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My fingers drummed restlessly on the armrest. The auditorium was cool and alive with activity. People were running, shouting and laughing. I was impatient for the briefing to begin. My eyes scanned the growing crowd and came to rest on Benjamin. He was talking with someone, looking relaxed. His hands were in his jean pockets. His muscled chest moved underneath his thin shirt as he talked with the person in front of him.
Suddenly, the room fell silent. I followed the stares to the main door. A man had just entered. He was clad in leather from head to toe. A large crowd entered behind him and fell into step with him. The leader of the group glanced in Benjamin’s direction. He made a comment and the rest of his group laughed. Benjamin’s snarl could be heard from across the room.
“Take your seats, please!” a booming voice sounded over the speakers. “That means you too mister Thorne. Good. Now, let us begin.”
The man introduced himself as Mister Rodgers, the head of the academy. He welcomed everyone back and told of a few new instructors who had joined this “prestigious institute.”
“…and so, our ancestors decided that enough was enough. We were done hiding, hurting and being hunted like animals. They created Westridge Academy for Werewolves. Here, we are safe and protected. Each year, we receive nearly five thousand werewolves from all around the world. Their vision was to enter this academy as a first grader: young, naive and weak, and to leave as a twenty two year old: strong, capable and ready to face life’s challenges.”
Mister Rodgers was a pudgy man in his late fifties. He was nearly bald and had a slightly nasal sound to his voice. I yawned. I’ve heard all of this a thousand times before. Only before, I was sitting in a board room and staring at a screen. I snapped my mouth shut. Everyone was staring at me. Someone snickered. I’d missed something…
“Mister Galager?” Mister Rodgers still had that fake smile plastered across his red face. I looked around uncertainly. My eyes connected with a pair that were nearly hidden behind thick, round rimmed glasses. Corbin. He made a motion with his hand. I frowned. He did it again. Oh!
I shot up from my chair, my eyes going wide. The crowd chuckled. “Right. As you all know, Finn Galager will be joining us for his final eligible year. Finn, on behalf of all students, staff members and myself, I’d like to say how deeply sorry we are about your loss. Our greatest sympathies.”
I only nodded my head, afraid that my voice might break if I tried to say something. Hushed whispers filled the room.
“Now, now. Settle down,” Mister Rodgers continued. “Finally, last but not least, I’d like to welcome the future Alphas of the two biggest packs in the world. Hunter Morgan from the Blackheart pack.” The leather clad man who had made the crowd fall silent stood up to tremendous cheers. A cocky grin was plastered on his face. His white hair was jelled into spikes and his eyes were so green that I could make out the colour all the way from across the room. “And Benjamin Thorne from the Silverblood pack.”
My jaw dropped. Benjamin? I was the rommate of a complete asshole who also happens to be the future of our fighting forces? Silverblood pack has produced the best warriors for over a hundred years. Half of our force comes from that pack. No. His pack.
Benjamin stared straight ahead. He didn’t smile and wave like Hunter had. The cheering was softer, more laid back. But I could see it in their eyes. They respected him a lot more than they did Hunter. Hunter’s cheers had been out of fear. Benjamin’s cheers were out of true and utter awe. Hunter knew it too judging from the sneers that he shot everyone.
The rest of the briefing passed in a blur of information. What you can do. What you absolutely cannot do. Where you’re allowed to walk. When you’re allowed to use the gym. The list went on and on. The younger kids were growing restless. Seven year olds can only stay calm for so long. They were used to pack meetings, but this was nearly twice as long.
“You are all dismissed.” I lifted my head from my hand, only half awake. An excited drill went through the kids. “To your rooms! You are all to go to your dorm rooms at once.” A collective “aahh” could be heard before everyone reluctantly started towards the dorms.
I caught up with Corbin when I got outside. “Thanks for what you did back there,” I said.
Corbin looked around uncetainly. “Anytime,” he said. I was just about to leave him to walk back on my own when he surprised me, and himself by the looks of it, by speaking again, “He’s not as bad as he seems. Just give him some time.”
I looked at him quizzically. Corbin’s face turned as red as a tomato. He lifted a hand and ran in the direction of his pack. I shook my head and continued back to the dorm.
***
I kicked my feet into my Nikes. Classes began in an hour and I still had to grab something to eat from the cafeteria. The shower turned off. I dreaded every second that I had to spend with Benjamin. He didn’t talk at all. Every time I asked him something, or tried to make conversation, he’d either ignore me, give me clipped answers, or he’d look at me with an ‘are you stupid‘ look until I gave up.
“You know, talking is not a sin.” Benjamin ignored my words as he stood with his back to me, rumaging in his closet to find clothes. I allowed my eyes to roam freely down his back. His dark hair was laying in a wet mass on his head. Water droplets were running down his back and dipping beneath the towel that was wrapped around his waist.
I swallowed. Another droplet broke free from his hair. I followed its path down, down, down. The muscles in his back bulged as he pulled a shirt over his head. I was disappointed. Then I was angry for being disappointed.
I stood up from the bed. “Whatever, Benjamin. If you want to be an asshole, you can be an asshole. I’m done.” My hand was on the doorknob.
“What do you care what I am?” Benjamin asked defensively.
I scoffed. “I don’t. But I’d hoped that we could be, if not friends, then at least civil towards one another. But I see now that your assholeness just won’t allow it.”
“That’s not a word.”
“What do you care?” I mocked him very sarcastically. He was fuming. I loved it. Knowing that I had the power to rile him up like that. He tried to get me to submit to him, like all alphas are used to. He looked me dead in the eye. He was seeping power. I stared right back, my lips stretching into a smile. The same feeling that I always had around him filled my chest as I stared at him, breathed him in, heard his heartbeat. I was suddenly filled with excitement.
His jaw clenched. “Whatever.”
I left him in the room while he tied his shoelaces, his hands moving in jerking motions of agitation. I punched the elevator button for the second floor. The doors slid open to reveal the cafeteria. I was in a strangely happy mood as I picked up my tray of food and went in search of a vacant table.
It wasn’t even two minutes later and the Silverblood pack entered, Benjamin looking as unhappy as always. I felt his eyes on me, but resisted the urge to look up again. Let him brood on his own.
He took his seat a few tables away from mine. I quickly risked a glance at him. He was still staring at me, his brows twisted. I nearly laughed at how adorable he looked when he was puzzled.
I froze.
Adorable? What the hell Galager. The man hates you. He’s probably contemplating ways to murder you in your sleep while you’re thinking about how adorable he is.
I finished my food and trudged to my first class. I groaned and let my head fall into my hands. Benjamin was just appearing through the trees. ‘Great. He’s everywhere’, I thought bitterly.
“Everybody stand a little closer. That’s it. Come on.” The instructor for this class was an enormous man. He was as tall as a door and his body looked carved out of stone. “Right. So today we’ll be doing hand-to-hand combat. I want everyone to find a partner.”
My heart fell to my feet. I’ve watched enough highschool movies to know that the new kid never gets a partner. Oh no. The new kid always gets partnered up with the teacher. I glanced at our instructor and shuddered.
“Not even a chance, Ben. You nearly killed the guy last time. He isn’t even close to your level of combat.” The laughing instructor pulled Benjamin away from Corbin, who looked relieved to not have to fight Benjamin. “Let’s pair you up with someone more your speed.” The instructor’s eyes scanned the gathered group. A few of the girls twirled their hair around their fingers and moved a little closer, clearly flirting. My blood boiled with jealousy. I frowned at the realisation. “Finn!”
I snapped to attention. “Yes, sir?” The students sniggered. “Sir?” I heard one mock. I rolled my eyes. We were always taught at court to adress our superiors in a respectful manner, too bad these hooligans were never taught manners.
“You will be partnering with Benjamin.” I looked at the instructor with disbelief. Of course. Naturally I would be paired with him. It certainly couldn’t be one of the other 20 students in the class. I sighed, but nodded.
Benjamin came to stand in front of me. “Are you ready to be crushed, Galager?”
My heart skipped a beat. He is the only person in my entire life who hadn’t said Mister Galager. I smiled. I liked it coming from his lips. “You wish, Thorne.”
“Everybody knows the rules. You’re all over twenty and you’ve been here long enough. Everyone ready?” The instructor called. We raised our arms and spread our legs in anticipation. “Fight!”
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