Chapter [Two]

As I stood under the showerhead, scalding hot water danced down my tired back. If only the soothing water could melt away my fears. Call me childish if you want, but I didn't want to be an omega. Not that it was shameful or anything, but I didn't want to end up as a trophy. Omegas were rare. The Moon Goddess granted only a handful of omegas to a pack at any given time. For example, Luna was the only omega.

"You're overthinking things," Orion said. "Who said you're about to turn into an omega wolf? You could as well turn into a submissive beta."

I froze at his words. Maybe. Betas were the only class with fluidity. Betas could be submissive and dominant. It gave me hope. Alphas, however, were always dominant, while Omegas were submissive. But don't let the title fool you. Omegas were known as submissive alphas. They were a tad weaker than an alpha, but stronger than a beta. Omegas, being gentle, didn't throw their weight around.

As for the deltas and werewolves without ranks, they were not as influenced by pheromones. Or maybe they didn't give a shit about whipping their dicks around to display their dominance.

"Just go with the flow, Cal. You're driving me crazy."

I scoffed at Orion before turning off the shower. The heavy blanket of steam soon dispersed as I dried myself off. I wrapped a towel around my waist before I gathered up all of my belongings. I then exited the stall and stepped into the chaos of the crowded locker room. Swallowing heavily, I lowered my head toward the black and white tiled floor before I embarrassed myself by getting an erection. The locker room was bustling with naked men strutting their stuff around without inhibitions. I rushed over to my locker and started changing into my jeans and red t-shirt.

A large hand slapped me on the back, causing me to squeak out, much to my humiliation. Several chuckles rang out. I glared at Justin as he smirked at me, but my glare faltered when my traitorous eyes landed on my best friend's chiseled chest.

"Sorry, Cal," Justin chuckled, removing his pants. I quickly averted my eyes. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," I replied sheepishly while slipping on my sneakers.

"Yeah, right..."

I retrieved my backpack before slamming the locker door. Hesitating about leaving, I swayed on the spot before sinking down onto the bench. I didn't want to go home. Most likely, my father was waiting for me with another lecture, locked and loaded.

Justin sat down beside me and said, "You can't avoid your father. You have to tell him."

I scratched the imaginary itch on my stubbled chin before replying, "Yeah, I know. But I don't have the strength for one of his lectures. He always compares me to my brothers."

Justin slung his arm around my neck. My face warmed at his touch. "Just ignore him. He's too wrapped up in his own glory to see your worth." He pulled me closer, pecking me on the side of my head. "You are not your brothers. You're smarter than they are, and you have other skills that could benefit the pack in the future. That is why my father agreed to send you to college."

That is why I had a crush on my best friend. He was always there for me when I needed him. My lips curled into a smile. I patted his hand before saying, "Thanks. You're a great friend to have in my corner."

Justin laughed, giving me another hug before standing. I nearly fell off the bench when his massive dick came so close to slapping me in the face.

"What the hell?! Get your dick out of my face, you idiot!" I grabbed my bag and retreated to a safe distance. My face must have been red as a tomato.

Justin held his stomach while his laughter filled the locker room. "Oh, come on. It's harmless." The idiot touched his flaccid member, fondling it.

"Jeez! Stop touching yourself in front of others! You're a pervert!"

Justin roared as he laughed. He enjoyed embarrassing me whenever he got the chance to do so. And being depraved at the most inappropriate time made things even worse. It took all of my willpower not to take a peek at the monstrosity.

"Fine! Fine..." Justin raised his hands in the air while backtracking toward the showers. "My dick is probably too much for a virgin such as yourself, anyway."

His laughter died down when his sexy ass disappeared around the corner, leaving me hot and bothered. I had to shift my erection before it became apparent just how much I enjoyed his show, much to my dismay. Asshole...

I grumbled under my breath as I ran out of the locker room and toward my car. The orange glow of the setting sun stretched across the sky, bathing the parking lot in its embrace. A flock of birds chirped overhead as they flew home to rest in the forest that surrounded the school. I quickly reached the silver SUV and unlocked it. After throwing my bag onto the passenger seat, I inserted the keys into the ignition. The car gurgled to life before driving out of the parking lot toward my childhood home, where my father undoubtedly waited for me.

***

Ten minutes later, I drove through a wrought-iron gate and parked next to my brother's black Camaro. You see, the rest of my siblings were the sparkles in my father's eyes, while my mother tried her best to love us all. My father showed his love by buying brand-new cars for my brothers and younger sister, while he handed my mother's old SUV to me. Not that I complained, though. My mother looked after her car, and the SUV still looked brand new but with a couple of thousand miles under its belt.

You would have guessed I'd be mad at my father's antics, but I wasn't. I gave up a long time ago on gaining his approval, which was never going to happen. There was no pleasing him. Don't get me wrong. My father wasn't abusive, and he didn't throw me in the basement of our house because I wasn't good enough compared to my other siblings. He was just a grouchy old fucker who had his emotions scrambled through years of service to the pack. 'For the good of the pack' was his motto. And he lived by that creed.

Since I wasn't as strong and a kiss-ass, my father didn't really pay that much attention to me. Only when I fucked up did he love reminding me of it. Now you're wandering about my younger sister. She was the baby of the family and my father's princess. So, whenever she cried wolf, he trampled anyone into the dirt to serve her every whim. And, Goddess, did she know how to manipulate him.

The cherry-red BMW she got a few months ago told you everything you needed to know. Not to mention all the designer clothes my sister wore while I had to buy my clothes at Target most of the time.

I sighed at all the thoughts that mulled around in my head and exited the SUV. I slowly made my way toward the front door of the Mediterranean-style mansion we lived in. Eight spacious bedrooms (en-suites included), three additional bathrooms, a dining room, a grand kitchen, a living room fit for a king, a gaming room, and a library. That doesn't even cover the backyard and its long list of goodies.

I opened the front door silently and peeked into the foyer. It was quiet. Stepping onto the white marble floor, I closed the door and sneaked over to the winding staircase. But as luck would have it, my father called my name from the living room.

"Caleb!" My father's voice boomed throughout the house. "Get your ass in here now!" My siblings' snickers rang out afterwards.

Great... a captive audience.

My bag hit the marble floor as I made my way into the spacious living area. A large, beige, L-shaped couch took up most of the living space, snaking around the room with a glass coffee table sitting in the center. Several empty bottles of beer littered the red shaggy carpet underneath. My mother was about to freak out when she saw the mess my father and brothers had created. The three beasts lounged on the couch while watching, you guessed it—football.

Just as I reached the back of the suede couch, my father said, "Tell me why Coach Simmons called me and said that he has kicked you off the team?" His brown eyes glared back at me while he drank his beer.

My brothers' heads rose from their nests and stared at me. Their lips twitched into a grin, anticipating a fight between me and my dear old dad.

I rolled my eyes and replied, "My heart's not in the game anymore... I have—"

"I don't care if your heart isn't in the game anymore. When you start something, you finish it to the fullest extent of your ability. Haven't I already told you this?"

And there you have it, another speech about how to act. My father believed in a strict moral code. One that he constantly shoved down our throats. While my brothers followed his creed like puppies, I was the only one to vomit it up. I wasn't my father.

I glanced at the TV, trying to avoid his judgmental stare reserved only for me. At first, when I was younger, I always tried to gain his approval. But I soon realized there was nothing to be earned. If you didn't follow his teachings to the letter, he had no time for you. In a couple of weeks, I would graduate from school, and hopefully unshackle myself from his oppression.

The blare of the TV filled the silent room for a minute before his father said, "Has your tongue run dry, boy? If you're not willing to speak, then you'll listen."

My father rose from the couch, rising several inches higher into the sky than me. His bulging muscles flexed under his green polo shirt. "You'll return to school tomorrow and beg your coach to give you another chance. Even if you have to beg."

"No," I replied. My body froze in shock as I realized what I had done. Darn mouth!

A growl escaped my father's mouth as his eyes glowed blue for a second. The word my father hated the most was hearing 'no' from his children. He demanded absolute obedience. A few strands of his salt-and-pepper hair flopped down onto his forehead. My brothers snickered as my father strutted toward me.

"Repeat that..." His beer-drenched breath fanned my face. Eww!

I took everything in me at that moment not to flee. But I knew better. He would have beaten me to a pulp before I could have reached the safety of my room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad clench his fists. I gulped while my heart threatened to short-circuit.

"Man up!" Orion yapped. "We can't let him intimidate us like this."

"He'll kill us!"

A calloused hand grabbed me by the chin and lifted my face. "It appears you're not as dominant as your siblings. Such a disappointment... I had hoped that Justin's influence might have rubbed off on you, but it seems I was fooling myself."

Disappointment? One word. How could such a simple word cause such damage? My heart broke when the word slipped out of my father's mouth. I had always suspected that I disappointed him, but he never said it out loud. The corner of my left eye itched as tears pooled there. However, before it could fall, my mother intervened.

"What's going on here?" My mother's sharp voice cut through the living room. My brothers quickly lowered their heads from view while my father's anger evaporated on the spot.

I pulled my chin free and whipped around, rushing toward the foyer. My mother and sister stood in my way, but I snaked past them without lifting my head to meet them. My mother called out to me, but I ignored her. I wiped the tears off my cheek before grabbing my bag off the ground and hauling my ass up to my room.

Fuck my life.