Chapter 5

“So which colour will you be wearing?”

“Hurry up and decide, we’re running out of time!”

“I can’t think with the two of screaming in my ears!”

Kaylum and Clara stepped back at my outburst. We were deciding what each of us would wear to the ball. Not an easy task without the time or quiet to think about it.

I take the two samples my roommates prepared for me, two different styles.

The first is a traditional ball gown of black and gold, with full lace sleeves and a high neckline. It is beautiful, but not my style.

Kaylum’s option is a red jumpsuit with a detachable skirt.

Hmm. I pass Clara’s ball gown sample back to her.

“I’ll wear the jumpsuit.”

“Excellent choice!” Kaylum smiled. “Another win for me.”

Clara rolls her eyes. Oh, I have a surprise for her.

Kaylum and I take out our options for Clara. Kaylum, ever the well-dressed one, has come up with a soft-coloured sundress with a silk scarf.

Clara looks it over with a smile.

Then I pass her my sketch. Her face falls.

“This?” She looks at me with a blank face as I shake. “Really?”

I nod. It was a metallic silver mini-dress.

“No.”

I couldn’t stop myself laughing at that point. It was just too good, her face was priceless and her entire reaction was so much better than I could have hoped. It was good that she went with Kaylum’s choice, who would want to wear a prank?

Now it was Kaylum’s turn.

“I can’t wait to see the rubbish you two have concocted for me,” he teased, only be tackled by both of us.

“Take it back!” Clara and I cried.

“Never!”

The battle that ensued was gruesome, rolling over each other in an attempt to crush the other two in order to become the victor. We separated for but a moment, each collecting a weapon and standing at guard. Quite the image when you realize the three of us were standing facing each other with pillows. The air is heavy with tension; we’re all waiting to see who cracks first. Clara is panting while Kaylum is shaking. My eyes dart between the two, daring them to break the unspoken treaty.

How long we stood there, we do not know. It started slow.

I smiled first. Then Kaylum stopped shaking. The bell-like sound of Clara’s laugh rang out first, Kaylum and myself giving in and following suit, all collapsing in a pile in the middle.

“Okay, okay,” laughed Kaylum. “But seriously, what’ve you two got for me?”

Clara passed him a picture of a classic tuxedo. White shirt, black coat and tie. Really? If she were an ice cream flavour, she’d be sweet maple. Basic and generic.

My design, however, is a maroon velveteen dress jacket with a salmon-pink shirt underneath, and matching cotton trousers.

Guess which one he preferred. Mine.

Kaylum and Clara are in the sewing room putting together our outfits for tomorrow night. I’m at the window, watching the sea and thinking. When will I be allowed back? Will I be allowed back? I get how I was wrong, but doesn’t the child’s behavior reflect on the parents’ ability to raise them? Alpha Brooks was right. Leona wasn’t done right her parents, and everyone around her is paying the price. It was an honest mistake, so why am I being punished so severely? I know it could be worse, but working with the pups was my whole life. Looking after them, helping them with their studies, making sure they were safe at all times… These were things that made me happy. Everyone in the pack has at least one role to play. About a third of us are students, and among the students, a little over half are pups and hatchlings. The adults mainly hunt and butcher, tailor, and garden. Anka is the High omega. The pack hierarchy goes Head Alpha, Alpha’s Mate, High Omega, and then everyone else. Sometimes Alpha’s Mate and High Omega are the same person. I was secretly hoping to take over from Anka as teacher and High Omega when she retired, but that’s not looking very possible right now.

The pups were my role, my responsibility…without that, what am I? What do I do? I don’t even have magic.

Before I can start really feeling sorry for myself, a bright flash of light erupts from the direction of my bed, immediately grabbing my attention. Once the light fades, a small envelope lands softly on my pillow. This…is not normal.

Cautiously, I cross the room to my bed to investigate. The envelope is slightly weighted, and addressed to me. I know, because it has my last name on it. Only Anka and Alpha Will know my last name.

Against my better judgement, I open the envelope. Inside is a card, and three small, red button-looking things.

The card is from, “A friend in a different reality.” Oh? I’ll have to ask Anka about that one.

“Please find enclosed 3 red skittles to give to Anna at the ball tomorrow night.”

Hold up. That’s what the things are? Also, how does this person know Anna’s name? Or are they talking about a different Anna?

“I can write to you once a week.” Please don’t. “I’m using magic to get these cards to you.” That much is obvious. A knock at the door pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Anna…”

I open the door to let her in. The poor thing has been crying.

“Oh, Sweetheart, come here.” I pull her into a hug, and she wraps her tiny arms around me.

I guide her into the room and shut the door.

“Sweetheart, what happened?”

She shook her head. Where are her parents? Her uncle? Why didn’t she go to them?

I sit her on the bed.

“Anna?”

She sniffed and looked up at me as I stroked her hair.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong? Maybe I can help.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know,” I sigh. “I don’t think I can. I got in trouble, and I don’t know when or if I’ll be allowed back.”

Anna just nodded and reached for me. I sat next to her, and she cuddled into me.

“Leona’s being mean…”

Oh, so that’s why she came to me. She doesn’t trust anyone else.

Also, why was Leona targeting Pike and Anna? They’re in the same class. Anna’s an alpha’s niece, Leona an alpha’s daughter. They have similar social standing. Pike is in her pack. Is it because of how she’s been brought up? Probably.

“And Clara’s not doing anything…”

“Clara? What is she doing about the situation?”

“Nothing,” she whined. “She’s a bully…if we do something wrong, she doesn’t give us the chance to learn from it…”

“And Leona does?” I guess.

Anna nods.

“Listen to me,” I say. “I may not be able to teach you, but I think I can still be your friend. Would you like that?”

She looked up at me with her beautiful eyes, no doubt from her father. “Really? You mean it?”

“Of course!” I smiled. “The rules I was given never said anything about being friends.”

Anna grinned widely and wrapped her arms around me tighter, her tail wagging.

I am furious with Alpha Nera. She is failing in raising her daughter right. If she doesn’t do something about that, Leona is going to grow up to be a spoiled brat her drains her pack’s resources on herself.

“Anna-”

The door opened.

“Hey, Ellie?” And in walks Clara. “Have you seen-”

Anna squirmed to get behind me. I help.

“What is she doing here?” Clara demanded.

“She came to me. Why me, when she has a fine teacher’s aid such as yourself?”

I offer a strained smile, making direct eye contact. She is older, and therefore this is a challenge.

“I trust the pup hasn’t told you any lies.” She folds her arms.

I stand and approach, removing all emotion from my voice. “I wouldn’t consider it a lie, considering she is cowering.”

“Oh, she’s just being dramatic because she’s not learning her lessons. She keeps making excuses-”

“Shut up.”

Clara blinked in shock. “I- excuse me?”

“I said, ‘Shut. Up.’” I close the distance between us. “Anna was making no excuses, she was asking for your help.”

“Explain why she didn’t say that, then! She’s jealous because Leona is top of the class. A child who doesn’t do their work and instead chooses to make trouble must be punished.”

My ear flicked back as Anna started crying. That’s when it dawned on me that the rest of this conversation would be better had telepathically. I mind-link Clara.

“Please tell me you didn’t put your hands on her.”

“What’s the difference between you and me?” Was her reply. “You handled Leona in anger; I handle the rest to discipline.”

I cannot believe what I’m hearing.

“You dare-”

“Dare what, hmm? The pups respect me.”

“Like Volc, they do!” My vision began taking on a yellow-ish hue as I felt scales crawl over my hands.

“Watch your tone with me-”

My hand met with her face, sending her to the floor. My heart clenched at Anna’s whimpers behind me.

Clara felt where I’d slapped her, feeling blood. It took a few seconds for the event to register.

“You hit me…” she said softly at last, out loud.

“Be glad that’s all that happened,” I growled as I picked her up by her throat.

Anna began crying louder, snapping me back to reality. I drop Clara and rush over, pulling the pup close as she cries into my shoulder. I glare at my roommate and pick up the mind-link again.

“We’re not in The First Age anymore, Clara. Grow the fuck up, and admit your faults to Anka and Alpha.”

“I did nothing wrong.”

I hold up my claws as a warning.

“It was not a request.”

“Who are you, to threaten me?”

“Someone trying to make sure her pups are safe and happy.”

“They’re not yours-”

“Nor yours.”

I cut the link and sit on the bed, pulling Anna into my lap. Never again. Never. I will protect this pup with my life.

I’ll have to see what I can do about Leona, though…