Jennifer pov
"WHAT?!" I stood there gaping at Mr. Peterson- our principal and my Philosophy professor Mrs. Smith.
"I know it's last minute but we weren't planning on signing the agreement until we recieved the second post." He said passing a brown cover to me. The silver seal was broken.
Of course.
The local posts have red seal. Only the posts from the WWC (WereWolf Council) are sealed in silver. It's just a sign of authority and confidentiality. And boy this is my first time ever even holding something from the Council directly. Right then I was honoured, not regarding the contents of the letter inside.
Daddy will be so proud.
I was smiling from ear to ear feeling the texture of the brown cover on my fingers. Mrs. Smith gave me a wierd look to which I simply grinned. I pulled out the letter from inside. It was thick and definitely of high quality office material. As soon as I started reading the contents of the letter I realised it was more of a threat than a warning. I gulped looking at the official seal on the bottom of the paper confirming that this shit is real.
"So we either take part in the camp or our school will cease to exist. Right?" I asked, looking at Mr. Peterson already knowing the obvious answer.
He nodded.
I gaped at the paper. This is ridiculousness. Shutting down this place will affect the education of over 850 students. The River Creek pack, The Moon Rays pack, The Blue Stone pack, The Dark Moon pack and The Night Walker pack, each housing a number of three hundred wolves are minor packs adjacent to each other. Our school is a massive nine storied property built at the junction of a forest. Purely considering the safety of the pupils since it would be an easy target for the rogues. There's one main road parting the woods, leading to the pack borders. This is the only school for these five packs. Closing this place will create chaos and people should travel about forty miles to get to the next school even if it's ready and big enough to house another set of eight hundred and eight fifty students. They clearly knew we'd come around for this.
"Looks like we don't have much of a choice." Mrs. Smith commented pulling out another sheet from her folder. "Here, Ms. Stetson, these are the suggested names of students from the staffs you'll be taking to the camp and rest can be selected by you. Take your time but remember you'll have to update the list of participants before winter break."
"Next year's winter break?" I asked sarcastically, taking the list from her.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Smith but I think we'd need atleast a week to analyse the rightful skills for this competition. Two days can never be enough." Winter break starts in two days. I was looking forward to meeting my family and packmates for a relaxing break. Thumbs up to the council for shooting that down.
"I don't believe so. Two days is all that we have. Maybe you can use the class hours and collect as many as volunteers to help you with making the list. The management will offer to fulfill your every requirement." I so badly wanted to sigh in disappointment and fatigue, but I didn't. This is my responsibility as the headgirl. This is my flag to hold. This is my task to finish.
I stood up straight, my eyes connecting with my principal's.
"Yes Mr. Peterson. You'll have the list reviewed and updated before we leave for our winter break. I give my word." His eyes widened a little clearly not expecting that type of answer from me.
I'm definitely not the school's good girl tweety birdie, however I'm not a bad girl either. I just don't tolerate bullying which is practiced by majority of the high ranked wolves. Not all, but most do. So basically people who keep their mouths shut in fear of facing the ugly consequences are called 'low-esteemed-mussels' and become the victims. The seven and a half percentage who stand up for themselves are labelled as 'trouble-makers' and become the targets . I'm proud that the name Jennifer Stetson comes under the seven and a half percent.
I was selected as the school head pupil through student's poll. It was a big fuck-you to all the high ranked wolves because I'm only a weak Gamma-blood. My uncle, Francis, was born 12 minutes before my father and the Gamma position was passed down to him while my dad became the chief warrior of the pack. I'm not a revolter or anything but I just can't stand looking at someone being troubled on purpose.
That's called compassion bro. Something that people fail to show now-a-days on various circumstances.
It's been twenty minutes since I left the principal's office and from there I went to the cafeteria directly, texting Emma, Mave and Alaric-the school sports captain, to meet me at the cafeteria. I opened the glass doors and entered, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked buns enveloped me like a warm fluffy blanket. The cafeteria and the library works all hours throughout the week. I saw Emma and Mave seated at a table near the window. Emma waved while Mave glared. I buried my fingers deep into the pockets of my coat, feeling them going numb from the cold. This year's winter is giving a tough time even for the wolves.
"Hi Emma." I seated myself between the both, purposely only greeting her.
"A double crunch cheese and ham sandwich with fries and a large coke will be the compensation for waking me up from my precious sleep." Mave said lying face down on the table with his arms stretched above his head.
"Martha! Can you please get us what Maverick aked for?" I called out.
"Sure hon. Just a minute." The familiar elderly voice answered from the kitchen. And she wasn't a second later than a minute.
"Thank you." I smiled at her. Although she's only working here on contracts she never fails to show love and care to the kids here. She's like that aunt I never had. Mave dived into his late-night snack, wasting no time. She rolled her eyes looking at him before turning to smile at me.
"Where's Alaric?" I asked noticing his absence.
"Speak of the devil, here he is."
We all turned around when Alaric dramatically entered through the doors with 'Sucker by Jonas brothers' playing in the background.
"Where the hell the music's comin' from?" Emma mutttered rubbing her temples while Alaric danced his way to us. He spun the chair around and gracefully sat opposite to me, switching off the music blaring from his phone.
"Wassup ladies? Calling up at 9 in the night? Any ideas?" He asked wiggling his eyebrows. Alaric is a handsome Canadian, towering over my five foot five inch self with his six foot three inch, lean but muscular body. If it weren't for him being gay, the list of his ex-es will be longer than my physics notes.
"Well not us....but, Mave wouldn't mind though." I said smiling making it sound like an offer causing Mave to spit coke all over Emma's face. He wiped his mouth and gave me the 'What-did-I-ever-do-to-you?' kind of look. Alaric gasped putting a hand on his chest.
"I'm so sorry baby.....I didn't know you had a thing for me. We see each other almost everyday but not once you told me about your feelings for me. Why? Did you think I'd reject an offer from a hot chick like you? Oh. Come on. Fine. Let's leave past things in the past. Now where do you think you'd like to do the deed with me? How about the janitor's closet or the changing room in the auditorium? Or the-"
"Ew. Stop Alaric. I'm not... interested in men!" Mave exclaimed wearing a sour expression.
"Yup. He goes for younger boys." I commented high-fiving Emma who was dying from laughing.
"Oh. That's a bummer. By the way, how young you go? Because I'm only 18." Alaric was now seriously believing that Mave was interested in men.
"Jennifer freaking Stetson! Would you shut that big unholy mouth of yours?!" Mave's face was redder than the coke can.
"Okay guys we'll stop with that now. Alaric you can persuade him later for your desires. Just ask nicely and don't be rough, my darling is a softie there." I said putting my hand up.
"JENNIFER!"
"Fine fine. Now listen up, I've an important news." I announced turning serious.
"Are you pregnant?" Mave leaned back and asked in a bored tone.
I put my head down and started playing with my thumbs pretending to be anxious.
Oh. How I love playing with my friends.
When I kept silent for a while, he bent down and tried to look at my face. I slowly lifted my head a little and when I met his brown eyes I changed my face to one of worried and nodded my head. His humour filled eyes went from concern to being shook to thunderstruck.
Unable to control myself anymore I burst out into fits of laughter. Emma and Alaric joined me in seconds. Mave cursed and slumped in his chair.
"Okay okay. Let's get to business this time for real. Mr. Peterson and Prof. Smith just droped a bomb of a message." In the corner of my eye I saw Mave trying to control his laugh.
"For us." I added swiftly.
"Does that 'us' include me too?" Alarick asked raising a brow.
"Yup." I replied crossing my arms. "All the four of us."
"Is it a concerning news?" Emma asked.
"It was concerning for me. I'll lay it out for you, you choose it's degree of perturbance. You guys heard of the central pack in the north right? The council has decided to hold a competition for the competent students from all packs.
And before you ask, it's mandatory. No exception. Each pack is represented by two wolves. Only the high school students are allowed to participate. Maverick and I will be the representatives of our pack. Emma and Alaric will be the representatives of your pack. And the rest needs to be selected by the games captain and the school captain before winter break.
The competition will be conducted for seven days and it's starting on the twenty secondth of this month."
"Dude you saying we'll be doing stuff for school during holidays?" I saw the hurt in his eyes when Alaric asked that.
"Unfortunately yes. But Mr. Peterson said we can extend our holidays and attend classes online to make up for the week we're missing at school. The results will be announced on the last day of our series and the winners and participants of the last round will be honoured with a dinner feast at the central pack's meeting hall. We can roughly expect about four thousand other contestants.
Three of the tournaments will consist of testing us mentally and the rest physically, so we need players who can atleast make up to the 6th level. So Alaric we need to work together there." At the end of it Maverick started laughing.
"I'm sure what she said was anything but funny." Emma said looking up from her phone where she was taking notes of the information I was giving.
"It was funny because here I was thinking about enjoying my holidays and finnally go hunt for my mate." He and I both huffed simultaneously.
"I know it's kinda disappointing to receive that but.....hey, look from the brighter side. Out of all those students we got chosen to represent our pack in such an esteemed competition held by the council itself." Emma spoke up clapping her hands. This is why I need an Emma in my life. She always looks the good even in the worst situations.
I then told them all our perks and leverage over choosing the next six players. We started noting down the principles on what basis we'd be picking them out. Each of us gave our input and we finally finished the list.
"Okay folks. Let's launch the ship. Come on captain. Call up for an urgent meeting and let's inform them about this." Mave said tapping the table.
"Like right now? It's half past ten in the night. Everyone would be sleeping." Emma said.
"Are you a new comer here? How long 'ave you been studin' here girl? You really believe all those saints be sleeping at this time. Maybe only you 'cause you're such a good girl but nah. Not those horny wolves up there." Alaric stated the obvious fact.
Emma blushed a deep red. "Fine. Whatever."
Fifteen minutes after the text I sent in our group chat, all the high school students were gathered in the AV room.
All, except for Heather and her friends.
I sighed deeply and gestured Alaric to break the news already.
After fifteen minutes into the session of clearing all their frivolous doubts, the door opened and in came none other than Heather.
I was surprised to see her actually paying attention to what was being said.
"That's all we've got to say. Sprinters under nineteen meet me at the West forest entrance at sharp 7 in the evening tomorrow." With that he chased the nervous crowd to get some rest before tomorrow's selections.