Chương 77: MY FRIENDS WERE IN A GOOD MOOD

I got to school earlier than usual thanks to the underground expressway and shortcuts Beta Lucas drove through, which included a parking lot and made me question the Beta's navigation skills. But getting out of the car, the empty school and frosty air felt refreshing, and then I realized anew, "It's Friday!" I waved off Beta Lucas' car and breathed a sigh of relief. I just needed to clear another school day, and then I could concentrate on my pack stuff...

like the Lycan Study Group homework that I've completely forgotten to do! Why didn't the rogues come to take that? I imagined that would be a good excuse, "Mrs. Beta, the rogues ate my homework!" Hahahaha. And I was going to Zara's place later too. I was pretty excited, but I should keep the visit short. I needed to get home to do my Lycan homework! Now I was suddenly glad for a ride home.

Sigh, I'd probably get home in time for dinner, have the meeting about the pack merger, and then stay up to do the Lycan homework. School homework I'll deal with on Saturday afternoon. I knew Mum had planned to take us to town to choose the wallpaper and order our new loft beds, but now that Dad was injured and the pack had been attacked, I didn't really know if Saturday's shopping trip was still on. {Vampires are near} Wolfie, are you going to be dinging in my head all day?

Can you at least pick the ones that matter? {Rogues are near} I stiffened and then realized from Wolfie's indifferent expression that these rogues were not a threat, in Wolfie's opinion. Neither were the vampires. My eye caught sight of the archery notice board on the second floor... I hopped up the flight of stairs, making a quick detour to take a peek. They did say the results would be out today. But it was still really early in the morning and the board hadn't been updated yet.

Even though I suppose that was somewhat expected, I still felt a bit disappointed. Oh well, maybe I can check again at lunchtime? Or after school... it would definitely be up after school. I walked along more corridors to my classroom to settle in for the day. Putting away my stuff, I was the first one in today. I put my head on the table, so sleepy. Elena came in a while later.

"Oh!" She startled, then she switched on the lights.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?" She looked at me like I was weird, but then made up an excuse for me on her own.

"Were you sleeping? Sorry."

"It's okay." I yawned and put my head back down. Elena hesitated before asking, "Why are you so early today?" She sat herself in her seat; it was just two spaces in front of me now.

"I got a ride." I answered without lifting my head. Elena was talking to me today? Must be my lucky day. {Vampires are here} Ding. My Wolfie was like the kind of house dog that barked at every passing pedestrian. So the vampires were now in school. {Rogues are here} {Wolves are near} Were there no other wolves in school until now? I took "rogues" to mean the ones studying here.

"The art club has a welcome party tonight," Elena told me, somewhat haughtily. Oh right, it was tonight.

"Cool," I answered, keeping my tone nonchalant. {Wolves are here} That was fast, which made sense since most of the wolves lived quite near to "here." Elena searched for something to say, and then she asked me, "Have you chosen a club yet?" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I nodded.

"I tried out for archery." I waited for her to throw back an indifferent word or two, but her eyes widened and she said, "I heard that's impossible to get into."

"It's not impossible," I reasoned.

"They accept 20 beginners every year."

"And it's very expensive," she added. She looked me up and down as if trying to calculate my net worth.

"You need to buy your own bow and arrows."

"Not until the advanced stages..." I tried to defend the club.

"I can start saving..." How much did bows and arrows cost?

"And if you fail the tests, you will be kicked out," Elena told me. Oh, that sucked, but it also made a lot of sense. {Vampire approaches} I stiffened a bit. Maria stepped in only minutes later. She smiled at me with her best creepy smile, dropped her bag into her seat next to me, and headed to the washroom to comb her hair. Elena waited for Maria to leave before she spoke again.

"Do you want to come to the party?" Was she inviting me?

"Ah, no, I have something on tonight," I said.

"A date?" she asked.

"Why would you assume that?" I asked, frowning.

"Why else would you turn down a party?" Elena shrugged.

"I have, ah, a family thing happening tonight," I told her.

"Yeah, right," she said under her breath and turned away. I guess she was done with me. {Alpha is near} Who? Which alpha? More students streamed into the classroom. My Wolfie didn't seem to track or acknowledge them at all. How arrogant! Are the humans beneath your notice, Alpha Wolfie? Wolfie pointedly ignored me too. Hahahaha. I guess I'm beneath her notice too. I took out my homework for anyone who might want to borrow it, and a book to read. This way, no one would bother me while I was reading.

{Betas are near} {Alpha is near} {Beta is near} {Wolves approach} Wolfie, I don't know who you mean anymore! Do you know how to use names? Can you tell me how many wolves? My Wolfie was stupid. It couldn't remember names or count. Liam and Jasmine entered the classroom. Jasmine came over to help herself to my math homework. {Alpha is near} {Beta is near} I guessed they were moving fast. My Wolfie was a speedometer. The cool girls came later. I returned Krystal her scrunchie.

"Oh," Krystal said, "I left your clip at home."

"No problem. Just return it on Monday," I told her.

"Who's coming to my place after school today?" Zara asked.

"My Mum said I can't," Jasmine told her. For some reason, Jazz had been reaccepted into the cool girl group... I think it was their common need to copy homework that brought this group together.

"I'm not going. Your house is lame," Krystal told Zara. Leia didn't say anything, but we all knew that if Krystal wasn't going, she wasn't either. {Alpha approaches} {Beta approaches}"I'll come," I told Zara.

"Really?" Zara's eyes lit up.

"Really?" Jasmine's brown eyes filled with concern. I'm sure her Mum had explained why it wasn't a good idea for a young female wolf to follow a human into their home outside pack territory. Henry and Marcus entered the classroom, totally not catching me off guard because, besides the fact that they came in around this time every morning, their imminent arrival had been announced in my head... repeatedly so.

"Sam is going to Zara's house," Jasmine told them.

"Alone."

"Yeah," smirked Krystal.

"You better ask your boyfriend." I looked at the two guys grinning like idiots. They probably thought this was all very funny, but I was too sleepy to deal with them right now.

"They are not my boyfriend." I put my head back on the table.

"You look tired," Jasmine fussed.

"Maybe you should go home after school." I shook my head but didn't respond. {Wolf approaches} Pearl showed up at the door. Oh yeah, how could I have forgotten our newcomer? (Except that I did, oops.) She waved and smiled at the guys and sat down; she turned to throw a wink at me. I shrugged. Jasmine became quieter, but maybe she was just concentrating on finishing the copying. Marcus had put down his stuff and started sorting Henry's homework for handing in with his.

{Betas are here} Thanks but no thanks for your useless information. Marcus was here... He was right in front of me. Oh wait, you didn't mean Marcus... I racked my brain for a minute. That's right, there were two other betas in this school, Matt and Jules.

"Rough night?" Marcus grinned wolfishly at me when he came over to see what homework he could collect first. The girls obligingly sorted through my homework and handed him the ones they were done with.

"Hot date, maybe?" Henry smirked.

"You shouldn't go out late on a school night." Stupid boys. The girls giggled at that. Girls always giggled when Henry spoke. It was very annoying, but Henry never seemed to notice. I wanted to smack him, quite hard. I straightened at my desk to do it, when Pearl asked, "Sam has a boyfriend?" I froze when everyone suddenly stopped to wait for my answer. Why was everyone looking at me like that? My answer would definitely disappoint them.

"No," I answered.

"What? Why not?" Pearl asked. Maria came back early from her morning mirror ministrations. She slipped into her seat soundlessly. Pearl asked again, "Why don't you have a boyfriend, Sam?"

"I know something about her boyfriend," Maria said with a cold smile. Everyone stopped and stared at her.

"I don't have a boyfriend," I insisted.

"I know his name," Maria continued. She was enjoying this way, way, way too much.

"Oh yeah?" I tugged at her mentally, and she opened her "mind link." {Shut up.} I told her. Maria's laugh tinkled.

"Just joking." There was silence, and then collective laughter from the girls, and then Pearl turned everyone's attention back to me.

"I'm sure there are many people who would like to know what kind of guy you like?" Who'd want to know that? {My mate is strong and fierce.} Wolfie told me. I don't know why it thought I would need its input.

"I like strong guys who'd do what I say," I declared. The guys laughed. Even Liam—I hadn't noticed him there—but now he was shaking his head, looking amused.

"Like a fight dog?" Henry smirked, wagging his eyebrows at me.

"What?" Marcus laughed.

"That's inappropriate, Henry." Henry laughed then, his laughter rumbling and low. Immediately, the girls around me giggled. My friends were in a good mood today. Maria's dark flame darkened further. {I can recommend a good fight dog for you.} {Shut up.} I really didn't need the extra jab. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I think I hate it when my friends are in a good mood.