Gabbie POV.

“Honey, we got a letter.” Mom said, clutching a red envelope in her fist for dear life.

I set my bowl of oatmeal down.

“Who from?”

“From a school. They’re requesting your presence.”

“What kind of school does that? I don’t remember writing to any schools, plus university applications are months away.”

“Yes… I know.”

“Something’s fishy, Mom. Throw it away.”

“I can’t.” Her voice cracked. “This is their fourth letter. We have to… consider.”

“Geez, who are they?”

“McGregor Academy… It’s a school for shifters.”

My eyes from the red tablecloth to the kitchen window, giving me a perfect view of the oak tree in my backyard. A shifter school? I lost all feeling in my fingers and my cheeks heated. They shouldn’t be after me.

“Honey, I think you should…” my mom Anya trailed off.

What was she thinking? I couldn’t go there.

“Mom, I can’t shift.” I was eighteen and still hadn’t gotten my wolf. I was pretty sure by then that she wasn’t showing up.

“You just haven’t done it yet.” Mom said, still clenching the letter.

“I’m not a wolf. I’m done with the wishful thinking.” I grabbed my bowl, wandered to the sink, and turned on the water. “I’m not like everyone else.” I could see the backyard completely and into my neighbour’s bigger yard.

I lived in EastWood a community of shifters. Mom wasn’t a shifter and since dad vanished living in a community of wolves made her nervous.

“The school is requesting you be there by tomorrow Gabbie. They’ve been asking for you for weeks. I thought they would go away if I didn’t answer.”

“But I don’t have a wolf, what are they going to do? I didn’t know they just handed them out.”

Mom groaned, “They’re going to involve the Alpha’s council. All shifters have to go to the academy.”

“Is it because my birthday was a month ago.”

“From what I know most shifters turn before eighteen. They must think you’ve already turned.”

I settled back on the table. I knew about the mysterious shifter Academy. I couldn’t count how many people I knew left town to attend the Academy. I honestly thought a select few got to go. When I was fifteen my best friend Alex left town to attend. Well… he’s no ordinary wolf. He’s the son of the Alpha. I haven’t seen him since or heard anything about him.

Obviously, I would know if he died. It would be a dark day in the pack. Would I get to see him again?

“Do I have to leave so soon?” I asked.

Mom settled on the empty chair to my right. I didn’t want to leave her here alone. Not that this was a dangerous pack. The Alpha was friends with my dad once upon a time so I’d like to think we’re protected. I don’t want her to be lonely. My dad wasn’t coming back and she was too scared to put herself out there again.

“Yes honey, there’s a bus that’ll take you straight to the school.”

“How long will I be there for?”

She pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, “You haven’t even gotten there yet and you’re thinking of leaving.”

“Being the new girl is hard, Mom. Not to mention the only one without a wolf.”

“They’ll help you out.” She insisted.

I bit my lip. The kids here were bad enough. Everyone was expecting me to shift but I didn’t. I always wonder if there’s something wrong with me. I can’t even feel the connection other wolves talk about with their wolves. Mine was just quiet or hollow. Dead.

“You’ll make lots of friends. I think you’re a pretty cool girl.”

I chuckled, “Thanks, Mom. You think I’ll see Alex again?”

I felt my cheeks blush a little. I could imagine he was totally different on the outside, I was hoping he was just the same on the inside.

Mom’s face brightened, “Yes, Alex. He was such a sweet boy. See, you already have a friend.”

She got up and wandered into the living room. I followed, she wasn’t going to cry, was she? She struggled with the drawer on the table that carried a massive ugly lamp my grandmother gave her. She got it open and rummaged inside until she pulled out a chain.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She held the shiny silver chain out for me. “It was your dad’s I think you should take it. I think he left it for you. He never took that thing off.”

It had a pendant of an arrow and an axe crossed together. I let the cold metal fall in my palm. I remembered it dangling on his chest when I was a kid.

“You should get ready, Gabbie,” Mom said softly.

“I just… It’s so soon. I don’t want to leave you…”

“Oh… Gabbie.” She wrapped me in her arms and I squeezed. “I’ll be fine.”

***

I had one suitcase in front of me and a backpack. The bus taking me to my new home for the next who knows how long was empty and the driver looked at me as if I kicked his dog.

“It’s going to be okay, Gabbie.” Mom smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I nodded. I couldn’t believe I was leaving home. It was only now hitting me that I wouldn’t wake up in my own house anymore. Not for a while. I hoped they were wrong. They’d find out I didn’t have a wolf and send me home. I would still be teased, but at least I would be somewhere familiar.

Mom wrapped me in her arms, “Everything’s going to be fine. You have to go now, honey.”

“I know. I’ll try to call every day.”

“That’ll be great.”

The bus ride felt like five hours. I fell asleep with headsets on listening to music. The rock of the bus woke me up. The lights came on and I had to blink to adjust to the light.

“Final stop, young lady.” The bus driver rasped.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and wobbled out of the bus. Well, here was home. A medieval castle that looked possessed by demons. Better yet people that turned into fury beasts. The lights from the bus illuminated the entrance.

A woman in a long gown and bucket hat stood in front of the door. I placed my hand on my chest. I thought she was a ghost.

“Welcome, Miss Chambers.”

“Thanks?”

What was she the caretaker? She turned and beckoned me on.

“School officially starts tomorrow. New students sleep in Helene Hall for the night until they can be put into your proper dorms. Unfortunately, you’re the only new student.”

“Why?”

“Well… some arrive on the first day. Some years we have no new students at all.”

I paused, this didn’t feel right.

“I’m sorry ma’am…”

“Headmistress Athena.” She straightened up her spine.

“Headmistress… I don’t think I should be here. I’ve never shifted before. I don’t know why I’m here.” I said almost in a whisper.

“Just because you haven’t shifted doesn’t mean you aren’t a wolf who belongs here.” She proceeded expecting me to follow.

The only other sound was that of our shoes clicking against the marble floor.

“What happens if I can’t shift?”

“We’ll cross that line when we get there, Miss Chambers. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”

Gabbie POV.

It was too quiet. My mind kept racing, taking me to places that made my heart race. When I fell asleep my fears followed me. I didn’t want to be there. The castle was only quiet at night; by five a.m. I was being woken by footsteps stomping on the roof. What did I even wear? Uniform?

Athena hadn’t left me one. I looked for the most neutral thing in my bag. I found a black skirt with pockets so I could hide my phone. The only plain shirt I had was a white-sleeved shirt that tightly hugged my body. I tried not to get my strawberry blondish hair wet in the shower, but it did.

Now I had some parts curls and other parts frizzy or straight. I didn’t even have a scrunchy to tame my hair.

Black sneakers completed my look. The second I stepped out of the door I turned into a mouse.

“Oh, who’s that?”

“Fresh meat?”

I backed into the hall.

“Hurry up now. Miss Chambers, the assembly’s next. Which you should all be at.” A surge of power filled the room. It went straight to my head I nearly stumbled back into the hall.

The crowd of hungry wolves shuffled out the double doors.

“I… I don’t have a uniform.” I said.

“Uniforms are given once you’re assigned rank. Usually, your pack gives us that information…”

“But I’ve never shifted.” I finished for her.

“Exactly, so what will happen is we’ll have to determine what is the matter.”

“Can my wolf be dead?”

She laughed and it sounded like she didn’t do it often. “Heavens no. It dies so do you.”

I swallowed, “Good to know.”

Assembly took place outside. I couldn’t imagine what hall would be big enough to accommodate over two thousand wolves. They all stood at attention. The uniforms here were different. Girls could either wear shorts, skirts or pants. Good to know there was a variety. Those in black shirts with green slashes across the shirt stood on the first line. There were three in total. They had to be the betas. Next had grey shirts with dark blue slashes on them. Gamma, I presumed. Lastly, a smaller crowd wore brown shirts with no slashes. I swallowed Omegas.

“What do I—“ I looked at the ranks.

Some heads were turned to me. Ugh, I hated being the new girl.

Athena looked at the groups and then at the four elders standing in front of the school. Athena beckoned me forward. I cringed. Why did I have to stand in front of the whole school? I had stage fright. Please don’t faint Gabbie.

“You can stand next to me,” Athena said.

She folded her arms in front of her dark blue dress and lifted her head high.

“Another school year. Same rules. However, this year will be a bit different with the ritual moons rising on us. Most of you have been training for these moons for years.”

Murmurs went through the crowd. What ritual moons? The only moon I knew was the transformation moon and that was for first shifts only. Wolves didn’t always need the moon to shift.

“Your teachers and alphas will let you know about changes in the timetable. However, everything remains the same, cross the line and it’s you and I in my office. Dismissed.”

I should have kept my head down, but I couldn’t stop staring at the wolves in front of me. Some of the people were from my pack. Had I shifted I would have joined them years ago. My deadline had passed now. I wasn’t going to shift. I also had an eye out for Alex. He would be part of the alpha group, but they weren’t out here.

“I have a meeting then I’ll hand you your rank,” Athena whispered.

I nodded. I honestly wanted to hide out in my room until I got a uniform and could blend into the crowd. With my crazy hair and casual clothes, I stuck out like a sore thumb. The crowds broke up to form clicks, but betas remained among betas and omegas among themselves. Wasn’t really the environment for making friends, not until anyone knew where I ranked.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” I turned to see who spoke because I knew it was aimed at me.

Blair! The last person on earth I wanted to see.

“I didn’t think you’d ever make it in.” She tilted her head, her thick ponytail falling to the side. “Or are you visiting?”

I frowned. “No, Blair. I got in…”

I eyed her over. I resisted the urge to rub my eyes. Blair, hard ball, cocky Blair, destined for great things Blair, the next self-proclaimed Luna Blair was in brown. The lowest rank…

“What are you looking at!” She snapped.

Blair’s still a bitch I blinked back. I giggled, “It’s just that weren’t you supposed to be the next Luna or something.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re laughing now. You don’t even have a rank.”

“Not yet. I just got here.”

I desperately wanted to ask her what happened, but Blair and I weren’t exactly friends. Yeah, we went to the same high school and some of the same parties, but she never liked me. I always thought it had something to do with Alex.

Now here she was an omega, in high socks, a flowy skirt and the rank t-shirt. I kind of felt bad for her. It must have been a shock. Omegas aren’t the most valued wolves in the pack. They’re considered last for everything. They aren’t allowed significant positions in the pack like mating the alpha unless it was just keeping his bed warm at night… so I heard.

“Oh, yay! A new girl.” A girl with short brown hair bounced next to Blair. “We don’t get many of those, especially omegas.”

“Emery!” Blair blasted.

Emery raised her hands in mock surrender. I giggled.

“I’m not an omega, actually I’m not sure. I’ve never shifted.”

“Typical,” Blair muttered.

“Oh, that’s so sad. I’ll save you a bed. See you guys later.” She waved and bounced off.

“A bed for what?” I asked Blair.

She rolled her eyes, “For when you’re sent to the omega quarter.”

“How’s she so sure?”

“If your wolf was strong at all or if it even existed you would have shifted already. Since you haven’t it means you’re an omega. Default rank for someone who’s never shifted.”

Heat rushed to my face. I was slowly accepting I didn’t have a wolf and would likely live out as a human, but this? This needed a whole new adjustment.

“It’s not so bad. Our pack doesn’t suck as much as the others.” Blair looked at the wolves passing by.

“Have you seen the alphas lately?” A girl who looked about sixteen asked her friend as they walked passed us.

“No, I’m dying to see alpha Alex. I heard he’s gotten bigger over the break.”

“I know! Let’s go check out the betas.”

“Yes!”

The girls were first-year betas. They hurried along to go stare at their seniors. Where are they talking about Alex? My Alex. My heart rate spiked. I hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever. Would he still consider us best friends? Or had the whole alpha thing gone to his head?

“Alex? From our pack?” I asked Blair.

She nodded. “The same.”

“What’s he like now? I mean it’s been forever.”

She groaned, “You’ll find out. Come on, let’s get you to Athena’s office.”

She started walking and I paused. “You’re going to take me there?”

She shot me daggers, “It’s not like you know where it is.”

I bit my lip. “Good point.”