Chapter 1

Izariah-

I hated days like this when I got a feeling something was going to happen, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. Normally when I got this feeling, something big happened. Sometimes it was a good thing, while other times it wasn’t.

I didn’t have time to contemplate it right now because I was about to be late for class. I shouldn’t have spent all night studying in the library the night before my exam finals. My first semester in college and I was going to be late for my first final.

It wasn’t that I needed to study hard because I have always excelled academically. I could easily pass a test with just the basics, but I wanted to do more than just simply pass it. The whole reason I left my pack and traveled to the other side of the state was that I wanted to create a better life for myself and my family.

I come from a ridiculously small pack, known as Dark Rose Pack, with only twenty-three members. I was the only one who still hasn’t shifted into my wolf form, which I didn’t know why. I had a wolf, but I couldn’t officially bond with her until I shifted.

That didn’t mean I didn’t have my werewolf abilities, but they weren’t as strong as others that have shifted. Normally we shift at the age of sixteen, but I had just turned nineteen and I still couldn’t shift. It is also for that reason I decided to work hard in school because I couldn’t rely on my wolf to put me in a better position within the wolf community.

I had to rely on my smarts and my own perseverance. My goal is to get a medical degree and become a pack doctor. Not a pack doctor at my old pack, because I doubt it will last much longer. The pack is small and there aren’t enough funds coming in or out to sustain it for much longer.

We used to have more members, but they left to join bigger packs. That was my plan as well. After I get my degree, I want to join a large enough pack that I will be able to earn enough money for my family to be able to relocate.

If I don’t get to my exam though, I might as well kiss that dream goodbye. I am on a scholarship and if I don’t at least get a passing grade, they will yank my scholarship. I also work two part-time jobs so I can send money home and be able to cover other things that my scholarship doesn’t cover.

Glancing at my cheap digital watch, I cringed when I saw I only had ten more minutes to get there. Taking a shortcut, I ran across the wet grass that would take me to the testing site. I have always been a fast runner, but I lacked the stamina that other werewolves had.

I would give anything to have my bond with my wolf so I could take advantage of the full extent of my abilities. Some days I think I will never shift, but my parents tell me I am just a late bloomer. I doubt they would think that if they knew just how hard I had to push myself just to keep up with everyone else.

“Run faster Izariah!” One of my friends and dorm roommate yelled from across the field.

With only a little further to go, I pushed ahead with all my strength, while pushing the limits of my fatigued muscles. Just as my feet hit the pavement in front of the building, I slowed down and came to a stop. Bending over I took a few deep breaths to calm myself.

“We only have two more minutes.” She said as she grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.

Panting, I let her pull me inside and down the aisle of seats. Sitting down in the first available seat we found, we readied our pencils and erasers. Taking my water bottle out of my bag, I took a long drink before setting it on the corner of the desk. Just as I finished organizing everything, I needed to get ready, the professor entered the classroom.

“Before I pass these out,” The professor held up a stack of exams and waved them in the air. “I want to remind all of you that if you don’t pass, you will have to retake the semester. You have three hours to complete it and you aren’t allowed to get up for any reason. To prevent cheating, signal blockers have been placed all around the room to prevent anyone from communicating telepathically.”

As he continued to give us a lecture about the exam and what we were allowed to do and not do, I focused on slowing down my breathing and steadying my heart rate. I didn’t need to listen to everything he was telling me, because it was the same thing, we were all told during our entrance exams. Right now, my only concern was calming myself so I could concentrate on my exam.

A few minutes later, the professor started handing out the tests. The instant he gave the order that we could begin, I quickly opened the book and started. Halfway through the test I inwardly groaned at my stupidity for drinking all my water before the test began.

My bladder felt as if it were going to burst, but I did my best to ignore it. I was going to engrave this day in my head so I could make sure I never made this same mistake twice. The day was not starting out the way I had hoped.

Was it possible that the feeling I had when I woke up was just a premonition that I was going to flunk my exam? I didn’t think so, considering I felt confident that I was doing well so far. Let’s just hope that my feeling isn’t about embarrassing myself by peeing my pants during my test.

Crossing my legs, I ignored the urge to go to the bathroom and just worried about the test in front of me. When I finished, I gathered my stuff and took my test to the front of the class where the professor was standing. He accepted the paper but looked at me with one brow raised slightly.

“Are you sure you are finished?” He asked.

We were given three hours to complete the test, but I did it in an hour. I spent another twenty minutes checking everything over. I felt confident enough that I was going to pass, plus I needed to use the bathroom.

“Yes, Sir.” I answered.

“You do understand that you won’t be able to retake it if you fail, correct?”

“Yes, Sir.” I repeated with certainty.

He looked down at the test, then waved me off with a flick of his hand. Being dismissed, I swiftly exited the room. Running down the sidewalk, I silently prayed that I would make it to the bathroom in time.

When I reached the woman’s restroom, I made quick work of relieving myself. After washing my hands, I started making my way off campus so I could get something to eat. The benefit of working part-time for a small bakery meant I often was able to get free food and coffee.

Having missed breakfast, the thought of a muffin sounded amazing right now. Since it was a good distance away, I had to take the city bus. The city was a mixture of humans and werewolves, so it was easy to blend in for the most part.

There were two colleges that were specific to werewolves, while there were three that were for humans. I have heard a few werewolves going to school with humans, but it was rare. I had thought about going to a human college, only because I didn’t have my wolf yet.

The reason I didn’t was that I was worried that if I did end up getting my wolf at any moment, I didn’t want to risk putting anyone in danger or exposing my secret. It had been tempting, however. Most werewolves look down on Omega werewolves and think they are not worthy to be called a wolf.

It didn’t bother me though, because wolf or not, I could take care of myself. Even though I haven’t shifted, I had trained alongside the others in my pack. My fighting skills were rather good, despite that, I lacked the strength and endurance of my wolf.

It was like I was only a fraction of a werewolf. Until I shifted, I would always fall short of being at full capacity. That didn’t stop me from giving it my all though. A few times I have had others try to bully me because I couldn’t shift, but I quickly proved to them that I wasn’t easy to mess with.

Due to my spacing out, I nearly missed my stop, so I reached up and pressed the button that would alert the driver that someone wanted to get off the bus. When the bus stopped, I tightened my hold on my bag and exited through the back door. I had to walk a block to the bakery, but it didn’t take me long at all.

I was about to enter the shop when I stopped and stepped back a few feet. In the distance, I heard someone yelling, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. By the sound of things, someone was in distress.