Chapter 8

Shifter Class The first class of the day was the shifter class. Surely I had some exemption because it would be ridiculous for me to attend. I hadn’t left yet everyone was shuffling to get to breakfast on time while I was struggling to find a way to blend in. I missed a whole day of classes yesterday I didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. Sunglasses would be pushing it. I braided my hair into a side braid that fell over my breast. I went to the mirror to check out my look and couldn’t help but think about my life if I wasn’t there. I would have gone to college and lived out like a regular girl. No one would look at me like I was the scum at the bottom of their shoes because where I would go no one would have known I was part of something else. I wore a black skirt that rode up my thighs with black sneakers and the regular omega identification t-shirt. I checked my phone for a text from Mom, but she hadn’t texted back yet. Geez, what had she done with her phone? I was just going to have to plan to call her. No one in my room knew I had a phone and I wasn’t sure how people would react to me having one. I slipped it under the pillow and darted out. I hoped I wasn’t the last to get to the cafeteria. Which was just a hall with three long tables and bunches. Emery waved me over to where she sat with Blair. “You should get food before there’s nothing left,” Blair said quickly. All I found was the mushroom soup that was too watery for my liking and stale bread. For someone who hadn’t eaten last night, I wasn’t grumbling much, just ate my cold soup in silence. “We heard what happened yesterday!” Emery blurted out. “Emery!” Blair barked. “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk about that.” “Yeah, I’d rather not,” I said, lifting the spoon to my mouth. “Everyone knows you’re Alex’s best friend. I can’t believe you are friends with an Alpha heir, what’s it like?” Emery pressed. I couldn’t damper her high spirits that had her bouncing in her seat, but I really didn’t want to talk about it. “Normal. Alex had tons of friends before he came here.” “You should lay low Gabbie. You don’t know Leiah or any of her friends.” Blair bore into me. “Yeah, I know first-hand. It’s just I really didn’t go looking for trouble.” “Fine, but now you know what’s going to get you into trouble. Life’s hard enough being an omega. Just keep your head down and you’ll survive we all will.” Blair’s words came after an old-fashioned church bell sounded. People started shuffling out of their seats. I’d only managed to eat half of my soup. “First class,” Blair said. “Right about that. Do I have to go? I don’t have a wolf, what good will the class do for me?” “Oh, the teachers could help you shift. I remember that boy who hadn’t shifted before he came here.” Emery said and Blair nodded. I shot out of my seat. There was a chance? That there was a wolf was alive and maybe just sleeping. “Gosh, then what are we waiting for?” I said, suddenly too full to think about my soup. I hurried ahead of them, new hope of having something I envied for so long finally given to me. I wasn’t naïve to think we’d get it on the first try, but there had to be a sign that the wolf was in me, right? A kick or a jolt of life. All I needed was a sign then maybe I wouldn’t be doomed to be an outcast even from my own kind. *** Blair tried to fill me in as much as she could on our way to class. Pretty much she told me everything not to do and the list was long. Never look an instructor in the eye, never talk unless asked to, do everything he asks, never disobey. All instructors were betas. They had to be high rank so they could handle the students. The class was behind the castle grounds near the forest. An eerie forest that felt like it had eyes sticking out of the trees. During class, we were positioned according to packs. Blair and I were all from the same pack. Seven packs attended the academy, but we were less than two hundred omegas. A man with a red hat stood in front of us, arms stuck behind his back. He sneered at us. “Sanders?” I asked Blair. She nodded. Of course. I could see his muscles through his black tights and long-sleeved shirt. He had the aura of a soldier he must have been in the Alpha’s army at some point. His eyes were pepper grey, he looked like he was in his forties, but still a powerful wolf. He stood at ease, scrutinizing the small group present for this class. “I don’t need to tell you what this class is about. As omegas, your roles are not grand, but your Alphas still need you to make yourselves useful. Which includes battle in wolf form. One by one you’ll shift, but I am the most unfortunate man to have been handed an omega that can’t shift.” He sighed on the last part. My cheeks heated up when snickers came from the back. I should have stood at the very back, but I was too eager to get here. “No need to worry. Sometimes a wolf just needs to be pulled out of you.” He added. I swallowed, what did he mean by that? “Chambers!” He spat. “Front and centre.” I scurried a few feet in front of him, careful to keep my distance. He looked like he would really bite me. I looked at Blair who rubbed her hands nervously. Why was she nervous? It made me nervous. In the distance Alex, Kade and the beta who tried to kill me approached along with two other guys I’d never seen before. The beta, Baxter grimaced at me and I scowled back. Alex flashed me one of his pearly white grins and I struggled not to smile back. “Good. Now we can start and get this over with.” Mr. Miller growled. “Alex, since she’s your pack. You do it.” “Uh, what is he supposed to do?” I asked. There goes one off the not-to-do list. I envisioned Blair smacking her forehead. Miller stepped out of the way, replaced by a mischievous Alex. His games always involved me landing in mud or dripping wet. Miller shot me a devilish smirk that I would never trust even if it was on Santa Claus. “Well, little red panda. A wolf can be drawn out when it senses danger.” “What?” I subconsciously touched my ponytail. Alex unbuckled his belt. “What are you doing?” I hissed. I looked at Blair and she warned me with her eyes to keep quiet, but what the hell was he doing? Was he really going to strip in front of a crowd? Yes, because his shirt came off and I blushed fiercely. He revealed stone cut abs etched in bronze rock that had me aching to run my fingers down them all the way to the V disappearing down his pants. I think I jumped, where did that come from? He pushed his pants down next, exposing his toned leg muscles and a pair of Calvin Klein briefs. I swallowed, trying not to go there, battling to keep my eyes from his crotch. Gosh, I hoped no one noticed how pink I was. “Alex here is going to attack you,” Miller said calmly. “Attack me?” I snapped my head in his direction. In an instant, Alex transformed into a black wolf ten times my size. My best friend was gone replaced by a majestic wolf I’d only met once before. Still, his blue eyes shone through and I knew it was him inside. The black silk fur only made him look like a vision or a fantasy. I was rooted to the spot trying to understand how surreal it felt just looking at him. Even when he charged, it didn’t even register that I was supposed to be in danger. The wolf got to me and I reached out and grabbed his head. He nuzzled into me, sniffing me. I giggled like a schoolgirl while groans went around the crowd. Miller ran a hand down his face. Alex collapsed on his back, shaking the ground. I got to my knees and rubbed his belly. I may have gotten a little carried away, but the black wolf liked it. He didn’t look like he could harm a fly much less me. It almost looked like he was smiling at me. “Really Alex?” Kade growled, his arms folded over his shoulders. Alex’s laughter sounded and I jumped. The fur I’d been stroking had vanished replaced my stone cut abs and smooth skin. I balled my hands into fists. Alex wrapped his arms behind his head. Oh gosh, he was butt-naked. “I could have told you this wouldn’t work. Gabbie isn’t afraid of me.” Alex said. Please, don’t look at his crotch. I begged myself. I kept my eyes forward and not on the guy lying at my knees. “Fine. We’ll try another wolf.” Miller said. Alex got to his feet, winked at me and searched for where he put his clothes. “I’ll do it. Payback time.” Baxter stepped forward. In an instant, the massive dude was gone replaced by a furry brown wolf the size of a small house. I swallowed. Him… I was maybe a little afraid of it. I stumbled back. “Careful Baxter,” Alex warned, but it was too late. Baxter charged. I had to think quickly because Miller was not going to stop him. There was nothing in sight to use as a weapon. The trees were too far. The grass wasn’t good enough. I had to use the wolf against him. He lunched for me, his pawns intended to pin me down and his teeth to rip me to shreds. I couldn’t reach his eyes. He would easily eat my hand. I ducked under him and the class gasped. I whirled before him and slammed by sneaker on his tail. He howled and staggered to the left. “Gabbie,” Alex yelled. I backed up. Baxter struggled to remain on his feet. His eyes were fixed on me, but he couldn’t move. My heart ran a marathon I could never run with my legs. “Enough! Class dismissed.” Miller yelled. My classmates stared at me in horror. Why? I only defended myself. “Get Baxter out of here,” Miller ordered. The two other guys I didn’t know helped a naked Baxter to his feet. I cringed, that I didn’t want to see. Alex zipped up his pants and walked to me. Miller eyed me with a mix of disdain and curiosity. “I don’t get it I only—” I started when Alex got to me. “It’s okay.” He whispered, but I didn’t believe him. “I need to have a word with your omega, Alex.” I found Kade’s eyes and they bore into me like the fire of a thousand suns and then sum.