* Nelika *
"Are you ready for school sweetheart?"
My mother smiled at me while looking at the red and white checkered skirt that I am wearing, it is paired with a white long sleeve top and a necktie similar to my skirt. I hate wearing my skirt, but I can't do anything about it. The excitement I felt in going back to school for the first time after a long vacation is gone when I put on the skirt. My lips pouted and I pulled the skirt up.
"Mom, can I removed this and wear those pants instead."
The smile on my mother's face faded and she shook her head. "No! It's the rules of the school sweetie we must follow. And you only wear skirts when going to school so what's the matter?"
"But isn't Daddy make the rules?"
Her hand took the brush on top of the small table in my room. "Yes, Daddy makes the rules for the pack, however for the children in school, it is the school principal. You are a girl my love and skirts are for girls so you cannot wear those pants all the time."
I stomp my foot in black shiny shoes with plain white socks. My hair is now longer than last year and my mother refuses to give me a haircut. It makes me feel hot sometimes that is why I always carry a rubber band to tie it when I play with friends at school.
"How long before I go to high school mom?" I ask once again, one of my friends told me that we don't have to wear uniforms in high school so I can finally throw this silly skirts. I hate looking like the girls in the class, I don't even like talking to them.
"One more year sweetheart, take your time. Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, enjoy playing with friends at school OK?"
She bend down and kiss my cheeks. Just like the usual, my father is not around to send me to school in the morning as he goes to work early. I could only see him in the evening when its time for dinner. My father is always busy working to keep the pack safe and our family business growing. Today is Friday and it makes me feel excited that tomorrow I don't have to go to school that is something I can look forward to.
"Alright mom, I'm going now."
I told her before she could say another word which I'm tired of hearing. "Take care of yourself Nelika and don't hang out with the boys too much! I am not talking to your father about that but if you keep it up, we will have a problem!"
I heard her shouting before I reach the doorknob of the main door. Beta Loki is already waiting for me near the gates. The warrior guard opened the gates when he saw me running.
"Good morning Nelika!"
I smiled at him and nodded. "Good morning Mister Knobbs!"
Beta Loki approach us with the white Jaguar that he uses to drive me to school. "Hop in Nelika, you will be late for school."
I remove the backpack from my back and opened the door beside him. Unlike my friends who have a driver and prefer to sit at the back, I prefer to sit with Beta Loki in the front. he is also one of my trainers at the training hall. He first taught me self defense even as a child which my father strongly agrees.
My mother hates the idea but I can clearly remember what my father told her. "She is my daughter my love, as the daughter of an Alpha she needs to learn at an early age. This is good for her, it is so that the people and the other wolves cannot bully her. Remember Alpha Xander of the West and how young he is when he started joining the warriors of the pack. He even spars with the Royal pack warriors at the age of nine, the Alpha King is so amazed by how young he is!"
It is often that I heard my father talk about the other Alpha, no one earned my father's respect aside from the Alpha King and the Alpha of the West. The Alpha King is my uncle and he is fond of me too. I wonder how is Luna Ashley doing, I heard she's pregnant and it's twins.
"We're finally here!"
Beta Loki snap at my face when he notices that my mind is elsewhere. "Oh! Thank you Beta Loki."
He park on the side of the road where the other cars are also waiting for the students to get down from their vehicle. The tall and wide gates are open and I can hear the loud noise of my schoolmates teasing and laughing at each other inside the campus.
"You're welcome Nelika, be good in school, and don't bully your classmates."
I smile at him sarcastically.
"Of course not, you have to worry if they bully me."
Beta Loki smiled when I removed my seat belt and took my backpack. "No one bullies the daughter of an Alpha Nelika, not unless they are an enemy of the pack."
I smiled at him and push the door open then step out and close it back again. He didn't drive away, I can feel his eyes watching me as I walk towards the gate of the school. The security guard standing at the gates notice me and smiled, he knows who I am since the first year I attended school.
"Good morning young miss."
"Good morning Mister Oswald, you can call me Nelika by the way. I don't like the sound of young miss in my ears."
I pretended to remove some dirt in my ears and that made him laugh. "Nelika it is then."
He bows his head towards me and I just nodded before I turned away and left to follow the path to my classroom.
"Good morning Nelika!"
The voice coming from one of my classmates rang through my ears. I turned around and saw Walter coming toward me. "Good morning Walter!"
His eyes turned into slits when he laugh while looking at my uniform up and down. "Forgive me but I think you always look awkward in a skirt Nelika."
I rolled my eyes upward and punch him in the shoulders not so lightly that it made him winch in pain. Walter is a softy he even acts more girlish than me. "Stop complimenting on my uniform and let us go."
"Ouch, you don't have to be so mean. I think my shoulders have fallen off."
I laugh and caress his shoulder. "I'm sorry my dear, I never thought that you are as fragile as a baby."
"You bet I am and your hands could get me bruise in no time. I don't think you can get a boyfriend with that attitude of yours, you are so rough!"
He pretended to get hurt and follow me. "Really?"
I stop and look at his shoulder which is covered by his plain white long sleeve top. His necktie hanging loose around his neck and the trousers that fitted his round body.
"Oh my God!"
I exclaimed dramatically and his eyes widened in surprise. "Why? what is it now Nelika?"
I cover my mouth and laugh. "What have you eaten during the weekend?"
His eyes turned into slits and his lips pouted. "Stop now or I am not talking to you anymore."
He sounded serious when I am about to tell him how he look twice since the last time I saw him. I know he loves to eat despite his chubby appearance. "You know my parents told me not to worry about my weight since I will lose all my baby fats when my wolf form develops."
I nodded my head as the tone of his voice return to normal, forgetting how hard I have hit him on the shoulders. I look at my hand and smile, did I became stronger than last time? I remember my father saying that I inherited his traits as an Alpha and I will never be weak. I am stronger than the other wolves because I am special and I might lead the Cold Mountain pack one day.
"Your right, that will be next year if we are not late bloomers."
His footsteps became lighter and the smile on his face widens. "I think we are special Nelika, you being the daughter of the Alpha and I being the son of your father's lead warriors. I cannot wait for that time to come."
"Me too!"
I smiled widely as I thought of not wearing those silly skirts anymore. I push the door of our classroom open when we arrive at the front of our class. We sat next to each other in class so we often hang out and Walter loves to invite some of the boys to join us during lunch breaks too. Something that I don't mind since they behave well in front of me.
* Nelika *My footsteps are as light as a feather when I ran down the stairs and greeted everyone on the table. I could hear the rattling of spoons and forks from the kitchen, perhaps it's what woke me up on this beautiful morning. I slept well and I would have stayed longer in bed if it were not for the weekend training today."Good morning everybody!"My mother smiles as she look at me on my training suit ready for the day. Today is Saturday and I don't have to go to school. My father glances at me from sitting on his chair and sipping at his coffee. I move forward to kiss my mother on the cheeks and then my father who raise and eye brow."You wake up late sweetheart, and I thought you are excited for the training today."I grinned at him showing a deep dimple in my left cheek. "Sorry Dad, I was tired at school yesterday and slept too much."I glance around looking for my Aunt Ayah. She said she will come for breakfast today so we could go together for training. Aside from Loki, I h
* Alpha Xander *"Good morning Alpha Xander! A pleasant day, we have an invitation that arrives early this morning!"The excitement in Beta Alex's voice had me stop myself from doing another push-up on the concrete floor of my spacious room. I rose to my feet and took the white towel from a bar close to me. I use it to wipe the sweat all over my face down to my neck and my chest. Almost half of my bedroom is occupied with gym equipment not to mention the ones on my bedroom's balcony."What invitation? From and from who? Did you check the sender?"I assume another party from one of my acquaintances in the city or the Alpha of another region."Of course your majesty! It is an important invitation coming from the Alpha King."My movements stop. Alpha King Vincent send us an invitation. I wonder what's the occasion that he has to formally send it in a fancy card which is now in Alex's hand. He looks at it and reads the written message on the small card."Oh well, when would that be?"I am
* Nelika *The pink and white dress that my mother chooses fitted me well. Fit on the top and flared at the bottom making me feel like a different person. When I look at myself in the huge mirror, I can't recognize the lady who looks back at me. I pouted and find a tiny pink rubber which I can tie my hair. It makes me feel weak like a girl who is lost and is trying to find a way back.My dress has no sleeves showing my arms which are still in need of muscle. I pulled my hair up and then tied my hair in a ponytail, it look better than letting it down. I look for my shoes in the box which I haven't opened yet. I open the box and pulled out a white shoes with two inch heel! Oh my Gosh! Why did mom brought me something like these? It also has a pointed toe and I don't think it would make me comfortable.I put it down and open the dressing room, all my shoes are below the hanged dresses. They were all rubber shoes or sports shoes, few sandals and few with heels that I never wore. Not one o
* Nelika *The woman's eyes are half closed with her mouth slightly open and a moan of someone who's in between pain and pleasure is coming from her. I couldn't turn my gaze away as I watch the broad back of the man pulling her up against the wall, her dress pulled up showing her long skinny legs in pointed high heels. My feet is glued to the ground and I couldn't move as I stood there watching. Is he hurting her? What am I supposed to do?I gather all my strength and opened my mouth as it seems the situation needs to be explained. "Excuse me?"They stopped and all of a sudden the woman open her eyes and she was put down by him that I lost her sight then her feet landed on the ground and the man towered above her. Covering her away from my gaze."Who is it? Shit someone is here!"She uttered with annoyance which made me wonder. Then the man slowly turn his head sideways, the sculpted view of his face is beautiful with a nose so high and his lips that mocks me. His long lashes are visi
* Nelika *Five years have passed, my friend Walter and I have enjoyed our days in high school. He has already change a lot, when he finally shifted and got his wolf form. I think all my classmates are, except for me who is still waiting. Girls are also started talking about boys and dating, however, I remain the same. I am grateful only that I could wear the clothes I've been wanting to wear everyday. No more skirts or dresses."Nelika, sweetie. Your father is waiting for you downstairs. Today is weekend isn't it? Are you not going to train with the warriors."I pulled the sheets down from covering my face and yawned. "Good morning mom, I will get a quick shower now and head downstairs. Please tell dad to wait for me."My mother stood in front of the bed while I get down slowly."Are you alright sweetie? Is there something wrong?”She sounded worried moving towards me and putting her hand on top of my forehead. I don't have a fever if that is what she's trying to find out."I am not
* Nelika *He stood taller than me like most of the people I know. I guess the Moon Goddess did not gifted me with a tall appearance as for now I only stood five foot two and according to my Aunt, I could only grow another inch or two and that's it. Jason on the other hand is now five foot ten. Who knows how tall he could be a few years from now?"Don't worry Princess, I will go easy on you because your father is watching."The smile on his face is annoying, I keep my mouth shut when Aunt Ayah moves to the center and stands as our referee. She gave a warning look on her face and that is for me to take this matter seriously."Alright guys! It's three out of five, whoever landed his back on the ground more than two times will lose the fight. No cheating, only use hand-on-hand combat because Nelika has no wolf form yet. Understood?"I look back at my father and Beta Loki sitting on a bench. "Understood Aunt Ayah."Jason nodded and stand in his defense. My Aunt move back but she spoke in
* Nelika *"Oh, I am so proud of you sweetie!"My mother rush towards me as soon as I get out of the car. Her arms wrap around me tightly then she kisses my cheeks which are still swollen."Ouch!""Oh, I am so sorry sweetie. Your face is swelling we need to get you something inside."Her hands gently caress my swollen lips and face. I fought hard not to scream in pain because my father approach us and greets her."Hello my love, how's your day going? Nelika made me feel so proud today."My father kisses her forehead while she smiled. "I bet she does, but we need to put some medicine on her face before it leaves a nasty scar."My father looks at me amused. "It's not going to scar, don't worry sweetheart."We all walk inside the Alpha mansion, with my dad humming to himself. It somehow eases the pain I feel when I think about how happy I made my father is today. My mother took me to my bedroom and made me sit in the tub of the bathroom before scanning through the medicine cabinet inside
* Nelika *I woke up to the sound of the wolves howling and the noise of people chatting in our mansion's living room. Something must have happened, so I got out of bed and open my windows. Today is the start of vacation so no need to worry about school for many months. I could spend my days with the warriors doing training and learning new things. Making my wolf form grow stronger.When I finished taking a quick shower, still the noise downstairs continues making me feel more curious. So I brush my hair and hurry down to go straight to our living room."What's going on? What is up with all the noise?"My father's face meets mine with his eyes sparkling in delight. When I look at my mother, her teary eyes encourage me to move forward while Beta Derek and Aunt Ayah are all happily sitting on the couch."Good news Nelika! You're going to be a big sister soon!"My lips opened wide but no words came out of my mouth, I look at my mother who nodded her head. She is old enough not to have ch