Chapter Three

Judge Jackson…

Time stopped and Earth stood still as his title and name echoed, bouncing off the walls of the confined room. His expression changed from playful and coy to serious. My breath quickened as my nerves took over. I’d been at the mercy of a Judge the entire time and didn’t know it. I argued with a Judge, no less! There was no way I’d escape punishment…or death. 

He knows. 

I could see it in his eyes when I lied about my wolf status, but I figured he couldn’t do anything about it. I was so wrong. 

“Judge Jackson, I apologize for the intrusion,” Supervisor Rachel said, stepping forward and grabbing my hand. “Imani has always been one of our more curious girls with her head always in the clouds. She must’ve gotten distracted on the way to class. It’s our fault for not keeping a better eye on her.”

Realizing I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Judge Jackson, Supervisor Rachel shoved my head down in submission. Instead of staring into his mystifying blue eyes, I stared at his polished military-issued boots. My heart pounded with fear, forcing the blood to rush through my ears like an ocean wave. Of course, I’d never been to the beach before, none of us had. I didn’t know what it felt like to have the wet sand squish between my toes or to witness the waves as they collided against the shore. I watched plenty of videos, but I had a feeling that videos didn’t do it justice. 

“Has she been exhibiting any abnormal behavior?” Judge Jackson asked Supervisor Rachel.

“Abnormal behavior? Such as what?”

“Abnormal, as in, deviating from what is usual, typical, or normal,” he said in an annoyed tone, spelling it out for her. The two women I considered the closest beings to mothers failed to answer. A strong feeling of disappointment and abandonment overwhelmed me. Realistically, I knew they were afraid. They were just as afraid as I was because they strongly suspected I wasn’t a Purebred wolf. They had no way of knowing for certain, only a Judge knew, but the bold ‘C’ on my chest was a strong indicator. 

“Supervisor Sarah?” he challenged. She bowed her head and folded her hands in front of her, immediately deferring to Supervisor Rachel. “Supervisor Rachel…your partner is a coward. I’m waiting.”

I kept my head bowed in shame as Supervisor Rachel inhaled a sharp breath. “I-I’m sure you’ve noticed that she doesn’t give off pheromones, Judge Jackson. 

Curiosity at how he’d react caused me to glance up at him, only to find him already staring down at me with a look of pure annoyance. His magnetic eyes struck fear in me. They were both bright, yet simultaneously soulless. They were judging, unforgiving, and relentless. They screamed “I’m just doing my job” yet I had a difficult time accepting that he didn’t take pleasure from his job because why would he do it? Why didn’t he accept another position that didn’t involve killing innocent, helpless young women whose only sin was being born. 

It felt like slow motion when his finger moved to the trigger. It grazed it, almost reverently. I closed my eyes, not caring to witness my own demise. I jolt when a strong hand lands on my shoulder. I opened my eyes to find Judge Jackson staring at me with a blank face, but there was something different about his eyes…they were…smiling? He holstered the weapon. 

“I have important tasks to complete. Please, Supervisor Rachel, keep a close eye on Ms….What is your name, girl?”

“I-Imani.”

He clicked his tongue. “What a charming name. Please escort Ms. Imani to her class. We wouldn’t want her to miss any vital information, now do we?”

“N-No, Judge Jackson. Thank you,” Supervisor Rachel said. “You mentioned you had important tasks to complete. Is there anything we can do to help you as an apology for our mistake?”

I glance down again when I caught his attention. 

“There is a human amongst us.”

“Oh my,” Supervisor Sarah commented. 

“A human? In Eden? How could that possibly happen?” Supervisor Rachel asked. She sounded both distressed and concerned. 

“That is what we’re trying to figure out. He blended in with the male werewolves who came to participate in the class. We need to find the human, Imani.”

My eyes snapped back up and my mouth dropped in surprise. 

We need to find him? As in...Judge Jackson and I?

“You need my assistance in finding him?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why?”

“Because I have a feeling you know a thing or two about humans,” he answered.

“But that’s impossible. I’ve never encountered a human before.”

He smirked. “Right.”

A hand grabs my arm and pulled me away. It was Supervisor Rachel. “I’m sorry, Judge Jackson, but I do not believe that Imani will be of service to you. Supervisor Sarah and I will be escorting her back to class with the rest of the werewolves. As you said, we don’t want her to miss any vital information.”

He nodded. Finally relenting in his inquisition. “You are dismissed.” We were almost out of the door when he called out to us. “Do not be alarmed if you see me or my colleagues enter the classroom. We’ll merely be there for observation. We promise to be as silent as church mice.”

“Very well, Judge Jackson. Thank you for your lenient mercy,” Supervisor Rachel commented. “Imani,” she said in a stern voice. I already knew what she wanted from me. 

“I apologize, Judge Jackson.”

His lips quirked into a slight smile. “That’s quite all right.”

I could finally breathe again once we crossed the threshold of the infirmary. My breath was so loud that I didn’t hear the badgering from Supervisor Rachel and Sarah as they led me to class. “Stay close this time,” Supervisor Sarah growled. 

I was lost in my own world. She could’ve said she knew the exit route from Eden, and it still wouldn’t have registered. I escaped death…barely. I bought myself three more days. 

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end when someone whispered in my ear, “I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”