Charlie & Her Beta

Two

“Are you certain you're ready for this Charli?” Coach M. asks her just outside the locker room. “You can't go into this without complete focus even if you and Alisha are friends.” Coach M. grabs Charli’s shoulders to get her attention. Only then does Charli look over at her and nod. “I understand Coach, I’m ready” Charli replies, feeling both nervous and excited.

It’s the first time she has ever been allowed to do anything wolf-like due to her father being a bit overprotective. She’s never been bullied for being different, her pack is really accepting, especially of humans. And the multiple blood tests she’s taken growing up have proved time and time again that she’s not a wolf, but there is something different about her. She isn’t sure what it is, but she is stronger than she looks and today is her chance to prove it.

Usually everyone is split into different groups for this, but it seems this odd pairing has attracted the attention of all the other students in this period. Enough that they have the bleachers pulled out on one side and the students are all talking among themselves waiting for the show to start.

Alisha rushes up to Charli, and she jumps a little as she is torn from her thoughts. “Don't worry about them Arli, they’re all just nosey.” She says with a smile, grabbing Charli's hands excitedly. “Are you ready?!” Alisha asks and Charli nods, “I guess we will find out.” She tells her feeling a little more nervous than before.

“You’ll do great!” Alisha encourages her, then whispers “you’ve already beaten me like 10 times when we practiced in the woods.” She pulls back giving Charli another sweet smile, “but that doesn’t mean I will go easy on you either.” Charli laughs at her friend's poorly executed threat. She’s much too nice to be mean. “Good luck.” She calls out to Alisha as she walks to the other side of the gym and disappears behind the shifting screen. Charli walks to the opposite side of the court and breathes steadily, preparing.

‘I’m lucky I’m fast because Alisha is strong.’ Charlie thinks to herself. Although she’s practiced before in the remote part of the woods, she is realizing now it is certainly more difficult to gain traction on this old wooden floor and the nerves from having everyone watch them has made her more nervous than she expected. She has held her own against Alicia’s wolf for the last 10 minutes or so, but Charlie hasn’t been able to get the upper hand.

Alisha’s wolf lunges towards her, and she nearly nipped Charli’s waist, but Charli evaded her at just the right moment, then used her momentum to roll under her and in one swoop Charli grabbed both Alicia’s front paws and pulled back as hard as she could. Forcing the wolf to fall face first onto the floor.

Charli’s leg gets pinned beneath Alicia when she falls, and before she is able to struggle free, Alicia’s wolf lays down and rolls over top of her. Pinning her to the floor. Charli can’t help but laugh and when Alisha finally gets up, she puts her snout right in Charli's face, making her laugh. She reaches up and scratches right beneath her chin.

“Alright, girls were going to call it for today great job, everyone go change before the bell rings! See you Monday!” Coach M projects his voice so it echos through the gym. Charlie picks herself up off the floor and brushes off the wolf hair.

“That was great for your first match, Charli!” Coach M. says, patting Charli's shoulder, “I didn’t do as well as I wanted too.” She admits, and the coach gives her an encouraging smile, “You can only go up from here, don’t be too hard on yourself. I’m really proud of you.” He says and Charli enters the locker room feeling a little more confidence thanks to Coach M’s words.

Charli pulls her knit sweater tight to her chest as the cool breeze blows past her. Most days she enjoys walking home from cheer practice, but the cooler weather makes her wish she had a car. She’s certain her dad would buy her one if she asked, but it’s not really a necessity.

The breeze carries another chill and with it, the intoxicating scent of sandal wood and bergamot. Charli breathes in deeply; taking it in and allowing it to consume her. She looks around trying to pinpoint where it's coming from. ‘I must be headed in the direction’, she thinks to herself, as the scent grows stronger.

As she passes the park, she sees a group of sweaty guys, shooting hoops with their shirts off. Which isn’t an uncommon sight this late in the afternoon. She sees some familiar faces as she glances over. She recognizes some of them from school. They were a few years before her, and a few are Griffin's friends.

Charli is frozen to the spot when her eyes are met by the most delicious pair of golden-brown ones she had ever seen, and there was this electric shock somewhere in the back of her mind that clicked into place. ‘That man was hers’ was the thought and feeling that came to her.

He was so handsome and just the sight of him was making her heart race. ‘How have I never seen him before?’ she whispered to herself, racking her brain for an answer. ‘Donavan,’ she recalled ‘His name is Donavan, he’s the Alphas oldest son, and I’m just standing here shamefully gazing at him.’ she thought to herself, forcing herself to look away. As soon as she did all her senses came back to her at once, and she realized how cold she was.

Not understanding what has just happened, she shakes off the feeling as best she can. She clutches her black sweater tighter and starts walking home again. Everything inside her is telling her to stop and walk towards him, but she pushes against it, not understanding what just happened.