Chapter 3 THE man

It was a last gruesome run. Her healing abilities, thanks to Aziz, but the damage to her legs was quite extensive, and was not going out without pain. She arrived at school, exhausted, all sweaty under her baggy sweater, her legs exposed through the rags that became her pants. She rushed to her locker, where she kept more sets of clothes than books. It was better that way, since Morrigan used to tor them or burn them. Not that she was one for overflowing positivity; she learned from every torment, her resilience going through the roof. Briella kept her books hidden in a tree, near the entrance of the school, and filled her locker with clothes, since her torture usually included stealing clothes, shattering them, cutting through them, burning them, only to quote some examples. She scrabbled about in her locker, trying to find a piece of clothing long enough to cover her bruises. Finding only her gym gear, she left the previous morning after her training. She cursed at herself for being so hasty in cleaning out, getting too ready to leave this place behind. Reluctantly, she got dressed up and rushed to the field at the center of the campus. Rows and rows of chairs were set out on the green grass; on each sat graduating students and important members of the Pack. The tiered seats framing the field were filled with family members cheering every student who was handed their diploma.

A bitter taste invaded her mouth as her eyes found her father, Alister, standing at the opposite edge of the stage, waiting solemnly between the headmaster and his mate and Luna, her mother, Dimita. The smile on her face was like a knife in her heart. Not even the Queen of the Four could hurt her to that level. Speaking of the devil, she was walking towards Briella’s parents, walking in her 5-inch heels as if she were a Chanel model. The thought crossing her mind made Aziz snort, annoyed.

‘Please. Strutting around as if she owns the place. We do.’

‘Yeah, I know, you are the big bad wolf who should run the pack,’ she retorted, her voice laced with guilt. ‘I’m sorry, I’m not strong enough yet.’

She clenched her fists, her jaw tightened. She has been training early every morning and late every night for years, long and hard training, to strengthen her body, with the only goal of shifting. Or releasing Aziz and claiming her birth rights. Even if she hadn’t missed a day, her mind was as disciplined as she felt delusional.

She watched her mom hug the student of honor, her tormentor. Irony. She read on the lips of her dad as he praised her accomplishments in combat for a she-wolf who maintains such poise and grace. Briella averted her eye to her toes, her hands running slowly up and down her arms, in an attempt to kill a slow and cold shiver.

Suddenly, silence fell among the benches, and crept among the chairs. It was heavy, but heavy with respect, excitement, and expectations. Her eyes flew back up, and she watched him walk up the few steps and, in a few strides, reach her parents, exchanging heartfelt words and strong handshakes. She always glanced at his directions, but not only for his handsome face or his amazing as*… He never shifted. At least, not in front of everybody. In combat training, he would fight other wolves in human form, refusing the need to shift. And would win. Every time.

He wasn’t getting bullied for it. His parents stated he was a late bloomer; as rare as they were, they chose to believe in that. From afar, Briella admired him from the moment he set foot in the school. He was a transfer son of a neighboring pack, the Golden Claw Pack. He was the youngest of 5 sons, and when they heard Blue Blood Pack only got a daughter who couldn’t shift, they reached out for an alliance. Despite getting a late bloomer, the Pack gained an excellent strategist. He had skills none of the elders and warriors were able to match. So everybody turned a blind eye to him not shifting and instead turned to Briella when they were in need of blowing off some steam or playing the blame game. While everyone was looking at her, Briella was looking at him, observing. She was secretly thrilled when she learned he was aiming for the same academy as her. Even from the shadows, she could have hopes, right?

‘Uh, could you please stop drooling?’

‘I’m not, stop the nonsense,’ grumbled Briella, fading a little bit more into the wall.

Aziz let out a long sigh. ‘I know he gives you hope. Knowing that he never shifted and all won’t help you shift.’

‘Still, you can thank him for inspiring me to train to…’ she whispered. ‘You think I got into training to run from the Four?’

‘Couldn’t hurt,’ he shrugged, before nudging her as Barrett stepped up behind the lectern, grabbing its sides into his strong hands.

“Today is the day when we become members of this pack. Not by birth, but by finding our place in its grand design. As we not only become adults with our own minds and will, independent in our choices, but also as we make them, relying on others and being dependable. Today, we choose our own path, for Blue Blood Pack.”

As he got silent, applause and cheers erupted from every side, loud and clear. The future of the Pack chose him, will follow him. Alister took two steps and slammed his palm against his shoulder, proud and reassured that his Pack was in good hands, without a doubt. Without a thought for his daughter. The daughter who wasn’t called on stage. The invisible girl who stood close to the door, in the shadows. The young woman who felt a sting in her heart watching Morrigan jump into the arms of Barrett Lawson, swing her arms around his neck, and her mouth crashing against his.

Another torture she was suffering from. One she would never admit to. Despite common grounds, he was not from her world. He was with everyone else while she was on her own, very lonely island.

"You didn't get called, weren't you?"

A soft voice among the chaos and the spree pulled her back to reality.

"Mina!" She joyfully called, as the little nurse embraced her softly.

"It is a shame. You deserve your diploma as much as the others, if not more, with all the work you put into... Brie... these are nasty news brews and cuts... Let's get them clean."