Chapter 2

After a 40 minute drive, we arrived in town, swinging up to the local Starbucks. I ordered myself a Trenta cold brew reserve with the cold foam on top. I savor the deliciousness, as the cold liquid brings a pep to my day. I loved the smell and taste of coffee. 

"Fuel!" Pete groaned, as he took a sip of his hot espresso. 

I laugh at his face, when he realizes just how hot the coffee is.. We talk awhile, as we sip our coffee. He tells me about work, how Alpha Caden will be stepping down, and his eldest son Gavin will soon be Alpha. With a new Alpha, means a new beta. 

"I mean." He rubbed at the back of his neck. "Gavin and I are pretty close, so I kind of hope he'd pick me to be his beta. I know I'm a little inexperienced in comparison to some of the others, but I'm hopeful, you know?"

I smile at my brother, feeling proud and hopeful for him. If anyone deserves it, it is Peter. His is strong, loyal, and a damn good warrior, the best in his class actually. 

I pat his hand, giving him a reassuring smile. "If he's smart, he will pick you." 

I glance at my phone as it buzzes. 

Lora: in parking lot, where you at?

I sigh. My best friend was already at school and she'd be waiting for me. I quickly sent her a text back.

On my way. Pete is dropping me off. Stopped to get coffee. 

Lora: Pete? Oh man what a looker he is. 

Mar: why are you so gross?

Lora: I'm just stating the facts, your brother is a true work of art. Loads if sec appeal. ;D

Mar: I'm going to vomit. You disgust me. 

I set my phone down, gagging. This always happens. Girls constantly threw themselves at Pete. Him and Ella were the good looking siblings, always people fawning over them. 

"What's the face for?" Pete asks, taking a long sip of his coffee. 

"Lora.." I didn't even have to finish the sentence, and he already knew, giving me a nod. Unlike myself, my best friend was loud and very outspoken. She didn't give an eff what anyone thought and she wasn't afraid to tell people off. 

"But she's waiting for me, so." I stand from my seat, tucking my phone in my back pocket. Pete does the same and we head to his jeep, and toward the much dreaded school. 

When we pull up to the entrance, Lora is waiting on the sidewalk near the bike racks. She rushes over as I am getting out. 

"Hey hot stuff! Mar didn't tell me you were visiting." She is practically drooling as she talks to Pete. 

"Just wanted to surprise Mar for her birthday! Figured you'd see me at the party tomorrow night." He winked at her, flashing her a flirtatious smile. 

"I'm going to be sick. Let's go." I throw my backpack over my shoulder, grabbing Lora and dragging her behind me.

"See yah later Mar!" He laughs, and I wave him off, not bothering to look back at the fool. 

"You are disgusting." I say to Lora as we enter the school. I head for my locker to switch out some books before class. 

"What?" She looks up at me innocently with her big blue eyes. "It's not my fault your brother is straight sex." 

I said nothing more to her, just rustled her hair. She had probably spent hours on that this morning so I felt a little bit of justification in the action. 

"You suck." She glared at me, pushing her blonde hair from her face with huff. And I can't help but laugh. 

The warning bell chimed just as I made it to my locker. I quickly switched the books in my bag and headed for physics. 

The school is a mix of werewolves, and humans, more human than wolves though. There was a school closer to the Pack house, where Pete lived, but my dad worked for the border post out here, so this school was what I was stuck with. In fact, there were 6 high schools across the pack territory that were wolf exclusive...yet here I was… 

With the Black River pack being one of the largest in the US, Spreading across two states. It was a lot of territory and a lot of wolves, meaning a lot of schools and human incorporating. I kind of felt bad for the Alpha. Protecting such a large pack and territory, keeping a low profile while living amongst humans… seemed like a lot of work… and to think Pete wanted to be his beta… crazy fool.

Walking down the hall, I clutched at my bag, trying to ignore the stares and hateful laughter. I hated this school, and couldn't wait to be finished. This was my last week, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Being a senior, this day couldn't have come fast enough. No more side glances and rude comments when I walk down the halls, never having to walk them again… utter bliss. 

"Watch out everyone, sasquatch is coming through." Todd Nelson points at me and laughs as I walk into class. So mature.

"Fuck off Todd, just because you're jealous and intimated because she taller than you and you have a small dick." Lora spat. Todd glared at her and was about to say something back when Mrs. Ballored entered the room. 

She looked at Lora and I and we quickly headed to our seats. She was a petite woman and human, but something about the deep dark eyes was terrifying as all hell. 

The day dragged on and I could feel myself growing restless. My last class of the day, linguistics, was the only one Lora was not in, and it was awful. Constant whispers, name calling, and endless laughter. 

"Ms. Packwell, care to answer." Mrs. Ralston is staring at me, waiting for me to answer. I shake my head no, sinking into my seat. 

She rolls her eyes at me, and proceeds to answer the question herself. Thank the goddess. 

The final bell rings and I quickly make my way to the door. I head for my locker at a rapid pace anxious to ditch this hell hole. When I reach my locker after a short walk, Lora is waiting for me, scrolling on her phone as I walk up. 

"Need a lift home?" She asks, slipping her phone into the small purse hanging across her body. 

I nod, clearly out the last of the items in my locker and loading them into my backpack. "But please drive less like a maniac. You have your wolf now, and an accident probably won't kill you, but me… I kind of like the idea of living."

She throws her head back as she laughs, stretching her arm to smack me. 

Standing next to Lora made me look like a giant. I was 5'11 where she was a whopping 5'4. Despite her small stature, she was definitely all roar and all bite. 

"Do you want the ride or not?" 

"I guess." I say letting out a playful sigh.

"Sleepover?"  She wiggles her eyebrows as we begin walking to the parking lot doors. 

"Ugh, you only want to sleep over so you can see Pete."

She shrugs her shoulders shamelessly. "Actually I come for your company, your brother is just an added bonus." 

I shake my head as we head to her car, a cute little vw golf, little car with a lot of punch, just like her, only to find my brother waiting in the parking lot. He was leaning against his jeep, surrounded by some girls. He looked rather uncomfortable as he tried to get them to leave. 

I looked at Lora, who looked at me and smiled.

"Hey Petey, baby!" She yelled as she bolted towards him. I thought she would stop when she got close  but she didn't. The girls surrounding him moved out of her way as she bounded into and jumped into his arms. If he wasn't leaning against his Jeep, they would have tumbled over. 

The girls quickly disperse, scowling and groaning as they leave, murmuring rude comments under their breath. I head over to Pete, and Lora still has herself wrapped around him. They are both laughing when I finally make it to his jeep. 

"Quite the show." 

"You know me, theatrical at best." Peter lets her down, and she lands on her feet with a giggle. "I'll see you at your place then?" 

"Sounds like a plan, Stan. See you in a bit." She waves goodbye, as she heads over to her car. I was secretly thankful Pete showed up, Lora's driving genuinely terrifies me. 

I toss my backpack into the backseat and hop in. I take out my phone, sending mom a quick text that Lora was spending the night for my birthday. 

"How was your day?" My brother asks as he turns the key in the ignition. 

"Same old. Thank the goddess I'm done. I only have to come back next Wednesday for my last final. Than I can kiss this hell hole goodbye!" 

My brother looks over to me, and then back at the road. He seems off this afternoon… 

"What's up with you? You're weird." 

He rubs at the back of his neck, something he always did when he was nervous or uncomfortable. "I have to leave earlier than I had anticipated." 

My face drops. "How soon?"

"At first light. I pretty much begged to be able to stay that long, I wanted to make sure I was here on your most important day." 

I felt my stomach churn. He was leaving so soon… he'd only been here a day, I wanted more time… 

"Hey, hey. I know it's not long, but at least we can make the most of it tonight. Maybe we could go out to dinner and celebrate early? We could go to Rosie's, milkshakes? Hmmm?"

He smiles, trying to cheer me up, and it was working. Although I was disappointed, I would cherish the time we had left. "Sounds like a plan to me! A blackberry milkshake sounds like heaven right now!" 

We drive home and get everything settled inside as we wait for Lora to arrive. My mother and Ella are in the kitchen talking when I walk in. 

"Oh, Margot, come here for a minute." My mother calls. I let out a heavy breath, rolling my eyes in annoyance as I headed for her, Pete following behind me. 

"Yes?" I try to hide the annoyance in my voice, but it's nearly impossible. They are near the breakfast bar, as mom fiddles with something on Ella's dress. She is wearing a floor length charmeuse dress with a scooped neckline that fell off the shoulders.  It was a metallic olive green that sparkled, complimenting her honey colored skin. She looked amazing, as it hugged her nicely, complimenting her slender figure.

"Alpha Caden announced the succession. Gavin will be passed the title of Alpha. His ceremony is to be Saturday night." 

I look at my mother dumbfounded. That's tomorrow… My birthday is tomorrow. That must be why Pete is leaving early. He must have known all along he wasn't going to be here for my birthday and just didn't want to tell me. I was suddenly rushed with an emotional titlewave. 

"Okay…" I manage to choke out, trying to push back the tears of frustration. 

"All pack members in the surrounding villages are required to attend. We must pledge fealty to the new Alpha. So you must come." 

"It's my birthday…" 

"Yes I am aware. Nothing can be done about it. I bought you a dress and it's hanging in your room. Please go up and try it on. I need to see if it needs to be taken out at all." 

I roll my eyes, glaring at Pete as I stomp up the stairs to my room, shutting the door behind me. I flop onto my bed, letting out a light scream into my pillow. 

I can no longer hold back the tears, the aching behind my eyes and throat is too much. 

I let myself cry. 

I know it's a stupid, irrational reason to be upset, but I cannot help it. I was really looking forward to this birthday, finally it was my turn to come of age, to gain my wolf… 

Ugh. This totally sucks.