Chapter 11

The energy is different when I walk into school on Monday morning. There is more chatter, more excitement. A few people even nod to me in the hallway, forgetting for a moment that I am supposed to be shunned.

A group of younger students stands near the lockers talking animatedly, and I slowly make my way over, trying to look casual as I open my locker and mess with the contents inside.

One of the worst parts of my isolation is being constantly left out of the loop so eavesdropping has quickly become an art. I listen closely as the group talks.

“The rankings from the training class assessment have been finalized. Now that they know where we stand as a group, the class is going to be held more regularly,” one girl says excitedly.

“I heard that they are going to keep ranking us throughout the year,” a tall boy near the edge of the group chimes in.

The girl nods. “That’s true. Those who earn the top spots are going to be sent out to train as warriors.”

I perk up at this information. I thought I wouldn’t have the opportunity to leave the pack with Vedant as my mate, since it is uncomfortable for fated mates to be far from each other for too long, but if I can earn my spot as the top female warrior, Vedant will have no choice but to reject me for the good of the pack.

Hope blooms in my chest for the first time in weeks. I don’t have to be stuck here forever.

This time when the first bell rings, nobody waits for the announcement that we are to head to the training field. Everyone quickly bustles out of the main school building and to the field in excitement.

Mrs. Amanita addresses the girls. “Okay, today is going to be a little different from last time. Instead of pairing you off myself, you are to choose your own sparring partner for today.”

I look around, hoping to spot Lynn, but when I smile at her she drops her gaze. I look around as everyone else begins pairing off and realize with dismay that our group is an odd number. Everyone is too scared of Vedant to choose me, and now I won’t even be paired off by default.

I look around to make sure Mrs. Amanita isn’t watching before pulling out my phone to complain to Felix.

Iris: Every day I feel a little bit worse. Everyone is pairing off for class and no one wants to be stuck with me.

Felix: That sucks, but the Iris I know is very capable. I’m sure you’re going to do just fine own your own.

I read the words on the screen a few times before nodding to myself. He’s right. If nobody wants to train with me, I will just have to train by myself. I take my position on the field and begin warming up with the others.

When that’s done, I walk over to the weights that have been placed around the field for us and start there. Alice looks over at me strength training on my own and laughs. “How pathetic, even that weak little Omega you’re always hanging out with doesn’t want you as a partner.”

I ignore Alice’s comment, choosing instead to focus on the weights in front of me, but she doesn’t stop.

“Honestly, you and Lynn should be ashamed of wasting this class’s resources. Any energy Mrs. Amanita puts into trying to train you would be better spent on anybody else. You two losers would be better dropping out of this class altogether.”

After a few more minutes of this it is impossible to hold my tongue any longer. “Why don’t you worry about yourself Alice? If you’re not careful, you’ll waste all your training time talking to me and someone else will earn that top spot to become Vedant’s Luna.”

Alice’s face goes red at my comment. “Why don’t you come over here so I can show you exactly how strong I am? If you’re still alive when I’m done with you, you’ll never show your face in this class again.”

Alice’s arrogance is too much. “Fine.” The word is out of my mouth before I can stop it.

I leave the weights behind and take my position across from Alice. Alice lunges, and I just barely move out of the way in time, careful to hide my speed.

Alice moves again, and I repeat this tactic, watching Alice closely. After a few minutes I figure out her fighting style.

Alice smiles, “You’re just as pathetic as I thought. All you’ve done in this whole fight is run away. You and the weak little Omega should be ashamed of yourselves.”

My blood boils and when Alice lunges again I don’t dodge. Instead, I shift my weight to the left and catch her leg with my own, tripping her up. Before she can regain her balance, I position myself behind her and aim a kick between her shoulder blades.

I take a step back as she falls to the ground. I hear whispering behind me and turn to see we’ve attracted an audience. I strain my ears to hear what they’re saying and can’t help but smile when I hear them talking about how Alice lost to someone without a wolf.

I start to walk away, but I hear Alice’s voice call from behind me. “It’s not fair Vedant, she cheated. She cheated, and you have to punish her.”

I think about this training and how it may be my only escape from this place. If he believes Alice, he could have me removed from the class.

I turn and face Vedant. “I did nothing of the sort. She’s just mad that she couldn’t hold her own in a fight against me.”

I open my mouth to say more, but he speaks before I get the chance. I flinch waiting for the reprimand, but it doesn’t come. “Alice, stop messing around. I saw what happened, everyone did. Chiara won.”

I’m snapped out of my shock when I feel Vedant’s eyes turn toward me. “Do you really not have a wolf?”