The Beta's Sister

Chapter 6

Nicole

Being at the before school mixer was…interesting. There were so many pups. Much more than I have ever seen here before. Way more than I have been seeing the last few weeks since moving here. I’m told the reason why I hadn’t seen many pups is because I didn’t quite know where and when to look.

My days were a carbon copy of each other. After the morning workouts I would usually eat in the dining hall and then go shower and nap until the afternoon. After that I would hang around the house looking at videos on my phone or reading or whatever. I never ran into any of the pups because we were never in the same place at the same time. The pack house was mostly for single members, or at least pup-less couples. The family housing area was, as its name would tell, for those with families. After Hallie told me about the general training, I did become aware of the crowd that made their way over to the training grounds in the afternoon. Still, I hadn’t ventured out to look for any potential friends. I mean, what do I do? Walk up to someone and say ‘hey let’s be friends’? That might have worked in primary, but this is high school.

So I guess it goes without mentioning that I have kind of been looking forward to this night. I was hoping to casually fall in with a group of pups and at least know someone on my first day of school. Even if they weren’t life long friends, it would still be better than sticking out anymore than I need to, being the new girl in a school where most everyone have known each other from birth. Standing on the side of the party now, that task looks pretty daunting.

The grounds looks completely different from this morning. The usual open space is decorated with tables, chairs, streamers, three large above ground pools, some small kiddie pools and a couple of Inflatable bounce houses. Ms. Mae’s mate, Henry, is on the grill with Alpha Brendon’s dad, former Alpha Nathan. Luna Kamaria and Summer are playing with Elias in one of the kiddie pools, and my brother and Alpha Brendon are getting competitive in a game of corn toss. It looks like a huge family cookout.

I am sitting at one of the tables on the sidelines wearing my black bikini top that criss crosses at the torso. My leopard bottoms are covered up by my dark washed, high waisted shorts and my hair is simple with two french braids. I have been debating with myself on just walking up and joining in with a group of pups or just easing into the gathering by hanging out with Summer and Kamaria first. I didn’t want to look like a simp who needs to hang on her sister’s coattail, though. As I was weighing my options a pretty brown girl with light brown hair that hangs past the middle of her back takes up the seat next to me. She's wearing a white, flowered decorated sundress and brown strap sandals.

“Hi!” She says cheerfully.

“Hi.” I reply, drier than I intended. I clear my throat and try to clear away any uneasiness. “Um.., did you need the table?”

“No. I saw you sitting over here alone so I wanted to come introduce myself. My name is Cierra.” She says putting her hand out to me. I take it in mine and give her a smile.

“Nicole.”

“I have seen you around, training with the Warriors and Fighters.”

“Oh…really?” I say uncomfortably. Not really liking that I had an audience during training. I don't even like training in front of the Warriors and Fighters. It doesn't help that, besides Warren, I'm the youngest one out there.

“Yeah. My dad is a Fighter. I sometimes walk with him to training if I stay up all night watching movies or on the phone or whatever.”

“Oh okay.” I say a little more at ease.

“I asked him about you and he told me you were new. You’re Beta Summer’s sister, right?”

“Yeah. Well, sister-in-law, actually. We’re close like sisters, though.”

“That’s cool. I’m an only pup, but that sounds cool. I’m a senior this year. How about you?”

“Me too. I went to a human school in Pennsylvania and wanted to spend at least one year in a wolf school.”

“Human school? Wow, that had to be interesting.”

“That’s one way to put it.” I say with a chuckle.

“You wanna walk around?” She asks with hopeful eyes.

“Sure.”

We get up and walk around, checking out all the different set ups. Summer and Kamaria have joined Alpha Brendon and Stephen at the cornhole game with a wet Elias wrapped in a towel. Summer notices me as we pass by and makes eye contact with me. She mouths ‘are you okay?’, and I give her smile and nod my head as me and Cierra continue our walk. We make it around the grounds almost back to where we started and I feel like my head is spinning. Cierra has pointed out everyone by name and told me who their parents are. There is no way I’m going to remember any of this information. This pack is like a mini country, I don't know how she remembers them all.

“Cierra.” I interrupt her as she is naming pups in one of the bouncy houses. “There isn’t going to be a quiz on any of this, will there?”

“Huh?”

“I’m probably only going to remember five names at the most.” I let out an uneasy chuckle and Cierra laughs, nervously along with me.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to overwhelm you. I ramble on random nonsense when I get nervous.”

“You’re nervous? I’m the new one. I’m nervous.”

“It’s been a while since I met someone completely brand new. I guess I forgot how to make friends. It's not like you can go up to to people and say you like their shoes and you become instant friends.” She says, stating my thoughts on the subject almost word for word.

“Okay. I get that one. We are in the same boat there.” We both laugh again, this time it’s not uneasy and awkward, but genuine. “Thanks for showing me around, though.”

“No problem. So, how do you feel about the first day?”

“I was super nervous, but, thanks to you, I’m starting to feel better about it. Still nervous, but not as much.”

“I really wish my friends were here so I could introduce you guys,” she says disappointingly.

“Your friends aren’t here?”

“Not my closest ones. They are either out on dates or at their own pack parties.” She says with an eye roll. “Did Beta Summer explain the layout of the school? You know we share the school with two other packs?”

“Yeah, she said with Red River and Howling Moon.”

“Yeah. Well, with some of Howling Moon. Some of them go to school with Silver Summit. Anyways, a couple of my friends are from there, so I’ll introduce you tomorrow at lunch. I mean if you wanted to have a familiar face to sit next to. No pressure.”

“That would be cool.”

“Really? Okay, cool. Do you have your schedule yet? Maybe we have some classes together.”

“No, not yet. I have to stop at the counselor’s office before first period.” Apparently they send off schedules early in the summer and I had registered right after they were sent out. So instead of knowing what classes I will have, I get to be extra nervous and not find out until minutes before school starts.

“Well, don’t worry we will probably have at least one class together. It's almost impossible not to have one class with everyone.” Cierra says, sensing my nervousness. “So what do you think? Swimming or eating?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want to put that cute bikini you’re wearing to work in a pool or grab some food first?” I look over at the large pools that are set up side by side. Pups are laughing and enjoying themselves. Some are jumping in and others are using pool noodles as swords.

“Uh…pool, please.”

“Good answer.” She takes off her sundress and reveals a pink and green one piece with a crescent cut out on both sides. The rest of the night goes smoothly and I start to feel relaxed about my impending first day.