Chapter 6 Judy

“I am not going waste my time practicing these kindergarten skills.” Judy said as she looked at her nails and crossed her arms. She then gave me a fake smile. Her tone doesn’t match her pretty face. Her hair is pulled into two long braids and her blonde hair looks almost golden in this light. Her features are soft, unlike Rebecca’s artificial beauty.

“So how about we just stand here wait and chill, the professor won’t mind, I knew these skills even before I was born.”

That was exactly what I wanted, just now I had a fight with Rebecca and I didn’t want anyone’s attention anymore.

“But I guess you need to practice more, in case Rebecca is looking for trouble again. After all, you almost got beat in front of everyone which would be super embarrassing.”

“I will, thanks.” I said and ignored the sarcasm in her words, and left out the fact that I actually got the highest fighting entrance exam results this year. It’s probably for the best that people didn’t know.

Most people didn’t know me because I rarely appear on social media or in the newspaper with my parents. Only my pack members and my schoolmates, Rebecca was one of them of course, but I guessed she didn’t really care about telling others my identity. She just wanted to beat my ass whenever she wanted to. The more attention I attract to myself the more likely it is that my secret would come out.

“Yeah, I can tell. That’s why you dodged her attacks and punched her on the face, it was cool.” Judy said and took a few steps back from me and narrowed her eyes.

She kicked a different practice dummy on the face and giggled, like she was imagining she was kicking Rebecca. I guess she didn’t like Rebecca either, it was obvious.

I couldn’t remember when the rivalry between us had started. It was the worse in high school but it seemed like Rebecca had never liked me. Our two packs had never fully gotten along either. She seemed really care if she could be the best student, every time I took it from her, she would came to me and look for trouble.

I felt like there were a pair of eyes on me and looked over. The professor was watching me with a curious expression. I blushed when I remembered how his lips felt on mine and looked away. It’s almost like I could feel like stubble beneath my hands and smell his musk again. I remembered how my body melted into his, I tried to stay calm and pretended that I was practicing.

He was my professor, I had to stop thinking about him like that. Not only that but he wasn’t my mate. I was saving myself for my mate. If I felt this way about Professor Atlas then imagine how I would feel about my mate. I worried that me being wolf-less would affect it. The idea of not having the partner my parents had found in each other made me sad. The sadness turned into anger and I struck out, landing an expert blow.

I looked around more and no other students were noticing me. With my next strike, I pretended to stumble and miss. Forgetting that I would have to hide how good I was at sparing, not wanting to attract any more attention to myself than I already had.

A heavy sigh came from behind me as I kicked too low, if this had been an actual partner they would be able to grab the blow easily. Judy was behind me now, watching the display.

“You’re hitting too slow, and in the wrong spot,” Judy said, pointing out the obvious. I huffed and before I could respond she came over and pointed to a spot on the practice dummy. “Hit it here,” she demanded and I made a strike, hitting on the opposite side. She shook her head.

“No, here,” Judy said and pointed again. I missed on purpose again and the blonde girl let out a big sigh.  I was surprised that she was willing to teach a “dumb student” like me.

I turned to look at her and she rolled her eyes. “I’m not patient enough to tell you everything you are doing wrong.”  But a minute later she came back and started to teach me again.

I smiled when she walked away and came back the third time, she might look like a mean girl, but she is actually a nice person. I kicked high, hitting the dummy square in the head with all of my might. I kicked it hard enough that it fell over. Judy finally nodded and gave me an encouraging look.

But when I failed again, she lost her patience.

“Oh my god, how did you even get into the academy?” She rolled her eyes and walked away from the dummy.

I pretended to be improving slowly with every strike. She probably thought at least I was making small progress, so her teaching was working which satisfied her. She frowned and lowered her voice when she spoke again.

“So, what’s going on between you and Rebecca anyway? I knew she was mean to everyone, but I never saw her hate someone so much,” Judy asked and hit the nose of the dummy.  “What did you do to her? I am curious.”

“I don’t know,” I lied and shook my head and Judy eyed me like she didn’t believe me so I explained more. “We were in high school together before this.” Another strike at the dummy’s face and Judy nodded.

“So, you know her reputation.” Judy said and then looked over. I followed her gaze and saw Rebecca sparring with her partner with a ruthless efficiency. I could tell she was getting as close as she could to seriously injuring her partner without actually getting in trouble with the professor. Her partner tried to stand, swaying on their feet in an attempt to balance when she struck out again.

 “I wouldn’t mess with her if I was you,” Judy explained and we looked at each other. “Her father donates a lot of money to the academy. If it came down to expelling her or you, the choice would be easy.” My nameless girl from a bad family act was working well.

Rebecca was Alpha Bernard’s daughter. They were the royal family pack family and one of the most powerful in the country. Their royal status went unquestioned for a very long time. My grandfather was the one who suggested the Alpha Board form and the elections of Alpha King’s. It had been controversial but more packs agreed than disagreed.

The idea made sense, the strongest and most sensible Alpha should be the Alpha King. But the decision took power away from the royal family pack and our packs have had a tense relationship ever since. We ran in the same circles; all the important pack families did. Attending feasts, sending their kids to the best school, and running for Alpha King.

Since Rebecca got her wolf early and had her special mind control ability it was easy for her to take her families wrath out on me. My parents did not want to get involved, except for the one time my mother almost did. The rivalry between our two packs seemed destined to repeat between the two of us. If only Alpha Bernard could accept that the Alpha Board was the best way to do things.

“I’m not trying to mess with her,” I explained quietly and kicked hard into the side of the dummy. Judy struggled to hold it still and then narrowed her eyes at me. I couldn’t explain all this to Judy because it would require telling her who I was. It was more important to secure my father’s election to Alpha King than reveal who I was. I didn’t want to get any special treatment either. Hopefully Rebecca and Arthur kept it quiet.

“She’s just a mean girl, probably needs someone to pick on,” I said simply and Judy didn’t look entirely convinced but before she could say anything else Arthur’s sparring partner screamed. The flurry of activity in the arena came to a halt as we all turned towards the sound.