Discard

1

Adalia Bertram
I walked down the mess hall, my shoulders high despite the whispering prevalent everywhere I went.

Rumour had it, I had gone out into the forbidden border near the Waning Moon pack to meet with my "lover". Now why would I want to meet somebody in an area that acted as the No Man's Land between two packs on the brink of war? Apparently, because I was a traitor.
Somehow, I'd become a speculated spy without my own knowledge of my betrayal.

The rumour had reached me just this morning. I was looked down on for being a delta at the academy so I didn't have many friends to hear things from. Our pack placed lots of importance on rank. The academy was built for gammas, the natural born soldiers, not our 'kind'.

"Adalia, you filthy traitor!" a random boy shouted from behind me as I left the hall with my tray of food. I tried not to let it bother me but my fists clenched around the tray. If the news was this spread out, what was going to happen to me?

"That's what you get when you let someone occupy a position they don't deserve," a snarky voice sounded just before the door shut.

I ignored the taunts with a tense jaw and decided to sneak into my room to eat in peace.

According to the girl who'd pitifully stared me down in Weaponry Education this morning, they had evidence. Video clips of me talking to the enemy. Thing is, I'd never even broken the rules within the academy itself let alone pack law. The so called evidence couldn't be true. But then why has the rumours spread? Were the leaders fooled by these lies? That didn't matter. I was screwed if they decided to take me in.

I raised my spoon to my lips to try an get something down despite the ball of worry pooling in my stomach. Without warning, the front door suddenly banged open.

"Why the fuck are you in here?" My roommate, Eris, spat, glaring down at my hunched form on the bunk bed.

"Why the heck did you sneak down the hall?" I returned, annoyed I hadn't picked up on the footsteps and been scared half out of my skin.

"They're already at the office. Better enjoy that while you can," she shot a glance at the spoon I was holding.

"By they , you mean..." I paused. She sighed heavily and looked down at me. The gears in my head began to turn. Why did she sound so worried? Surely not...and so quickly?

"Look sweetie, I know you wouldn't do the bullshit you're being accused of but if the authorities believe you did it, then you did it no matter if it's true or not," She began to walk over to our desks. "You should run."

I flinched at the traitorous words.

Eris finally grabbed something from the back of the drawer and threw it to me. It was my reserve bag packed with all the essentials I would need in case of...hold on.

"You told me to pack this at the beginning of the year..." I accused. Eris avoided my gaze but I stared her down till our eyes locked. The seconds strained by in silence.

"You told me everyone needs one...but you didn't make one yourself..." I paused and furrowed my brows. She looked away, towards the door, one foot tapping impatiently.

"Did you know this would happen?" I finally whispered.

"This academy is for gammas. A delta like you passing the entrance exams...it shows change Adalia. You might think our leaders are good but these boundaries were there to keep us under control. And you broke one-" she stuttered out the words, taking pauses as she focused on the bag.

I jumped from my bed and clamped my hand over Eris' lips in panic. Of course I knew we were kept under control. And that meant close surveillance.

"So you do know," she muttered, slapping my hand away.