chapter 5

Ralph kept his promise of putting me in school. 

I’m excited about going to school because alpha Ericstopped me from going to school. He said there was no use for me going to school, as I wouldn’t get smarter. I was worried that Ralph would be disappointed if the school rejected me for not being smart enough. Alpha Ralph noticed that I was nervous.” Willow, You are going to school to learn in the first place; they won't judge you for not being smart.” He reassures me.

I still feel uneasy, but I follow Alpha Ralph to the main office of the pack’s high school to enroll. I get my schedule. Alpha Ralph stops and suddenly says,” willow, I want to you know that you deserve this; every kid deserves an education. I feel so emotional, getting choked up as tears fill my eyes. T-thank you, Alpha Ralph,” I say as I clean up the tears that have poured down my cheeks. His eyes soften as he caresses my cheeks,” You don’t have to thank me, little Wolfie; I am just doing what I am to do. And just call me alpha; no more of that alpha stuff.

I wipe my tears with a tissue Ralph offered me; 

I am still worried that I will become a burden to him    despite his reassurance. I worry that his patience will soon run out, and he will get tired of me like alpha Eric. Before I went to bed that night, Ralph came to my room, and I took the opportunity to ask him the question that had been at the tip of my tongue since morning,” why are you so nice to me? You don’t know even know me.” He just looked at me in silence, with an emotion swirling in his eyes that I could not understand.

“I’m going to tell you everything in good time, Willow, not just now; you aren’t ready yet.” He says, leaving my room. This makes me more confused, I wonder what he knows about me that he isn’t telling me. I spend the weekend in a blur.

I wake up very early on Monday morning to get ready for school. I’m so nervous I can barely keep breakfast down, and my hands are trembling so badly, making the cutlery rattle. I leave the table to get my things as I can barely eat anything. I take my bag from the room and run down the stairs, only stopping when I see who is at the bottom of it.

Dameon was leaning against the wall. He looks up, and he hears me approach. We lock eyes as I come down the stairs. I hold his stare, and it feels impossible to look away as if I was hypnotized. I was so still locked in the gaze that I lost my footing, tripping down the last few stairs and hitting the chest as he caught me with his quick reflex. “ Be careful, omega,” he said as he let me go. I try not to show my disappointment as his hands leave my shoulders. I mumbled my apology, looking at my shoes awkwardly.

Ralph bursts into the room” Dameon, thank the goddess you here. You will be taking willow to school from now still she graduates.” He says looking chipper and ready for the day. I feel my heart drop and tension quickly fills the room. “ Is that why you called here?” he says with so much contempt. I hate being the reason both father and son being are at loggerhead.

“She needs a ride to school, and I have my duties at the pack’s council. I would love to take her to school, but I am busy”. “Can't she drive herself to school? Why do I have to babysit some Blood Moon bitch”. I flinch at Dameon's tone and the vile words he spits out.” Dameon,” says Ralph,” you will take her to school; end of this discussion”..

Dameon sighs, giving into Ralph’s demand. He walks out of the house and into the car. Ralph turns and looks, caressing my hair, “Have a good day at school, Wolfie, and don’t let Dameon spoil your mood.” I nod in agreement and try to smile back at him before heading out the door. I’m already dreading the car ride, but I have no choice. The ride to school was silent, and I kept bouncing my leg nervously as I could feel waves of irritation radiating from Dameon. I try to make conversation with him.” I-I can walk if you want”. “You’ll be late to school then, “ he says “ I don’t want to trouble you,” I reply.

“You can quit it with the nice act,” Dameon says, cutting me off. “ why are you here? why did Blood Moon send you here? Did you put a spell on my dad?” he says, glaring at me. I blush at his accusations, overwhelmed by it. “ no… I wouldn’t do something like that. I gather my courage and face him, my emotions getting the best of me. “why do you hate me?! what did I ever do to you? I know my pack is your enemy, but I have never done anything to you that would warrant you being so mean to me.

Dameon looks taken aback by my outburst, but then he scoffs and says,” You don’t know the severity of the situation. If the council finds out my dad is harboring some blood moon bitch, they won't hesitate to have him banished or killed. This silences me as I look at him in horror. If you’re not really a spy but some dumb kid, then you better be careful and keep your mouth shut.

I nod my head, clutching my bag as my hands tremble. I have to do everything to conceal my identity. I don’t want to put Ralph in trouble, not with everything he has done for me. If that happens, I won't be able to live with myself.