Valencia!

“Valencia! Wait up!” My best friend Tylon calls from behind me, I turn to see him jogging up to me in his cap and gown. “Graduation looks good on you Ty.” I tease him and bump my shoulder into him playfully “back at you” he replies then bumps me harder but catches my arm and pulls me back and we laugh. “No but really you look amazing today Valen.” he tells me and a little blush creeps to my lightly tanned cheeks. “Just today?” I tease and he shakes his head at me “Let's go find our seats before my mouth gets me into any more trouble.” he says, and I laugh. I slide through the row of high honor students looking for my seat. It wasn’t easy but I am graduating from the pack high school three credits away from my associate degree. I am hoping to go to medical school and work as a pack Doctor like my mother. To be honest I had a lot of time on my hands to study, even though my Stepdad is the Beta here, I’m not very well liked among the she-wolves and wasn’t invited to participate in many extracurricular activities besides Ty’s football games. I’m not sure if it's simply because I am a witch or if they really are jealous of me like my mom said, but I doubt it was the latter. I know I’m attractive in my own way with my long silky raven black hair, emerald, green eyes and sun kissed skin, but I’m 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 my 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. My dad's eyes find mine and he sends me with a wink, and I grin. He’s a great dad honestly, I never knew my biological father, but Beta Mark has raised me 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, I remember seeing him in the halls at school and coming to hang out at the house with my step-brother Griffin, but I don’t remember him looking this good. As the clapping ceases my dad takes the microphone and announces my 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 my name. I stand nervously in my stiletto heels and make my way to the stairs, I wipe my sweaty hands on my black gown and pray to the Goddess that I don’t trip in front of everyone. I smile at the principal, who is calling the students names at the podium, then shake hands with the vice principals. As I pass them, I start to smell this amazing fresh pine scent that stuns me and for a moment my mind goes blank. Luckily my brother Griffin pulls me in for a hug and it brings me back to reality. I reach the Alpha’s son, Maximus and his eyes are very dark blue, I never really gazed into his eyes, but I recall his eyes being a clear blue before. I reach to shake his hand and feel a static shock between us, so I pull my hand back quickly, grab my diploma and pose for the picture. I swear I can hear his chest rumbling lowly behind me but as soon as the flash goes off, I take off down the other side of the stage. Instead of going back to my seat, I headed to the restroom to freshen up and run into Terra Adams. She graduated in my brother’s class; however, her sister is in my graduating class. Her sister, Melissa Adams, has done everything in her power to make my life a living hell since starting high school. “Watch where you're going witch.” Terra spits at me, and I move to the side allowing her to pass. Apparently, the apple didn’t fall very far from the tree. I honestly don’t know what I ever did to any of them.