I was awoken by noises in the classroom.
I startled upright. Maria was seated next to me, staring creepily ahead. Didn't I fall asleep with Wolfie on guard? How was it that Wolfie did not consider Maria the vampire a threat?
The classroom was still teacherless, and some of the kids were rushing out, saying to themselves, "A fight!"
Jasmine burst into the classroom. "Sam! They're fighting in the car park!"
"Who's fighting?" I asked, still bleary-eyed.
"Henry and Marcus and Liam," Jasmine said.
"Oh," I said. Why were they fighting? Boys!
"You have to go and stop them!" Jasmine told me.
I shook my head. "Let them fight it out."
They're boys. They fight. The boys at my pack fight too… like Tim and Shannon. Or Ben and Jonah, or Shannon… Heck, I think the boys have all fought over something or other at least once in their lives.
"But they're fighting because… because of you," Jasmine said, and then she gasped and covered her mouth.
Of all the stupid reasons to fight.
"Leave them be. They'll be back when they're done."
Jasmine looked helplessly at me, then flew out of the classroom to try to stop the fight herself.
I wondered if I should go with her, but the other kids started coming back to class.
"Did you hear that Henry and Liam got in a fight?"
"No, it was Marcus and Henry. Liam was stopping it!"
"No, Marcus was stopping it."
"Weren't those guys always tight? Why were they fighting?"
Maria smiled creepily, her face otherwise still expressionless as she stared straight ahead.
The guys returned, Jasmine and Pearl trailing in behind them. They looked fine. Were they even fighting?
I eyed them quickly—not a single bruise or scratch. Even their hair looked in place. Liam smiled at me, his usual lopsided, easy smile. Henry shrugged in a friendly way. Marcus gave me a small smile as he sat next to Henry.
What kind of fight did they have? An intellectual debate?
I looked at Jasmine, but she looked away from me. Pearl caught me looking and threw me her usual wide smile and waved.
I returned it with a tight smile and looked away.
Something had happened, and it wasn't just the fight. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I would have shrugged it off sooner, deciding it was none of my business, but Jasmine had said the boys were fighting because of me. I'm not sure what I had to do with it, or how responsible I was for it.
For some reason, my bad mood had accumulated like the kind of dark rain cloud that wasn't there in the morning, but grew and grew while I was not looking, and was now clearly visible and ready to rain.
I was just going to pretend the fight didn't happen.
"I heard there was a fight!" Troy had just entered the classroom.
"Shhhh…" the other kids frantically hushed him.
Troy got back to his seat next to Liam. "Who fought?" he asked Liam casually.
Liam shrugged and silently held a finger to his lips. He winked at Troy.
"Just shut up already, Troy," Pearl scolded. "Don't get anyone here in trouble."
By the next lesson block, it was as if the entire class had decided that the fight hadn't happened either.
The discipline mistress and vice principal came into the classroom to address reports about a fight in school that morning. They didn't know who it was and wondered if our class had any information.
No?
The class remained completely silent. Even the humans were very quiet.
They also talked generally about how to resolve conflict in the classroom without fighting, because a class was like our family in school.
They asked us, "Where is your class spirit?"
I wanted to answer, It's a secret, sir.
But I kept silent, along with everyone else in the class.
After that, they left the classroom, and the class buzzed back to life.
I could hear the cool girls conversing.
"I can't believe they let it slide like that!" Krystal said. "That's the difference when rich kids fight."
I stopped listening.
Lunch came. I didn't think we had any real lessons yet, but I was feeling drained. I retreated wordlessly into my personal lunch abode at the abandoned side of the school, drinking my Coke and eating peanut butter sandwiches… Yeah, just peanut butter, but my Mum had a rough night with the rogues and my dad being injured and all that.
And it was yummy anyway.
After lunch, I went to the library. I didn't feel like reading, so I cracked open a book and looked at the pictures.
The library had a no-sleeping rule, a no-talking rule, a no-loitering rule… It had many rules. But they all suited me.
Today, the pictures in my book were showing a flower. This book was in English and wrote the flower's name next to it: Wolfbane.
Wolfbane was purple and grew on a tall stalk. Oh, and unlike silver, it was toxic to humans too.
I wondered if it bothered vampires.
"Its effects on vampires are mostly gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea."
I looked up.
"Oh, hello, Creepy Princess."
I grinned at Maria. She was right on time.
"You're in a good mood again."
I realized she was right. I was. I guess being alone did me good.
We walked around the school, mostly slowing down in front of Dino's class.
"So, are you ready for the party later?" I asked Maria.
She looked a little miffed that I even had to ask.
"Of course I'm ready. It's just a small party."
"Yeah. Sure."
"Your wolf has grown stronger," Maria observed.
I nodded. Yeah. It was emerging.
"You haven't shifted yet?" For some reason, Maria seemed surprised by this.
"Soon. I'm shifting soon."
Maria didn't respond. I realized we were just outside Dino's class now, so she had to focus on his perfect profile. I didn't even bother to look into the classroom.
We entered our classroom and took our seats.
{Wolves approaching.}
And they were. Henry stepped in first, followed by the others.
Jasmine looked so excited she could barely hold it in. "Sam! Congratulations!"
Eh? What happened?
"You always act so indifferent, but in the end you come through on top!" Jasmine continued, talking about something I had no idea about.
"Good work, Sam." Henry looked pleased.
Liam smiled at me.
"What are you guys talking about?" I asked finally.
"The archery club selection test," Marcus told me.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to check." How could I forget?
The guys laughed.
"You're right!" Pearl told Jasmine. "She always acts so indifferent."
"So… I made it in?" I asked.
"You were top score, Sam," Marcus told me.
Wow. I can be really lucky sometimes!
"So we've got a student president, a vice/band leader, a football captain, and an archery captain in the bag," Henry counted off on his fingers.
Whoa, archery captain? Wait, what happened to just doing whatever I wanted? Story of my life…
"Tomorrow is my cheerleading tryouts!" Jasmine burst out excitedly. "Wish me luck!"
"Oh, I envy both of you," Pearl said. "Because of my back injury, I can't do any of those things."
"Even people without back injuries couldn't hit that score," Henry said. (It's just beginner's luck, Henry. Don't be overconfident on my behalf! T.T)
"Sam hit the bullseye on the first try," Jasmine added. (How did you know that? If Jasmine didn't become a Luna, she should be a spy.)
Pearl huffed. "I'm not saying I could beat that score… I'm just saying it's sad I can't even try out for these sports. I guess my only chance is at the public speaking positions next year." She looked hopefully at Henry.
Henry shrugged. "We'll see."
"You could look for something else to do in the meantime," Jasmine said a little too pointedly.
Was it just me, or was something going on between the two girls?
When boys get pissed with each other, they fight, and then it's all over, like it never happened. When girls get pissed with each other… there is a deep undercurrent where the piss can swirl around for days on end.
That was why there was always a line I never crossed when I was with a girl. I've always been a little terrified of dark things that lurked underwater.
Like mermen—which, fortunately, turned out not to be the goddess' choice for my mate. No, my mate was a proper Alpha wolf from a proper Alpha lineage and a proper family and pack… which he ran away from to end up being a fight dog in a vampire fight cage! I.d.i.o.t.
I couldn't wait to go look at the archery board!
"Elena told the girls you tried out for the archery club, so we all went to look at the results," Jasmine told me. "I was so surprised, Sam. Why hadn't you said anything?"
Because I had no idea? I shrugged. "She asked me this morning."
"Wow, Sam. You're really on the front-page news today," Pearl told me.
"Just because I passed the archery club selections?" I asked, laughing.
"Well, no…the figh…" Pearl stopped short and gave an awkward laugh. "Forget I said anything."
So I did.
"Oh yeah, Sam?" Marcus asked me. "Did you ask your dad about… uh, what we talked about yesterday?"
Eh? What did we talk about yesterday? Oh man, I'd completely forgotten. I promised to ask if my dad remembered his dad or something.
"Uh, no. Sorry," I said.
Marcus looked disappointed.
"I will ask him when I can," I said, remembering my dad was injured. "My dad's currently, uh, a little injured, but I'll ask him when I find the right time to."
I really hadn't wanted to reveal my dad was injured, but I also didn't want Marcus to think I hadn't wanted to help him ask or anything.
"It's nothing serious," I quickly added.
"What happened?" Henry asked, his expression serious.
"Rogues," I said, trying to keep it vague.
"In Night Leaf?" Henry raised a brow.
"Are you okay?" Jasmine asked. She looked concerned.
I nodded quickly.
"She was probably at the safest place her pack could keep her," Pearl said.
That tone again! Sometimes Pearl talked a lot like Krystal.
Krystal was human, so my Wolfie never minded, but coming from Pearl, Wolfie growled.
I knew the world was unfair. I knew sometimes rich kids or Alpha brats were so rotten the stench really got in your face—but when had I ever, ever, ever waved my privileges in anyone's face, or not worked as hard as everyone else, or pulled strings for unfair advantages?
"I was fighting too, Pearl," I told her finally. "I was up most of last night fighting, and then… well, a lot of things happened."
Why did everyone think my life was easy and everything was handed to me on a silver platter?
"Why did your dad even let you out there?" Marcus exclaimed. "Sam, you are a girl!"
And then they got angry when they found out I didn't spend my life on a pillow. It seemed like I'd never be able to win.
"Because… never mind." I gave up.
"How many did you kill?" Henry asked.
I thought about it. Technically, Harvey landed all the final blows. But if I said that, Pearl would have more ammunition to say how I made someone else do all the dirty work.
Which might be true, given that I did push Harvey in front of me more than once… But it wasn't for that purpose. I was just using our individual strengths—and his happened to be landing the final blow.
It would be stupid for me to try to get the final blow just for the credit.
"Is she still counting?" Marcus joked.
"No, I was just thinking it didn't count if I didn't get the final blow, right?" I said.
"You need to be more careful, Sam," Henry said finally.
"I had my Beta with me," I answered. "I've learned the importance of running into a fight with a good Beta by your side."
Henry growled. "I don't know if I should ask how you dealt with it before."
Marcus facepalmed. "Why would an Alpha ever run into a fight without a Beta?"
I shrugged. "My dad does. And it always worked out for him."
Except last night.
"You're not your dad. You're a girl," Henry pointed out, clearly exasperated now.
"Rogues are dangerous, Sam," Marcus spoke as if to a very young and stupid child.
"Everything is dangerous," I grumbled and crossed my arms.
"Sam, you're a girl!" Henry wasn't going to take this sitting down. "I don't know how often I have to tell you this. You're a girl, so be careful."
"How about I carefully punch out your face?" I stood up to face him.
"Okay, whoa… chill!" Marcus grabbed Henry's arm.
Liam got up to move between us, putting his arm out protectively in front of me.
That just pissed me off more. Why did they treat me like I needed protecting?
{Because you are precious.}
I remembered the feeling suddenly—dressed up in the Lorent dress and high heels and gold bracelet. Feeling precious, like something to protect. But I wasn't dressed up right now.
I'm strong. I'm the Alpha. But I'm precious?
The Luna is precious. I'm the Alpha.
"Enough," Maria said.
We froze, our growling cut off.
Jasmine quickly added, "She's right, guys. Please stop!"
I'm precious?
"Liam! Henry!" a male teacher's voice boomed into the classroom.
Oh man. We were doomed.
Suddenly, a light bulb lit up inside me. Perhaps it was the desperation, so similar to when I was facing the rogues last night, but I had to save Liam and Henry…
"Guys! Quick, show the teacher!" I waved my arm excitedly. I didn't know what I was doing. I was winging it again… and embarrassingly enough, in my airhead mode.
Mr. Devon, our English teacher, was a werewolf, but I didn't like him. He was the type of wolf who was really annoying when given any amount of power, because he would require a great deal of attention to it.
"Show me what?" Mr. Devon asked.
"We made a play," I announced blithely to the entire class.
Mr. Devon looked at us.
Jasmine nodded immediately. "Yes, sir, we did."
"What is this play about?" Mr. Devon asked, clearly not buying it.
There was silence. I looked at everyone, and everyone looked at me.
"Well? What is the play about?" Mr. Devon had walked over to us.
I remembered the textbook had something about Macbeth. I'd read it on the way home recently.
"Um… something like McDonald's—oh, Macbeth?" I said. "We imagined it went like this."
The guys nodded dumbly behind me. I think they were dying inside from not being able to laugh.
"It did not go anything like that!" Mr. Devon growled.
"Have you read it?" I asked innocently.
"Of course I've read it! I was in honors English lit!" Mr. Devon spluttered.
"Please teach us!" Jasmine asked immediately.
"Yes, please!" I said. "The guys made it look so exciting!"
"I'm sure whatever those guys did was not Macbeth," Mr. Devon spat.
"I love Macbeth, Mr. Devon," Pearl said. "I really felt for Lady Macbeth during her soliloquy."
"She would," sweet Jasmine made a snarky remark. Now I was sure there was something in the water between those two.
"We have no time for Macbeth right now. Unfortunately, I have a lesson plan to follow." Mr. Devon spun around and moved to the front of the classroom. "Take out your textbooks and turn to page 12."
We complied. And just like that, we were off the hook.
"Who knew she was such an airhead?" Marcus chuckled.
"More like a hothead," Henry grumbled.
"Wait, won't that make her a hot airhead?" Marcus snickered.
"If that's your type, Marc." I could almost hear Henry's signature smirk in his reply.
"Henry! Marcus!" Mr. Devon shouted.
Well, they almost got off the hook.
Sigh. I can't believe I did that, though. In front of the whole class, too.
That was clearly un-Alpha of me.
One day, when we meet again at an Alpha Convention, no matter how great an Alpha I become, Henry will always remember this incident in which I was nothing but a total airhead.