controlled by the instincts and impulses of their inner wolf- how could multiple conflicting urges coexist sustainably? And then for shifting, I imagine one of the personalities would have to dominate to allow for it. I simply cannot imagine balance being possible. It’s a very interesting hypothetical.” He c****d his head to the side and waited for me to continue.

“Yes, I’m writing a short story for literature,” I fibbed weakly, “Thank you for your perspective.”

“Has anyone had a proper discussion with you about shifting. I know your birthday is tomorrow…” Mr. Aberdeen was trying hard not to seem awkward and uncomfortable and I had never appreciated him more.

My heart squeezed anxiously, “yes, of course.” (no one had, but I had read about it. Typically, one’s parents would have such a talk with you, but of course mine did no such thing).

Mercifully the next bell rang, and I heard students in the hall. We both stood as he had his next class, and I did not want to miss literature.

“Thank you. You were so kind.” I said shyly, grabbing my things.

“You’re welcome. And I will continue to think on that hypothetical of yours. What a creative concept of werewolf duality.” He encouraged, inclining his head to me in a sort of bow and then moving to open his classroom door. I hurried into the hall as his next class began to arrive.