Chapter 5

After fleeing from class, I stressed my injured leg to the max to make it to office before anyone could chase me down. I knew I was being paranoid, but it was always better to play it safe. Mrs. Lennit looked up quickly from behind her computer when I came crashing in, startled.

“Good heavens, what’s the rush young lady,” she said, fixing me with a disapproving look.

“Sorry, Mrs. Lennit, I was just really hoping to finish detention early so I could join the after-school Clubs,” I answered softly, keeping my head slightly bowed. She was an unpleasant woman at the best of times and could really make someone’s life difficult if you got on her bad side. And since she was the one in charge of handing out detention duties, I couldn’t afford to upset her even a little bit.

Especially with how often I’ve already been sent here this term.

“Let’s see,” she said, pulling up the email pertaining to why I was sent here today. “You refused to clean yourself up after an accident.” She looked up at me again, taking me in from head to toe, before pulling up the list of available duties. My face was on fire the entire time.

“Your hair and sweatshirt are filthy, so make sure to do some laundry before tomorrow, am I understood,” she said sternly as she looked over the list.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. It was common knowledge by now that my wardrobe was very limited, and that the Alpha Lord and Luna wanted it that way. I knew for a fact that there was a box of spare cloths behind her desk that students could borrow if a wardrobe malfunction took place. That box was off limits to me, however.

“It looks like Mr. Davidson put in a request just before lunch,” she said, more to herself than to me. A cruel smile spread across her face as she looked back over at me. “He needs someone to go help oversee the Beginner Warrior Club today, since he will need to work with the Advanced Club. That young man Benjamin will be there today, and everyone is anxious to see what he can do.”

I put on my best haunted expression, which made her chuckle.

“Off with you now, and perhaps this will be a good lesson for you,” she lectured. “In fact, in the hopes of making sure you stop getting detention, I will place you with those little devils every time your sent here from now on. Am I understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I answered, trying to sound petulant.

“Off with you than,” she said, waving dismissively, and I turned to leave at once before my smile could show.

Once again Mr. Davidson came to my rescue, all without letting anyone know what he was doing. Mrs. Lennit’s reaction to the Beginner Warrior Club was shared by just about everyone in the school. The Elementary, Middle, and High Schools all shared the same campus, with all three building’s surrounding the central commons. However, when it came to after school clubs, each school had their own space housed behind their respective buildings. And the space for the Elementary kids had a chain linked fence around it.

To protect everyone else from them.

Exiting the building, I set across the commons towards said cage.

The students in the Middle and High School’s were in Misty and Chris’s pockets and cared about only two things. Social status in the Pack, and Warrior status in the Clubs. Every activity offered for the mandatory after school Club time revolved around those two things. Chief amongst them were the Warrior Clubs.

The High School version was the Advanced Warrior Club, while the Middle School housed the Intermediate Warrior Club. And, naturally, the one I was headed for was the Beginner Warrior Club. And unlike the other two, very few of the kids there cared for social status.

All they cared about was being the best fighters, and it often resulted in uncontrolled chaos. Mr. Davidson was one of the few who could actually get them to pay attention long enough to teach them anything before they simply resorted to brawling amongst themselves. If he wasn't there, like today, then the teachers in charge simply let them do what they wanted. Only stepping in if someone was about to get hurt.

Mr. Grant saw me coming and a look of relief spread over his face before he waved, then proceeded to go back inside. I liked Mr. Grant, and I think he tolerated me, but obviously neither of us could show it openly. However, I didn’t have long to worry about being the only chaperone present before a group of five came rushing over to me.

Duncan was their leader, and probably the strongest in the cage. Next to him were two boys and two girls, each as mean and menacing as the next. All five of them were set to graduate to Middle School at the end of this year, and it made me a little sad knowing they would never be this carefree again. As such, they were already starting to hit the first phases of their growth spurts, making them nearly as tall as me.

“Rematch, right now, Twinkle,” Duncan shouted when he was about five feet away from me. “I almost beat my brother the other day, and I know I’ll get him next time if I can manage to finally pin you down.”

The mean looks his friends were trying to hold started to fade, and before I knew it, all four came rushing over to hug me, nearly toppling me to the ground. The rest of the students came running over as well, giggling and telling me all about what they’d done since the last time I was there. I listened and responded as best I could, but they were all talking over one another so it was all but impossible.

Duncan allowed it for about a minute before his patience finally faded, and he growled, using his aura to scare away the rest. I fixed him with a hard look.

“You know your not supposed to do that, Duncan,” I said, my turn to scold. “And if I catch you doing it again, then you will have to sit the rest of today’s Club time on the timeout bench.”

Fear filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, please don’t bench me. I really need your help. I can’t let my brother beat me again.”

I shook my head, trying not to smile. “Your brother is two years older than you, and in the Intermediate Club. You’re not supposed to beat him, not until you both graduate school. Just be happy that you can hold your own for now.”

“I refuse to accept that,” he shouted, his eyes pleading. “Please, I’ll do anything. The next time he beats me and rubs my face in the mud, I don’t think I’ll survive.”

Sighing, I shook my head. He was such the dramatic one, but I never could say no to pleading eyes like that. “Fine, but not until the end. If you impress me today, than I’ll give you a one on one lesson right at the end.”

Joy filled his face and he then proceeded to help me round up the rest of the cubs. Not once during did he complain either as I led them through the warmup and basics. First, we jogged around the inside of the cage a couple times, increasing our speed with each lap. Then we did stretches before finally moving into the muscle memory exercises.

Every few minutes I would have them practice a certain maneuver, block, strike, or grapple, then they would repeat them over and over again until I was satisfied. The jog put even more strain on my injured leg, and I had to fight hard to keep from limping in front of the cubs. I was glad to see that they still recalled most of the moves from the last time I was there, and so I only had to correct a few things here and there.

Later on, once they were all breathing hard and crying for a break, I nodded to Duncan.

“Are you ready,” I asked, smiling when his face turned sour.