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Chapter 3: First Impressions

  • Moonlight Village was a far cry from the hidden forest-implanted village my family and I used to live in. It was only when I joined school, a few days after we settled in, that I learned that there was no need for hiding anywhere in the village, as there were no humans in it.
  • It was again a welcomed change to what the norm used to be for us. Having to live in hiding so to speak had never allowed me to feel free.
  • Even the teachers of the school were werewolves, and they knew how to keep the class in check, even though wolves could be rebellious in nature.
  • My first class was not one I favored. Indeed, I was never very good at calculus, and the teacher instead of scolding for not knowing something very basic, told me softly that I should get a tutor.
  • I looked around, much like a deer caught in headlight, not knowing what to say to that, or who to ask.
  • I had gotten acquainted with quite a few classmates, but I wasn’t sure how they felt about me. I didn’t want to feel inferior because of my lack of a wolf… but I did feel different to say the least.
  • Such a tough call to make!
  • I sighed, and was ready to tell the teacher that I would try to work out on my shortcomings on my own, when a guy raised his hand and said simply, “I’ll make sure she masters that by the end of the month, sir.”
  • I beamed at him, and he offered me a small smile in return.
  • Tyler – that was the guy’s name – was a tall buff guy. He was also one of the pack members I was sure didn’t look down on me – because we sparred on quite a few occasions and I beat his ass, twice… I never would have guessed he was good in class, but looks could be deceiving.
  • I nodded at him in gratitude and mouthed a thank you.
  • It was soon enough lunch break. Feeling too shy to approach anyone and ask for directions, I just did my best to follow the directions on the map.
  • My head was slightly bowed as I looked at said map, and it was therefore no surprise when I bumped into someone.
  • My gaze snapped up at once. I smiled sheepishly and apologized.
  • The guy had a scornful expression on his face for some reason. And I already felt the animosity oozing off him in waves.
  • “Isn’t it little Ms wolfless?” He sneered.
  • I stiffened, feeling like I was in my old pack all over again.
  • I tried to keep a straight expression on, and just said off-handedly, “What is it to you what or who I am? I bumped into you, and I apologized for it.”
  • “The chick got attitude,” he chuckled humorlessly, almost to himself, and his friends laughed raucously.
  • I already didn’t like this bunch.
  • I rolled my eyes at them and was about to leave when he caught my wrist.
  • I turned to him with a glare. “Release me at once.”
  • “And if I don’t?” He taunted, and then he backed me against the lockers.
  • Was he truly trying to intimidate me?
  • He’d have to try harder than this for sure.
  • Before he knew what was happening, my fist flew and landed on his abdomen twice. He staggered back, and profanities followed.
  • He swung his fist at me as well and I dodged it deftly. His hand hit the lockers with a loud bang.
  • Naturally, that attracted a crowd.
  • No one dared to intervene.
  • Why would they intervene for a new member? A member who didn’t have their wolf to begin with… I was but an abomination, a flawed shifter, a burden to the pack.
  • He swung his fist again, aiming my face, and I blocked the blow. Wolf or not, I knew how to fight and I could stand my ground.
  • “How can you fight at all when you’re without a wolf?” He muttered just as he readied himself to change tactics no doubt.
  • I shall not allow anyone to bully me again.
  • I was about to say something along those lines, but then a low menacing growl beat me to it.
  • The crowd parted, and no one but the very man with whom I stood no chance, but who still haunted my dreams at night and daydreams as well, came forward.
  • Good god, he was handsome!
  • I looked at him, and couldn’t help but stare into his furious black eyes.
  • I only realized a few seconds too late that considering his status and my own, I had no right to look him in the eyes.
  • “Alpha, I’m sorry,” I was quick to say… and that had to be my second mistake. I spoke out of turn. I spoke to an alpha without being spoken to first.
  • His eyes narrowed, and I finally broke eye-contact and hung my head low in shame.
  • Where were my damned manners? Hell, where were my self-preservation skills?
  • One simply does not provoke an alpha.
  • “What’s the meaning of this?” His voice was barely above a growl.
  • “Stupid wolfless chick bumped into me, alpha,” the guy began haughtily.
  • “And I apologized for it, alpha,” I cut in immediately.
  • “Eli,” the alpha said in a low deadly whisper, “Back away from Jade if you value your life.”
  • The alpha remembered my name, I thought to myself, happy beyond belief, and feeling silly for it too.
  • Then the alpha’s gaze focused on me and he said simply, “Follow me.”
  • That spelled trouble. I struggled to get air into my lungs for a few seconds there. Many scenarios played in my head, every one crazier than the other…
  • But then, the alpha began to walk away, and I felt compelled to go after him.
  • I wondered what kind of punishment awaited me. The alpha might have defended me but I didn’t believe I’d get to come out of this unscathed.
  • I just hoped he’d allow me to explain my version of the facts. I might have hit a fellow pack member, but the guy had been asking for it.
  • I sure knew how to make good first impressions. First with the alpha, and now at school!
  • Kindly note the sarcasm.