SEVEN

The next day of school whispers increase everywhere I go. On my way to Business class, at the cafeteria, in the toilet, but it’s not until I sit in my Alchemy class that I realize it’s about me.

“Phineas, what’s going on?” I lean in to whisper. A small smile appears on his face.

“Let’s link.” He points to my head. I can’t link telepathically, I lost my ability to do so but I can’t tell him that. Aunt said I should keep it a secret because weakness in an Alpha is unacceptable.

“Just text me, I still have a nasty headache from yesterday.” I share my phone number with him.

“Still? You must have had a nasty fall.” He begins texting me when Professor Sloane walks into the class.

Between yesterday and today, the class shrunk by around twenty.

“It’s good to see fewer faces. Let’s get it even lower today.” She writes on the board.

Science. Medicine. Healing.

“I’m sure most of you already know what Science is. It’s all around us and responsible for understanding most of our reality. Medicine is the treatment of ailments and such with the use of herbs, technology and so on. What we’re going to focus on today is a part of Alchemy that no one really talks about anymore.” She walks the length of the stage. “That is Healing. Does anyone know what that is?”

“Regeneration?” A boy calls out.

“Nope. Another take?”

“Medical treatment?”

“Not quiet. Any one?” A few answers are thrown about but Professor Sloane still rejects them.

“Healing, much like medicine, is recovery of health by an external factor.”

“Wouldn’t that be magic?” Another voice asks.

“You would think so at first but there are laws that govern magic. Steps to follow and the use of mana which is a mage’s source of magic. However it’s vastly different for healing because healing doesn’t require any law. It has no side effects and it’s the most powerful source of recovery anyone can hope to receive.”

“If that is so, is there a reason why it is not talked about frequently?”

“Healing is not limited to a particular species. In the past, healers were common but after a while, they dwindled down from hundreds of thousands to single digits scattered around the world. They are treated with high regard for their skills and given the best possible treatment wherever they go.” As Professor Sloane speaks her eyes land on me, her gaze lingers before she focuses it on the person asking a question.

“Is this relevant knowledge to us?”

“Yes. Healing is the perfect thing to compare other aspects of werewolves recovery, medicine and science. You’ll learn the limitations of the branches of Alchemy in relation to healing.” She sits on her desk again. Her silk skirt falls down her crossed legs revealing her diamond studded heels.

Pretty.

“This will also teach you that no matter how strong you think you are or how fast your regeneration is, someone will always stand above you. Quicker, Stronger, Better.” Professor Sloane adjusts her white top over her big chest. “An Alpha’s journey is never complete. We must strive for a higher realm until death, that is the mission we have been given by the moon goddess. Something is always expected of us wherever we go and we must rise to these challenges and exceed all expectations!”

-

Like that a week passed by.

My grade in Business is one of the highest, same with Alchemy and International Relations. Leadership training is a whole different matter. While I’m not failing, I’m barely getting by, which means I have to put in more effort into studying for it. A test will be given at the end of the month to see how far we’ve come. Those below a 400 in the whole school will be expelled; however, they will be given the opportunity to try again next year.

Father only gave me a year so I have to make due with that. I have to do everything I can to surpass 100 people.

With the ranking from Combat Mastery, I’m in last place.

500 out of 500.

The weakest Alpha... that's what the whispers were all about. That is my nickname.

Everyday for the past week, I’ve been waking up four hours early to train at the gym, in the afternoons I get beat up at combat mastery and at night I have a sparring session with Phineas. It doesn’t last long, I can’t even handle the pressure he gives off.

It seems fruitless but there is nothing else I can do.

I drag myself through the door of my room. I very much intend to take a hot shower and go to bed. I’ll worry about what I’ll do when I get out.

In the bathroom, I tap twice on the magic circle on my hip bone for the first time since I got to the Academy. My wavy hair falls around my shoulders, stopping at my butt. I can’t even admire myself because my skin is covered in slowly healing bruises. I gulp down one of the healing potions in my cabinet. After I dislocated my shoulder on day one, I got Aunty to send these to me.

They help with my training and speed up my healing process. After a long shower, I douse myself in a custom made male perfume. It’s how I hide my scent from everyone. Even Darius once admitted that he wouldn’t have known I was a lady if he wasn’t so good at enchantments.

I plop down on my bed, drying my hair when I notice the white envelope at my door. It looks like someone slid it in while I was in the bathroom.

I tap on the magic circle twice before opening my door to see if anyone is lurking around. Unsurprisingly, there is no one. The paper rustles as I bring out the card that has something written on it.

‘Meet me at the pool by 12am. I can help you get stronger.’

“Help me with what? Combat Mastery?” I turn the card over but there’s nothing there. It also smells like nothing.

Is this Darien playing tricks on me? I toss the card. It’s probably nothing. I tell myself, switching off the lights to fall asleep.

“I said it’s probably nothing so why am I still up.” The clock shows 11:54. I’ve been staring at the ceiling for an hour now. Should I go?

11:55.

I shouldn’t.

11:56.

I should. I don’t want to get expelled so

I should go!

11:57.

It’s almost time. How far away is the pool? I mentally calculate it and it should take about five minutes to get there.

I’m late!

I rush out of my room as quietly as I can. Running across the fields and halls as quickly as I can to get to the pool. Who says they will still be there if I’m late?

What if I don’t get another opportunity like this?

My mind and heart races.

Foot after foot in front of the other.

I tumble through the pool doors breathless. I almost collapse but I use this time to look around the space. I can’t see anything in the dark, I check the time on my phone.

12:01.

Did they leave? I move to turn on my torch when I hear a familiar voice.

“I thought you weren’t coming.” He admitted.

Where have I heard this voice before?

“I wasn’t planning to.” I let myself sit now that I know I wasn’t late.

“What made you change your mind?” The person is still hidden in the darkness.

“Curiosity?” It’s taking me too long to catch my breath. “Can you come into the light? I need to see who I’m talking to.” I beckon with a flick of my wrist.

Soft footsteps approach me. “Tell me,” he begins.

“Yeah?”

“Who did you piss off for you to be so brutally cursed?”

Confused, I ask “Cursed? What do you mean?” I raise my head to see the person I least expected to be here.