Valencia!

One

“Valencia! Wait up!” Her best friend Tylon called from behind her, jogging over in his cap and gown. “Graduation looks good on you Ty.” Valencia bumped her shoulder into him playfully.

“Back at you” he replied, bumping her harder, but caught her arm, to steady her so she didn’t fall, and they both shared a laugh. “No but really you look amazing Valen.” A little blush creeps to her lightly tanned cheeks.

“Just today?” She asked with a sly grin, and he shook his head. “Let's go find our seats before my mouth gets me into trouble.” He pulled her hand towards the line of waiting graduates, with a small smile forming on his lips.

Valencia slid through the row of high honor students looking for her assigned seat. It wasn’t easy but she is graduating from the pack high school three credits away from her associates degree. Her dream was to go to the same medical medical school as her mom and work as a pack Doctor.

After today she would be one step closer to that dream becoming a reality. Valen always worked hard and studied harder. To be fair, she had a lot of free time, and didn’t have a lot of close friends to share it with. She wouldn’t consider herself an outcast, that would be nearly impossible being that her stepfather, whom she called dad, was the pack Beta, but she wasn’t popular by any means.

Some of the girls would occasionally start rumors, simply due to the fact that she was a witch and not a wolf, but Valen had a quiet and inquisitive nature, so she never made a scene, she would just wait until they passed. Due to that she wasn't often invited to participate in many extracurricular activities, besides Ty’s football games, of course.

There was no doubt she was attractive in her own very witchy way. With silky raven black hair, glistening emerald, green eyes and perfectly sun kissed skin. But she was 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 father took the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen of Pine Ridge, it is an absolute honor to stand before you today as we celebrate the monumental achievement of this year's graduating class. Today marks a significant milestone, not only in the lives of our graduates but also in the life of this school and pack, as we witness the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and dedication. 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 applause rippled through the crowd. Valen’s dad’s eyes found hers, and he gave her a small smile. Valencia had never known her biological father, Beta Mark, had raised her since the age of six. He supported her, loved her, and always made sure she knew she was his daughter, despite the lack of shared blood.

As she caught her father’s gaze, she had to hold back tears. Quietly recognizing the bond she had with the man who had raised her. The years of sacrifice, the lessons learned, and the unconditional love Mark had given her over the years echoed in her chest. Beta Mark had always given her everything she needed without question.

Alpha Don adjusted the microphone, causing a loud screech before he spoke again, and the cheers of the crowd quickly faded into silence. "In previous years, Beta Mark and I have had the honor of handing out diplomas, but this year, Maximus and Griffin have returned home from their studies abroad. As our future Alpha and Beta of Pine Ridge, it’s only fitting that we pass this great honor to them. Please, everyone, welcome my son, future Alpha Maximus, to the stage."

Applause erupted throughout the crowd as Maximus stepped onto the stage. Valencia couldn’t help but recall seeing him in the school hallways and spending time with her stepbrother Griffin at their house, but she had never seen him quite like this before. He looked... different, more confident, and undeniably striking.

As the applause died down, her dad took the microphone and announced her brother’s name, sending the crowd into another burst of noise. The people on stage begin to line up, signaling the start of the procession.

It only took about 15 minutes before they finally called her name. Valen stood nervously in her heels, her hands slick with sweat as she wiped them on her black gown. She silently prayed to the Goddess, hoping she didn’t trip in front of everyone.

She forced a smile at the principal, who was calling the students’ names at the podium, and shook hands with each of the vice principals as she passed. Then, an unexpected scent hit her . . . Something difficult to describe. Fresh, Crisp like fresh snow on a winter day . . . a fragrance that stopped her in her tracks.

For a moment, her mind went blank. But just as she started to lose focus, her brother Griffin pulled her into a hug, grounding her back in the moment. When she finally reached Maximus, the Alpha’s son, she noticed that his eyes were a deep, dark blue. Valen had never really stared into his eyes before, but she distinctly remembered them being clearer, and a lighter shade of blue.

As she extended her hand to shake his, a sudden static shock passed between them, making her jerk her hand back. She quickly grabbed her diploma, still feeling the tingling sensation on her fingertips, then posed for a picture. Standing there, she swore she heard a low rumble come from behind her. As soon as the flash went off, she hurried off the stage and instead of heading back to her seat, she went to the restroom to freshen up instead.

Feeling frazzled from what had just occurred, she unexpectedly bumped into Terra Adams. "Watch where you're going, witch," She glared at Valen as if she had run into her on purpose. “My apologies,” Valen muttered, slipping past the taller she-wolf and heading into the restroom. She had no interest in getting into another confrontation with Terra.

Terra was older, graduating the same year as Griffin, but it was her younger sister, Melissa, who had made it her mission to make Valen’s life difficult. Apparently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Valen had never understood why Melissa had such a vendetta against her, but then again, high school had never really been about understanding—it had always been about surviving.