Valencia!

“Valencia! Wait up!” Her best friend Tylon calls from behind her, she turns to see him jogging over in his cap and gown. “Graduation looks good on you Ty.” Valencia teases him and bumps her shoulder into him playfully. “back at you” he replies then bumps her harder but catches her arm, pulling her back and they share a laugh. “No but really you look amazing today Valen.” he tells his best friend and a little blush creeps to her lightly tanned cheeks. “Just today?” She teases and he shakes his head at her “Let's go find our seats before my mouth gets me into any more trouble.” he says, and Valen laughs. Valencia slides through the row of high honor students looking for her seat. It wasn’t easy but she is graduating from the pack high school three credits away from her associate degree. She has always dreamed of going to medical school and working as a pack Doctor like her mother. To be honest she had a lot of time on her hands to study, even though her Stepdad is the Beta, she’s not very well liked among the she-wolves and wasn’t invited to participate in many extracurricular activities besides Ty’s football games. Valencia was never sure about whether it was simply because she is a witch or if they really were jealous of her like her mom told her consistently, but she doubts it was the latter. She has never doubted that she was attractive in her own very witchy way, with silky raven black hair, emerald, green eyes and sun kissed skin, but she’s no Marilyn Monroe and like the movie says, ‘gentleman prefer blondes.’ at least in this pack anyway. The small crowd seems to simmer down as Alpha Don and Valencia’s dad take the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen of Pine Ridge, I am honored to be here to celebrate with you, as we congratulate the hard work and dedication put in by the next generation of our pack members. Reaching this milestone is no easy feat and it is a cause worthy of celebration. Please give a round of applause to this years, Pine Ridge High School graduates!” The loud chaos of clapping and cheers fills the silence. Valen’s dad's eyes find hers and he sends her a wink, and she grins. He’s been a great dad, she’s never known her biological father, but Beta Mark has raised her as his own. The Alpha pulls the microphone closer to his lips then begins to speak again and the cheers turn back to silence. “In previous years Beta Mark and I have had the honor of passing out diplomas, but this year Maximus and Griffin have made it back home from their studies abroad. As our future Alpha and Beta of Pine Ridge we would like to bestow this great honor to them. Please everyone welcome my son, future Alpha Maximus to the stage.” Claps ring out through the crowd as Maximus takes the stage, Valencia remembers seeing him in the halls at school and coming to hang out at the house with her stepbrother Griffin, but she didn’t recall him ever looking this good. As the clapping ceases her dad takes the microphone and announces her brother to the stage, the noise picks up again temporarily and everyone on stage begins to line up so we can start the procession of students. Luckily it only takes 15 minutes for them to call her name. Valen stands nervously in her stiletto heels and makes her way to the stairs, she wipes her sweaty hands on her black gown and prays to the Goddess that she doesn’t trip in front of everyone. She smiles at the principal, who is calling the students names at the podium, then shake hands with the vice principals. As She passes them, she starts to smell this amazing fresh pine scent that stuns her and for a moment her mind goes blank. Luckily her brother Griffin pulls her in for a hug and it brings her back to reality. When she finally reaches the Alpha’s son, Maximus, she notices his eyes are very dark blue. Valen’s never really gazed into his eyes, but she recalls his eyes being a clear blue before. She reaches to shake his hand and feels a static shock between them, so she pulls her hand back quickly, grabs her diploma and poses for the picture. She swears she can hear his chest rumbling lowly behind her but as soon as the flash goes off, she takes off down the other side of the stage. Instead of going back to her seat, she heads to the restroom to freshen up and run into Terra Adams. She graduated the same year as Griffin; however, her sister is in Valens graduating class. Her sister, Melissa Adams, has done everything in her power to make her life a living hell since starting high school. “Watch where you're going witch.” Terra spits at her, and Valencia moves to the side allowing her to pass. ‘Apparently, the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree.’ Valencia thinks to herself, not knowing what she ever did to any of them.