002.

Mira's POV

"Yes!"

The scream came out before I could stop it.

It bounced off the lockers and down the hallway.

Heads turned in my direction. A few people stared.

I pressed my hand over my mouth.

Josh's locker was three away from mine. He shut it and came over.

"What happened?"

I thought about the glorious words on the letter. We are pleased to inform you. . . As much as I dreamed of getting accepted, I didn't know I would get in.

"Mira?" Josh's brows knitted.

"Umm, nothing."

"You literally screamed."

"I got a letter."

"From who?"

My mouth moved faster than my brain. "Daniel."

Josh pulled at his chin. Daniel was the fair-haired boy from the school across the park. I had mentioned him because months ago he sat next to me at the park and tried to make small talk. I had been too shy to respond. And Josh wouldn't stop teasing me about it.

"Daniel sent you a letter?" He leaned one shoulder against the lockers. "What did it say?"

"I'm late for class." I tucked my books under my arm and stepped around him.

"Mira. What did the letter say?"

"I'll tell you later. Bye, Josh."

I walked fast. He called my name once more but I turned the corner and kept going.

I felt bad for a while. I hated the idea of lying. Then I thought about the reason I lied and the guilt evaporated.

Josh would tell me not to go if he knew about the letter. He would list every reason why it was a bad idea. And then he would tell his mom.

Aunt Michelle never joked about my safety. She was my late mother's best friend. She had taken me in after my parents died four years ago without hesitating.

She loved me so much. And that was exactly the problem.

If she found out about the trial she would sit me down at the kitchen table with tea and explain, very kindly, that it was too dangerous for someone like me. And I would not be able to argue with her face looking at me like that.

So she could not find out. Not yet.

I slid into my seat just before the teacher walked in and opened my notebook to a blank page.

Six months. The training ran for six months. I needed a reason to be away for that long without Aunt Michelle asking too many questions.

I stared at the teacher in front of the class. He was teaching History, talking about the global catastrophe that reshaped our world. An asteroid hit Planet Earth, killing over half the world's population, and the old world order collapsed. Those that remained evolved into shifters to survive the harsh climate. That was over a century ago.

My mind drifted off the teacher's lesson. I needed to think of a lie to tell Aunt Michelle.

I could tell her it was a training camp for something she already knew I did. That was possible. I ran track. Aunt Michelle knew that. If there was a regional training camp for track athletes she would believe it.

I could draft a fake letter on an official-looking paper.

I wrote that down, felt immediately guilty, and crossed it out.

I would think of something. I always thought of something.

The lesson ended and the teacher said we would do an assessment in the next class.

Break came and I took my sandwich outside. I sat on the low wall at the edge of the courtyard.

Around me, students sat in clusters, laughing and chatting. I ate alone. That was normal for me. I was too shy to socialise. Josh was the only person at this school who actively chose to spend time with me.

I struggled to even make friends with other Omegas..

A group of girls sat on the bench nearby. Close enough that I could hear them clearly.

"Ironridge has a pre-trial camp." Chloe, one of them, tapped her phone screen. "My brother got the invite this morning."

"How long is it?" another one asked.

"A week. Before the joint trial. They take the top candidates and train them together. It's going to be intense."

"Only the strong shifters get invites."

"Obviously."

They moved on to something else. I sat very still with my sandwich in my hands.

Ironridge Academy. I had heard the name. It was an old school with strong reputation. One of the schools that sent candidates to the joint trial every year.

A pre-trial camp? That was interesting.

At the other end of the courtyard, I saw Josh and his usual group. They talked excitedly. Something told me they were talking about Ironridge. I got up and walked over.

The laughter faded when I got close. I swallowed as I felt the eyes of Josh's friends on me. I never spoke to them. I was always tongue-tied around them.

"You want to see me?" Josh asked.

I nodded.

He got up and pulled me aside.

"Did you hear about the pre-trial at Ironridge?"

Josh looked at me steadily. "Yes, I got the invite email minutes ago."

"Oh, wow. That's amazing."

"Yeah, why did you ask about it?"

"I want to come."

He exhaled through his nose. "Mira. You know what I'm going to say."

"Just say yes."

"It is a camp for strong shifters. Everyone will know immediately that you are an Omega. You know how they treat..."

"I know exactly how they treat Omegas." I blurted, then I softened my voice. "Josh, please. I will stay out of trouble. I just want to be there. To see the action up close."

"You never stay out of trouble." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You were in a fight just this morning."

"That was different and you know it."

"The answer is no."

"You never let me come to anything. Every single time there is something worth doing you leave me behind because you are worried. I am tired of being left behind."

He looked at the ground. "I can't allow you."

"I won't be a burden, please."

Josh looked up. His jaw was tight. "If anyone gives you trouble. . ."

"I will handle it."

"If anyone gives you trouble," he said again, "You'll come to me. You won't handle it alone. Deal?"

I smiled wide. "Deal."