4. What life will be like

WILLOW’S POINT OF VIEW

 “We are very happy to have you here,” Olivier steps forwards and says. “Ghost Pack is not at war, it hasn’t been at war or close to it for decades, but the Cadet Program is a most welcome spoil of war. It took Alpha Michael II a war to realize that his pack’s education and training were lacking, and now we honor him and all those who lost their lives in the Siege of Sandy Hills by ensuring their legacy endures.”

 “I like this guy,” Jamie purrs.

 “Our goal is not to train soldiers to win a war, our goal is to make every able-bodied pack member the living, breathing embodiment of what Ghost Pack stands for. We stand for education. We stand for strength. We stand for innovation. We stand for unity. We stand for equal rights. And we stand together.”

 “Heck, I’d vote for him,” someone next to me whispers, and I snort. A few heads turn our way, sporting scowls and frowns.

 “We believe each pack member should know the basics of defending themselves, but they should also know how to defend their pack. Fighting one-on-one is not how you keep a pack safe. You keep a pack safe by establishing a consistent system. Having an army is not how you keep a pack safe. You keep a pack safe by making sure each pack member can play a role in this system.”

 “And that is why all our pack members have trained daily from the age of five. That is why all our pack members have participated in community chores from the age of ten. That is why all our pack members have studied our escape routes and pack layout in school.”

 “You are here because you chose to become Cadets. No one forced you, and you had to try out and go through extensive interviews. Some of you have applied multiple times. I commend you on your effort and your grit. As Cadets, you will not be soldiers. You will not be our only defense against our enemies. You will be a part of our well-oiled machine. You will be our elite fighters, but you will also be our most valued assets.”

 “You will serve your pack and your Alpha by dedicating two years of your lives to improving the lives of everyone in Ghost Pack. You will stand at the trenches to defend us, should our enemies come for us. You will guard our borders. You will help cook, clean, and serve; you will help this pack flourish. And you will flourish alongside it by learning work ethics and attaining a college degree, which you will then use to further improve our pack.”

 I feel my chest swell with pride. I am so glad to be a part of this pack. I am so glad to serve under such dedicated leaders.

 “With,” Jamie whispers.

 “What?” I furrow my brow.

 “Serve with,” she clarifies.

 Right. As a part of this well-oiled machine, our role will be just as important as a ranked wolf’s.

 The Cadets clap. Nick pats Olivier’s shoulder and chuckles

 “All right, Mr. Mayor,” Nick says, and the crowd laughs.

 “Dang, that’s a fucking Communist Manifesto, and I’m here for it,” says the guy next to me. I turn my head to look at him. He’s a tall, thin young man with shoulder-length bleach-blond hair. His eyes are bright blue and through his grin, I can see his gap teeth. The way he used “dang” and “fucking” in the same sentence is endearing. He looks so happy I can’t help but grin back at him.

 I don’t know if I’d call it a Communist Manifesto, but it certainly feels like this place is all I’ve ever longed for. A place where we all belong, where we each have a role to play and are appreciated for it.

 The chores Olivier mentioned are the ones that are traditionally attributed to Omegas, but most packs in Canada have abolished that rank. This is one of the reasons Dad didn’t want me to come here: he thinks doing this kind of work is beneath me. I don’t mind it. Those tasks are a vital part of the well-oiled machine. They’re a way to serve the pack. It’ll be like I’m paying the community back for allowing me to be a part of it.

 “This is not a competition,” Nick says. “You are not competing for spots. You already have the spots. You earned them. The only reason you’ll get kicked out is if you really fuck it up. You can also choose to leave the program. Sometimes, people decide to leave after boot camp. Listen, I know boot camp is grueling, I was there once. But it’s just three short months that will prepare you for the next two years.”

 “The lessons you learn in boot camp will come in handy for your entire lives,” Rhys chimes in.

 “Right,” Nick nods. “After we end this chat, you will be divided into five cohorts. That means five people per cohort, if I got the math right.” The crowd once again laughs. “For the duration of the Cadet Program, you will work together. That means you’ll be on the same schedule; you’ll do the same training and the same chores. The only thing that’ll be different is your college classes schedule, which will fit whatever major you’ve chosen.”

 “But college classes won’t start ‘til after boot camp,” says Olivier. “For now, you will train four hours a day, have classes for two hours a day, patrol for three hours a day, and perform chores for four hours a day. The rest of your time is free. I know it’s not a lot, but, like Nick said, it’s only for three months. Mondays will be your days off. During boot camp, you won’t be allowed out of the territory unless it’s an emergency or under our orders. It’s a lot to take in and a huge adjustment, and you can be sure we will do our best to make it easy on you.”

 “Not too easy,” Rhys chuckles.

 “Each cohort will be assigned a General,” Nick says. “Who is a seasoned warrior. Your General will be your mom. They’ll help you learn the ropes around the Program and will personally supervise you and report to us. Like I said, this isn’t a competition, but your performance will help us assess what are your strong and weak points, and with that info, we can choose your future jobs and chores better.”

 All around me, Cadets start murmuring. It seems even though it isn’t a competition, it is a competition.

 A high-pitched whistle breaks through the meeting hall. It was Nick demanding our attention.

 My thoughts float back to his father, Beta Ricardo. I should hate Beta Nick, right? His father robbed me of my childhood. Lachlan should be the future Beta, not Nick. I should be mad at Nick. Instead, I’m intrigued. Intrigued by how this Beta’s son can hold a Beta’s authority and aura, while Dad – also a Beta’s son -, never did.

 I never knew someone could have an aura of authority before being sworn in as a ranked wolf. That’s why Dad never had a Beta’s eyes – even though he was the rightful Beta, he hadn’t gone through the necessary ceremony. Nick obviously hasn’t gone through the ceremony, because his father is still the Beta.

 “How is that possible?” I ask Jamie.

 “I don’t know yet. It would seem there are things I still have to learn, too,” she sounds contemplative.

 “Never thought I’d get you to admit you didn’t know something,” I chuckle.

 “Shut up, Willow, they’re still talking,” she pokes at me.

 “This building will be your home for the next two years.” Nick picks up where he left off. “Here you will sleep, eat, and train. All of your classes will be held at Sandy Hills College, though. During boot camp, you will share a room with your cohort. After that, if you choose to stay, you’ll only have one roommate. And then, after your two years, you can apply to be a full-time warrior and have your own room.”

 “Housing at the Barracks is free for all warriors. You may also choose to move back in with your families, rent a place of your own, or with roommates, whatever you like. Just remember you have to remain in Ghost Pack territory for two years after you’re done with your program,” Olivier cuts Nick off.

            I guess Olivier is the rational one, Nick is the class clown, and Rhys is… the hot bodyguard? Sally is quiet, but she doesn’t look shy or unsure of her position, she just looks like she’s deferring to the ones in charge. I respect that.

 “Bureaucracy,” Nick rolls his eyes. “So, what’s gonna happen right now is you’ll see a doctor, who’s gonna do some exams, get you all cleared up, and give you the first dose of MBS. After that, your General will pick you up and take you to your dorm, where you’ll have some free time to get to know your cohort mates and freshen up for the Welcoming Dinner.”

 “You’ve all been advised, before coming here, that you needed to pack some fancy clothing. This is what it’s for,” Nick chuckles.

 Olivier looks pissed at the future Beta, as he once again cuts him off.

 “Tonight, you will have the great honor of dining in the Small Hall at the Pack House,” he says.

 Once again, I hear murmurs all around me. Nick looks like he’s about to whistle again, but Olivier dismisses him. This shouldn’t be a thing, right? An ordinary wolf shouldn’t be allowed to disrespect his superiors in public.

 “This is a rare occasion for most pack members,” he says in a louder tone. “You will be greeted and welcomed by your Alpha and all your ranked wolves. And you will also pledge allegiance to the pack and the Program.”

 “All right”, Nick shouts, clapping his hands. “Now, look alive! Gentlemen, follow me!”

 “Ladies, come this way,” Sally speaks for the first time. Her voice is loud and clear, not hesitant at all. This underage she-wolf is not afraid at all to lead 25 Cadets who are all older and stronger than her.

 “She has no reason to be afraid. Again, she’s our superior,” Jamie sighs.

 “If you’re neither or both, please follow me,” says Rhys.

 I see the guy… person who was next to me walk Rhys’ way. I make my way to the right, where Sally is leading all the women.