"Miyo!"
I groaned. "What?" I yelled back.
No response. Great, she didn't hear me. I tried to focus on what I was doing, which was texting my friend Diana. She wouldn't stop talking about how amazing it was to find her mate, especially after getting drunk at some club. I'm happy for her, but the idea of finding a mate didn't really appeal to me. I hadn't even found mine, and I planned to keep it that way.
Suddenly, the door to my room slammed open, and I jumped, turning to see my mom with a not-so-happy expression on her face.
"Uh... uh," I stammered, "you see, I was just, uh..." I shut my mouth, realizing I had no excuse. If I said another word, I'd definitely be grounded.
"Sorry."
My mom sighed. "Go get packed for next week. You're starting AWS soon, and you never pack the essentials. I don't want you to have a bad reputation, so get ready for school."
"Yeah," I muttered, my expression sour. My mom never stopped nagging. I was so not excited to go to a high-ranking werewolf school full of alphas.
Being a regular person and an omega didn't exactly help my situation. I applied to multiple high schools, but one of the elders in my pack, who I was close to, saw something in me and applied me for some upper-class werewolf schools. Nobody thought I'd actually get in—not even me. But then, two weeks later, a letter came saying I'd been accepted to the most prestigious school. I thought they were exaggerating at first.
Only five schools were known for being prestigious until I saw the symbol on the letter. AWS, or Alpha Wolf Society, was the top school owned by the high councils of alphas, where only the highest-ranking alphas in the world and others of great importance were accepted. And here I was, a plain omega, invited to attend. Yeah, I was not excited about it, but at least I had a whole week to mentally prepare myself.
Getting up from bed, I went to the bathroom to wash my face and do the basics. I opened my bedroom door, and the smell of pancakes wafted through the air. I smiled, heading down the stairs.
"Mom, it's times like this that make me love you more and more," I said as I walked into the kitchen.
"Sure, now get your butt to school before you're late," she said, scowling. Looks like she was still mad about this morning. I grabbed a pancake before heading out the door, checking to make sure my scent blocker was on. Then I opened the front door and headed to school.
Morning walks are the best, especially when surrounded by trees. My mom is the preschool teacher in our pack, and since Dad mostly handled pack house maintenance, he managed to secure us this house deeper in the woods. I took my usual shortcut toward school. As I approached the familiar sign, I sped up.
"Miyo!" I heard my name called. Glancing to my side, I saw Diana jogging toward me, a guy trailing behind her. I raised my brow at her. "Is this him?"
"Yep! Sexy, isn't he?" she said, looking so proud.
"Whatever you say." I turned to him and nodded. "Nice to meet you." I eyed him up and down—surprisingly, he wasn't bad-looking—brown hair and decently dressed.
"You too," he said softly. Our surroundings grew louder as more students began to head into school. Diana noticed and kissed him on the cheek before grabbing my hands and rushing us inside so we wouldn't be late.
"So, care to explain why you were at the club?" I asked.
"Oh, so basically..." I tuned out. As much as I loved Diana, her stories could go on forever, and it got frustrating. I learned to pick up on the most key details since childhood. In short, Andris the future beta of our pack, had one invitation left and gave it to a random girl who turned out to be her. She thought she was something special after how it went down. Lucky for her, some students from our neighboring pack were invited, and that's how she met Axel.
Passing by the teacher taking attendance, and after talking with Diana about a few things at home. I headed to my locker, the first few classes were a blur. I was good at my school work so I didn't worry much like most would about getting bad grades. My next class was art with Diana, which I actually liked because it was one of the few classes I could relax in.
As I slumped into my seat, the familiar creak of the wooden chair echoed in the stillness of the classroom. The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow that sharply contrasted with the chill in the air from the whispers surrounding me. I glanced at Diana, who was scribbling in her notebook. She really enjoyed art and was good at it. Then I heard snickering and immediately knew this class period was not going to be relaxing.
Aliya, the self-proclaimed omega queen of our high school, sauntered in with her entourage of lackeys, each draped in the latest fashion trends. They giggled and tossed their hair, glancing around like hawks eyeing prey. I frowned, knowing what was coming.
"Look who it is," Aliya's voice rang out, dripping with sarcasm. "The art nerd and her little sidekick. What are you two working on? Your next masterpiece of mediocrity?"
Diana's eyes flickered with a mix of anger and hurt. I could see the tension in her shoulders, but I smiled, knowing she wouldn't let it get to her. She had always been brave, even when most people didn't notice, standing up for herself and others, no matter how much ridicule she faced.
"Leave us alone, Aliya," Diana shot back, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "You really need to find a better hobby than picking on people."
The laughter from Aliya's group heightened, like a pack of wolves circling their prey. "Oh, please," Aliya sneered, flipping her perfectly manicured nails. "You think you're some kind of artist? Newsflash: nobody cares."
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I clenched my fists under the desk. I wanted to say something, to defend her, but I held my tongue. I knew that stepping in would only make it worse, and Diana could handle herself. Instead, I tried to focus on the lesson, tuning out the laughter that echoed in the classroom. I noticed that the rest of the class was paying attention but, like scared mutts, they didn't want to get picked on next.
As the class dragged on, the taunts continued. Aliya and her lackeys would occasionally throw glances our way, whispering and giggling like they were the stars of a twisted comedy show. I could see Diana's resolve beginning to waver, her bright spirit dimming under the weight of their ridicule. That's it, I thought, opening my mouth to say something, but I felt a pinch on my skin. Looking next to me, I saw Diana shaking her head. Sighing, I turned my attention back to the teacher.
During lunch, we found a quiet corner of the cafeteria—a sanctuary away from the chaos. I looked at Diana, who was poking at her food, lost in thought. "Hey, don't let them get to you," I said softly. "You could always get your mate to beat some sense into them," I joked, trying to break the silence.
She laughed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I swear I'm gonna post a pic of her slutty ass online for revenge," she said angrily.
"I'm right behind you, ready to hit that forward button," I laughed. After we calmed down, she said, "I know, but it's just so exhausting. I try to be strong, but sometimes it feels like they're winning."
I reached across the table, placing my hand over hers. It was time for a little word of encouragement. "You're not alone. They bully every omega girl in this school. Plus, you've got me. Even though I'm leaving soon, you've got your mate now. We'll get through it together. They don't define who you are."
She looked up, a small smile breaking through her sadness. "Thanks, Miyo. You always know what to say."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. We navigated the hallways together, side by side. I realized that while Aliya and her crew could throw insults, they couldn't touch us. Getting physical was strictly forbidden by our pack alpha.
As the final bell rang, a wave of relief washed over me. Walking out of school with Diana, the weight of the day began to lift.
"Let's go get ice cream," I suggested, a grin spreading across my face. "I think we deserve it after today."
Diana's smile returned, brighter than ever. "I'd love that! Let me just text Axel since he was gonna pick me up."
Nodding, we walked toward the ice cream shop. After a few scoops and some strolling around, we separated. I headed home, feeling lighter than I had all day.