Chapter 2 – Alpha Academy

LAMIA

(TWO YEARS LATER)

I was bopping along to my music on the way back to the dorms from an awesome morning of training. I was heading to my room for a much-needed shower and change before my classes. I didn’t think the instructors would be too happy if I turned up sweaty and bloody for their class. I had already been warned about that once. In my defense, I had been distracted and was running late.

However, I guess that wasn’t a good enough excuse, especially since I refused to tell them what had distracted me. I liked boys, of course, I did! But what I didn’t like was the hot-headed Alphas thinking they could corner me and put their hands on me whenever they wanted to. Like that idiot, Summer’s from a western pack did. Thinking he was all badass and shit and was going to make me submit. HA! What a laugh!

I smirked at the memory of him cornering me just outside the girl’s dorm door, caging me in, and taking a big whiff of my scent. Told me how he was going to ‘make me scream his name and submit to him. At first, it was kinda hot! But at 16 and just arriving here, I really knew nothing about sex. Nor did I really want to. But it was his next words that pissed me the fuck off.

‘When I’m done with your whore pussy, I will let the other boys take a turn and see if you scream for them like you will me’

We had only been here for two weeks, and Summer's was a graduating Alpha. I think he thought he could take advantage of the new girl. I had tried to step away, not wanting to cause a scene, but his hand had pushed me back against the wall. Hard. Not allowing me to move.

My wolf, Inanna, had her hackles up immediately and my level of calm became nonexistent. Nobody! Not anyone, including the damn king, was allowed to treat us that way. So needless to say, I had to put him in his place in front of all his buddies and fucked him up. It took four of his friends to hold me back and a few instructors to calm me down as I wasn’t done spilling his blood.

When Kel and Mike found out, they were definitely pissed and wanted blood, but as usual, they knew I had taken care of it. They had both just wrapped their arms around me, providing much-needed emotional support. They were my best friends in the whole world and Kel was pretty much a brother.

We have been at the Alpha academy school for a little over a year now, almost two, only being allowed to go back home for traditional holidays. Alpha training was intense, and grueling but also very satisfying. My wolf was loving the workout, as was I. Aside from training, the Academy kept us up to date with normal school lessons as well as a history of our realm and wolves. We were taught how to lead a pack and the fundamentals of running 'said pack'. They were grooming us to become leaders. The dynamics of being at this school allowed us to form bonds and alliances with other packs in the kingdom. For Kellen and other Alphas, this was essential.

For me, not so much. I wasn’t an Alpha and wouldn’t be taking over any pack. I wouldn’t even be following in my father's footsteps to become the next Royal Delta. Even though I was happy to be with my two best friends and have this opportunity, I still wasn’t sure what my place was. Maybe they thought I would become a Luna to some Alpha. I know they (our parents) thought Kellen and I would be mates, or at least they hoped. Kellen and I were close, but we didn't have feelings like that for each other, more like brother and sister. Besides, I had always had a crush on someone else.

However, as much as I have enjoyed being at the Alpha Academy, I missed home. I missed my parents and I missed our other friends from high school (what little I had). The people attending this school, for the most part, were stuck up their own asses and I hadn’t really forged many good friendships. Most of the girls stayed away, always intimidated by my power, or I was too Tom-boyish, I guess. That and they all envied my relationship with Kellen and Mike. The boys only talked to me if they were hitting on me or had to if we were in training. They were also intimidated by my strength. I can’t blame them. What Alpha, wants their asses handed to them by a girl every single time they step in the ring with me.

Don’t get me wrong, I have made some wonderful friends here, friendships that I hope will carry on even after we return to the Royal pack.

I reached the girls' dorm door and headed up to the second floor where my room was. The Alpha school was for future Alphas, Luna, Betas, and, if you were wealthy, some third in command. I was not classed as any of these, but the king had wanted me to be well versed in all positions, so not only was I taking Alpha training and classes, but also Luna classes (boring). My father said I needed the Luna training to ‘soften’ me up a little and meet some females my age, plus chances were I would end up being mated to an Alpha.

What did I need females for? I had a mom to explain all the bees and the birds and my two best friends to hang out with and get into trouble with.

However, as I made my way into my room (luckily I didn’t share with anyone), I thought about Kira, who I had come to meet and become friends with in the past year. We were so not anything alike, but we meshed. Kira was a beautiful girl first and only born to the Alpha of the Pacific Moon pack and her father was sure she would be mated to an Alpha and so, hence, she was sent here. She had beautiful curly brown hair and deep brown eyes with a light skin tone. She was shorter than me but had a figure to die for and knew just how to dress to kill. She was sassy, headstrong, and cussed like a sailor but all in a delicate feminine way. She never wore too much make-up, just enough to enhance her doe eyes and make her lips look plumper.

I opened the door to my room, kicked off my shoes and pulled my sports bra over my head, and threw it at my bed. The room didn’t have much; a double bed, dresser, and stand which was a dull brown, and a plaid loveseat with a red rug that was thrown over the hardwood floor. The two other doors in the room led to the closet and the small bathroom which housed a sink, vanity, and shower all decorated in white tiles.

I threw the rest of my clothes on the bathroom floor, turned the shower on, and stepped in, washing the dirt and sweat from my body. I especially loved it when training was intense. The more brutal, the better. I sighed as the warm water ran down my body. Not too many bruises today because I wasn’t sparing with instructors, just Beta’s and Alphas. I hated that, it always meant I needed to go easy and not show my full power.

When I got out, I dressed in black skinny jeans and a light grey open-neck sweater that hung just above my hips and a little off the shoulders with a pair of black knee-high boots. Kira had insisted I buy the outfit. She said I was too hot to wear baggy jeans and tee’s all the time. And I have to say, I loved the outfit, perfect for fall, my favorite season.

I combed my strawberry blond hair and applied a little clear lip gloss and added some mascara to make my green eyes pop. I wasn’t bad looking. I was tall, taller than the average she-wolf at just over 5’ 10”, and muscular. Not like weight-lifting muscles but nicely toned features and defined stomach muscles. I could be a little intimidating to some, especially with my one natural black streak that flowed down the left side of my hair, my muscular frame, and my height.

“What up bitch!” I turned to see Kira’s bouncy curls and head coming in my door. I nodded my head, motioning her to come into my room. She would usually just walk in. I’m not sure if she even knows how to knock.

“So are we heading out to shop for an outfit for tomorrow night after classes?” She said, taking a seat on the end of my bed.

There’s an ‘abandoned manor’ on the grounds where upper-classmen would hold parties at. The instructors and staff at the school would turn a blind eye to our party, but would always be close enough to make sure nothing drastic happened and things didn’t get out of hand. Sometimes some of the returning previous Alphas would make a presence as if to chaperone.

Alpha classes and training could be extended until you are ready to take over a pack or 21.

“Yeah sure, why don’t I link Kellen and see if he and Mike want to come to hang out too? If you don’t mind?”

“Yep, sounds good.” She replied, standing up and smoothing her beige knee-length skirt and white rolled cashmere sweater, a small smile on her face accompanied by a mischievous glint in her eye.

With that, we both headed out the door and down to our classes. She had a Luna class and I had a strategy class. The only classes we had together were the design ones, which were boring. I could never see myself decorating a pack house or choosing colors for events and decorating. Or choosing and arranging flowers. I had to laugh at myself. Whereas Kira had an eye for this type of stuff, I had an eye for battle strategy. I got that from my father and I was proud of it!

*Hey Kel you there?* I tried to mind-link him and, of course, got a reply right away.

*what’s up beautiful? I just got into class*

*Kira and I are going out after class for something to wear tomorrow. Do you and Mike wanna come and get something to eat afterward?* I waited a few seconds knowing he was asking his Beta.

*Mike says yes, haha. So yeah, let's meet by my car after*. With that, we shut the mind link down, for now.

The four of us were definitely a unit and we welcomed Kira into our little group almost immediately.

*****

KELLEN

Mike and I stood leaning against my truck, waiting for Lamia and Kira to meet up with us. They wanted to go buy new outfits for a party tomorrow night.

There was always a party happening somewhere on Friday nights and along with the party came alcohol and she-wolves. I grinned at my last thought. As an Alpha and next in line for the throne, I always had girls around me; I was definitely a chick magnet. But I always knew it was my looks, my money, and my title. Never my personality. That didn’t matter to these ladder-climbing she-wolves.

Either way, in the past few months, I haven’t been one to turn down a good-looking and willing she-wolf. I had been saving myself for my mate, unlike Mike, until we went to one of these parties and had way too much to drink and found a small brunet, whose name I don’t even remember, who was very convincing and found her lips wrapped around my cock, which led to her straddling me and my hormones taking over.

I finally understood why Mike was a man whore and I was in danger of becoming one myself. A lot of alcohol and a seductive girl and I couldn’t control my urges. Pathetic but, hey, I’m male and an Alpha at that. We tend to have more primal urges and find it hard to control those sides of our emotions. Usually, a good run, sparing or sex would keep our wolves complacent.

“So we do get to watch the girls try on clothes, right?” Mike asked, curling his lips into a smirk.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Dude, you do realize they are like sisters, right?” It was his turn to roll his eyes at me now. Mike was definitely a player, the girls couldn’t resist his stocky tall build and mischievous hazel eyes that always showed his playful side.

“Goddess damn!” he let out a low whistle as we watched the girls walking over the common grounds to us. “One day man, one day. If she doesn’t turn out to be your mate, oh how I would love for those long legs to wrap around me-”

I cut him off with a low growl.

“ OK, OK,” he said. “She’s off limits, I get it. Every she-wolf wants to be like her and every wolf wants her. ” He sighed and nudged my shoulder playfully.

I growled again. They would have to go through me before any wolf touched her.

“It's not that, she’s like my sister. You know that. And yes, I am quite aware of how hot Lamia is. And I don’t want to hear how my best friend, who also grew up with her, wants to fuck her!” I raised my voice slowly, becoming a little agitated at how Mike was still looking at the approaching girls.

As I watched Lamia and Kira make their way over to us, I couldn’t help seeing what a beautiful woman Lamia had started to grow into. Her long reddish-blond hair hung over her bare shoulders just touching the top of her perky and full breasts that today were covered over by a form-fitting, off-shoulder grey sweater. Her tight jeans clung to her toned thighs and hugged her heart-shaped ass.

Even at this distance, I could see her piercing emerald eyes under her dark lashes and pouty lips. Her long boots had a slight heel that made her almost as tall as most male wolves. She was strong looking, but also had the body of a supermodel, and what dominant male, Alpha, would not want that?

Me, I didn’t want it. Lies. My god, she was beautiful and I had seen her naked a handful of times, since she had lived with me in the Royal Quarters of the Palace, by accident, of course, and before we got the mind link under control we would accidentally link or project images of ourselves to each other without even knowing it. But no, I could appreciate her beauty and admire her figure, but I just couldn’t see my Lamia in that kind of way. She was a sister, wasn’t she?

Again lies.

Not blood, but we were connected like twins. Our bond was forged from the day we were both born under the blue moon after a bloody battle. Even more so, when she was ready to give her life for mine at just the tender age of 8, we were pretty much inseparable. We always knew where the other was. She had become my protector, which could sometimes be embarrassing because, boy have I been teased about a girl protecting me, but I also knew how strong and fierce she was and wouldn’t want anyone else watching my back. And the teasing stopped at the Royal pack when everyone else realized she was a freaking’ badass too.

At the age of fifteen, my father had requested she move into the royal wing with us, even though she only lived a short distance away. He wanted her to learn the royal duties with me and thought her living with us would give her more insight. It didn’t seem as strange to me as it did to others outside of the family. Her mother, Aunt Viv, was pissed, to say the least, but eventually, both she and her husband, Uncle Marcus gave in and understood.

Lamia was trained to be a Queen and then was sent here to the Alpha Academy.

In the beginning, I figured it was because everyone thought we would end up being mated, but I quickly found out it had more to do with fear. At least, on my father’s part, he held some fear of Lamia and that’s why he wanted to keep her close.

Lamia was strong and smart and her wolf was a force to be reckoned with. She was stronger than anyone I had ever met or knew, which included me and the King, and because she could dismiss an order and resist the King's power, that made her dangerous.

At the age of fifteen, countless times in training in the Royal pack, she would hand our Beta as well as her Father their asses. I’m not even sure anyone could take her on here at the Academy. Even with all her badass skills and power, she was still tender at heart.

She was kind unless you got on her bad side or threatened me, and her heart was pure and vulnerable, she had a beautiful view of the world and tried to find the best in all people and situations. Her tender side wasn’t something many got to see, but I had and that was how I needed to protect her from the world. She protected me against threats and I protected her heart.

So I could never see her as anything more than a sister, could I?

The love I have for her only grew with each day. And I hoped she would one day find her mate in our pack so she would never have to leave me. I don’t think I could handle not having her around, that’s how close and connected we were.

Mike pushed himself off the side of my truck and stretched his arms out to the approaching girls.

“All I’m saying, Kellen, is if the opportunity fell in my lap I would never push Lamia off.” He took a step towards them and snaked one arm around Lamia, pushing himself in between the girls, draping his other arm over Kira’s shoulders.

I pulled Lamia to my side, gave her a kiss on her temple, and greeted her warmly before we all climbed into the truck and headed toward the town mall. Not before giving Mike a warning glance that was met with mischievous eyes and an equally mischievous grin. Fucking Mike.