CHAPTER 2
Cheating
Samantha
This can't be happening! I start crying my eyes out, sobbing in frustration, asking the Moon Goddess what I've done to deserve this. I guess the adrenaline is wearing off and things are starting to sink in. I'm an Omega. Ming grunts, it's getting hard to control. The whole time I was in that stupid scenario, keeping Ming under control meant I couldn't occupy my mind processing what happened.
Letting her out would probably have meant Mr. Biggins' death, though not his fault, and therefore my own death. And I haven't gotten that far, at least not yet.
Jason
"Samantha Bailey - Omega," shouts Mr Biggins and instead of the cheers I've heard so far, even for others who ranked Omega, this time only gasps and sounds of confusion are heard.
Strangely, I feel pain in my heart, but the most annoying thing is that Luder, my wolf, howls like a rabid animal and I can barely contain it. I know the girl, she's Marie's best friend and I think she's also related to Brian, my Beta. She's his cousin or something. Oh shit. Her parents are both commanders of our pack. ouch!
"Aren't her parents Betas?" I whisper the question to Brian.
"Yes." He replies, popping the 'p', not taking his eyes off his cousin. Oh, if ever there was a more embarrassing moment than when she got up on stage.... I feel bad for the girl, I guess it's only natural since I'll be her Alpha.
While everyone will continue their senior year here, the Alphas and Betas who will take over a pack will go to a special school for high ranks only. However, I need to stop looking at her, that's very un-Alpha of me.
After the ranking ceremony I went straight to my father's office. For some strange reason, I was curious as to why Samantha Bailey only ranked Omega. I shouldn't care, God knows I don't give a shit who ranked what as long as I was Alpha and Brian my Beta, but I decide to satisfy this little curiosity that is bothering me.
I reach the dark mahogany door that leads to my dad's office and before I knock he yells, "Come in, son!" I laugh.
My dad never takes his eye off the ball, always keeping an eye on everything around him. This is the kind of Alpha I strive to become, and I can't wait to leave tomorrow for my year of intensive training. It sucks that I'm leaving on my birthday, without a party, but I'll try to see if I can sniff out my mate within our pack, and if she's not here, I guess it's a good thing I'm leaving, since I have a better chance of finding her elsewhere.
"Congratulations, boy! My dad gets up from his chair and walks over to hug me. I can feel the pride in his voice and it feels good to know I'm not letting him down.
"Well, Dad, it wasn't much of a surprise." I say scratching the back of my neck, nervously. I'm trying to find a way to casually ask about Samantha's rank.
"Still, I'm your father and I'm very proud of you. Your mother too."
I feel myself blush like I'm still 5 years old and my parents praised me for having the best drawing in art class.
"Dad, you know Marie's friend, the commander's daughter..." i start and my dad instantly stiffens.
"Samantha Bailey, yes. What about her?" his voice is like poison, he says her name like he's upset with her.
"How come she ranked Omega?" I spit.
"Son, he is first in our pack, and I would prefer to keep this out of the pack's ears, but since you will be Alpha in a year, and she is still in this pack, I guess you must know the truth."
Gulp. What did he mean by she was still in the herd?
"She cheated, son. She cheated on her questionnaire and that's unacceptable, as you know."
I just look at him confused.
"What do you mean she cheated? What about her physical abilities and everything over the last few years?" I didn't pay much attention to Samantha, I don't think I ever said 'hi' to her, but being friends with Marie, I was sure she is strong enough to be among Alphas and other high ranking wolves. She never looks weak as an Omega, and I'm pretty sure she kicked Brian's ass once or twice.
"All a lie, my son. All a lie. She's been taking something to make herself look stronger over the years. The old people think she's obsessed with Marie and wants to be like her, an Alpha."
I'm in shock, this is like a bad soap opera.
"Marie should stay away from her from now on, and the elders will decide if Miss Bailey should be kicked out of the pack or not. Out of respect for her parents, I don't think they will do that, but she will probably be shunned, ignored and almost tolerated."
I just look at him and feel my blood slowly boil.
How the hell did I miss this? I mean, I'm not a fan of Marie, we just don't get along, but how did I miss her being so close to a stalker? An obsessed, deranged stalker.
I leave my dad's office, needing to calm myself and Luder down. He's outraged, damn right he is.
As soon as I reach the woods, I strip and switch to my wolf, giving Luder full control. He runs and runs, seemingly aimlessly, but still with a sense of direction.
Samantha
It could have been two minutes or it could have been two hours, I honestly have no idea how long I've been here feeling ashamed and sorry for myself. I stop sobbing for a brief second and hear a snap, sharp and quick, like someone stepping on a twig. With all the crying, my nose strains to identify any new smells. Or maybe that's what happens when you sort Omega, your senses aren't as sharp, I don't know.
Another round of crying is about to begin when I catch a whiff and instantly know who it is. I jump to my feet and look behind me, towards the top of the small hill I had previously descended from. A tall figure was silently watching me and I saw Jason slowly making his way towards me.
Jason is tall and handsome for short. He is well built and muscular without looking like a brute. His face resembles a well chiseled statue. His piercing blue eyes are perfectly complemented by his full lips. He wears his hair short and although he has dark hair, he always bleaches the top and the result is spectacular. He is the image of the hot bad boy that every girl would fall in love with. What he's not known for is that he doesn't give a shit how anyone else feels, so I'm beyond confused at this point.
I think his 18th birthday is tomorrow, so he's 1 year away from officially becoming Alpha. Maybe that's why he's suddenly interested in the welfare of his pack members. He is very close now, not even 3 feet away.
He says nothing and I feel too uncomfortable to be the first to speak. I look up into his face and see two blue eyes staring at me and he comes even closer. I think I see pain and hurt in his eyes. But also love, maybe? Is that what the Alpha feels for his pack?
Does he feel what the rest of us feel? He seems to care that I hurt, more or less.
I frown when I decide this is awkward enough and open my mouth to speak. But it goes away, and I'm not kidding. If I had blinked, I would have missed it.
In an instant he transformed into his wolf and was gone. The shreds of his clothes that flew through the air when he moved didn't even settle on the ground and he was gone. I didn't even catch a glimpse of his wolf.
What the fuck real?
I'm both shocked and scared I think it's time to go home. I looked at my phone and remembered I had turned it off. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so it seemed like a good idea. I turn it back on and see that it's almost 2am.
Oh shit, have I been here that long? My parents won't be happy. First, I sort Omega out and now I'm out until morning.
I quickly dismiss the strange feeling that keeps bothering me. How come no one has come looking for me?
Scanning through text messages and missed calls, I only see Jen and Marie's names.
How come my parents didn't try to call or text me? I push that thought away as I run as fast as I can to our house.