Zari

Chapter 2 - Clint's Domain

1995

***Clint

Windows down, Better Man by Pearl Jam playing on my radio, and a huge smile on my face: this is my domain! I pull my 1976 Ford Mustang Cobra II into the second parking spot leaving the first empty in the front row of Wolfpack Elite High School before most of the other students arrive, so I have time to greet my pack members as they enter the school. Some may think it is risky to name our high school “Wolfpack”, but since we are in North Carolina, humans assume it is a nod to NC State University. What they don’t know is that we are the majority of the student body there as well. WEHS is one of two high schools within our immediate pack borders. The other school admits both humans and werewolves together. Elite, the nickname for our school, is made up of the top twenty-five werewolves in each grade. It provides the top wolves with not only advanced classes in each subject offered in the public school, but also ties in werewolf education and warrior training. As the future Great Alpha, I also learn the specifics of werewolf leadership and international werewolf relations.

“Dude! You know you can park in the first spot. I know you are currently second in our class, so you get the second space, but she doesn’t even have a car. Besides, she told you you could take it since you are the future Great Alpha,” Adam greets me as he exits his truck in the space next to mine.

“I know, but she has earned it. It is not rightfully mine. What kind of Great Alpha would I be if I took it without earning it?” I asked. There is so much more to being a great alpha than just decision-making and brute strength.

I look at the front of our small high school. A wide staircase leads up from the parking lot to the front doors. The siding and roof match the rest of the buildings found in the center of our packland - cream siding and brown roofs. Not one building is more decorated on the outside than the other, giving the buildings an appearance of equality. Today is the first warm day of spring here, daffodils creeping out of the ground in front of rhododendrons around the campus. The smell of the thawing earth and thinning sap in the trees is pungent. A few birds have come out to dig for their breakfast as the sun continues to warm the ground. It is the second week of February, so I know I need to appreciate today before it dips back down into freezing temperatures. Our inner wolves keep us warm during the winter, but seeing nature awake the rest of the year truly energizes us.

“While you have an excellent point, and one that I do admire, I have to say it, man. I think it is just proof that you still have a soft spot for her,” Adam states. As cool as Adam is, he truly has wisdom most eighteen-year-old males lack. That wisdom and his blunt honesty are why I choose to spend so much time with him. He makes me a better person and calls me out on things I don’t necessarily see, or think can be seen by others.

Honestly, I don’t know what to think about what he just said. Sure, when we were kids, I did everything I could to take care of her. When Jaylie was first found, we didn’t have the children’s home, so she was kept in the packhouse on the alpha floor a few doors down from my parents’ room in one of our guest suites. According to my mother, one day when I was supposed to be napping, I had snuck away only to be found in Jaylie’s crib holding her. I don’t remember that day, but I was told I cried inconsolably for hours when they took Jaylie away from me until they let me see her again. It was then that my parents decided to try to have more children, thinking it would distract me from the little orphaned baby. I do love my siblings, but I guess I always have had a little soft spot for Jaylie. She was so different from other kids, which would often get her picked on by other females in our pack. If it happened when I was around, I would step in to defend her. Eventually, my father told me that if I kept that up, I would make her wolf weak, so I have tried to find the middle ground of defending and letting her defend herself. Though, she really doesn’t need me in physical challenges at this point.

Jaylie is about eighteen months younger than I, and two years younger than most of our class. When she started elementary school, she did advanced work from the beginning, effortlessly maintaining perfect scores. When the wolves in my eighth grade class took their exams at Elite to see who would be part of my Freshman class, the principal of the middle school suggested Jaylie be tested as well, even as just a sixth grader. My peers all groaned in defeat as soon as she walked into the room that summer day, because every last one of us knew she would outscore the room - or anyone who ever took the exams before and after us for that matter. When the scores were released, no one was surprised to see Jaylie’s name in the number one bracket, admitting her to Elite two years ahead of her former classmates.

Jaylie took to the advanced high school classes well, with the exception of warrior training. As an all werewolf school, the first three hours of our day are spent in warrior training in lieu of the public school’s physical education period. Warrior training is done in two groups, male and female. Starting our junior year, each day is spent training in both human form and wolf form as wolves first shift at the age of 16. This put fourteen-year-old Jaylie at a grave disadvantage, training in human form amongst wolves. For the past year, she has come to class bruised and wounded from sparring in human form against the other females of our class. Many times the damage was bad enough that I had the pack doctor check her out to make sure she would heal. I went to the female warrior in charge of training the girls’ group after class one day to see if she would move Jaylie down to train with the Freshmen or Sophomores her own age, but the warrior told me that if Jaylie wanted to attend Elite early, she would have to deal with all that entailed. It wasn’t until this past November that she turned 16 and was able to compete in wolf form. That was when the tables turned. Every female in our class would come into lunch from morning training bruised, wounded, and exhausted from training; yet Jaylie looked as though she had no part of training at all. I don’t know details of their training, but I’d put money on Jaylie’s wolf dominating the wolves of her classmates.

“You going to let me in on what’s occupying your thoughts?” Adam teased.

“Just looking forward to training today. The warm weather has my wolf a bit restless!” I answered, choosing not to share my thoughts of Jaylie with Adam. It’s not that he would think less of me, or that he dislikes her, I just would prefer keeping these things to myself as much as possible.

“No kidding. My wolf would be elated if I skipped school today to just let him run and explore,” Adam replied, revealing his bright smile that makes every female in the pack weak in their knees. Adam’s human form is African-Asian. His almond-shaped eyes are such a dark brown that it is challenging to find his pupil. His skin is a glowing light brown, like coffee with cream, and his thick jet black hair is cut in a fade that is never anything short of perfect. If he doesn’t find his true mate, he will have no problem finding a chosen mate.

We enter the double doors and linger in the foyer of the school so I can do my usual greeting of my pack members. The first person to walk through the doors after us is our head warrior, Bradley Allen. This final semester of high school, Head Warrior Allen has been in charge of training the male group in the mornings. If I were completely honest, this man holds more of my respect than any man in our pack. Outside of his physical abilities, he is someone who practices patience, compassion, kindness, and faith. As werewolves, we all know that the Moon Goddess created us, leads us, has good plans for us, and creates our mates specifically for us. That being said, knowing this does not mean we think about her all day every day. Bradley does, though. He thanks her often for even the tiniest things. He has no doubt that she has every good intention with her plan for his life and he truly tries to follow what he believes she would have him do so that he remains on that path. Personally, I cannot imagine being thirty-some years old and unmated, yet still living a life in gratitude to the Moon Goddess. It really says a lot and is inspiring to see.

“Good morning, gentleman. I hope you both ate well this morning. I plan on working you in new ways today…” he says, with mischief clearly expressed in his eyes. “I know you normally socialize up here each morning, but I could use some help setting up for training if you both wouldn’t mind. I am going to move some of the obstacle pieces from the females’ class to our training field. I think it would be beneficial to have you males work on the more narrow obstacles. Speed and strength don’t mean much without agility.”

“Absolutely, sir. We’d be happy to help,” I reply. My wolf is excited about having a new challenge.

Adam and I follow Warrior Allen to the indoor arena where the females train. The flooring is padded to offer protection for the females as they hit the ground and to create traction for their wolves’ claws. The lighting is low as a means to help train their other senses, so they depend less on their vision. This has increased the number of females in our pack’s scouts and warriors. Head Warrior Allen opens two large doors, exposing the equipment room. He pulls out each piece he would like to employ in our training this morning. Adam and I load as much as possible onto our shoulders and begin transporting it outside. Warrior Allen has us place the pieces out on the ground, making it easier to identify each piece for construction.

As we finish setting up the obstacles, other males from our class arrive. Head Warrior Allen addresses the group, “Today, we are going to work on your agility and your discernment. We will begin the class with meditation, during which I want you to thank the Moon Goddess for all she has provided for you, then seek her will for your life before you graduate in a couple of months. Try listening with your soul rather than your ears. Now, please spread out and find a place to s…”

“Warrior Allen, I need to speak with you for a moment,” interrupts Warrior Hill, the warrior in charge of the females' training. I am sure it must have to do with the borrowed equipment.

“Clint, will you please lead a guided meditation for your peers while I speak with Warrior Hill?” he asks.

“Yes, sir,” I reply. I move to the front of our training area while the two warriors step away in an effort to keep their conversation private. “Please take a deep breath, inhaling through your nose. Envision your worries and stressors. Now exhale through your mouth, releasing your problems with your breath to the universe and trusting Moon Goddess to handle them for you. Take another deep breath, inhaling through your nose and envision the gifts the Moon Goddess has already given you. Exhale through your mouth, releasing your doubts and negativity to the univ-...”

“She will get hurt! How can you suggest such a thing!?” Head Warrior Allen shouts. All of our heads turn to face the two warriors. I don’t think any of us will be going back to meditation in the next few minutes.

“Bradley, she is more skilled than even I. She will hold her own, I assure you. I believe she will best the majority of them without a scratch. She needs this push, Bradley. How else will she continue to grow and improve?” Warrior Hill pleaded. I watch Head Warrior Allen, his hands on his hips, his head turned to the ground shaking slowly side to side in defeat.

“Very well. If this is the Goddess’ will, I will do my best to follow it. If I feel this is not right, though, I will put an end to it immediately. She can start tomorrow,” Head Warrior Allen replies.

“Thank you, Bradley! I know this is exactly what she needs to continue to improve her skills. Who knows, maybe some of your students will also benefit from this as well,” Warrior Hill states, then turns to return to the indoor arena. Head Warrior Allen turns to find us all facing him, most of us wide-eyed with our mouths open in shock and curiosity. After all, it is the first time any of us have heard him raise his voice.

Head Warrior Allen turns his attention to us, “I see I have caught your attention. First, I apologize for my outburst. Self-control, both in human form and in wolf form, is the beginning of being a true warrior. That being said, even we warriors need to take steps back and re-train ourselves. Second, when meditation is done properly and done well, even a hollering warrior cannot distract you from communication between you, your wolf, and the Moon Goddess. I suggest we all start over, then move on to the obstacles that are set up for today. Now, breathe in deeply through your nose…”