Breeders

A Difficult Assessment

“Thank you. I lost mine.” I admitted to Ally, taking a lick of the lollipop. The fruity flavor was delicious, making me wish I hadn’t lost mine. We sat there and shared the candy, finishing it together as our last classmate finished their appointment.

“Alright ladies! Please line up in a row.”

“Yes, Misses Crow!” We all chimed as we stood up, getting in line.

“Now then… who here knows how to write and read yet?” She watched as hand after hand went up, some staying down. She frowned at those ones, having them step forward and change sashes here and there as the ones of us who could received lighter color sashes; ally’s and mine being some of the few to not change at all. “All of you who do not know how to write and read yet will have their first class starting tomorrow as English. You cannot be the perfect Omega if you cannot even read a basic command nor write a reply.”

“Yes, Misses Crow.” All those who could not nodded their heads, ashamed at the step down in color.

“You will go to the other side of the gym for now and do a physical fitness exam with instructor Peterson. Be on your best behavior.” Misses Crow motioned for them to go on their way, leaving twelve of us with her. “Now; you all will be taking a skills test with reading and writing to see what level you are at. Do not cheat and if you are lying about reading and writing; we will find out and there will be consequences.” A saw two girls near me start to shift a little as they wrung their hands in their white dresses. “Now please take a seat and begin. Bring your papers up to me when you are finished.”

Ally and I skipped our way over to the closest desks, sitting at almost the same time and starting to go over the work. It seemed easy to me, my daddy having taught me and read to me every second he could back at the pack. I already missed him, but at least now I knew he wouldn’t be in trouble because I was here.

Ally finished before me, taking her paper up to Misses Crow who smiled and then sent her to the other side of the gym to work with the others. I was soon finished as well, following suit. I could see the instructor guiding my classmates in certain poses, his hand lingering sometimes on odd parts of their bodies, smiling as he did.

He was a middle aged man with blond hair and grey eyes, eyeing us like a squirrel would a horde of nuts. “Alright, beautiful little ladies. Next we will be doing some yoga stretches. A good Omega stays limber and thin to help her suitor to the best of her abilities.” He smiled.

“Yes, instructor Peterson.” We chimed as he showed us different stretches to do. One by one the other girls joined us.

“How dare you?!” Misses Crow yelled, making us all stop our exercise and turn around. The two who I had seen earlier were in front of Misses Crow, both of them quivering as she had them stand in front of her. “Both of you will get no food for today, your sashes turned to the deepest color. Also, hold out your hands.” She growled, both of the girls quivering as they held them out for her. Just as soon as they did, Misses Crow took a thin tube from in her pocket, unfurling it to at least two feet long, then striking each girls hand. “Again… do not put your hands down until I say so.” She ignored the cries of them, waiting patiently as they scrambled to do as she said.

“Enough gawking, get back to your stretched, ladies.” Instructor Peterson clapped once, making us turn back around and focus on our task. We all shivered as we worked though, listening to the sharp slice of air as the girls cried out behind us.

“I’m never going to lie…” Ally said under her breath, making me nod my head in agreement. I didn’t want to end up like that either.

We finished our exorcises as Misses Crow came over, the sniveling girls following in her footsteps. “Alright ladies, we need to get going now. All of you who can write and read will be having gym first, then advanced writing and reading after. From here on out you will be split into two groups to better accommodate your teacher, seeing as how you have a full roster. The first group will be the lights, the best of you all; the second will be the stains, the ones who need to improve themselves to be the purest they can.” We nodded at her words, following her as she left the gym. She showed us where we would be having obedience classes, sewing and home care, etiquette, history, and a couple other classes as well. She even told us about advanced classes we would not take until our last year; like a coming of age class.

“Now, girls. It is time for lunch, and we cannot be late. Then we have two hours of scripture and pack law before you have another two hours of free time. During free time, you are allowed to play with others; but you are encouraged strongly to work on social skills and household tasks such as sewing projects or even nest building with Miss Gandry.” My head felt overloaded with information from Misses Crow, the work ahead for all of us looking incredibly daunting.

I slowly raised my hand, desperately wanting to ask even one question. “Yes, Pearl? You may speak.” She smiled at me, making suspect I was the favorite so far.

“Do we have any rest days? Like how at my old pack, on Sundays we stayed at home with my family and had fun and did things together without work.”

She shook her head at me, making a raking noise. “No, no, no… You ladies have too much to learn to have a lazy day like that! If an Omega is not working, her idle hands can become sinful things. You poor child; what has your family been doing to you?!” She pulled me in for a hug, rocking me slightly like I had been hurt deeply.

I didnt get it though. I wasn’t hurt by that; in fact, I had always felt so happy and loved as my family did that, taking time for each other and playing games too. It didn’t seem lazy to me… But then again, my family didn’t have any other omegas; so maybe they were hurting me but they didn’t know that they were. Misses Crow released me from her hug with a tear escaping her eye, smiling a little at me. “Now, come along everyone. Before you know it, a year will go by in the blink of an eye before any of you know it!”