Alpha's Vigilante Mate

Chapter 7

RYAN

I had begged Kelly to help me get ready for school but she had declined saying I needed to find my ‘style’ and what I was most comfortable in like she had.

Mel on the other hand had dismissed me even before I asked.

“ Unless you want to report naked, don’t ask me,’’ she had replied while stretching lazily.

I was puzzled by how Kelly had made all the decisions in the past. Maybe I didn’t want this at all anymore. Thursday night and I was already getting cold feet. I wanted out!

“ Kelly? ’’ I quietly called out into the silence.

“ I think I have changed my mind,’’ I whispered, lips trembling.

I felt the rush of anxiety run through me that was common whenever I felt out of depth with new situations.

What if I tripped in front of the class and everyone laughed? What if I got called in front of class and got too terrified to speak? What if everyone got uneasy by my lack of scent?

All the worst case scenarios ran through my mind making it worse.

“ Ryan! Breathe for me, '' she finally replied.

“Slow breaths. You are doing well, '' she continued encouraging me and I felt my nerves settle gradually.

One inhale, one exhale. I knew the mantra.

“ I know it's scary but you will have Mel and I with you, ’’ Kelly reassured, which was enough to settle my thoughts.

If they were with me I could do it.

After the small episode, I got myself together and called my parents who wished me luck on my first day. It had not been easy for them to let me leave home but I was thankful that they had allowed us to finally take the reins of our life.

The following day would be the beginning of something new. One step at a time.

I woke up at four am, an hour earlier than my alarm and could no longer go back to sleep.

First day jitters I thought to myself. The five hours I had been able to squeeze in would have to do. Scrolling through my phone as I tried to ‘kill’ time I came across the news about Victoria. Her neighbor had been the one to find her and the cause of death had been an attack after a burglary from the report.

How uncreative, I thought. I had not stolen anything from the old woman but what I had gotten from that, was that the police did not have any evidence and were covering it up like they had done with all the previous cases.

“ For the love of the Moon Goddess, why are you up at this time? ’’ Mel grumbled from the blue.

“ Call for me after breakfast,’’ she finished off and faded away before I could respond.

What a lazy wolf! I thought while rolling my eyes.

Luckily, the minutes flew by and I was up and getting ready in no time.

I had picked a black jeans trouser, a shirt and joggers, which would all be paired up with one of my bigger hoodies.

Clothes were like a shield for me. The less people saw of me, the better as I felt more comfortable. Whether I stuck out like a sore thumb because of my fashion choices, I was not bothered. What mattered was I felt comfortable and confident in them.

By six in the mornig, I was already done.

I looked at myself in the mirror starting with my hair that I had used to cover my ears.

It looked funny, but no one would see my red ears in case something embarrassing happened but overall I loved my look.

Next I checked through my bag pack. Suppressants check, ipad check, phone and school id check. I had everything I needed as well as a map to the school.

Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I felt ready.

“ You got this,’’ both Mel and Ryan cheered in unison and I felt better. It was rare for both Kelly and I to front at the same time, but I felt better with her around. It was still dark when I got to the parking lot and drove out.

.

.

“ This early bird caught the fattest and juiciest worm,’’ I whistled to myself as I parked on the prime parking spot I had found. The perks of being early. There was barely anyone in the compound and I decided to stroll around without the disturbance of the other students.

I had done almost four rounds around the school by the time I saw some students and professors trickling in. I then found my way to the hall where we would be having our orientation, and picked a seat at the front.

It was the spot that was closest to an exit. The entrance to the hall being at the back. As the students trickled in, no one bothered with me not realizing I was new, and my lack of scent meant I could be easily missed. Finally at eight the professor walked in.

He was a lovely older man and from his brief introduction I felt like I would enjoy his class. Now came the dreaded part, self introduction by all students. Our seats had small microphones so there would be no need to shout to be heard. Some students were a bit more enthusiastic with their introductions, others were brief giving their first name.

By the time it was my turn, I had over-thought about all the ways I could do it.

My neighbor had finished his introduction when the professor’s eyes moved to me.

Gulping twice I pulled the mic towards me,

“ Hello. I am Ryan Melanie. Thank you,’’ I had no idea if I had been audible enough but I was glad I had gone through with it and finished it as I quietly wiped my sweaty hands on my hoody.

“ You did well, ’’ Kelly cheered and I felt happy.

Baby steps. Confidence is not built overnight.

The rest of the introductions went on uninterrupted. The lecturer was in the middle of listing out the units when there was a commotion at the back which I was tempted to look at but stopped myself. He stopped in the middle of his sentence to address the student who seemed to be joining the class at 10.

The class would be over in an hour's time.

The student was asked to introduce themselves and when I heard the name, Mel forced me to take a peak which I shouldn’t have.

The man was handsome, towering over the people around him. Was he that tall or was it that we were seated?

His voice washed over the hall in gentle waves. Was everyone feeling that? I wondered. He finished his introduction with an apology and maybe he was forgiven just for that.

“ You can stop gawking now and wipe that drool off, ’’ Kelly quietly laughed, startling me.

Everyone had gone back to concentrating and I was the only one left with my neck craned to the back. My cheeks heated in embarrassment thankfully I had thought ahead and covered my ears.

I hoped no one had caught that. I wanted to take another peak but with my sitting position that would be too obvious. By the time the class was dismissed,I was so out of it, working on the drawing of his face that I had unconsciously started drawing. People kept shuffling out of the room but I kept on working, pausing just to answer a text message that my sister had just sent me.

I had just sent my reply when I felt a looming figure above me. It was none other than the hot guy from earlier. ‘Hot guy’ being his name as I had completely missed it when he had introduced himself.

“ What does he want?’’ Mel asked. Too hostile which was unlike her.

“ What have we done to be deserving of this blessing?’’ Kelly also chimed in from her end.

I already had two conflicting voices in my head and to add onto that I was already getting anxious over speaking to him.

I had not prepared for this.

“ Someone please take over,’’ I quietly begged and maybe my distress was evident enough as Mel took charge. We had expected everything apart from him asking about our lack of scent.

Mel answered him in a beat her answer leaving both of us shocked. The whole exchange had turned hostile and he left. I wanted to apologize to him but as I was thinking of getting up I heard him talk to his friend and his words cut deep through my heart. My biggest fear had just materialized.

Being labeled.

Freak. The word tasted bitter in my mouth.

Maybe Mel had sensed something I had not hence her reaction. Suddenly the perfect illusion of him had been shattered in my eyes. I closed my books and the drawing of him that I had been working on slipped to the floor.

Picking it, I crumpled it and headed out immediately leaving the premises.

Later that evening, I offered Kelly the opportunity to fully front while I pushed back.

It was a Friday night, I never went out and just wanted to rest as the day had already drained me completely.

I retreated to my space where I normally worked through my memories trying to come up with the faces of those who had wronged me.

This time around though, it was different. All I could bring myself to do was build up a perfect scenario where the guy from class had said hello and asked for my name instead.