The Beta's Arrival

Chapter 3

Helen's POV

A week had passed since we were brought to my sister in the hospital. She was still there, but the doctor said that she would be discharged soon since she was healing well. I wanted more to come out of the conversation with the Alpha, but the longer I waited, the more agitated I felt. James was still going to school and trying to act as if nothing had happened between us. The friend I once knew was now completely gone, making me feel like that our friendship since childhood had all been a lie.

"Helen, pay attention," Jasmine said as she nudged me.

Startled, I sat back up and looked around the room. The teacher is had apparently asked me a question, but I had no idea what he had said. "I'm sorry, can you ask the question again?"

Usually, the teacher would have been angry, but instead, I was met by a gaze of pity. "Can you tell the class what your assessment is of the reason Juliet would go so far as to plan her own death in order to be with Romeo?" he reiterated the question.

I thought for a moment. "No, because I can't understand the sentiment that someone would be willing to go so far as to stage their own death in order to be with the man they love. They also should have communicated better. They were trying to do so much in so little time." I knew I was gearing up into a rant, but I couldn't stop it. I was so exhausted of love being so idealized that people would go to such dangerous lengths to be with someone else.

Before I could continue, the teacher held up their hand to stop me. "Very good points. It is always discussed that there was a large age gap between the two and that they had only just met. It doesn't feel like common sense to want to be with someone so much as to give up your entire lifestyle," the teacher agreed.

"Now that we've discussed the play, I want a five thousand-page essay on Romeo and Juliet, but how you think it should have gone," he instructed the class. "The due date will be next week, on Monday. Class dismissed."

We all stood up and left the classroom. "Helen, please remain behind for a few moments."

The teacher waited until the others had gone before she spoke again. "Firstly, I wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened to your sister. I also wanted to check in on you. How are you doing?"

"As good as I can be," I responded with a shrug.

"I just wanted to make sure you know that I am here if you ever need to talk," she tried to reassure me.

"Thanks. Can I go now?" I questioned.

"Of course," she said while giving me a forced smile. I knew that look. It was past pity now. It was worse than pity.

I turned and left the classroom, heading directly to my next class. This was my favorite class. It was fun. Was. But now, now he was there. He didn't care. He wanted to pretend that everything was as it always was. Our friendship. Walking into the classroom, there he sat in his usual spot. There the empty chair was next to him as it always had been since we were kids. That was my chair, but since last week, that chair had been filled with others, because I made a beeline to any other empty chair as soon as I could. Today was no different.

I took a seat on the other side of the classroom. He tried to stand up and go to the chair that was near me, but is was quickly taken, and the teacher walked in. Class began, and I could feel his eyes on me for most of the class. As soon as the bell rang, I was out of the room and heading to lunch. I needed for him to find his mate and let me go. Every time I see him, all I see is what he did and let happen to my sister. Not a friend. More like an enemy.

I managed to make it through the rest of the day without seeing him, but the final bell would be the worst. He would be able to move freely. I was at my car in a matter of minutes and throwing my bag in the backseat. Just as I was opening the driver's side door, I heard his voice. "Helen!"

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I heard him come closer and closer to me. "Helen," he repeated.

I pulled open the door fully and was about to get in when I felt his hand on my shoulder. He ripped me away from my car, causing me to lose my balance. In a matter of seconds, I hit the ground. "What the hell?!" I screamed at him as I stood up and whipped the dirt off my clothes.

"You weren't listening to me," he grumbled.

"Why would I? I thought I made myself very clear on where we stood," I huffed back at him as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I thought that maybe if you had some time to cool off you would change your mind," he responded.

"Change my mind?! Have you lost yours?"

"We've been friends for so long. I thought that you would forgive me for my thoughtless mistake," he tried to reason with me.

"Thoughtless is right. But it was more than a mistake. You hurt my sister. I can't forgive that. Not now, not ever," I emphasized.

"Not ever?" he muttered.

"Not ever and if it was up to me, you would not be the future Alpha of this pack. You have shown poor leadership skills as well as a disregard for wolf life," I growled at him.

He appeared taken aback for a few moments before he gathered himself. "You can't mean that."

"I can because what you did tells me that you do not respect others and their decisions. You are selfish. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get going before visiting hours at the hospital are over," I huffed and then turned to get into my car.

"You are so full of yourself!" he growled at me as he grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him. "You think that I am being thoughtless and selfish now. I can be so much worse!"

"And prove my point," I snapped back at him.

I felt him stiffen at my words. Finally, his grip on my arm dropped. "Go," he muttered.

I didn't need to be told twice. I was in my car and heading out of the school in a matter of minutes. I was at the hospital a short time later. I parked and then headed into the hospital and went straight to her room. I pushed open the door to find Diane sitting up in bed.

"How are you feeling?" I asked as I went over to her bedside and sat down on the chair next to it.

"Better," she said with a smile. "I am able to eat solid food now."

"That's good. Is there anything in particular you want to eat?" I asked.

"No, they've been pretty strict about what I can and can't eat right now. So, it's probably better that I stick to their menu," she responded.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" I wanted so much to help her. I wanted to make her feel better somehow. Even just for a moment.

"Nothing much since mom and dad already came by today," she told me.

"I'm glad, but if there is anything, let me know."

"Nothing. Although I was wondering how school is going?"

She asked this every time I came to visit. She's worried about what people are saying about her. "It's been good. Normal even," I answered.

"Normal? How can it be normal?"

I had forgotten I didn't tell her that James was back at school. "You know how people are. New things take away people's memory of what happened the day before," I said with a shrug, hoping she would believe me.

"I doubt that I'm not still the talk of the school," she said with a sigh.

"I'm sure it will blow over soon," I tried to reassure her.

"Eventually, right?"

"Yes, eventually," I confirmed.

"I wish this was all over now," she huffed as she lowered her bed back down with the push of a button.

"I know," I responded, because there was nothing else I could have said to make things better.

"Is he... is he... there?" she asked.

This was the first time she asked and I wanted so badly to lie to her, but she always knew when I was lying. "Yes."

"What was his punishment?" She had seemed to stay away from this topic. At least, until now.

"I don't know," I answered honestly.

"Nothing then," she said as she rolled to face the wall, away from me.

"I tried, but yea... it seems nothing," I confirmed.

"What about the others?" My ears perked up at the mention of the others. She hadn't mentioned them until now.

"Do you know who they are?" I asked, hoping she knew them, but also praying she didn't.

"Yes. They are in the upper classes."

"How many?"

"Five," she whispered. She was trying hard not to cry.

"Do you know their names?" I asked, hoping I wasn't pushing her too far.

"Yes."

"Can you tell me their names?" I pulled out my phone and prepared to write down their names.

"Not now..." she said. Then I saw her push the red button that would give her something to calm her and put her back to sleep. She seemed to do that when she felt too overwhelmed by her memories.

"Later then," I said, trying to keep my voice light. I would find out who they were one way or another, and then I would make them pay if the Alpha wasn't going to.

Just another week and a half and I would meet my wolf. I would inevitably be stronger than those who harmed my sister. If I wasn't, I would still find a way. Then they would know that life was not fair and not just for my sister.