The Rejected Alpha

Chapter 2

The first weekend he got home, he ran to Simon to greet him, as he hasn’t seen them in a long time.

“Don’t you dare touch Simon or Gabriella” his father snarled at him. “Go to your room you worthless mutt”. William just turned around and walked away.

“But father, isn’t William our next Alpha”, he heard Gabriella ask.

“Don’t you ever mention his name and Alpha in the same sentence again” William heard his father scream at her.

He vanished into his room and only came out when he had to return to boarding school. He could not wait to get to school, to feel safe and surrounded by his friends again.

William is now starting Grade 7, turning 12 years old later this year and his year is not starting off all too well. Mrs. Appleby told everyone that Samantha and her family are moving back to Sweden, her father got a new job there and that they already started moving over the holidays. William felt rejected, felt alone, and all he could do was to sit in his room and cry. How could they do this, they didn’t even say goodbye to me. It felt like all adults were against him.

“Was I really this worthless?”

“Was my father right all along?” The thoughts raced through Williams mind.

It was then that Mrs Appleby came to where he was sitting alone, dejected, and wanted to know what is wrong. All he could do was look at her in disbelief and couldn’t understand why she would take note of him.

“What is wrong, why are you feeling so alone”, asked Mrs Appleby. “Nothing Mam,” is all he could muster at the moment.

“Well, you come to me when you are ready to talk”, said Mrs Appleby.

“Thank you Mam”, is all he heard himself say to her.

Time went very slowly for him again from then onwards, and his father heard of Samantha and her family moving back to Sweden, and he was yet again left alone in the school.

A week after William’s 12th Birthday, while in mathematics class with Mrs Rowland, they heard Principal Roth starting to speak on the intercom system. Now Mrs Rowland was not a fan of being interrupted when teaching.

“We will be hosting our annual Mardi Grass this weekend at Mt Drakensberg” said Principal Roth. “If any of you can assist with manning the stalls you will get additional credit towards your school achievement points. Also, can William Von Tromp come and see me in my office”, and he ended the announcement.

“You’d better get going then I suppose,” Mrs Rowland told William as he started packing his bag to go to the Principal’s office.

“Sit down William”, Principal Roth said and he chose the chair closest to the door. “You have been with us from the start of your school career, a young boy that does not communicate a lot with other kids, have a few select friends, but what I have noticed is that you love sport, you love the outdoor activities that we offer here at school.”

“Yes sir,” he replied. “I prefer to be active outdoors, but I also do my homework on time and study hard for my tests.”

“We have noticed that, and therefore we would like to make you the captain of the school rugby team in your age class. With your skill on the field and your good grades we cannot think of a better person to be an example to other children.”

William looked at Mr Roth in amazement and all he heard was himself replying, “but Principal Roth, I am not worthy of being the captain, surely there are other better suited boys than me.”

“Not at all”, replied Principal Roth. “But tell me, why do you think you are not worthy? Has something happened at school that I should know of?”

“No sir, nothing happened at school, I really enjoy school and I have a few friends.”

“Then tell me, why you think you are not worthy” Principal Roth asked.

“It’s just, I don’t see myself as a leader, as a role model,” he lied to Principal Roth.

“Nonsense young man, you were born to lead” beamed Principal Roth behind a big warm smile. “Now, I have spoken to your father about this, and he will be fetching you later today to spend the weekend at home to celebrate your achievements with you. Now go to your dorm and start packing young man, we have high hopes for you,” said Principal Roth.

As William walked to his dorm room, he could only wonder why his father would suddenly want to share in his achievements, or even acknowledge that he even has any achievements. Did he change when he heard that I am doing well thought William? He started packing for his extended weekend at home with a glimmer of hope. Finally I will be accepted in my own family!