Chapter 6 Alpha

• Melissa's Point Of View (POV)
• When I awoke the next morning, Abby was already dressed for school and leaning against my side. My body ached as I sat up slowly. I reached for my wristwatch, checking the small screen that said 9:30 AM, the late hours of the morning. "Shit, we are already late," I complained to Abby.
• "I tried to wake you; we missed our bus," she said, putting her shoes on and attempting to knot her own laces .
• "Come here," I invited. I immediately fastened her laces as she walked over. "Please pass me my uniform, over there, Abby." She swiftly fulfilled my request, handing me my clothes. I put on my bra and pantyhose and grabbed the blouse Abby was holding.
• I could feel my wound reopening as I moved. I put my hand over it carefully, trying to keep it together. Abby assisted me in putting on my black slacks and shoes. Before putting on my blouse, I swiftly fastened the laces. I peeled one side of my dressing back; it was slowly healing.
• After completely removing the dressing, I swiftly dug into my duffel bag, brought out a new waterproof bandage, and covered it again. I immediately put on my blouse, grabbed our luggage, and proceeded down the hall to the kitchen, Abby close after. When we stepped in, Freya was standing at the sink, washing the dishes from breakfast.
• "If you're wondering, no, the Alpha isn't here."
• "No, I'm looking for a ride to Abby's school." "Does Griffith still exist?"
• "No, he's with the Alpha, but I'll go get my keys and run you." "Meet me in the car," she said as she walked out of the kitchen and into her room. Abby and I took our bags and walked out to the garage, where a long line of automobiles waited. We waited beside Freya's green hatchback till she got out and unlocked the doors. I pushed the front seat forward so Abby could climb into the backseat before taking my seat.
• "Here, use these pain relievers as needed." They won't put you to sleep, but they will reduce pain, and here is my make-up bag. "Your bruises are already disappearing but still obvious," she said as she tossed the makeup bag onto my lap. I stuffed the tablets into my jeans pocket before using the visor mirror to cover up my black eye and battered jaw. It helped a little, but anyone looking closely enough would notice them. Freya also gave Abby in the back seat an apple and urged her to eat it for breakfast and a lunch box.
• "Some sandwiches and chips for lunch, Abby." Before eating her apple, Abby thanked her.
• The commute to school was quick. Freya wasn't the best driver; she's heavy-footed, and I'm not sure she even knows what a brake is. It was generally a ten or fifteen-minute drive, but she got us there in half the time, which I appreciated. Her driving was making me feel ill. When we arrived in front of the school, Abby and I went straight to the main office, where I signed her in as late before walking her to her classroom. After saying my goodbyes, I began walking to work, which proved to be more exhausting than I had anticipated. My ribs were hurting, and I knew the dressing was already stained with blood.
• Putting pressure on it with my palm while walking prevented it from entirely tearing wide open.
• As I approached, I was strolling past a group of teens when my gums began to tingle. As they walked by, I stepped to the side of the path, pressing up against the brick structure. My teeth appeared just as they did, utterly assaulting my senses. I remained completely motionless, listening to the sounds of their beating hearts, like the sound of the clock ticking, tik-tok, until they were totally out of sight. All I wanted to do was track them down and rip into their carotid arteries, feeding until they drained of every of their essence.
• I dashed to work after they were out of sight. I held my breath as I opened the diner door and went straight past everyone and to the back, dropping my bag on the ground. I grabbed the wolfsbane bottle and gulped two big gulps of it before replacing the top. Jenna had to come out soon to find out what was wrong with me. Because I didn't have time to change my clothes before she came in, I put another straight over the top of it before straightening my blouse, just as she strolled back with a troubled expression on her face.
• "Are you all OK, dear?" she inquired, hurrying over to me
• "Yes, I'm sorry for being late. "We missed the only bus, so I had to wait for a ride into town," I explained as I picked up my luggage to put away.
• "Are you sure you are actually all right?" "You are abnormally sweating and looking a little pale, which is totally unusual," she observed, glancing at me. I knew she could see my bruises since she was staring at them, which made me nervous. I nod hastily before answering, a phony smile on my face.
• "No, I am completely and totally alright." "It's because I ran here from school," I explained before exiting and putting on my apron. I took the coffee jug and strolled around to each table, gently refilling everyone's cups.
• I observed Alpha Declan sitting in the last booth, clothed in a black suit with a silver tie that matched his eye color. He was chatting to someone who was facing away from me. The man turned around and sneered at me when he heard me approaching from behind; it was Alpha Logan and Beta Griffith. I lowered my head and hurriedly filled their mugs. My hands were trembling, almost spilling the coffee on the table. Beta Griffith gave me a glance before turning away.