Chapter 2

I stirred awake. It had been a week since Griffin's near-fatal assault on me, and I hadn't ventured outside my house since. The bruises on my neck had long faded, and a few days after the incident, my voice regained its usual strength.

My father had been livid. It took every ounce of effort from both my mum and me to prevent him from ripping Griffin to shreds. Frankly, I wouldn't have minded if he did. I utilized the time at home to catch up on assignments and review material for my upcoming exams. Although they were still a few months away, I seized every opportunity to prepare.

Today marked my return to school following the harrowing incident. I braced myself for the inevitable stares and whispers. My presence was bound to intensify the pack's animosity towards me. Word had it that Griffin faced a public admonishment from Kendrick in front of the entire pack.

For an Alpha, such a public disgrace was the utmost form of humiliation, often resulting in their wolves distancing themselves for a few months before fully cooperating again. Given the circumstances, Griffin was likely without his wolf's support, making his predicament even more precarious.

Serves the ignorant jerk rig—

Jazzlyn! No profanity. What have I told you about this?

Apologies, Gianna, but admit it. He is one, isn't he?

I laughed. I cherished my wolf, Jazzlyn, the rebellious spirit within me that I yearned to channel more frequently. She didn't take things to heart, a trait I wished I possessed.

No, Gianna. You don't need to be more like me. You are already like me. We are one, remember? You possess that feisty spirit, just waiting for the right moment to unleash it. Trust me.

I sighed. Perhaps she was right, but at the moment, I felt devoid of confidence. Where was this rebellious streak she spoke of? It was certainly not here. I rolled out of bed and trudged through my usual morning routine, managing, miraculously, to make myself somewhat presentable.

Donning skinny jeans, a t-shirt, and a loose hoodie to conceal my figure, I barely looked presentable. A light application of makeup helped hide the dark circles under my eyes, a testament to my restless nights. I looked disheveled, a fact no one could dispute.

Dragging my feet down the stairs, I dropped my school bag near the front door. The scent of a bacon sandwich wafted from the kitchen, where my father was engrossed in the paper and my mother sat with a steaming cup of tea.

Wordlessly, I took my seat and began to eat. I didn't feel like talking, the dread of the upcoming day overshadowing any appetite I might have had. I was apprehensive of how the pack would react to the incident with Griffin, their judgment adding to my mounting anxiety. My parents glanced at me, remorse apparent in their eyes. Their guilt tore at my heartstrings – they blamed themselves for my circumstances, even though they had done everything they could. They had no reason to apologize. My fate was beyond their control.

After I finished breakfast, I snatched my bag and bolted out of the door, hoping to avoid any further conversation with my parents. As I drew closer to school, my anxiety heightened, a gnawing fear consuming me. I dreaded the prospect of heightened hostility and judgment.

The sight of the school brought a wave of panic; my breath became shallow and rapid. I needed to calm down – a panic attack was the last thing I needed. A haze settled over my mind, but I forcefully pushed it away. I couldn't afford to succumb to fear, I had to face this head-on. I refused to be intimidated.

Gradually, I regained some control over my emotions as I stepped onto the school grounds. It felt as though I had a beacon on my head, drawing attention to me. As soon as I set foot on school property, it was as if a spotlight was trained on me. The experience was as uncomfortable as I had feared – I might as well have grown three heads since my last school day.

My frustration grew at their curious glances and murmured judgments. Their probing stares felt like daggers, hatred and scorn palpable in their expressions. I was the girl who had caused their Alpha's public disgrace, a perfect target for their contempt.

Determined to ignore the harsh gazes, I kept my head down and navigated through the school grounds. Just as I was nearing the entrance, the distinctive click of heels alerted me to an approaching presence. The overpowering smell of cheap perfume confirmed my suspicions-Remi. Another name to add to the list of school tormentors.

"How dare you show your face here? Everyone hates you for what happened to Griffin. You absolute witch!" Remi's shrill voice echoed.

A crowd soon formed around Remi and me, eyes wide with expectant curiosity.

"I couldn't care less about your precious Griffin. He ceased being my Alpha long ago. And you, Remi, why don't you go and find some new boy to amuse yourself with? Your boyfriend alone seems insufficient to keep you entertained," I retorted.

"How dare you disrespect the Alpha? And who are you to speak to me like that, you pitiful omega?" Remi shrilled, approaching me with a repetitive click-clack of her heels.

She attempted to project an air of intimidation but failed miserably.

"As I mentioned earlier, which might have been too complex for your limited intellect, Griffin is irrelevant to me. I'll be long gone before he assumes the Alpha role. And please, drop the act, you're failing at appearing threatening," I countered.

Unexpectedly, she lunged at me, but I sidestepped her attack, shoving her back forcefully. She stumbled, landing on the ground with a harsh scrape to her knees and losing a heel in the process. The faint metallic scent of blood tainted the air. She gasped, turning to glare at me from her place on the ground.

"Here's a tip. Why don't you ask Griffin about the optimal way to strangle me? You might actually learn something useful," I mocked, then pushed my way through the stunned crowd.

Quickly making my way into the school, I hurried to my locker, swiftly exchanging books for my upcoming classes. Arriving early for class, I chose my usual spot at the back. Here, I was safe from the prying eyes of my peers, a small comfort that I was grateful for.

The school bell heralded the start of the day, and students started filing in, casting curious glances in my direction. Keeping my head down, I continued sketching in my notebook. The image taking shape was a wolf - a silver-tinted one, poised on a ridge overlooking a vast horizon, framed by a luminescent full moon. Its head was thrown back, frozen in a howl. The silver highlights in the wolf's fur sparkled, rendering the drawing beautiful. I had been working on this piece in my art notebook for quite some time.

"Today, we will be having our monthly shapeshifting lesson. All students in years 11, 12, and 13, please make their way to the football field," the teacher announced.

A sigh escaped me. I despised days like these. We'd head outside, listen to the same monotonous lectures, followed by training exercises in both human and wolf forms. Of course, I was unable to participate. I would sit on the sidelines while my peers pointed and laughed, hurling cruel taunts my way. The training was led by Alpha Kendrick, his Beta, and my father.

The classroom quickly emptied, leaving behind a trail of buzzing excitement. This was a favorite day for most, considered the highlight of the month. For me, however, it signified nothing more than a day of humiliation, especially considering it was my first day back. Fantastic.

I stood up reluctantly, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and I was the last to leave the classroom. I shuffled down the corridors with my head bowed, my gaze fixed on the ground. When I made it outside, I headed to my usual spot under a massive tree on the school grounds, about 30 feet away from the football field. I pulled out an apple and a book, "Oblivion" by Anthony Horowitz, from my bag.

I bit into my apple, found my place in the book, and began to read. The shouts of Kendrick and my dad filled the air, instructing everyone on the optimal training techniques. As always, I wasn't participating. The common belief was that I couldn't "shift". If only they knew how incorrect that was.

The rhythmic patter of feet on the grass indicated the start of the laps. I was deeply engrossed in my book, the climax unfolding on the pages. However, a sudden burst of shouting jerked me back to reality. Looking up, I saw Griffin, his face contorted with hatred, glaring at me.

"Aren't you going to join? Oh wait, you can't shift. How could a pathetic creature like you bring me such humiliation? My wolf abandoned me for the past week. I can't shift. I can't fight. It's ALL YOUR FAULT!" Griffin howled.

In response, I rose and faced him, striving to maintain an unaffected exterior despite my inward trepidation. I possessed power that could easily bring him down, yet I had to restrain it. I had to appear defenseless, which made me feel vulnerable and exposed. It was a feeling I detested.

Anger flared within me, causing my eyes to shift to a bright, shining silver - a blatant giveaway when I was incensed. The storm of emotions was visible in my gaze. My hands formed tight fists at my sides.

"Perhaps if you were half the man your father was, we wouldn't be having this conversation. So, I suggest you back off," I retorted, my arms folded defensively across my chest.

"How dare you?" Griffin snarled, taking a step closer.

"Griffin, if you don't step away from her this instant, I will postpone your ascension to Alpha for another year," Kendrick bellowed.

"What!? You mean I won't become Alpha even after I find my mate? You can't do that!" Griffin gasped in disbelief.

"I can, Griffin. Don't test me. You're dangerously close to forcing me to make that announcement," Kendrick warned sternly.

"Why do you defend her? She's just a useless omega. She can't even shift," Griffin snarled.

"And what about it? Does her inability to shift give you the right to mistreat her? Absolutely not. She is no less than any of us. You need to comprehend that fact or you'll never be worthy of the Alpha title," Kendrick fired back, his tolerance for his son's disrespectful behaviour wearing thin.

With that, Griffin stormed off. I shook my head, taking a moment to calm myself and let my eyes revert back to their normal color before settling back down on the grass. I reached for my book, ready to lose myself in its pages once more.

"You won't be attending school tomorrow. You'll be training with me instead. Be there at 10 o'clock sharp," Kendrick announced.

"Understood, Kendrick. See you tomorrow," I responded, managing a small smile.

"See you tomorrow, kiddo," Kendrick reciprocated, before returning to the ongoing training.

I could barely contain my excitement. It felt like an eternity since my last training session, which I absolutely cherished. It was the only time I could fully embrace my wolf self. Contented, I turned back to my book, immersing myself into its captivating world.