~Chapter 2~
My cheek feels wet and I open my eyes to see Pink licking my face.
"Okay girl. I'm awake" I say and try to get her off without making her bite me but I only manage to get her to grab my ass.
After Pink leaves the room, because I opened the door for her, I look at the clock and see that it's 10am so I woke up a little later today and I'm pleased.
I head to the bathroom to take a shower.
I step under the shower and feel the warm water hit my shoulders and back, washing away some of my sleep and morning tension. Steam rises in the room and the smell of soap makes me try to clear my thoughts.
But as the water flows, my mind can't help but slip back to today. I look at the steam gathering on the mirror and think…this is going to be hard.
I’m just a beta, used to my own routine, the quiet of the yard, and Pink clinging to me.
And now… I’m going to be surrounded by Alphas, future pack leaders, experienced hunters, and people who, without judging me, could theoretically see me as weak, unimportant.
My heart beats faster in my chest just at the thought.
Still, I know I can’t avoid the challenge.
I have to go, to cope, to learn to stand on my feet in a world that no longer resembles the quiet routine of home.
I try to take a deep breath and tell myself that maybe it won’t be so bad. Maybe I’ll find allies, maybe I’ll discover that I can be more than I think I am right now. But the thought of all these Alphas looking at me, evaluating my every gesture, every move, makes me feel a cold shiver.
The water continues to flow over me, and I rinse myself and think that today is truly the beginning of a completely new stage. A stage in which Idris Walden, the shy and slightly sleepy beta, will have to learn what it means to survive and stand out among the strongest.
And yet…even though I'm cruel to myself, part of me wants to see if I'm capable of what my father says.
I get out of the shower and put a towel around my waist trying to catch him but I fail every time so I hold him with my hand.
I enter my room and go to my closet, to get some clothes, and hoping I don't have to leave in 2 hours because I haven't packed my things.
"Are you hungry, fat guy?" Samuel says when he enters the room after I've changed
"Mhm, yes" I mutter and then I hear the door close.
I get down and take out a giant gym bag where I put something in there, most of it being tank tops and sweat pants because I don't even know how long I'll be there but I know that May and June are very hot and I can't stand the heat at all.
After I finish packing everything, I get up from downstairs and go downstairs to eat something since he keeps asking me if I'm hungry.
I enter the kitchen and Samuel is the one who's cooking something at the stove.
"Was it absolutely necessary to be without a shirt or a damn tank top?
" I ask and sit down at the kitchen island.
He turns to me and shows me his biceps which I just roll my eyes at.
"You're just jealous that I have a flat stomach, loser" he says and I get up and give him a slap on the back of the head.
"I'm twice as big as you plus I have the squares that you don't have.
So shut up, or better yet, stick it with my sperm" I say and he turns to the stove again, cursing softly.
After another 5 minutes he puts a piece of beef of about 300g on my plate and there's some salad next to it.
I look at him confused.
"Is that what we're both eating?
" I ask and he huffs.
"Of course not.
I don't have the 'squares' and I'm not a hulk either so I have a smaller piece" he says ironically and puts his plate on the table with the same beef but a few hundredths smaller.
"Sure" I mutter and I start eating.
Mom shows up after a while and walks through the kitchen so I found the perfect time to ask her.
"What time?" I simply ask and she waits for her coffee to be made
"7 pm" she says and I nod my head satisfied that I still have time to see Maria to tell her that we won't be spending part of the summer together.
"That late?" Samuel asks with food in his mouth.
"Yes. Only then did Alpha accept that you can" she says and drinks her coffee and then goes to his room.
I get up from the table after I finish and take the plate that I put in the dishwasher and go upstairs to my room giving Maria a message to go to the park so I can tell her I'm leaving.
---
I get to the park and Maria was already there eating a lollipop, when she sees me she waves at me and puts her phone down from her hand.
"What was so important?" She asks after I sit down next to her.
"I'm leaving"
"Where?" She asks and looks a little panicked
"My dad is taking me to some Alpha academy" I say and look away.
Maria is silent for a while but then I hear her sigh.
"Are you a beta Idris...what the hell is your father doing?
" She asks angrily
"I don't know...but if that's what he wants, I can't deal with his words until I find my match or at least someone to get me out of that house" I murmur and she takes me in her arms
"How long are you staying?
" She asks whispering
"I don't know.
Maybe a week, a month..a year..I don't know but I think 2 weeks is enough for these kinds of academy but it's also possible it'll be longer, Maria.
What am I going to do?" I whisper annoyed by the situation I'm in
Maria looks at me seriously, her eyes shining with anger.
“Idris… isn’t there any other option?
Can’t Dad let you stay home? Or at least postpone this departure?
”
I frown and feel my nerves starting to pulse.
“No,… There isn’t. I can’t argue with him.
If Dad said I’m going, then… I’m going. Period.
”
“But… it’s unfair! You only have two weeks off and…
and being thrown into an academy full of Alphas…
it’s… it’s too much!” her voice trembles slightly with anger and disappointment.
My stomach tightens, frustration flooding my throat.
“And you think I enjoy being sent there? Do you think I want to be evaluated by all the Alphas and seen as a useless beta? No, Maria… I don’t.
But… I have no choice!”
She sighs, her hands shaking slightly as she rests her forehead on her palms.
“I just… don’t understand why you have to be the one who…
has to leave. Why not Samuel?”
“Because it’s not my decision, Maria.
It’s Dad’s decision and… that’s it! I can’t change that,” I say firmly, but a hint of pain creeps into my voice.
I can feel her anger and disappointment gnawing at me, as does my own frustration.
She sits up a little, frowning. “And you… you just accept this? Without protesting? Just because he’s Dad?
”
I look up at her, my eyes trying to convey how helpless I feel.
“Yes… because… what can I do? If I object, it’ll be worse.
It’s not like I can convince him to let me go or make an exception.
I have to go. And that’s it!”
Maria closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, then lifts her head and looks at me with anger mixed with sadness.
“I don’t like this… and I don’t like seeing you go either, Idris.
”
“I don’t like it either, Maria… But we have no choice,” I murmur, feeling my frustration mingling with anxiety.
“It might be hard… maybe even impossible, but… I have to go.”
She sighs and sits down on the bench, resting her elbows on her knees. “It’s going to be hard for you… and you know I’m worried about that.” pauses
We look at each other in silence for a few seconds, both of us angry and disappointed, but aware that there’s no other way. It’s as if every second of silence reminds me of how real the challenge that awaits me is.
I look at my watch and see that it’s 3 pm, sigh and say goodbye to Maria as we walk home.
---
When I get home, the house seems much quieter than usual. The sun is already starting to slowly set, and orange light is streaming in through the living room windows.
I leave my sneakers by the door and slowly climb the stairs to my room.
I feel like each step is weighing me down harder than before.
In a few hours… I’m leaving.
Pink comes right after me, trotting up the stairs and wagging her tail, as if nothing has changed.
I sit down on the bed and she jumps up next to me, resting her head on my stomach.
“You have no idea what’s coming, do you?
” I murmur softly and stroke her ears.
She sighs contentedly and closes her eyes.
Time passes faster than I thought. I’m on the phone, packing my bag, then I lie on the bed for a few minutes without really falling asleep.
At one point I hear the front door open downstairs.
My father’s voice echoes through the house.
“Idris.”
My stomach instantly tightens.
I slowly walk down the stairs and see him in the hallway, still wearing his dark jacket.
Samuel is sitting on the couch with his phone in his hand, looking up just a little.
My father looks at me for a few seconds without saying anything.
“Get ready,” he says simply. “We’ll be leaving soon.
”
His words fall heavily.
I run my hand through my hair and nod slowly.
“Now?” I ask.
“In about twenty minutes.”
Samuel lets out a short laugh from the couch.
“Wow, our beta is really leaving.”
I give him a sharp look, but I don’t have the energy to argue with him right now.
Mom emerges from the kitchen, holding a small bag.
“Idris, take this,” she says, handing it to me.
I look inside. There are some snacks, a small bottle of water, and some bandages.
“I don’t know exactly what it’s like in there…
but I thought you might need it.”
I swallow hard and nod.
“Thanks.”
Pink comes running into the hallway and starts wagging her tail, probably thinking we’re going for a walk.
I lean over and pet her head.
“I’m not coming back anytime soon, girl," I murmur.
She makes a small noise and presses her muzzle against my hand.
Dad checks his watch.
“Idris.”
I slowly stand up.
“Get your bag.”
I take a deep breath, feeling my chest tighten.
That's it.
I grab my bag from the stairs and throw it over my shoulder.
Samuel stands up from the couch and looks at me with a wry smile.
“Don’t cry in front of Alpha, bro.”
I roll my eyes.
“Shut up.”
Mom hugs me quickly, holding me tighter than usual.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I’ll try,” I murmur.
Dad opens the door.
The evening air is cooler than I expected.
I follow him outside and hear the door close behind me.
The car is already started.
I put my bag in the backseat and get in the passenger seat.
For a few seconds we sit in silence.
Then Dad starts the car.
The wheels slowly move down the street, and our house begins to disappear in the rearview mirror.
I lean my head against the window and watch the city lights go by one by one.
My stomach churns with fear, nerves… and a curiosity I don't want to admit.
Alpha Academy.
It seems like my life is really starting to change a little.
---
(It's 1 am now.)
I really didn't think we'd drive from 6 am to 1 am, I mean, I knew it was a long drive but I didn't think it would take 6 hours.
I got away from my dad after he took me to some bus and I've been here ever since. There aren't many people here, only five or six people with me on the bus so I guess it's not really like the academy.
The bus slows down slightly and I feel the wheels rolling over the gravel. I lift my head out of the window, still a little dizzy from the road and the interrupted sleep.
"We're here," the driver says boredly.
I grab my bag from beside me and head down the steps of the bus. The night air is cold and immediately passes through my T-shirt.
For a few seconds I don’t even look ahead. I adjust my bag over my shoulder and put on my helmet.
But when I lift my head…
I remain still.
“What… the hell…” I mutter softly.
In front of me rises the academy.
It’s not just big. It’s gigantic.
The main building stretches so far that I can barely see the end of it in the darkness.
Open stone walls, tall, dimly lit windows, and towers that rise into the night sky.
Large floodlights illuminate the courtyard, and behind the building are other buildings, fields, and what looks like a stadium.
I swallow hard.
Literally… it looks like three stadiums side by side.
Maybe even more.
The front yard is enormous, with paved walkways, statues, and perfectly aligned trees. In the middle is a large stone fountain, and the water falls quietly, making the place seem almost… regal.
“Is this an academy…?” I murmur to myself.
It looks more like a palace.
Or a fortress.
The yellow light falling on the walls makes the building seem even more imposing, and for the first time I truly feel how small I am here.
A group of boys get off the bus behind me.
Most of them are taller, broader in the shoulders, and the way they move tells me immediately what they are.
Alpha.
I feel my shoulders tense instinctively.
One of them whistles softly when he sees the building.
“Damn… is this an academy?”
Another laughs.
“Of course. You thought pack leaders were trained in a normal school?”
I'm silent.
I feel my palms slightly sweaty on the handle of my bag.
A beta.
In a place made for Alpha.
"Perfect..." I mutter ironically.
Then a hand is on my shoulder and I turn around suddenly, two boys are next to me but one is just looking at the building and the other is leaning on my shoulder.
"Isn't it a big building?" The first boy with brown hair and a little taller than me asks.
I'm stuck between commenting and not making the same drama from the first day but all that comes out of my mouth is:
"Big... that's an understatement."
The other boy, blond with brown eyes lets out a short, approving laugh.
"That's exactly what I was thinking too."
Meanwhile, the other one still has his arm resting on my shoulder, as if we've known each other for years. I glance to the side and see him smiling relaxedly, his eyes roaming the building.
"It's like a palace, not an academy," he says. "If I get lost here, you'll never find me again."
I move my shoulder slightly and he withdraws his arm without seeming bothered.
"I'm Otis Vale," the brown-haired boy says and extends his hand to me.
The other one appears and does the same thing
"Rowan Vale" he says simply and looks at me long.
I take my hand from his grip and look confused about what to say
"Idris" I say simply and leave the place following the same route as the others.
"Idris and what?" Rowan asks running after me.
I speed up my pace but even being an Alpha I have zero chance of getting away so he appears in front of me.
"Why are you running like a beta pussy?" Rowan says ironically and jokingly.
I freeze.
My heart disappears.
"Earth to Idris?" It is heard and a hand passes in front of me.
I bring myself back to life and remember that I better not do this again.
"What? You're not a beta, right?" Otis asks and I frown at him but the truth is that I'm acting scared.
"I'm Alpha. That's why I'm at 'alpha academy', doesn't it make sense?
" I say ironically and my heart beats fast
Rowan raises an eyebrow, and for a split second he stares at me as if trying to see through me.
Otis lets out a short laugh.
“Right, solid logic,” he says, throwing his hands up in the air as if surrendering. “I can’t argue with that.”
But Rowan doesn’t laugh right away.
He tilts his head a little and studies me for a few more seconds.
I swear for a moment I think he’s going to say something.
That he’s going to tell me straight up that I’m lying.
That he smells like I’m a beta.
But then the corner of his mouth twitches into a small smile.
“Fair enough,” he says with a shrug.
“I was just asking.”
I feel the air rushing back into my lungs.
Otis starts walking back toward the academy stairs.
“Come on, Rowan. If we stay here much longer, the boring speeches will start without us.”
Rowan gives me one last look, then turns and walks over to his brother.
I lag behind for a second.
Just a second.
My heart is pounding so hard I can feel my pulse in my throat.
“You idiot…” I mutter to myself. “Why didn’t you leave after you left?”
But it’s too late now.
I tighten my shoulder strap and head up the large stone steps.
The doors to the academy are wide open.
Inside, the lobby is even more impressive.
The ceiling is huge, with light wood beams and large chandeliers illuminating the marble floor. There are long banners with pack symbols and portraits of past Alphas on the walls.
It’s like entering a museum.
Or in a castle.
There are already about twenty people gathered in the middle of the hall, including girls and boys.
It's pretty rare for a girl to be an Alpha.
unless I'm lying...
Some are talking to each other, others are checking their phones, and a few are looking around with the same shocked expression I probably have.
Otis stops next to me.
"Okay... I'm officially intimidated," he says, looking around.
Rowan shoves his hands in his pockets.
"If this is just the hall... I want to see the training room."
I don't say anything.
I'm still trying to control my breathing.
Because I just realized something.
If anyone here realizes I'm a beta...
I'm dead.
A few more minutes pass before he hears something and someone appears in the middle and looks like he's about to speak.
"Good evening" says the lady "I'm Tricia Wenny, the deputy director or second to the general director" she says and the hall becomes quiet as she starts walking among us.
"We'll talk more tomorrow morning, now please head to part V where you will receive a ticket with your room and other activities or schedules you will receive tomorrow" she continues and makes eye contact with me for a second and smiles "Goodbye" greeted to leave and after everyone goes to the west side to some counter for no. To the rooms.
I hope I fall alone in the room.