The Beta Queen

    It is a week before my 16th birthday. Sitting in the front of the classroom, my mind begins to drift. I have been waiting for the day of my first shift since I discovered how much I like Brandon, the alpha's son, when I saw him with his shirt off. At the time, I was only 13 and he was 16. Since then, I have had a major crush on him.      I'm thinking of the day I saw him. Of how the water seemed to shimmer on his skin and muscles and make his hair look so silky. I'm imagining myself coming out of the lake for air in front of him only for him to kiss me deeply. I can feel his hand grabbing the back of my head as he trails kisses down my neck to a spot on my shoulder, the spot where my mate's mark will be. I must have a cheesy grin on my face because the next thing I see is Mrs. Mitchell standing in front of my desk, tapping her fingers on it to get my attention.      That is when I feel the entire class staring at me. I hear a few giggles as I realize Mrs. Mitchell is waiting for an answer.      "I am so sorry Mrs. Mitchell. I haven't been paying attention. Could you repeat the question please?" I ask.      Mrs. Mitchell opens her mouth to ask me again but the bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. I breathe a sigh of relief. Mrs. Mitchell shakes her head and walks away from my desk, shouting homework instructions amidst the noise of everyone grabbing their belongings. It is Friday and everyone is ready for the weekend. I write down the assignment in my geometry notebook while cringing because my hearing has gotten very sensitive.      Marie and her group of friends walk past my desk. Marie and I used to be best friends until she hit puberty before I did and was able to join the popular girls. With her group, she is cruel to me. She often trips me in the halls of school. Once she made me drop my lunch and I was so humiliated that I went to hide out in the girls' washroom.      "The b***h was probably daydreaming about books rather than the more important things," I hear Marie say. Her friends laugh.      Under my breath I say, "No, your brother."      Hearing a sharp intake of breath and a collective gasp, I look up to see the group slowly turn around. Marie is narrowing her eyes and glaring at me. She is about to reply when Mrs. Mitchell interrupts her.      "Shyanne, I need to speak with you for a moment."      Grateful for the chance to escape, I walk up to Mrs. Mitchell's desk. Marie continues to glare at me, before turning on her he'll and leaving with her group behind her.      "Yes Mrs. Mitchell?" I say, now anxious to get home.      "You have been daydreaming in my class quite a bit recently. Today, I caught you doing it six times! If it happens again, Shyanne, star student or not, you will be asked to leave my classroom. Understand?"      "Yes, Mrs. Mitchell. I promise it won't happen again," I say before turning to walk away.      I gather my books and leave the classroom, shutting the door behind me. Walking down the hall towards my locker, I see Jana coming my way with a smirk on her face. Jana is 17 and very fit. She is skinny, beautiful, and happens to be my big sister.      "Getting into trouble again, I hear," she says to me. "Marie has already told me all about it. You better have time to do my paper or you're going to be in for it." She is walking past me when she adds, " And if you are not outside when I get there, I'll make you walk. It's not as if you don't need the exercise." She laughs and continues on her way.      I heave a sigh. I'm not fat but I'm not fit. I just wear a lot of baggy clothes. Being picked on all the time makes a person try to hide. I try to hide in my clothes. I arrive at my locker and notice Marie and her gaggle of friends standing in a circle nearby. Just as I get the locker open, I feel water being poured on my head. I guess this is the payback for my comment about Marie's brother in the classroom.      "That should cool you off from thinking about my brother. He doesn't want a fat ugly thing like you anyway," Marie says as her friends laugh.      Fighting back tears, I quickly put the needed books and notebooks into my bag along with my jacket, which contains my cell phone. Slamming my locker shut, I turn to leave but one of Marie's friends sticks her foot out and I trip. I hear them laughing as I gather my bag up, closing it properly. Just then, I notice a pair of black oxfords in front of me. Looking up, I see the man of my daydreams. He leans down to help me.      I hear Marie say to Brandon, "You're already the subject of her dreams. Now she has you helping her after being clumsy."      I take his offered hand and stand up as I hear him suck in his breath. I release his hand and notice him shake his head, as if clearing it, before saying, "I have never seen Shyanne drop anything or trip or fall at the pack house."      My cheeks turn a bright red as I murmur a thank you. That means he has noticed me, I smile to myself. I get to the double doors leading out of the school just to see Jana cruise by the door. I stifle a sob and sniffle as I leave school, knowing Jana is making me walk seven of the eight miles back to the pack house. She will wait for me at the last mile just so mom and dad doesn't say anything to her about it.     About a mile from school, I begin to wonder about why Brandon had appeared at school when he no longer attended. My wandering mind stops when I feel like I'm being watched. Marie and her friends had already sped past me, slowing only to throw more water on me from their cars. I start to feel like I will be in danger if I continue so I turn to go back to school. Brandon has not passed me yet so I know he is still there.      I take one step and that is when I see them. Two rogue wolves are standing not even 500 feet from where I'm standing. I slowly back up trying to remember what to do. I clutch my bag close to my chest and throat as I feel the claws of one tear into my skin. I scream and close my eyes. Suddenly I hear a deep growl and open my eyes to see a midnight blue wolf rip the throat out of the other rogue. Then I feel a sharp pain just below my bag as the one attacking me is trying to get at my throat to kill me.      I scream again and see a large brown and black wolf leap over me and catch my attacker by the throat, killing him instantly. I'm too scared and tired from trying to stay alive and feel myself falling into darkness. When I become aware of my surroundings, I am in Brandon's truck, on my father's lap, pulling up to the packhouse.      "If I had known she would need a ride home, I would have asked her to stay until I finished at the school. Why didn't she say something? Better yet, why isn't she riding with Jana?" I hear Brandon say to my dad.      Dad looks down at me and sees my eyes are open. Before he can say anything, I feel the truck come to a stop and the pack doctor has the door open to take me. Since I haven't had my first shift yet, I don't heal as quick as most of the pack. On the hospital floors of the pack house, I am being stitched and bandaged before I have to answer questions about the rogue attack. After the pack doctor is satisfied that I will live and able to leave the hospital wing, I am led to Alpha Drake's office. On the way, I see Jana and she is pissed. She is also to be inside the office for questioning, that much I am sure, as I see her stomp to the door and knock.      Once we are inside, I bow as much as I can with my injuries. I look up to see Alpha Drake, Brandon, Dad, Marie, Mom, and Jana. I hear a knock before Alpha Drake can speak. Dad opens the door and my big brother walks in with urgency. Mark, who turned 18 three months ago, looks me over. He is satisfied that I am alive and able to stand on my own so he stands next to our dad.      Alpha Drake begins. "Since everyone us here, Shyanne please tell us what happened."      "Yes sir, Alpha Drake. I was walking from school to meet Jana because I got in trouble. I sensed I was being watched and turned around to go back to the school to ask Brandon for a ride. But there were two unfamiliar wolves blocking the way. Their eyes were blood red and I knew they had to be rogues. I felt my life was in danger but I froze when one advanced on me."      "Why didn't you shift?"      "I turn 16 next Friday. I couldn't shift."      Marie said, "Are you sure young was going to meet Jana?"      Knowing all hell is about to break loose, I brace myself to speak my next words. I know Alpha Drake has the ability to tell when someone is telling a lie. I fleetingly wonder why Marie doesn't know that about her own father. I stand tall as much as I can considering my injuries and tell him the truth while omitting some minor details.      "Yes Marie. I am sure I was catching up to Jana."      "What do you mean by catching up to Jana? Did she leave you at school?" asks Brandon.      I lower my eyes and shrug my shoulders as Jana say, "She told me to. She said needed the exercise."      I have become aware of my wet and tattered clothes clinging to my skin. Nervously, I try to unstick my shirt from my back. My mother notices and speaks up.       "Shy, you are soaking wet. Did it rain? How did you get so wet?"      I keep my eyes lowered as I answer her. "Some girls threw water on me before I left school and again before I was attacked." I look up to see Brandon slowly turn to his little sister with a hard look his face as it dawns on him that she is one of the culprits.      "I bet I know one of them is standing in this room right now," he said.      Alpha Drake looks sharply at Marie after hearing Brandon's statement. Knowing that would make the discussion longer and I was feeling the pain again from my wounds, I speak up, "Please sir, can we finish? I would like to go to my room Alpha. I feel the soreness returning and I am sure the pain will follow."      Hearing the shakiness in my voice brings his attention back to me. He makes a gesture and Mark leads me to a seat in front of Alpha Drake's desk. I take it, wincing as I feel the dull ache that is threatening to become full-blown pain. Alpha Drake looks at everyone and speaks again, mainly for the benefit of those who didn't know he could tell when a lie is told like I can.      "I can understand having fun and playing pranks. I can understand wanting exercise. What I can't understand is why someone would claim to need the exercise and not give their belongings to the person. So, I ask again, and this question is for Shyanne, why were you walking from school?"      I look him in the eyes as I feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. "Sir, I have never lied to you. I will not stop now. The entire truth is Jana left me because I was taking too long. I took too long because of the 'prank' played on me and getting reprimanded by a human teacher. Before you ask alpha, it isn't the first time I walked or was 'pranked' by the same group of people.      "I saw them pass by me before I was attacked. Jana was already gone before I left the school. They threw more water on me as they passed which made me drift into my thoughts even more. That is when I sensed I was being watched and tried to turn back to the school to get a ride from Future Alpha Brandon. But he found me first."      I look over at Jana who looks at me wide-eyed. "Is that why you always had me waiting? Because you were basically being bullied? Why didn't you tell me? Why did you allow me to assume you was getting into trouble every day? Did you really get in trouble this afternoon or was it a ploy to make me leave you behind? Jana's questions feel more like an interrogation. I can hear the concern in her voice. She is no longer angry at me for being found out.      Still looking at her, I know she is sorry. "Today is the only day I ever got in trouble. I was reprimanded for daydreaming during class." I see the anger flash in her eyes before she turns her attention to Marie, who never bothered me at home unless her friends were visiting and no one else was around. Looking around I see everyone look in the direction Jana is looking. Knowing it is about to go from bad to worse, I address Alpha Drake again. "Please sir, it isn't all Marie's fault. She is just trying to fit in with her friends." I stand up, gasping from the sudden movement, forgetting my injuries from the rogue attack as I try to defend my once best friend. Jana and Mark are by my side instantly.      "Alpha Drake, Future Alpha Brandon, Mom, and Dad, I promise Shy will never walk from school again. Please, if you have any more questions about the rogue attack, ask them now. My sister needs rest from that ordeal and reliving it to tell you about. If Shy has satisfied the questions you have, please allow me to escort her to her room. I want to attend to whatever she needs while she heals. I am very grateful she is alive, although I was upset at being found out. Now I want to make up for my behavior towards my sister as I have bullied her as well. I thought she was getting into trouble so I would punish her for my gains. If I had waited for her, the attack would not have happened. I want to make it up to Shy for my part in this. I know I have punishment coming as well, but can it wait until she heals?" Jana says from beside me.      Alpha Drake nods and turns to my dad. Future Alpha Brandon, however, asks a question I can easily answer, "That was some great blocking. Who taught you that?"      "My big sister Jana."      "What blocking?" asked Mom.      "After I killed the accomplice, I noticed she had her bag clutched tightly to her chest, near her neck. Looked like she made sure to keep her chin touching the bag too. Almost looked like she had a hunchback. I really believe it saved her. Jana, who taught you that?" asked Brandon.      She smirks and c***s her head, "My best friend, Mark."      I feel a burning sensation and look at Brandon with pleading eyes.      "Da--Alpha?" said Brandon.      "Call a pack meeting for tomorrow. I want everyone there. And I mean everyone, pups and omegas included Beta Aljep. I apologize Shyanne for this meeting to run this long. You have given more than sufficient information on all accounts. Please see the pack doctor again before retiring to rest. I can tell you have a high pain tolerance but you are feeling the reliever wearing off. Gamma Mattie, please search again for the replacement instructors for the humans. With this attack coming so close to our school, I am beginning to suspect we may not be able to protect them without showing our true selves when or if that time comes. Mark, great job on teaching some type of defense to your sister who in turn taught the younger one," said Alpha Drake. After which, he opened the door allowing my family to leave. I looked back and saw a frightened look on Marie's face as the door closed behind us.      As instructed, Jana and Mark take me back to the hospital wing for more pain reliever. I feel their love but I am used to being alone now. As I am being led back downstairs to my suite of rooms, I concentrate on where I felt the pain the most. Wishful thinking that I can wish the pain completely away. I soon find myself drifting into thoughts instead of the concentrating. I pick up my daydream where I left it in class. This time it seems so real that when I see Brandon marking me in this dream, I moan. Unfortunate for me, it happened right before we reached my bedroom.      "Eww, Shy, I don't want to know about that one," I hear Jana say. Then the three of us step into my bedroom.