Goldie’s POV After enduring two plane rides and a lengthy run, I am standing in front of the pack’s border patrol. “We weren’t expecting to see you here, Goldie. Alpha Stan told us your dad was leaving for Beta Academy yesterday.” They told me. Dad is not at home, and Samuel is calling out for help. That can’t be good. Oh, goddess, please let them be safe. I pray as I run to my house. I burst through the door, expecting the worst. But it’s quiet. I wander around and there is nothing out of the ordinary. “Maybe your dad took them to Beta Academy with him,” Tala suggested. Maybe Samuel sent that message by mistake, I thought to myself, thinking I had possibly overreacted. As I walk towards the door, I question if I have done the right thing by coming here. But I have to face the consequences of my actions. I left while there was an ongoing investigation. Kellie wouldn’t have gone to Beta Academy to support me. She can’t stand me. Maybe that’s why she went to see me get re
Asher’s POV After Matty found her phone. He told us she would head home. Her sister Shannen’s message implied something serious had happened back home. I can’t believe it. Maria has been at Beta Academy this entire time. Why hadn’t I thought about that being a possibility? As we sat on a private plane that Uncle Jasper organized. I crack my knuckles as I stare at Matty. He has been with her this whole time, and I am jealous. “Tell us about her?” Fin asks Matty, breaking the silence. “What do you want to know?” Matty responded. “Everything,” I said calmly. But really, the only thing I want to know is how they ended up sleeping together. “We share a birthday. We met at the airport when we were on our way to Beta Academy. I left early, seeing as my birthday sucked.” Matty said as he looked at his dad. “Matty I...” Uncle Jasper spoke. But we wanted to hear about Maria. “Let him finish, please,” Dex asked politely. “We hit it off right away. We couldn’t stop laughing and joking
Goldie’s POV I opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling. It’s not one I recognize. Where am I? “About time you woke up,” Tala said. “Glad you’re back,” I responded. I can feel someone next to me. By his scent, I know it’s Samuel. I look over and see a sleeping Shannen, next to a sleeping Matty. All my favorite people are in one room. All my favorite people bar one. My dad. I think that’s what that dream was all about. My parents finding happiness together in the afterlife. A happy ending to an awful situation. But why aren’t I with them? I was, but now I’m not. I rolled over and hugged my brother. Samuel wakes up in my arms. “Goldie,” he shouts ecstatically. Returning my hug. “Hey bro,” I respond. That’s when Shannen comes over and joins us in bed. I pulled her in for a hug, too. When she pulls away from me, I see bruising on her face and a lump on her head. I can’t believe Kellie would do that to her daughter. When they pull away, Matty is standing there. “Hey
Goldies’s POV “You’re not listening to me,” Shannen screams at Matty. “I am listening to you,” he yells back at her. “Then what is the problem?” she yells, crossing her arms. Waiting for his answer. Ash comes and sits beside me. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “How long have they been at it?” he asks me. “All morning. I’m surprised you haven’t heard them.” I responded, offering some of my popcorn. “Dad has had us in his office. He plans on retiring the second you say you’re pregnant. He wants to be there for his grandkids.” Ash mocks. “He knows I have no intention of getting pregnant until I am older, doesn’t he? It’s fun practicing, though.” I tell Ash, who kisses me. He already knows this. But his dad probably doesn’t and is preparing for the official announcement. “You’re not going and that is final,” Matty shouts at Shannen. I shifted my gaze from Ash to him. Shannen is glaring at Matty like he has two heads. “I am going and not you or anyon
Jo’s POV “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Ora. Happy birthday to you.” We all sang to the little girl in our care. “Now blow out your candles and make a wish,” Josie suggested. Ora stands there and doesn’t move. “Why don’t I have a mommy and daddy?” Ora stands in front of me, crying her heart out. Josie must have heard Ora crying and, thankfully, came to my rescue. I can be affectionate and often give Ora hugs. But I’m not great when dealing with the intense emotional stuff. Whereas Josie knows exactly what to say and do. I watch as Josie embraces Ora. Offering comfort as she tenderly strokes her hair and kisses her forehead. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Ora. Happy birthday to you.” We all sang to the little girl in our care. “Now blow out your candles and make a wish,” Josie suggested. Ora stands there and doesn’t move. “Why don’t I have a mommy and daddy?” Ora asks as she starts crying. The ca
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