Chapter 8
"Does the Alpha help with training?" I asked Juniper, hoping my voice sounded casual.
"Every day," she confirmed. "Training is mandatory regardless of age or gender. Physical training is the highest priority in Sunrise Peak Pack."
As if on cue, Ruby—the girl Juniper had warned me to avoid—sprinted across the field toward Alpha Charles, attaching herself to him like a leech.
"See what I mean?" Juniper smirked. "Ruby has a thing for Alpha Charles. She seems to think he'll choose her as his fated mate."
I nodded, irritated by Ruby's fawning behavior for reasons I couldn't explain. I pushed the feeling aside, not wanting to make enemies, especially with someone as awful as Juniper described.
"How old is the Alpha?" I asked, noting how much younger he looked than fifty-something Alpha Gregory.
"Twenty-five. He's a good Alpha—strict but fair. Much better than his father, who was a complete bastard. More of a dictator, really."
I took a bite of my sandwich, watching the training equipment being set up. "So he took over after his father stepped down?"
Juniper shook her head. "No, Alpha Charles killed his father, Alpha Lucas, and took over when he was seventeen."
I considered this, imagining an Alpha young enough to still be in high school. "Wow, I bet a lot of people didn't like taking orders from a seventeen-year-old kid."
"Actually, everyone was thrilled to see Alpha Lucas go down," Juniper replied. "He was cruel. Women weren't even allowed to train; he treated them like animals. He'd kill anyone who stepped out of line. He even killed his own mate and his designated mate."
Her words made me nauseous. Killing your mate could drive your wolf insane—it was practically impossible. I'd heard stories of rejected mates choosing others, but never of someone killing their mate.
"That's awful," I said, and Juniper nodded, popping a grape into her mouth.
"Everyone hated him. Things changed when our Alpha took over. He made sure women could train to better protect themselves. Maybe that's why he let your family join our Pack so quickly. Having your mother and father is an advantage, with your father's Beta bloodline."
I nodded, believing she was right if he truly hated Gregory Pack as much as Juniper said.
"Maybe," I had barely finished speaking when Alpha Charles looked in our direction. His silver-gray eyes met mine, sending a strange sensation through my body. I immediately lowered my gaze, relieved when the school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Juniper and I returned to our lockers to grab our gym clothes. We changed quickly in the bathroom, pulling on red polo shirts and black shorts before heading back to the field. My heart raced with fear that my wolf-less status would soon be exposed. My mother had warned me to keep a low profile, but that now seemed impossible.
Alpha Charles and my mother were talking with several teachers when everyone fell silent and moved to their designated groups. I followed Juniper toward our age group, surprised when Alpha Charles walked toward us. Juniper smiled as he approached.
"Hey, Alpha," she greeted, stretching her arms.
"Hello, Juniper. Margaret, you can sit on the sidelines today to observe how we operate, if you'd like," he offered, and I nodded gratefully, relieved I wouldn't have to train immediately.
"No, she can train like everyone else," my mother corrected, appearing behind him. My hope for a reprieve vanished—was she trying to get us caught?
"She doesn't have to, Ophelia. I can give her an exemption," Alpha Charles argued. I shot my mother a pleading look. Her lips tightened, but she remained silent.
"Come sit in the bleachers and watch," Alpha Charles instructed, and I followed him, taking a seat beside him. I observed the groups training while he occasionally rose to assist teachers or correct students before returning. His scent—like a forest after rainfall, strong and intoxicating—confused me.
He looked down at me. "How do you like the school so far?"
"It's okay," I answered, uncomfortable in his presence. I noticed my mother repeatedly glancing nervously in our direction, which only made me more anxious about his attention. His rare gray-blue eyes gave me a strange sense of attraction.
"Do you train often with your mother?"
I nodded. Training wasn't just mandatory at school; at home, it was practically a religion. However, considering the amount of training at this school, I hoped my mother might ease up. At our previous Pack, training was only twice a week, but here it was daily except weekends.
"Yes, Mom doesn't like me missing training, as you can see," I told him, and he nodded.
"Good. You can rest today and tomorrow, but starting Wednesday, you'll train with the others," he commanded. I nodded, already plotting how to handle the impending disaster.
Ruby sauntered over, stopping in front of us. I noticed her glaring at me, hostility flickering in her eyes.
"You should be training, Ruby. Return to the field," Charles demanded, his tone much colder than before.
"I just came to see if you could help me, Charles," she cooed, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. Her infatuation was obvious, and she wasn't trying to hide it.
"That's Alpha to you! Now get back to the field, Ruby," he ordered, pointing in the direction she'd come from. She glanced down at me, eyes narrowing, before sashaying away. I knew she'd make my life hell, and I hadn't even spoken to her yet.
"Well, I better get back over there, Margaret. See you around," he said, walking toward my mother, who was now berating Ruby for leaving the training area.
When training ended, my mother called me over. The polite but underlying angry look on her face told me she was displeased and trying not to let others know. When I reached her, she grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, away from prying ears.
"For someone who's supposed to keep a low profile, you seem to be attracting the Alpha's attention. Maggie, we've talked about this. You need to stay away from him and his Beta. We can't let people know yet," she scolded, concern flashing in her brown eyes.
"Well, maybe if you told them, I wouldn't have to hide," I retorted. "And I didn't approach him. He came to me."
"Watch your attitude, young lady. I will not tolerate disrespect," she growled, and I rolled my eyes, immediately regretting it.
"Margaret, you may be my daughter, but that doesn't mean you can slack off. Now run ten laps around the field," she commanded, the scar on her cheek more prominent in the sunlight.
"What? Come on, Mom, you can't be serious," I argued. Just then, the scent of rain-soaked forest washed over me. Alpha Charles stopped beside me, having obviously witnessed our dispute, making the whole situation more awkward.
"Is everything alright?" he asked my mother, his voice low and authoritative.
She bowed her head respectfully, then glared at me. "Yes, Alpha, everything will be fine. Go on now, Margaret," she said, pointing to the edge of the field.
I pulled off my sweatshirt and threw it at her. "She can't be serious. Why is she like this?"
My mother growled, catching my sweatshirt and pointing to the field's edge. "This is ridiculous," I hissed, storming away.
"Make it twenty laps," she called after me. I groaned but walked to the edge of the field, cursing her name and the Moon Goddess.
"Keep it up, Maggie, and it'll be thirty. Now start running!" I rolled my eyes and began my laps while my mother screamed, blowing her damn whistle. Juniper joined me for a few laps before tiring and sitting down.
By the time I completed fifteen laps, my legs were burning, and my lungs felt ready to explode. I stopped, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. My mother blew her whistle to get my attention. I looked at her, sweat soaking my body, my shirt sticking to me.
"Five more laps, Maggie."
"Five more laps, Margaret," I mimicked between breaths, shooting her an angry look. I peeled off my soaked shirt and tossed it on the grass, left in just my black sports bra.
"Would you like me to add more laps?" she shouted. I shook my head and continued circling the field. As I passed the bleachers, I noticed Alpha Charles still there, watching me. Unease prickled up and down my spine. Something was bothering him, and I could guess what—or rather, who. In my world, the answer was always the same: me. I wondered if he'd discovered I was wolf-less, useless to the Pack.