Chapter Two

Lunch time, finally, I think to myself as I walk to my locker. English was such a drag, listening to Mrs Grant talk was like listening to nails scraping across a chalkboard; I shudder at the thought.

“Hey Cass” I hear a males voice shout from behind me. I turn to see Byron running up to me.

“Hey Byron, how was your weekend?” I ask as he catches up to me and we turn, walking to my locker together.

“Great actually. Went camping by the lake with my folks and let Chase out for a run. He loves the lake.” I laugh. Chase was Byron’s wolf. They both had dark brown hair with caramel eyes. Byron was tall and he was cute in that effortless kind of way that made girls swoon when he smiled. “So, what about you? What did you get up to?” he questions.

“Not much, just chores and homework. We have that group assignment coming up next week for Maths.” I remind him, knowing he has forgotten again despite me telling him almost everyday for the past two weeks.

“Ah crap! We need to arrange a study night for that, who else is in our group?”

“Lani and Ashton” I reply, annoyed he even had to ask. We stop walking as we reach my locker. Unlocking it I put my books inside and turn back to Byron. “Why do you have the worst memory ever? Were you dropped on your head as a child or something?” I cross my arms clearly annoyed at his forgetfulness.

“Honestly, probably all the lead paint I ate as a baby” he smiles, and I laugh. Always quick with the witty comebacks.

“Hey guys!” Lani shouts running over, pushing her way through the other students in the hall.

“Hey Lani, I heard you got your wolf, that’s so awesome, maybe we can go running together sometime” Byron asks her, clearly nervous.

“You’re sweet, raincheck?” she replies as she grabs my hand. “We have some major gossiping to do. Girls business. I’ll text you!” She says as she pulls my arm starting to walk off. I shut my locker and wave goodbye to Byron as I’m pulled between the other kids down the hall.

Lani opens the door to the girls bathroom pulling me inside before she searches the room.

“What are you doing? What’s going on?” I watch her as she looks under the stall doors.

“Making sure we are alone.” She grunts as she gets off the floor before washing her hands in the sink. “Okay so. When I was in math, I could hear Vanessa talking to Harper about how Jordan broke up with her over the weekend.” She continues and I sit on top of the vanity.

“What?! Why?”

“Apparently, Jordan’s dad told him that he has organised an ‘arranged mate’ for Jordan until he finds his mate.” She says climbing on the vanity to sit next to me. “Vanessa was pissed because she isn’t it and the Alpha has banned her from coming near Jordan and said if she comes near his arranged mate, she will be banished. Used his Alpha aura and everything.” I sit in stunned silence as she talks.  “And, get this, his arranged mate is being decided upon today. Apparently, there’s going to be this big announcement after school.”

“What. The. Fuck. Who even does that, why does he need an arranged mate, what. This whole thing is insane!” I proclaim loudly jumping off the vanity I start pacing the bathroom. “Wait, so who is the arranged mate?” I ask looking up at Lani.

“Nobody knows” she shrugs. The door to the bathroom opens and Vanessa walks in, Harper right behind her, as usual. Vanessa was the self-proclaimed prettiest girl in school. Her cheerleading uniform fitting just a little too tight. A clear attempt to show off her body. Her long blonde hair curled down one side of her head stopping just below her breast. She stops, staring at me. A clear look of disgust crosses her face as her piercing blue eyes lock with mine.

“Who let the human in? This bathroom is for wolves only.” Talking down to me as she speaks. “Oh and Lani” she continues, turning slightly to face her. “I hear you got your, wolf. Talk about a late bloomer. I bet you’re super excited about your first pack run on Wednesday, you can run with us if you’d like, since the human won’t be in attendance.” Her words making me feel inferior as she looks at me from the corner of her eye.

“Uhm thanks?” Lani says as she awkwardly climbs off the vanity and stands next to me. “Let’s go” she whispers into my shoulder before pulling me out of the bathroom.

After school I walk to the packhouse with Lani to meet my dad. He called after our run in with Vanessa in the bathroom to get me to meet him at the packhouse so we could all go to the announcement meeting together. Dad was the Alpha’s third in command. He was offered Beta when Charlie retired but he didn’t want it, he liked his rank.

Arriving at the packhouse we see several cars out front. “I thought the meeting was in the hall?” Lani questions, noticing how many high-ranking pack members cars there are parked along the driveway.

“Same here, maybe they’re going in wolf form?” I shrug. Reaching the door, it opens before I have the chance to knock.

“Ah girls, you’re here, finally” my dad greets us cheerfully. He looked young for his age, stress wrinkles and a few grey hairs through his jet-black hair, the only signs of his ageing. “Come in, come in” he ushers us inside, looking out the door nervously before closing it behind us.

“Cassidy Jacobs, welcome!” I turn hearing the Alpha’s voice coming from the room behind me. “Please come sit down” he continues, gesturing to the couch. The room was big, the couch, although large enough to seat 20, looked too small for the room. I look around as I head toward the seat Alpha was directing me to. The room was filled with men and women of the high ranks. Jordan was already there seated next to his dad, looking uncomfortable as he was clearly the centre of attention. The future of the pack.

Jordan looked up at me, his hazel eyes watching my every move as he sat back into the chair slumping one arm over the back of it casually. I noticed several of the other pack members watching me as well. Making me nervous, I almost trip as I lock eyes with Beta Samuels. He looked scary, like he could take on a whole pack on his own and still come out unscathed. I slide into my seat beside him and look out to the room. Jordan wasn’t the centre of attention. I was. I spot Lani behind the couch with my dad. He looked worried. Confused I turn to Alpha Issac and raise my hand slowly, unsure if it was the right thig to do.

Alpha laughs, “you don’t have to raise your hand Cassidy” I drop it immediately, feeling my cheeks heat from the embarrassment. “What’s up?” he asks as he sits.

“Why am I here and why am I sitting here?” confusion evident in my voice.

“What a great question Cassidy” he jumps up suddenly grabbing my hand and making me stand in the middle of the room. “You’re going to be sacrificed at midnight!”