Zev and Glendir ate breakfast in the garden, as they often do. Although Zev hadn't seen his father in a few hours, he could tell he was in poor health. Glendir is also coughing somewhat, although he likely repressed the cough in front of him.
"I'm not going to school today, Dad." "I have to accompany you to the doctor," Zev said.
"No, I'm OK," Glendir said.
"Well, I don't think you're OK," Zev said.
"Can Jody join you in your car?" Glendir said. "Gustav will have to accompany me."
Zev did not answer immediately since the two were in a nasty situation. "I'll look after her," Zev assured him.
Glendir smiled. Zev isn't sure whether his father cheated on him, but he's OK with Jody riding with him. Gustav is Glendir's beta.
"That's nice to hear, son," Glendir said with a smile.
Zev stayed deafeningly quiet. Instead, he instantly ate bacon. Glendir shifted his gaze away as Jody emerged from the sliding glass door. She kissed Glendir on the cheek right away. Glendir's appearance caused Jody to assume he was unwell.
"Are you feeling sick, Uncle?" "You have a light complexion," Jody said.
Glendir softly laughed. "No, Jody, I'm just tired."
"I don't have school today, so I'll accompany you to the doctor," Jody said.
Glendir couldn't keep from chuckling. It surprised Jody, and Zev glanced at him. "That reminds me of something. There's nothing to worry about, Jody. I'm OK."
"Are you certain, Uncle?" Jody asked.
Glendir gave a little nod. "Zev will drive you to school today. I'll be needing Gustav, so I won't be able to send you to your school."
Jody darted a glance toward Zev as he ate. Jody returned her gaze to Glendir. "Is he OK with that, Uncle?" Jody asked. "I don't want to be on the road by myself again."
"Are you OK with that, Zev?" Glendir asked.
Zev gave his father a quick look. "Yes, dad," Zev said, turning to face Jody. "This is the initial step in getting to know one another."
Jody turned her attention to Zev. "You're right."
"All right, that's OK," Glendir said.
Jody and Zev never spoke again.
———
Zev was the second person to get inside the car after Jody. He sat behind the wheel without saying anything to her. Jody said nothing and remained still until their car drove away. They didn't talk to each other the whole trip since neither wanted to. Later, Zev's car stopped when a weredragon sprang out in front of them. Jody's eyes widened, and she started to breathe faster. Zev exited the vehicle and approached the thing. Even though it seemed to be the same beast that had attacked them before, it was simply standing there and speaking with Zev.
"That isn't him," Jody said as she tried to relax. She exhaled deeply. "They aren't monsters based on what was in Uncle's pack."
Kross had a quick look inside the car. He saw Jody staring at him. "You didn't say anything about bringing a woman, Zev. My appearance is so embarrassing." Kross said.
Zev took a glance at Jody before returning his attention to Kross. "What else is giving you concern? When you return to human shape, he won't recognize you as the terrible creature he witnessed". Zev said, chuckling.
"You are utter rubbish. Nothing special happened last night, except we're starting our rutting period." Kross said. "Does she belong to you?"
"She is..." Zev said. "My adopted sister."
"That means the sibling is now up for adoption," Kross laughed.
Zev stayed deafeningly quiet. "I'm leaving anyhow," Kross said.
"OK, be careful," Zev said.
When Kross left, Zev quickly returned to his car. He glanced at Jody before starting the vehicle.
They got on campus after around 30 minutes. Zev didn't say anything to Jody when he exited the car. Instead, he went to his friends. Jody was left looking at Zev's group as she stood next to the vehicle.
"She's a real pain in the neck," Jody whispered.
"Good morning, princess."
Jody cast a sidelong look as she saw Brian approaching her with a broad smile. Brian grabbed her bag as he stopped in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Jody asked.
"I'm here to help." "Shall we go?" Brian said.
It's not such a bad thing to be close to Brian, Jody reasoned. When compared to Zev, Brian is OK.
"OK," Jody said.
They passed Zev's group, which was speaking on the sidewalk. Tim and Kody looked at each other.
"It seems like the two are already close," Kody said.
Zev merely smirked and ignored what Kody said. "When do we start practicing?" Zev asked Tim.
Tim said, "Now."
"Good thing, since I've never been able to jog," Zev said.
As the three of them walked to the gym, Zev glared at Jody and Brian.
———-
As Jody sat in the room, a group of women approached her. Jody first assumes they are the It Girls. She was once the city's It Girl, so how could she have been unsure?
"Are you the transferee?" the woman asked.
"It's me," Jody said.
A woman filled the empty seat in front of her. "My name is Kendra," said the woman. "These are my friends Esha, Kellie, Yumi, and Jhen," she said.
"OK," Jody said. "Do I need to introduce myself?"
Everyone was laughing. "It isn't needed. You have an excellent reputation. People have adored you from the first day of school." Kendra said.
"What precisely do you want me to do?" Jody asked.
"You're gorgeous and popular, like us, yet you're an exception." We want you to be our leader. Are you in agreement?" Kellie asked.
"Leader?" Jody asked.
"Do you like it?" Kendra asked.
"OK. What should I do?" Jody asked.
Of course, she knew she would have to undergo an initiation procedure before joining the IT Girls, like the women in front of her. All five females were thrilled.
"We'll compel you to do it." It would help if you did anything easy to take charge of the group. So, are you up for the challenge?" Kendra asked.
Jody creased his brow. "Game."
———-
Jody was standing outside the locker room of the basketball team. Kendra instructed her to take everything from the lockers and leave nothing behind while the rest of the group bathed. That was easy once she recalled what Cassy had made her do before.
Jody was the first to walk inside the locker room. Everyone seemed to be taking a bath. Nobody was outside the bathroom. Jody entered with caution and went straight to the lockers. She placed all the clothes in the paper bag as soon as she pulled them out. Jody just brought everything except sneakers and socks. She even took underwear.
Jody came out right after that. She bumped into Brian immediately outside the locker room. Brian said hello as soon as he spotted her.
"Princess!" Brian yelled. Jody was carrying four paper bags, which Brian noticed. "What are those critters doing in that paper bag?"
Jody's eyes widened as he grabbed Brian's hand and jerked him away. Brian was strolling behind Jody as she returned to the cafeteria. Jody entered the university cafeteria as the others were sitting at a table. She was happy. Brian had noticed it.
Brian held Jody's wrist with his hand. "Are you going to approach them, Princess?" Brian asked.
"Yes," Jody mentioned. "Please release me."
"You don't have to befriend them," Brian pointed out. "They're not bright."
Brian drew Jody's attention. "Are you just approaching me because you think I'm smart?" Jody took her hand from Brian's wrist and kept it there while he remained quiet.
Jody rushed to the group and put the four paper bags on the table. Kendra's friends smiled.
"We didn't get it wrong with you, Jody," Kendra said.
"You are now in command of the gang," Yumi said.
Jody smiled as he sat down next to Kendra.
There was a commotion in the locker room. All the players' clothes were missing; only towels covered their lower bodies since they had just showered. The team stormed out of the locker room with hatred in their eyes and into the quadrangle. Kody, Tim, and Zev were also part of the team.
Everyone in the room was gazing at them. Some students were happy with what they saw, especially women and women at heart.
"Damn, they're yummy!"
"Could I just have those abs?"
"Zev is rather tempting."
"I guess I like Zev a bit more now."
"I'd want to know who stole our clothes from our lockers," Zev said. It's enraging.
Jody and the other group members went straight to the quadrangle when they heard the noise. Yumi had two paper bags, and Esha also had two paper bags. They separated the students into two groups, allowing Jody and Kendra to pass.
"Return our clothes before I lose my patience," Zev said. His look said he was serious and upset.
Jody took a deep breath and turned to face her friends. "You didn't tell me Zev was on the squad," Jody whispered.
"Did I forget to inform you?" Kendra was intrigued.
"Don't make me count. Admit what you did, and no one will suffer. But if no one says anything, I'll ensure you all fail this term." Zev said.
"Oh, no. Mr. Alcantara does not excite my interest."
"Me too…"
Kendra's friends exchanged looks. Yumi and Esha put the paper bag near Jody's side. They gradually distanced themselves from Jody. When the others saw Jody, they moved away from her. Jody quickly attracted the attention of the team to what had happened. She drew everyone's attention.
Jody looked around her. Everyone was staring at her from a meter away.
"Those women..." Jody whispered.
Zev made a strange stare at Jody. When they found out that Jody had done it, everyone was amused.
"Jody..." Zev began.
At the moment, Jody couldn't seem to take a breath. Zev approached her. It surprised Jody when someone grabbed her wrist and dragged her away from the crowd. Zev stood and looked aside as Jody and Brian walked away.