Beyond the Pack

Chapter 2

Mae's P.O.V.

Right in the middle of my thoughts about turning 18, my wolf, and my birthday, a familiar voice blurted out, “Already in deep thought this early? You are something Mae.”

Completely distracted and caught slightly off guard, I turn to my best friend, “Well not anymore. How are you Hazel?”

Hazel is definitely more introverted than me. She is quite a bit smaller than me as well standing at about 5’2”. When I stand next to Hazel, I must look quite intimidating because my 5’7” frame must look incredibly tall next to her. I am definitely thicker than her as well which I actually loved. I loved my curves and strong body. While, she is definitely more delicate with her petite little figure.

“Looking forward to finishing up this week so we can celebrate your big day tomorrow?” She says to me.

Hazel and I became friends back in middle school at our pack. She always kept to herself with her nose in a book, while I was more into sports and fighting even at a younger age. One day I saw her getting picked on by our Gamma's son, Tristan, along with a few of his minions. I stepped in and tried to teach those bullies a lesson. Even though Tristan has Gamma blood and Gamma’s are third in command of a pack, I was able to lay enough hits on him that made him run away. Gamma's are responsible of training the warriors so it probably was not the best idea to beat up our Gamma's son if I ever wanted to be a warrior, but I didn’t care in that moment and still don't to this day. I can’t stand bullies. I have a very strong personality and even then, I would never let anyone get away with that.

Anyway, ever since then, Hazel and I have been best friends since. With both of us coming from Omega parents as well, it made it easier.

I look at Hazel and respond to her question, "Well that means you have to actually go out with me this weekend if you really want to celebrate.” 

Hazel of course didn’t love to socialize like that, but she was an amazing friend and would do whatever I wanted because all werewolves know how important your 18th birthday is to our kind.

“Of course. I figured you’d want to have a little fun since you’ll have a nice new wolf with you.”

Hazel is a couple of months older than me so she has had her wolf for a little while now, but no mate yet. She says that it doesn’t bother her because he is probably just younger since she is one of the older werewolves in our senior class, but I could tell it always bothered her some. While some find their mates right away, some find them later in their 20s. Especially if their mate is in another pack. Then of course on the rare occasion, some never find their mate, but like I said it is very rare that happens. Even if you don't find your mate, you still can choose a mate and live a happy life.

“Who knows, maybe we will both find our mates this weekend?” I say giving her a little nudge which she just blushes immediately. With that, we head to first hour. 

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After school I met Hazel in the library. She was helping me with a few things before I hit the weight room. At our high school, we didn’t have normal sport extracurriculars that most schools have. Our pack's ranked members, the alpha, beta, and gamma, decide what extracurricular and after school events we get to be apart of. It is pretty lame. I don't know of any other pack that does that. They say it is because they want to enhance our pack by placing us in extracurricular's that'll help us in whatever role we are most likely going to receive after graduation.

My mother said that our pack was more “traditional” and so we followed in the footsteps of what our parents professions or jobs are. We have the ability, I guess, to try and change your destiny if, by the the slight chance, a teacher or ranked member sees something in you and decides to place you with a few different groups to see if you are better suited elsewhere. That is what happened with me. The head trainer at our school, Coach Cam, works close with the Gammas of each pack in the alliance. He saw me training and working out by myself and decided that I joined him and his trainees. Our pack Alpha only allowed this if I still helped my mother in the kitchen packhouse. Which is not ideal, but at least I get to train.

“Girl, I do not know what I’d do without you. Thank you for helping me out with these classes. It really helps when you explain them like that,” I say to Hazel.

Hazel did extracurricular in the library, reading and helping tutor other classmates. She also helped her dad at the hospital where he was one of the pack’s physicians. One of the reasons she studies so hard is so she can get into medical school and become a Doctor like her dad for our pack. 

“Of course Mae. I mean if I don’t help you. I would be helping someone else so I am glad it’s you,” she says teasing me.

I roll my eyes at her, “Fine. That is true, but still. Thanks anyway girl." 

“You know if you studied just a little bit more instead of all the training you do, you would be teaching me a thing or two. You seem to only do enough to just get by.” She says to be trying to be delicate with her words.

“I know, but you know how training is so important to me.” I know what Hazel means and that she means well. I am quite smart, but stubborn too. I spend any extra time I have training because I knew that if I’d ever have a chance at being a warrior I had to go above and beyond. And that was more important to me than getting good grades. 

Hazel starts putting her books away, “I know. I know. I just have to say it. Of course I am grateful you are so into fighting otherwise we probably wouldn’t be friends.” She continues, “I guess I just don’t understand where you have all the energy to do all that you do…. And to have a social life.”

I do have quite a busy schedule. Along with school, homework, and everything that goes with that, I also have my obligations to my mom in the kitchen. Then all my extra time after all that goes into my training. “Well Hazel just because I am more social than you, does not mean that I have a social life.” We both chuckle at that.

I check the clock on my phone and realize I need to get going. “Okay on that note, I am heading to the weight room. Have fun learning about healing werewolf bodies or whatever you do at the hospital.” She says her goodbyes and I am off to the weight room.

Hopefully I can get there still before anyone else.

I change into a modest black sports bra, and red athletic shorts that come a couple inches above my knee, my training shoes, and throw my long golden-brown hair up into a bun so none of my hair gets in my face. I enter the weight room to find that I am the only one in there. 

‘YES!’  I say to myself. I love getting a head start on everyone else. I warm up properly and start putting weights on the barbell to start squatting.

I was in mid squat when the rest of the soon to be warriors and ranked werewolves offspring come in with Coach Cam. And of course, they all immediately turn to me. 

'Well time to put on a show, I guess.' I say to myself with a grin.