Chapter 3

We were all standing there one moment, then the next, several idiots started attacking us. One of them shoved me over, and I smacked my head on the concrete. They would cheerfully beat me up regardless of the fact that I was a girl. As Mac was holding me to the ground, I attempted to shove him off of me, but it was useless. Even though I was quite strong for my size, once I got pinned, it was useless.

Before punching me in the face, he gave me a wicked smirk. My cheek was throbbing, and I yelled in agony. I started crying right away. I loathed sobbing, but I also loathed how pitiful and insignificant I felt. I only wanted a fair fight once, but until I Shifted, I would never be able to defeat the four jerks who were the school football players.

As I lay on the ground sobbing like a helpless child, I could hear my companions' cries for help. As I sobbed, I twisted into a foetal posture in an effort to at least defend myself. However, the altercation didn't last long, and the bullies soon dispersed laughing.

Chris was the only person in our friendship group who did not cry. He was also the toughest and bravest person in our group. Jared's eyes were watering as he gazed over his broken spectacles while Dom was still sobbing while holding his phone and his nose was slightly bleeding.

"You okay, May?" Chris knelt alongside me and questioned me. He assisted me in standing up while I sniffed and wiped my eyes. 

I said, "I want to go home" in a hushed voice as I began to feel the bruising on my face and ego. Chris squeezed my hand before approaching Dom and Jared. The four of us returned to the Pack in silence after he assisted them in getting up. Once Jared and Dom had left for home, I growled, "I can't wait until I can Shift, then I'm going to beat the shit out of those motherfuckers." Chris and I had to walk back together because our homes were on the other side of the Pack.

I adored Jared and Dom, but Chris and I had been close friends for a much longer. Chris was my secret friend. We had previously attended the same school, but my parents later transferred me to the next school since it offered a stronger sports program.

Yes, Chris retorted, "but if we go back and beat them up, then we'll be just as bad as they are." I scowled as I turned to face him. His emerald eyes sparkled, and his blonde hair was combed back. When I was younger, I always thought I would Shift and discover Chris was my soul mate, but after we had been friends for so long, I rapidly changed my mind. He was more like a brother to me than a boyfriend, and we were best friends. 

Yes, I said, "but beating the snot out of them just once would feel damn good."

Chris sighed and said, "Yeah, I guess so."

We stopped when we got to my house together. What will you tell your folks about that upcoming bruise? Chris questioned while rubbing my cheekbone lightly with his finger. I shook off his grasp and lowered my baseball cap even more. He scowled, "That's not going to work, May."

I'll simply say that I slipped off my board. Every other time, it's worked, I said, shrugging.

Chris groaned while nodding. "Yeah. Will you see me tomorrow?

Depends on the utter nonsense surrounding Alpha Ethan. I rolled my eyes at how obsessed my parents were with it. You still have 10 minutes to get home before curfew, I said, looking at my watch. Later, I'll see you.

"Okay, bye, May." He waved at me briefly before starting to walk away.

After him, I yelled, "Hey Chris." He swung around to face me again, an eyebrow arched in inquiry. "What do you think about this whole war thing?"

"I'm tense. There has probably never been a war this large. I'm likely going to have to fight when we join, not if. I should have Shifted before the conflict started. I'm all over the place right now, but I believe my shift is not far off.

I confessed, "I want to join the war."

"May, you know that a lot of people are going to die in this war, right?"

"I know, but lately I haven't felt much like a typical Wolf. My father claimed that because of how horrific a conflict would be, many young Wolves Shift members might come out.

"Really?" Chris questioned startled.

It seems that the urge to defend oneself will swiftly activate the Shift. I described it as a form of self-preservation. "I want to be a part of the war so I can Shift at last,"

Chris responded with a wink, "Don't worry, May, you'll Shift when your good and ready.

My mother yelled—she screamed loudly! Although I was aware of how awful I looked, that was overly dramatic. As I sat down at the dinner table, I gave her a sidelong glare. My mother didn't see me before school since I had a late wake-up, and she didn't notice the bruise on my face until we were sitting down for dinner, which was a few hours after the visiting Alpha had arrived.

Mabella Thorne, Elizabeth. She said, "What the heck happened to your face?

I shrugged, "I fell."

She hissed fiercely, "Off that damn skateboard I bet." I didn't want to tell her that I had actually been beaten up, so I just shrugged. Alpha Ethan and a few of his warriors are now in the area. For heavens' sake Mabella, we are meant to be arriving at the Alpha's house in an hour.

I said, "Then just leave me here."

"I don't believe that. We'll just attempt to conceal it with cosmetics.

I wrinkled my nose and said, "Ew, no thanks. I don't want that orange shit all over my face."

Why can't you just be a regular sixteen-year-old for a change, Mabella?" she asked, shaking her head.

I grumbled in irritation, "Geez thanks, love you too." 

Please wear your hair down if you're not going to let me apply makeup to you, she pleaded. As we got started eating dinner, I grinned. While we were eating, everyone chattered away while I quietly considered ways to avoid going to see this other odd Alpha. I was at a loss for an adequate defense.

As we finished clearing the plates, my mother remarked, "All right, Mabella, go get changed."

I responded, "I've changed." I once more believed that my mother would faint. She spoke once, then shut her mouth and opened it again before asking my father for assistance. I detested when they attacked me in groups.

Just put something a little more tidy on, darling. You are aware of the nature of Alphas, my father remarked to her.

You mean, you're aware of how mothers are," I muttered under my breath.

He asked with squinted eyes, "What was that?"

I grumbled and snuck out of the kitchen, saying, "I'll go change now." I exhaled loudly and went back inside my room, looking in the mirror. I sported a white shirt, tattered trousers, and a pair of Nike sneakers. The unsightly purple and yellow bruise traveled up the left side of my face as my hair was pulled back.

I put on a tight red blouse, my newest leather jacket, and a pair of black thin pants because they were the only ones I had that weren't torn. I then put on a pair of other sneakers.

I removed my hair from the ponytail as I scowled at myself in the mirror. My dark curls looked chaotic and uncontrolled as they tumbled over my face and down to my mid-back. I was afraid that brushing it might make it resemble a lion's mane, so I refrained from doing so. So I got some hair mouse and ran it through my hair after dabbing a little on my palm. It was still just a curly mess, but it became significantly calmer and at least appeared to be supposed to be a curly mess.