Chapter 2

Well, here we go. The next stage of my life is about to begin. My bags are packed, I’m dressed and ready to head to the airport. I take my luggage to the front door and walk down the hallway to the kitchen. I felt like everything around me was moving in slow motion, I look up at the hallway taking in all the pictures of me and my mother as I grew up through the years. I pause at one of my mother and father when I had just been born, oh I wish my father would be here right now to see what I have achieved in life. He was never actually reported dead, but when someone has been missing for 16 years they stop looking for them. My mother managed to survive the grief and once I became 12 really came back into herself and worked her way up to be the head of our pack’s Omega’s. I’m so proud of everything she has also accomplished without him.

I walk into the kitchen and the room is filled with the smell of waffles, coffee and fresh berries.

“Mmm, mum you’re cooking up a storm in here” I take a seat at the kitchen island and smile in appreciation.

“Of course! I have to make sure you get one last good meal in you.. who knows when I’ll next see you now” her voice started to break but she looks up at me and gives me a small smile.

“Don’t worry yourself, I’ll be back during the holidays” I stand from the island and walk around to her giving her a hug. She stops herself from cooking to return the hug, knowing it would be one of the last for a while.

My mum finishes up cooking and we both sit down to eat. My belly purring in appreciation of the good food in front of me. We make small talk through breakfast and then we hear a distant car beeping. It was time to go. We get up and walk to the front door.

“Please look after yourself Nova, even if you can’t call me weekly please just drop me a text at least so I know you’re safe” her eyes are starting to tear up.

“Of course mum I’ll text you every day and call at least once a week” I gave her once last reassuring hug and grabbed my suitcases and bags.

I walk over to the car and I’m greeted by Elder Michael himself. I walk over and give him a quick hug and a beaming smile.

“Elder Michael I didn’t know you personally would be coming on this trip with me”

“Hello Nova, nice to see you again. Yes well the Academy is right next to the Sapphire pack so I thought I may as well join you on your journey over there. I also wanted to ensure Alpha Mark would actually let you leave the Black Diamond pack and come to the academy, I heard he was quite upset about losing his prized possession” he lets out a small chuckle. I join him in laughing.

“Yes well I’m glad to finally be leaving and getting to explore what else the world has to offer. I’m also excited to no longer be his puppet for all negotiations” Elder Michael gives me arm a reassuring squeeze. We both grab my bags and put them into the boot of his Range Rover and get into the car.

I wind the window down and wave to my mum, “Look after yourself mum, I’ll call you when I land” I shout across our lawn to the house. She blows me a kiss and before I know it we are driving to the airport.

The drive to the airport was a short one, we made small talk along the way. He told me that King Leo also currently attends the academy and his younger sister Nia would be starting at the same time as me. He informed me of the other current noble families that attend the academy, it felt like a small history lesson as I sat in awe of the people that I was about to join.

“Nova, you do understand you’re the first non-noble wolf to join the academy and the youngest wolf to ever be admitted there?” Elder Michael briefly glances at me to gauge my reaction. I let out a deep sigh.

“Yes.. I understand, and I understand the pressures of this and how those of noble blood may look down on me”

“Yes it is curious though how an omega family has an ability such as yours, the only time it has ever been recorded of a noble family having your ability was the Shadow family, and they seemed to disappear out of existence around 50 years ago” we arrive at the airport and he looks over to me.

“Do you know anything about the Shadow family? I understand you only love with your mother and your father, Tobias, is currently missing” He places his hand over mine.

“No I don’t sir sorry” emotions begin to overwhelm me at the mention of my father. “I don’t know anything about my father apart from what my mother told me, when she met him he was merely a pack warrior and a good one at that” I look down to my lap.

“I’m sorry Nova, I didn’t mean to upset you, I suppose I’m just too curious for my own good” I look up at him and see a small smile, I return the smile.

“Right let’s get going then, we have a flight to catch”

Another wolf from our pack was at the airport waiting, he took the keys from Elder Michael so that he could drive the car back to the pack. We grab our bags, go through check in and security. The whole experience was a bit overwhelming as it was my first time to an airport. It was bustling with people from all walks of life, I look around me amazed at this is what I had been missing out on. Elder Michael took me to one of the lounges, explaining that we would be flying business class amongst the general public, so we were also in the presence of humans. The lounge was beautiful, we were served by a waiter named Jim.

Once we had finished eating we gathered the items we had with us and walked over to the gate for boarding. We were flying to a place called Florida, from there we would have a car waiting for us and we would drive over to the academy. The flight was comfortable and felt very lavish having a seat turn into a bed was definitely a new experience for me. Elder Michael would look over to me from time to time and would chuckle to himself as he watched me, I imagine I look like I was experiencing Christmas for the first time. As we started descending I look out the window to the new place that I would be calling home.