Chapter 3

"Can you believe it? We're Middle Schoolers now!" Pyka gushed excitedly as we walked down the street toward the academic building. 

He had been saying the same thing for the past two weeks. I didn't quite share his excitement, but I didn't want to rain on his parade, so I kept quiet and faked a few smiles. 

"I wonder what the older Alphas are like. Think they're cooler than the ones our age?" 

I didn't think Alphas were cool.

Not at all. 

They were...scary.

"Maybe," I mumbled. 

Pyka prattled on and on, not really listening to any of my replies, just as long as I made some indication that I was listening. It was fine really, I didn't really want to contribute to the conversation. I didn't share the same views as him and if he realized that, then he was going to keep questioning until I told him why.

Pyka's Alpha wasn't like mine. And his brothers were kinder to him than my Alpha was to my sisters and I. It was a different situation. Mama always told me that each house is different and to never compare. 

We are lucky, Mama always said. It could be worse, pup. Much worse.

I did not feel very lucky. 

"Are your sisters able to go to school now?" Pyka asked, putting his bag into his new locker. Now that we were older, we got lockers instead of cubbies. 

"Marilyn, Lana, and Jenny can. Senno got sick again so she's still being home schooled." 

Pyka frowned. 

"Papa says sickly pups don't make it."

I glared at him. 

"Senno's not gonna die!" I growled at him. 

Pyka just shrugged. "That's just what Papa says."

So angry my hands were shaking, I just walked away. Pyka didn't follow me and didn't call out to me. 

Good. 

Because I don't care what Pyka's Papa says. Senno is going to be just fine. That's what Mama said and Mama wouldn't lie to me. She never lies. 

Senno was fine.

She always gets better. 

I hadn't realized I was crying until my vision started to blur and the halls all became one big blob of white. My poor sight caused me to crash into something hard. 

I fell back, my head hitting the floor and my bag flew away from me. With a soft groan, I sat up and blinked my eyes and rubbed the back of my head. 

Three figures stood above me, arms crossed and glaring. 

Alphas.

My eyes widened in shock and I immediately bowed my head in submission. 

"I-I'm sorry."

One of them growled and I whimpered in response not daring to raised my head. 

"Look at me," one of them commanded. 

A boy. 

With dark brown hair and light brown eyes. His skin was a smooth olive tone with a sprinkle of dark brown freckles across his nose and cheeks. He was tall, probably a third year, and intimidating. 

"What's your name, Omega?" 

"C-Cale–" I started to whisper. 

"Speak up!" 

I flinched at the shout. 

"Caleb, Alpha," I said more clearly. 

He gazed at me for a little with a slight cock of his head. 

"You're not very pretty are you?" 

I froze, dropping my gaze and blush heating my cheeks. Wetness filled my eyes again, nearly overflowing. 

"No Alpha wants an ugly Omega," another one of the Alphas said. 

"I'm sorry," I whimpered, not sure what else to say, but fighting so hard to keep the tears at bay. Tears would only make them angrier. Mother always got angrier.

The crouching Alpha stood and smirked before walking away. I could hear the three of them laughing still as I slowly gathered my things. 

There was nothing great about Alphas.

Nothing at all. 

I shrugged my bag back over my shoulder and kept my eyes low as I made my way to my first class. 

Just like in primary school, the class was separated. Alphas to the left, Omegas to the right. I found an empty seat the furthest away from the left side of the room and took out my notebook. 

Students began trickling in slowly, but I didn't lift my head in fear that I'd make the mistake of meeting the gaze of any of the Alphas. I lifted my head only when I sensed someone taking the seat beside me. 

It was a female Omega with dark curly hair and almost translucent, pale white skin. She had small features, like her nose and lips, but her eyes were large and round and a brilliant green. They were hidden behind large black framed glasses. 

It was strange to see a wolf with glasses. Our sight was impeccable, but there were the few occasions, usually with Omegas, where that was not the case. Clearly that was apparent in her situation. 

I opened my mouth to greet her, then closed it immediately when an Alpha came up to her desk. From the quick glance I had, it was a male with unruly dark hair and tanned skin. 

"Hey Angie, you coming with us after school? We're going swimming in the river," the Alpha said. 

"Who's going?" The girl asked. 

I frowned at her tone. It was pretty demanding.

Not submissive in the least. 

I risked another glance at them. 

"I swear it won't be like last time, you should come!" The Alpha insisted. 

It kind of sounded like begging. 

And Alpha begging an Omega?

Unheard of. 

"You mean where Ban shoved my head under the water for two whole minutes? And don't say it won't happen because it will if he's there which is why you avoided the question. So no thank you," Angie said dismissively. 

I held my breath and waited for the inevitable violence that was sure to follow after such disrespect. 

But there was none. 

The Alpha just laughed it off and said, "Maybe next time then," before walking off to take his seat. 

Angie snorted," Yeah right."

She looked over at me and noticed me staring.

"Can I help you?" she snapped. 

I tilted my head curiously. 

"How did you do that?" I asked her. 

"Do what?" she frowned.

"Talk to an Alpha like that? Without being forced into submission."

Angie tossed her head back and laughed.

"Jordan wouldn't dare," she said. "Galen would throw a fit!" 

"Galen?" I asked. 

"Jordan's betrothed and my brother."

I blinked at her confused. I knew that it wasn't uncommon for Wolves to be engaged at an early age, but I had never met anyone that was. 

Well I knew about the Omega, Melrose, who was two years younger. She had been betrothed to the Alpha Jackson since they were four. Still, it was strange to me. 

Angie stared at me for a moment before sticking out her hand to me. 

"Hi, I'm Angie."

I took her hand and shook it, "I'm Caleb. But you can call me Cal."

"Nice to meet you Cal," she said with a smile. 

"You too," I said with a smile of my own. 

The teacher walked in and we were forced to be silent. But after class we compared schedules and found out we had a few classes together and lunch. 

"Do you wanna sit with me at lunch? I can introduce you to everyone."

I started to nod, but then stopped, thinking about Pyka. I always sat with Pyka, ever since we were little. 

"I promised my friend Pyka I'd sit with him," I told her sadly. 

She shrugged, "If you change your mind, the offer is still open." 

I nodded to her and smiled. 

When finally got a period we didn't have together we exchanged scents before going our separate ways. 

I opened the door to my classroom and sat down on the Omega side waiting for Pyka. It was the only class we had together. 

When he finally arrived, he was with two other Omegas and an Alpha. When he saw me he smiled and came over. The two Omegas followed while the Alpha went to her side of the room. 

"Are you still pouting?" Pyka sang as he took the seat next to me. 

I glared at him. 

"It's not a joke Pyka." 

Pyka looked at the other Omegas with a smirk, "I told you he'd still be mad." 

I glanced from him to the newcomers. One sat in front of him. A female with chubby cheeks and light brown curls. She was cute. Still youthful and looked like what every Alpha wanted. The other sat in front of me. He was short and slender with dark tanned skin and small button features. He had a pretty slant to his hazel eyes, feline almost, which made no sense, and shoulder length dark brown hair. 

He was perfect too. 

It seemed like every time I turned around, I was surrounded by pretty worthy Omegas. Omegas that Alphas wanted and would treat sweetly. 

While ugly Omegas like me will end up with Alphas like Mother. 

I don't want an Alpha like Mother. 

I just want to be loved.