The Lycademy - Rejected Lycaness

7. Mind tricks?

After a very boring lecture of Lycan Literature I was already late for my Martial Arts Classes. Everybody told me those classes were a waste of time, but what can I say, I was hoping for an easy pass. What I did not expect was how much work it would require. I thought, hey it's just reading books, right? Wrong!

It didn't cross my mind that I would indeed have to read but in my spare time, then we would analyse every text in classes, just to write essays another evening. That's a lot of effort for something I would have absolutely no use for in the future and I could invest that time in something else, like for example teasing Matie about my brother.

But anyway, I don't have any other choice now if I plan to graduate. It's not like I can't take over my Pack without a diploma, but I chose to spare elders additional reasons to look down on me. They already have enough of those, with those big mouth I have after my Mother and the fact that I was born with the wrong set of genitals.

So here I am, running late on my training. Literally running through empty corridors as the next period already started. Just two more turns and I'll reach the lockers.

But you know what they say, 'hurry' and 'well' never go hand in hand. So it shouldn't be surprising that as soon as I made my last turn I bumped into someone at full speed, tackling us both to the ground.

"f**k! I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." - I said getting up from the floor. I dusted my clothes and looked at the figure still struggling to stand up. s**t, I hope I didn't cause any damages. - "Here, let me help you." - I said to the person on the ground offering my hand, after all that was entirely my fault.

Hand that was placed in mine was small and bony and just then I figured out that the one I tackled was a very thin girl. Her hoodie fell from her head when she was getting up with a grunt, revealing her platinum blonde hair that reached her shoulders, and even though that colour was nice they looked clearly neglected and visibly greasy. Then I focused on her pale skin, that looked sickly and I momentarily got concerned about her, even more when I saw her hollow cobalt eyes. Why did such a pretty girl look so troubled, like the whole world crumbled on her head?

"Hey, you OK? I didn't mean to run into you, I'm sorry. Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?" - I offered, because no matter what Matie says I'm not a complete b***h and that girl looked like she needed help.

But to my surprise she quickly took her hand out of my grip, frantically shook her head as if saying 'no' and went her way not even uttering a word to me. Strange.

I looked at her retreating back, not sure what to do with her, but then I reminded myself that I'm already late and I started running to the training grounds once again.

Once I reached it I sent an apologetical smile to coach Santiago, and she playfully narrowed her eyes at me. She was a stern Warrioress and she taught us a lot, but not to brag, I was her absolute favorite in our group. We obviously shared a love for whooping some asses and she liked that I wasn't one of those girls who cared too much about broken nail or accidental swollen lip. What can I say, thanks Mom and Dad for supporting my transformation into a Tomboy.

I quickly joined Matie in practicing our routines as if I wasn't even late. Today we were working on our defences with some Aikido moves. Even though during all my fights I preferred to be the one who attacks, those were pretty calming especially when I managed to synchronize breathing with my every movement. Matie was a decent opponent, as the fact that she's slimmer than I am made her faster and furthermore our training more demanding.

I was so focused on blocking every one of Matilda's blows that it took me by total surprise when a strange alluring scent reached my nose. Mint and chocolate, just like my favorite ice creams. Wait! Where is that scent coming from?

I stopped paying attention and started frantically looking around, but I couldn't figure out whose scent it was. Just then Matie didn't waste any time and punched me in my jaw, but I didn't care.

As fast as her punch send me on my ass I got up and started following that scent at a quick pace, not caring about my friend and teacher shouting for me to come back.

I left the locker room not even mindling that I'm standing in the corridor full of students in my sport's bra only. Only the whistles from my side brought me back to reality and I saw a few guys nodding approvingly shamelessly looking at my boobs. I narrowed my eyes at them and growled lowly exposing my elongating canines, and that did the charm to scare the unwanted audience away. That's right, run away boys!

But when I turned and started sniffing around there were already too many different smells lingering in the air to make me follow that special one, maybe if I would change into my wolf I would be able to find him. But just as I was considering tearing my clothes and following that smell I felt someone's hand on my shoulder.

"What the hell are you doing? Are you still drunk or something? You surely act like it." - asked Matie.

"No, I'm not drunk. My Mate was here not too long ago and I was just considering whether I should change into my wolf and track him down." - I said, still looking at the students passing us by as if one of them would end up being the one.

"You did?! That's awesome! I told you this is our year!" - Matie beamed - "But as to tracking him down I'm not so sure."

I looked at her confused.

"Why the hell not? I've waited quite some time for him, so why should I prolong it any further?"

"Well, for starters what will you do when you actually get to him? Change back into your completely naked self? The guy would be ecstatic but I believe that's something you should leave for at least a third date." - she said with a smirk.

Crap, she was right. I haven't thought this through, and because of how badly I want to find the one I'm not thinking rationally.

" Alright, fair point. So what should I do now?" - I asked her, feeling clueless all of a sudden.

"Let's go change, then we will head for lunch. Since you sensed him there's no better way to find him in the cafeteria, he needs to eat, right?"

"Right! Ok, let's do this." - I said too quickly to pass as calm and Matie started laughing at me.

We did just as she said, and as soon as it was lunchtime we came into the dining hall and sat at our usual table, with me facing the door and focusing on every wolf entering. Whenever someone new appeared in the doorway I stopped breathing hoping that would be my Mate. So it's safe to say that I haven't eaten much this time.

"What's up with Morgan?" - I heard Osprey's voice, but I couldn't distract myself with him right now.

"I hit her too hard on her head during our training, she's been like that ever since." - said Matie and for the first time I was grateful for her being such an excellent liar, because the news about me sensing my Mate would make all our friends go nuts and swamp me with their questions to which I had no answers. What the hell was wrong with me, I never was the one to act like a complete lunatic.

Reckless?

Sure.

Short-sighted?

Rarely.

But Crazy?

Never.

Guess the magic of mate bond is already affecting me, and I'm so impatient to meet him that I have all kinds of strange ideas how to do it faster. None of them puts me in a good light, so maybe waiting a bit longer won't be that bad.

My parents often told us how they met, and I couldn't help the involuntary smile that crept on my lips. Dad is six years older and when he was summoned to the Lycademy because of some ordeal that his Pack members participated in, he met my Mom, who was a student here at that time and she had absolutely no idea that he's her destined Mate. Being who she is, Mom called him a Misogynist who is afraid of strong women. We always laughed our asses off with Freddy listening to that story and Mom would always sum it up by saying that not a lot had changed for the past twenty years.

I wonder if twenty years from now my own pup would be wondering about the exact same thing like his or hers parents met for the first time. That's actually a really nice vision and I hope I will have a good story to share with my own kids.

While I was far away consumed by my own thoughts, time passed by really quickly and it was only when Matie shook my arm that I noticed that the dining hall was almost completely empty and all of our friends long gone from our table.

"Val, we've been sitting here over an hour. Have you sensed him again?" - she asked me with worry.

"No, he didn't come for lunch."

"That doesn't mean anything, maybe he was busy, we'll find him over dinner, but for now I need to go talk with your brother."

Shit, she had her own problems and even though she was patiently sitting here with me. Just like that she got one step away from getting her ass kicked for this whole thing with Freddy.

"Sure, you should go. I however feel like walking, who knows maybe I'll have my luck then."

She smiled sheepishly and squeezed my hand reassuringly before leaving me alone.

I gathered my things and after putting the tray away went for a walk around the castle, but after another hour when I didn't sniff even a little bit of chocolate or mint I started doubting myself.

Was I even sure that what I sensed was so alluring that it was practically pulling me in that direction? I honestly don't know any more. Maybe my mind is playing a trick on me because deep down inside I don't want to be the only one left mateless.

I better go to my condo and get some rest before I start overthinking everything even more.