The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 8 - Official training

Jasmine POV

True to his word, Reagan had become very busy. His calls became rare, and school consumed most of my time. Christmas and New Year came, but he did not come home. Instead, his family went to where he was. They invited me, and I would have loved to join them. However, my parents did not allow it, saying they needed my help in the pack since the alpha family was away. I tried to hide my disappointment, but it was impossible to keep my emotions entirely in check.

Mom noticed the look on my face and gently touched my arm. “Jasmine, I’m really sorry. We need you here, especially now. I hope you understand.”

I forced a smile, though my heart felt like it was breaking. “It’s okay, Mom. There’s no need to apologize. I know my responsibilities are tied to the pack.”

Dad stepped closer, his eyes filled with regret. “We know how much you wanted to go, sweetheart. We wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t important.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I understand, Dad. Really, it’s fine.”

But inside, I was crying. The thought of spending the holidays without Reagan, without the chance to see him briefly in the flesh, was almost too much to bear. I plastered on a brave face and excused myself.

In my room, I let the tears flow freely. The weight of my responsibilities felt heavier than ever, and the distance between Reagan and me seemed insurmountable. I clutched my phone, staring at the messages we had exchanged.

I typed a quick text to Reagan: Miss you. Wish you were here.

Almost immediately, he replied: Miss you too, Jas. We’ll make up for it soon, I promise.

Taking a deep breath, I wiped my tears. I had to be strong, not just for the pack, but for myself. I couldn’t let my responsibilities break me. Still, as the night wore on, the ache in my heart remained.

My graduation came, and Reagan did not come home for the pack celebration. He called and sent me flowers, and that was what mattered.

After graduation, beta training officially started. I didn’t realize there was an official start because it seemed I had been training since I was a kid. However, this time, it was totally different. They were making me do things all at once. There was morning training, patrol duty, Royal pack’s paperwork training, corporate work training in support for the future alpha, more patrol duty, more physical training, assisting Mom in daycare, and so on. I was so drained at night, and what made it worse was I had to do it all over again the next day. There were days I cried and wanted to call Reagan. I tried, but the first call made me face the truth. It was a voicemail that answered. Reagan was busy working for the pack and the kingdom, while I wanted to rant about small things.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day, I collapsed onto my bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion pull me under. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I grabbed it, hoping for a message from Reagan. It was a chat notification from Kaia.

Kaia: We need a break, How about a girls’ day out this weekend?

I hesitated. The training schedule was brutal, but a day out sounded like a breath of fresh air. I typed back quickly.

Me: Count me in. I need this.

“You look like you need a spa day,” Kaia observed as we met in front of the palace.

“I need more than a spa day,” I sighed. “I need a miracle.” It was a miracle I was given a day off. There was always something to do around the pack, and it was impossible to get away from work.

Kaia chuckled. “Well, we can start with the spa and see how far we get.”

We headed to the town’s spa, a cozy place that smelled of lavender and eucalyptus. The moment we walked in, I felt a bit of my stress melt away. We opted for the full treatment–massages, facials, and mani-pedis. It was our first time, so we were both excited.

As we lounged in the relaxation room, sipping herbal tea, Kaia brought up the elephant in the room. “So, have you heard from Reagan?”

I shook my head. “Not since my graduation. He’s so busy, and I’m trying to respect that. I thought you would have been luckier than me.”

“Nah. Same. We barely talked. I’m doomed when classes start. You would have to give me all the tips you can give me.” Kaia sighed. “I miss his dumb jokes. He always knew how to make us laugh.”

“Yeah,” I replied, feeling a pang in my chest. “I miss that too.”

After our spa treatments, we decided to explore the town’s shopping district. It was a rare treat for us to have free time, and we intended to make the most of it. We wandered from shop to shop, trying on clothes, laughing at ridiculous outfits, and just enjoying each other’s company.

At one boutique, Kaia held up a red dress. “Jas, you have to try this on!”

I laughed. “That’s way too bold for me.”

“No way,” Kaia interjected. “It’s perfect. You need to step out of your comfort zone. I think this should be your birthday dress. You will absolutely be drop-dead gorgeous on your eighteenth birthday!”

It was funny that Kaia would think of my birthday. It was still a few months away, but reluctantly, I tried on the dress and stepped out of the fitting room. Kaia’s eyes widened.

“Wow,” Kaia said. “You look stunning.”

I glanced at myself in the mirror, surprised at how the dress made me feel–confident and powerful. Maybe Kaia was right. Maybe I needed to step out of my comfort zone more often.

We continued shopping, filling our bags with new clothes and accessories. Our next stop was a quaint little cafe for our late lunch. We ordered sandwiches and salads, and while waiting for our food, we played a game of “What If?”

“What if you could have a superpower?” Kaia asked, leaning forward.

“Really, Kaia? As if being a witch isn’t enough?” I chuckled. “But, anyway, I’d choose your grandma’s healing powers. Imagine how many people you could help.”

She looked at me skeptically. “I love grandma, but her healing powers are just basic. You know that. I think you can even do better.”

“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“I know you can,” Kaia said with conviction. “Anyway, I’d choose teleportation. Imagine being able to visit anywhere in the world instantly.”

“Good choice,” I agreed.

She grinned. “And maybe I can add the ability to speak and understand any language. Communication is key, after all.”

We continued to think of other superpowers and giggled at our silliness.

Our food arrived, and we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors and the rare chance to relax. After lunch, we wandered to the town park, where we found a quiet spot by the pond. We sat on the grass, basking in the warm afternoon sun.

“Do you ever feel like missing out on something?” Kaia asked suddenly.

I looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Like, normal teenage stuff,” she explained. “Parties, dating, just being carefree.”

“I guess,” I said slowly. I was not sure if I should spill what I had been feeling–that I felt suffocated in pack life. However, I didn’t want to influence her. Reagan wouldn’t like that. My parents and Kaia’s parents wouldn’t like it if I said how I didn’t want the pack life. “We have responsibilities most people our age don’t. It doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. We just need to find a balance.” I didn’t know where the words came from. There was no fun and balance in my life.

The afternoon slipped away as we chatted and laughed, reminiscing about old times and dreaming about the future. As the sun began to set, we made our way back to the palace, feeling more connected and refreshed.

That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about the day. As much as I reminded myself of who I was and what I was capable of, it all boiled down that I wanted a different future for myself. And I wondered how I could change it.