Ora’s POV I enjoy math class. There’s something about numbers that makes sense. Math is a part of daily life, from calculating the cost of your grocery shopping to the math used in physics. But my classmates don’t see that. But today I can’t seem to focus on the figures. I’m simply tired of the never-ending darkness of winter. I stared out the window and watched as the large raindrops smacked the window. I can’t wait for spring and all the brightness it brings. No matter what the weather. Aunt Jo insists I help her train. The woman is obsessed. She always wants to exercise and learn new fighting techniques. Over the years, she has learned so many fighting styles. But she never enters competitions. She says she doesn’t need others to tell her how good she is. She knows. Honestly, the woman is so full of herself sometimes. “We will work with Mr. Templeton today. To show the connection between math and science.” Mrs. Mossop announces as she leaves the classroom. Once
Ora’s POV Principal Cross delivered a substantial speech highlighting the religious values of our school and the code of conduct each of the pupils is expected to follow. He then expressed his deep disapproval of the altercation between Tina and me. He then told us how God had witnessed the entire thing and would judge us accordingly. I sat there and held back my smile. Because I hope he has watched every interaction I have ever had with Tina and how she has been spared every time. Until today. As for my aunts. There is no doubt that my aunts adhere to a faith and engage in the worship of a higher being. But they do not pray to the same god as Principal Cross and I. It’s not even a god they worship, it’s a goddess. They didn’t tell me which goddess they believed in. They said they didn’t want to confuse me and that when the time was right. When I know the truth, I will know who to pray to. But for the time being, I was to attend a school that taught from the Catholic Bible. T
Benson’s POV “I thought this trip was about us spending time together, seeing the world, and bonding?” I argued with my dad. “It is. But it’s also about preparing you for Alpha Academy.” He’s not wrong. I know this. But up till now, he had done nothing to prepare me for Alpha Academy. I must be missing something. “So you’re sending me out into the forest in an unknown country because?” I asked. “Survival training. It’s something you will do at Alpha Academy.” He responds with a smile on his face. “But why here? Why in one of the wettest places in Europe? Why not while we were in Spain? At least it was warm and dry there.” “Why would I make it easy for you?” He says with a smile on his face. “Besides, your mom is coming over. We’re having a bit of alone time.” He laughs suggestively. While my brain conjures a vision of my mom and dad having some alone time. I cringe, as that is something I don’t want to be around to witness. I stood there and stared at the man. It has
Ora’s POV No matter what day it is, my alarm goes off at 6 am. On weekdays, Aunt Jo takes me for a long run in the mornings before I have to shower and get ready for school. As it gets dark early, I like to go for a walk. Spend a little time alone before we have an intense training session. I love the days I can make her sweat. The best days of all are when I can knock her on her butt. But that rarely happens. On the weekends, I train harder and help tend to the farm. Aunt Jayne encourages me to learn about all the herbs and plants we grow and their purposes. I also help in the kitchen. Aunt Josie is an amazing cook. But this Saturday I have to go litter-picking. But I don’t care. It was worth it. Tina got what she deserved. It also helps the environment. Win-win in my book. My alarm goes off at 6 am. Getting up, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited. I think it’s simply because of the change of routine. I met Aunt Jo downstairs for breakfast. It’s the most important meal
Ora’s POV “Wake up,” I said in a panic, trying to shake awake the unconscious man on the ground. I’m so dead. Aunt Jo is going to kill me. Maybe I need help. I tell myself when he doesn’t move. But then Principal Barbour will call my aunts, they will find out what I’ve done. Panic sets in and I hyperventilate. “Focus Ora,” I say out loud as I try to calm my breathing. “I can splash some water on his face,” I mumble as I get to my feet. Rushing over to the muddy puddle of rainwater, I realized I couldn’t carry that much in my hands. So I grab the man by his waterproof jacket and dragged his body along the ground to the puddle. Four scoops of water and he stirs. Thank God. When he opens his eyes, he stares at me. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He has the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. They remind me of the blue sky on a clear day. “Hey,” he says as he stares at me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” I touched my temple. “I thought you were one of them.” I tried to explain. I went to
Benson’s POV Of all the things to tell her aunt she was hiding. A kitten? I could taste the bitterness in my mouth. Talk about how to offend a man, never mind the son of an Alpha. But when she said two of her aunts hated cats and would stay away from the barn if they knew one was inside. I swallowed my pride and ate some snacks Ora brought me. We climbed up to the ‘loft’ as Ora called it. This was to avoid anyone seeing me, and so I didn’t scare any animals they had around. I was also grateful to avoid the cat litter she scattered around. Ora must spend some time up here, as there are books and flashlights. Sitting on a bale of hay, Ora sat next to me and we both turned to face one another. We talked for a while. About my family and friends. Where I was from in America. I didn’t go into detail about my shifter life. She would have thought I was delusional and called the men in white suits. Ora told me how she lived with her three aunts. They adopted her when she was very
Benson’s POV What do I do? There’s a possibility they could kill me if I confronted them, and nobody would be none the wiser. No one other than Ora knows I’m here. So I stay silent. “Did you get everything you needed, Jayne?” A naked Josie asks as she walks further into the barn. Scooping up an oversize jacket that was lying around. I’m watching as Jayne speaks a few words and waves her hands in a circular motion. Then she lifts what looks like a tarp off the ground. She then kneels on the ground and lifts some wooden floorboards. Josie goes to her aid as she tries to drag something out of the ground. I watch as the pair together drag out a wooden trunk from a secret compartment in the ground. “No. The Valerian I need has become hard to get hold of. No one had any. But I don’t know why. It’s a common flower in Europe.” She removes the padlock on the trunk and lifts the lid. I can’t see anything, but I hear stuff being shuffled around. I watch with interest. I watch as J
Ora’s POV I looked out of the window, daydreaming about Benson’s kiss. “Where is Aunt Jo?” I asked. I am curious as we always drive here together. It’s not that they ever come inside with me. It’s only because I attend a Catholic school that I go, as the school requires all students to attend church once a week. Aunt Josie and Aunt Jayne don’t think I notice their side glances, but I do. “She’ll be here soon. She just had something to deal with back on the farm.” “Got it,” I replied, continuing to stare out the window. Father David and his wife Stella are greeting people outside the church. “Hello, ladies,” he says as we all approach. He is a chubby man who is always happy to see everyone. “Can I interest you in joining us today?” He asks cheerfully. He always invites my aunts to join the service. But my aunts always politely decline. They tell him week after week that they are women of faith. But their faith differs from his. He still asks regardless, though. After t