"Not that I went looking for him, rather, he came to me. "

"Just because you're my daughter doesn't give you license to be lazy, Katrina, go out there and start running. "

"What? You've got to be joking, mom. "

Beta Mathew came up and paused next to me. "There must be something wrong, right?"

She lowers her head.

"Yes, Beta." While pointing to the field's edge, she tells, "There you go, Katrina."

As a result, I decide to remove my sweater and fling it at her. I was at a loss to explain her odd behavior.

"Make that thirty lapses, " she shouts out. I moan but proceed to the edge of the field, loathing her.

"Keep going, Katrina. " I roll my eyes and start completing laps. My legs burned by the time I finished twenty, and my lungs felt like they were about to burst. Stopping, I brace my hands on my knees, striving to regain my breath. My mother blows her whistle, attracting my attention, and I peek over at her.

"Ten more Katrina, I didn't say stop, "

"This is bullshit, " I mumble under my breath.

"You want me to add more? "

My mum calls out. I shake my head and continue racing around the oval. Alpha Antony, I saw, was in the stands observing, and by the expression on his face, something had made him upset.

By the time I was done, my face was flaming red, and my breathing was coming in short gasps as I sank on my back on the grass near my mother.

She appears to be staring at the earth around my feet.

"Keep it in mind, Katrina. That which I am going to undertake is for your own benefit. While I may be lenient with you, the rest of the pack will not be".

In an effort to reduce my heart rate and settle my breathing, I placed my arms over my head and poured bottle of water on my body.

My pain is so bad that I had to whine about it. When alpha came up to me, though, I did nothing.

"I'd want to have a quick word with you, Dianna." When I turn my head slightly, I can see him walking up to her.

"Of course, Alpha." When Alpha Antony focuses his dying eyes on me, I avert my eyes out of embarrassment for how weak I must seem. After Ella brings me a water bottle, I squirt some in my mouth and sit up.

It was difficult to get to the building due to the gelatinous legs. When school let out, I headed to my locker when I suddenly ran into Nina. It had been over an hour since school had let out. Her brown eyes gleamed, and the blonde highlights in her hair were very stunning. As soon as I comprehended her allure, I was able to comprehend the reason behind why she was so well-liked. Her harsh features belied the fact that she was not a kind person despite the fact that she had a gorgeous beauty.

I try to get anything out of my locker, I end up being pressed up against the wall by it. In spite of my best efforts to keep my shirt on, Nina is able to take it off of me by grasping the front collar and pulling it off.

She warns me, "Don't mess with the Alpha or I'll make your life awful,".

"You stayed an additional hour after school just to tell me that. That's amazing, thanks so much! "

As I struggle away from her embrace and start to get my baggage, I murmured to her.

"Nina, stop it."

Hissing, As Tina tightens her grasp on my hair, I can feel the tiny strands being yanked out of my skull. I knocked some sense into her by punching her in the back of the head. She screams and puts her hands up to her face in an effort to cover it.

The use of fists was another piece of advice that I received from my mother. I brought my fists up, and one of them hit on her face, which immediately became inflamed.

She wiped her lip and snarled, "You fucking whore," as blood flowed down her chin.

"What the heck is going on? " When I hear a voice behind me, I turn around to see Beta Mathew heading down the hallway towards us.

"The prostitute attacked me!" Tina cries at him.

Ella explains to him, "She pulled on Katrina's hair and threatened her," which was what the woman did. I bite my lip and make sure not to utter a sound when Mom and Alpha Antony approach around.

"No, it's not my fault, I swear to you. I have to deal with this crazy person, ". Tina tries desperately to get to him, but he sidesteps her at the last second.

"She assaulted me, your daughter struck me," Tina said to my mother. Although I was expecting my mother to get enraged and yell at her for her response, I restrained a chuckle.

Then, my mother says to her, "I guess you deserve it. Behave well, or you will eat your own fruit at my training class." Even when we're not at the game, Mom is a stickler for the rules, but I still love and respect her as my mother.

My mother finally broke the silence, and although I first felt awful for Tina as I saw her run away wiping the tears from her eyes, I quickly got over it. She had evolved into more of a mentor than a nurturing parent.

My mother shook her head and said, "Katrina, troubles on your first day, goodness," but it wasn't meant as a reprimand, rather, it was her way of expressing her frustration with me being the focus of attention.

Ella said, "Tina attacked her first, she was protecting herself," my already favorable impression of her changed for the better.

Alpha Antony continues by saying, "Katrina, tomorrow I will be giving us both detentions." Although I can't understand a word that my mother could be saying, I can see that she is pursing her lips. Ella craning her neck, she looks down to the ground below.

" Beta Mathew will handle Tina," Alpha said, fixing his gaze on Mathew, who nodded.

After hearing Alpha Antony remark, "You may go," I gather my belongings and go. My mother was rushing down the hall, and I had to keep up with her.

She gives me the angry face and says, "Always calling attention to yourself," but I try not to notice her.

She has stopped staring at me, I answer back, "But you instructed me defend myself."

"Katrina, I mean what I said. Without this pack, we had nowhere else to go. Our alpha, Nkosi, took measures to ensure that we would never be taken in by another pack. "She strokes my arms softly, takes a deep breath, and walks away, saying, "It was a miracle that Alpha Antony took us in."

On the way back to the house, my mother did not utter a single word, nonetheless, because of the aggressive method in which her fingers banged on the steering wheel and the persistent manner in which she stepped on the pedal, I was able to discern that she was dissatisfied.

The following day, I had to face Alpha Antony and carry out our detention. I didn't want this person's attention.

When I got home, my dad stopped me on the way to my room.

"Hey there, how was your first day at school going?"

My mom allegedly told him that I was fighting with another student and distracting the Alpha when I should have been practicing.

"Did you win?" My father's most concern is always me.

I just had to grin.

"My daughter's Alpha has already criticized me, saying, what sort of a parent are you?"

My father turned to her, "What did you do to my daughter?"

"We arrived home late because I had her run laps. "

"Yes, thirty lapse. it was rather sad being scolded and thirty laps on my first day." and I proceed to slip out. "Tomorrow, Katrina will have detention with the alpha, alone." My mom said to my dad.

My father swiveled his head as I attempted to slip out the back door and said, "Detention?"

"We can't afford to offend the Alpha. Imagine if he found out you don't have a wolf before we proved to him how vital you are to the pack. "

This wouldn't be a problem if they were telling the truth to the alpha and not lying to him in the first place.

If starting over at a new school and getting to know new people weren't frightening enough, the fact that all eyes will be on me in case we were expelled from this one is even more so. I had been doing my best to disappear into the throng anyhow, maybe it would be for the best if I just disappeared entirely. Worrying that I might become a burden on my loved ones was weighing heavily on my mind.

"Can I go now?"

"Katrina, we made a mistake, and even if you're free to go, you should be aware that packs don't appreciate it when they have pack members who don't have wolves."

I found that being under the watchful eye of my parents was too much for me to handle, so I went to bed early.

The next morning, I was abruptly woken from my sleep by the frantic voice of my mother, who commanded me to hurry up and get ready.

She offers me a pie as we make our way to the car, and I munch on it as we go.

On the way to school, my mother delivered another of her famous lectures on the topic of how to blend in with the new crowd. I would nod and mumble to myself sometimes to give the impression that I was paying attention so she wouldn't think I was zoning out.

Ella is waiting for me inside the school as I walk inside.

"Katrina! "She screams out as she waves at me.

I let out a grunt as a reaction to the statement, "Geometry comes first." Even though I didn't perform too badly in the class, it was the most boring one I've ever taken, and it consistently gave me a splitting headache.

Mom goes to the faculty room to chat with the other instructors during the first period, while Ella and I are both in our first period class. When you're having a good time, time flies by. Regrettably, it's already noon, and I have to go to detention; however, I have no clue where to go for detention since Antony never told me of the location.

Alpha Antony stormed into my classroom just at the moment when the bell was going to sound.

I was completely taken aback. In spite of the admiration and attention I received, I was about to fail my mother.

Ella turns her gaze toward me with a yearning smile on her face. I hurriedly made my exit. The thought of going to the Alpha makes me anxious, but I've decided to go anyhow.

"Do you feel that the geometry class drags on?" And he asks me while wearing a mischievous smirk on his face.

"Somewhat, but why do you ask so?"

"I used to always skip geometry class and get my ass kicked often, your painful expression reminds me of my past. "

I forced a little grin, not wanting to admit to him that the pained look on my face was his fault.

As he starts to go, he calls out, "Come on." You need to put your things away. While I'm fumbling for the latch, he unlocks my locker, causing me a chock.

"Well, I know everything," and I raise an eyebrow in incredulity.

Will he know that I have no wolf and banish me out? Thinking of this ,I shrank back a few steps.

"You are a newbie, and the justification that your parents gave for changing packs doesn't persuade me in any way. It seems like your pulse rate is over the roof, so I'm guessing they didn't really leave when your mom struck the Alpha's daughter. " He rubbed my back with his hand.

"She did hit Alpha's daughter." As he closes the door to my locker, he reaches over and takes my hand.

"Um, Alpha? " I informed him that my arm and hand had begun to become numb as a result of his hands clasping mine. I believe this was caused by the pressure of his hands.

"I am very sorry. I should not have done it." He withdrew his hand, and I looked at him in bewilderment as I raised my eyebrows in response to his peculiar movements.

"What are our plans for detention?" As we pass numerous vacant rooms, I inquire.

At the door to the faculty lounge, he gave me some words of reassurance, saying, "Don't worry; you won't get in trouble with me." I wait with him while he goes inside.

"This is your workplace, right?" I'm going to go ahead and inquire.

"I've been trying to be more present lately. I go there whenever I have some free time on my hands and the school could be short-staffed." I take a seat in the chair next his desk.

Incredible, I have a whole hour to do nothing except sit here and look at the walls. During that time, I took a few deep breaths to cover the Alpha scent. Because of his incredible scent, the whole room was filled with it, and I found myself taking several long breathes.

After he looks at me for a moment, Mathew bursts in carrying a tray with roasted beef, which he promptly places on the desk.

"Lunchtime? "

"Isn't this what detention looks like?" Ought I to copy some boring books instead of this?

"What do you like for detention, we can do it together?" He cocks his eyebrows and asks.

"No, but that's a bit different than I thought," he says while looking at his Beta.

I started to really appreciate the tender and flavorful steak.

When we finish, Mathew will return and takes the trays out.

Mathew strolls over and reclines in his seat, a grin on his face,

"How do you enjoy it here so far? "As I smile awkwardly at Mathew and then at alpha, I nod and answer his question.

"Pretty well."

Mathew drapes his arm casually over my shoulder and comes in close to me so that he can get a better smell of my scent. When I glance over, I notice the Alpha giving him the cold shoulder. He pulls me in closer and massages my arm when I make an effort to break away from him.

Alpha Antony growls at Mathew, telling him to "Hands off." Mathew smiles broadly while holding up his hands, but then he steps back and provides us with some room.

"Nonetheless, there are a few questions I have for you. "He turns to me after Mathew leaves.

Alpha whispers, "What made you truly decide to join to our pack?"

"If you think we have anything to conceal, then why did you allow my family become a member of your pack?" My shoulders slump as I realize that questioning him was really disrespectful on my part.

"I chose two of the most fearsome fighters in all of Alpha Nkosi," he says. My head shakes and I nervously bite my bottom lip.

"It will be interesting to find out what, precisely, you are capable of given your heritage," He says as I groan under his next sentence.

I don't see why being of Beta blood means I have to be flawless. Just let me be a normal she-wolf, please.

"What if I completely failed to live up to expectations? " I ask.

"You've got Beta blood, and your mother is one hell of a fighter. " Given this, I can't help but wonder what his reaction would be if he learned my deepest, darkest secret.

"Could I perhaps ask a question?" In the midst of Antony's undivided attention, he poses the question.

"So, what is it, exactly? "I ask.

"Have you met your mate yet?"

"No, I'm not eighteen yet. "

"You didn't say, but I assume you wanted to explain why your family moved. "My chest tightens as He reassures me that sharing the truth won't hurt me. It makes me feel sick to my stomach and causes me to sweat profusely just thinking about it.

"You seem really frightened, why is that? "

"Could I possibly leave this place?"

Alpha reaches across the table toward me as if to grab my hand.

"So, you can finally spill the beans, huh? "

"What my parents told you is true, that's what. "

I leave the room as soon as I hear him say, "You may go, Katrina, but I will be speaking with you again."

Alpha Antony's pov

As I saw my mate go, it hit me for the first time that she had left. I was intrigued by the notion that she and her family members were keeping something from me. Maybe I would have given them more serious thought before accepting them into the pack if she weren't my mate.

Something wasn't right, as they suddenly abandoned the strong pack.

Surprising as the request was, it never occurred to me that I could steal them from Nkosi. The opportunity to put an end to the rivalry that had been going on between our packs for many decades was too excellent to pass up.

Both Philip and his wife Dianna had high positions in the pack, so it came as a shock to learn that they had never publicly acknowledged having children. Something didn't quite seem right about her, despite the fact that she came from a prestigious family and had a powerful scent.

Mathew came in from the backdoor, he had been overserving all this since I told him so and wanted him to find out what strange about this girl.

"She is your mate, right?"

I sigh, no point lying to him, he knows me better than I know myself half the time.

"Now, tell me precisely what it is that you have planned to accomplish? Do you intend to maintain her current schedule of detentions?" His eyes return to mine with a look of inquiry.

"I want some time to spend on my own with her. "

"I'm confused as to why you didn't bother to ask her parents directly,"

"It's because I don't want to upset her parents. They are really important to her. I caution him, telling him that if I start a dispute with them, she would despise me, "So, what are our next steps?"

I am at a complete loss for words right now.

"In all honesty, I don't know how to avoid seeming like a total freak if I ever find myself in her company. "Mathew seemed thoughtful for a split second.

"Is tomorrow a good time? " His shoulders shrug, and he speaks.

"There will be a pack run every Friday after school. The younger members of the pack tend to hang around in the packhouse rather than go out. "

"I let them off the hook for the first week."

"You're the alpha. Tell them you're checking up on her to see how she gets along with the rest of the pack. "

"Well, 'm going to go see her out on the field,' I tell him. " Mathew nods and gets to his feet.

"Have you decided to show up"? When I ask, he cracks a wry grin.

"You've done something terrible. "

"Oh, it's nothing, but Tina's been annoying me, so I've teamed her up with Katrina for some training. " When I look at him, I feel angry.

"Are you trying to provoke me on purpose? "

I could never risk having Tina come anywhere near my mate. Her apparent antipathy towards Katrina was compounded by her attraction with me. One of Tina's numerous advantages is that she has received excellent training.

Katrina is a fiery person, no doubt about it. Mathew tells, "She will get what it takes."

"You best hope so because if she gets wounded, you will be dead."

"Her mother was a great fighter, while her father was a Beta. No need to worry about that at all. "

I've been witness to Tina's training sessions with the crew, and I can attest to the fact that she does not fight fairly. Even in her state, I knew my mate could take care of herself. Given her amazing power and stamina, it would be interesting to see how she shifted as a wolf. It was exciting for me to finally meet her wolf.

To avoid being found, I concealed among the spectator areas. I found Mathew's decision to pair them up to be really peculiar. As Dianna walks toward the playground, she seems to be talking to her daughter. Katrina seemed quite ill and was sweating heavily.