The Wanted Werewolf

Chapter 5

Elena

"Have fun at school!" Warren waved me off.

"Make new friends!" Evangeline smiled.

I took off at a steady pace towards the high school. I was surprised they trusted me enough to let me go on my own, but then again, the pack was crawling with guards. Evangeline and Warren didn't bother to tell me where the school was located, and even if I hadn't been given a tour, the pack was condensed enough that just by looking around I could see a number of students making their way towards the large fenced-off building that loomed in the distance. It screamed detainment, so I knew I was going to the right place.

My legs ate up the distance, rage fueling every step I took. But then a blur caught my eye. I glanced towards my right to see someone waving. The alpha pup. He was dressed in a white t-shirt that clung to his biceps and chest and a pair of dark jeans. His hair was sloppy, but in a cute sort of way. I quickly turned my gaze forward, focusing on the brick building in front of me before I let that thought settle.

"Ellie! Wait!" Jeremy called. I didn't stop.

I heard his steps hit harder, faster. My spine stiffened when he caught up - a beautiful girl hot on his heels. She had fairer skin, sharp blue eyes, and dark brown hair, similar to those back home in Russia.

"Hey - " he said, reaching for my arm. I whirled back before he could touch me.

"What?" I snapped.

He put his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, I was just supposed to walk you to school, show you around."

"I'll pass." I deadpanned, turning to leave. The girl looked relieved. Jeremy looked shocked.

"She doesn't want a tour, Jer, give it a rest," the girl said in a babying tone that made me want to claw my ears out.

"If you need anything - "

"I won't!" I yelled over my shoulder, heading into the building just as the bell rang.

I weaved through the fluorescent-lit halls that smelled like chemicals and body odor towards the main office. A number of young men stared at me like I was a shiny new toy while the girls were busy sizing me up, probably wondering if I would be a threat to their social status or potential boyfriends. Maybe I should have left the makeup off today. Worn clothes that would draw less attention. Too late now.

A few weeks, that's all I needed. I decided last night I would give myself just enough time to mentally recover and come up with a new plan. Just a few weeks to learn the layout, get some cash and a new burner phone, and then get the hell out of here. I could survive a few weeks of this - high school. I have done far harder things before. I will do harder things again. This would be easy. I couldn't afford it not to be.

I strode into the main office, the scuffing sound of everyone walking through the just polished floors fading behind me. The receptionist glanced up at me.

"Hi, I'm Ellie - "

"Oh yes! The new girl!" The woman at the desk smiled. "Luna Vera told me you'd be coming. Why don't you take a seat, and we can go over your paperwork?"

"Fine." I nodded, plopping down in the chair across from her desk.

She pulled out a folder, opening it to reveal a stack of papers. She took her pen and began pointing to all the bullet points.

"We don't have your transcripts, so if you feel yourself struggling at all, we do have tutors available. Just let us know. You'll have all the basics. Math, English, science, and history. Spanish for your language." She flipped a page. "You do have the choice of fine arts. There is art, theater, choir, dance, or music - "

"Music," I answered.

"Which instrument?"

"Cello."

"A lovely instrument," she mused, jotting down a few notes. "Now, you have the option to join in some of our extracurricular - "

"No thanks."

She gave a forced smile. "Understood. That just leaves community service. Alpha requires it for every pack member at some point or another - "

"I'm not a pack member," I snapped.

She gave me a pitying look. "Anyone who lives within the borders is required to serve. Many of the students have already chosen their areas of service, but we do still have a few opportunities available. You could help prepare breakfast in the packhouse twice a week - you'd need to be there early. Or you could clean the restrooms at the school once a week after school hours."

"Any other options?" I snorted.

"I'm afraid not."

"Breakfast it is." I sighed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Anything else?"

"No, that takes care of it," she said, shuffling her papers. She handed me a smaller packet and a lock with a locker number. "Your schedule, map of the school, calendar of events for the year. I hope you enjoy it here."

"Doubtful. But thanks."

Her face fell as I stood and left her office, making quick work of studying the map. It wasn't anything complex, just a square within a square. Laughable really. I had it burned in my memory before I even made it to my shoebox they called a locker. Jamming everything I had inside, I rounded the corner to my first class.

Math.

The door was shut, but I let myself in anyway. The teacher - Mr. Jefferson, according to my paperwork - stopped mid-sentence at the front. All eyes were on me. Including the alpha pups.

"Good morning Miss - ?"

"Ellie." I bit out.

"Ellie. Welcome to class. Please have a seat," he said, pointing to the only open desk in the room.

It was in the front of the class, with Jeremy directly behind me. Two young men were on either side, horseplaying and tossing erasers and pencils back and forth. Lucky me. I slipped into my seat as people began to whisper behind me.

"Alright, let's settle down now," he said in a booming voice, returning to the equation on the dry-erase board.

His dull voice began to fade into the background. The boys on either side of me began their banter again. Laughing at things that weren't funny, tossing s**t back and forth. I wanted to gut them. But then there was a tap on my back. Gentle. Cautious. I turned my head only a fraction of an inch.

"Sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to upset you," Jeremy whispered as a piece of an eraser flew by my face. "Maybe after class we could - "

"No." I answered on instinct. There was no way he actually wanted to get to know me, he was simply doing what was expected of him. The last thing I needed was charity.

A pencil whirled by this time - I grabbed it midair and snapped it in two, giving the boys a look that would send most grown men running. Wide-eyed, they froze, watching as I tossed both pieces towards the front. Mr. Jefferson took a step back a moment later, fumbling on the pieces. He stopped talking, bending down to pick up the sacrificed instrument.

"Who did this?" he asked, brows raised.

Both boys pointed to me at the same time. I didn't bother denying it. Mr. Jefferson's face fell.

"Ellie, since you have so much time on your hands, why don't you come up here and solve this equation?" he said, folding his arms in front of him.

Without looking at the board, I answered. "Eighty-two."

"Pardon?"

"The answer is eighty-two," I said in a bored tone. I squinted to look at the others. "The next one is twenty-six, and the last one hundred and seventy-four."

His brows creased as he studied the board and then me. "I don't take kindly to interruptions in my class. See that it doesn't happen again."

"Fine." I shrugged, sitting back in my seat.

Neither boy threw anything else for the rest of class. They didn't even look in my direction. When we were all dismissed, I caught a few people staring, whispering. Including Mr. Jefferson. Cursing myself, I made my way to the next class. I was supposed to keep my head down. Instead, I just made myself a spectacle.