Case kicked the ball through the makeshift goal in the backyard. "Three, zip." He ran around my brother with his arms in the air.
Drake went to go and get the ball. "You're older."
"And you're going to be higher ranked," he yelled at the solid black werewolf.
"You're a dominant," my brother replied. "Rudy told me."
"Yeah, but on the lower end. You're going to be toward the high end. It's pretty easy to tell." Case turned to me. "Do you want to play?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine watching you run circles around Drake."
"We could do something else."
With a shrug, I went back to playing my handheld game. "I'm good. You have a tournament tomorrow."
Case jogged over and sat beside me. "Are you nervous?"
"No," I muttered.
"I was nervous when I got my rank." He bumped my arm. "We should ask our parents to go out afterward."
"What if it's bad?" I muttered.
"Food works both ways," he laughed. "That's what my dad says. We still get food if I win or lose a soccer game."
I nodded. "I'll ask my mom about it."
Drake arrived. "Do you want to practice with him?"
"Nope." I grinned at my brother. "I can't shift, so I'd be worse than you."
"Come on," laughed Case. He took the ball and bounced it from knee to knee. "Quit whining like a pup."
The two started another round, and it was pretty clear Case was holding back to make Drake feel better. I glanced at my game to see I had forgotten to pause it and had lost. I placed the device to the side and gripped my knees. Case didn't have to go to the alpha of Midfield. His alpha was over a sub-pack; mine was the alpha. I chewed on my thumbnail. I had no idea what my uncle was going to do. I could be a dominant, but my shifting issue might keep him from giving me the rank.
***
I stood in the hall outside the alpha's office with my parents. It was hard to stay still.
My dad put his arm around me. "You'll be fine."
I forced a smile. They were in human form. I guess it was normal since upset parents were less likely to lash out without teeth and claws. Or they were being nice.
The door opened, and my uncle smiled at me. "There's the new teenager. Are you giving your parents a hard time yet?"
I scoffed. "I get it. I have red hair."
The alpha grinned at me. "We're partial to our red werewolves. The more, the better." He stepped to the side and motioned for us to enter.
Taking the lead, I went straight to the couch and sat down in the middle of it. My parents sat on either side. My uncle took his place across from us.
"Would you like a drink?" He took a lid off a glass bottle. "Not you, pup; thirteen is good enough for a rank but not a drink."
I didn't respond to his joke. I was too nervous.
"Small glass," said my dad.
The alpha poured two glasses and glanced at my mother. She shook her head and grabbed my hand.
My uncle settled in and opened a folder with my name on it. "Aright. Let's talk about rank."
I quickly scanned the paper. I saw the word rank, and the line next to it was blank. If only it had been written in already, then I could relax.
"Rudy."
My eyes snapped up.
"I want to make you a dominant. I do."
My chest felt tight.
"You're going to be an asset to this pack. I can sense it."
Sucking in my lips, I nodded, waiting for him to say it.
"I'm going to postpone assigning a rank."
My breath caught, and I stared at my uncle. "What?"
"You're a dominant, but the shifting issue makes us concerned." He motioned to my parents.
I glanced at them. "Did you know? Did he tell you already?"
My mom squeezed my hand. "We talked about it."
"So, that's it." I pulled my hand free. "I'm rankless. Great, one more thing for the other kids to throw in my face. Why don't you demote me to a human already?" I stood and headed for the door.
"Rudy," called my mom. "Rudy, wait. Please, we're not doing this to hurt you—"
I slammed the door and hurried down the hall. Did my parents tell Andreas not to give me a rank? They were all probably conspiring against me. My eyes were burning. It wasn't fair. I already had to deal with not being able to shift, and now, I didn't have a rank. Was this even allowed?
Going outside, I went into the garden and sat on a bench hidden by large bushes. I just wanted to be treated like everyone else. I was thirteen, and that meant something to a werewolf. It sucked to hear I was a dominant, but Andreas wouldn't give me the rank. My file would remain blank on that line like some underaged pup. Drake would get his rank before I did. Maybe even Sasha would have hers before me, and I'd still have a blank line. Gripping my knees, I tried not to cry, but it wasn't working. I was so mad they were doing this to me.
"Rudy?"
I wiped my face. "Go away."
My dad wandered over and sat beside me with a sigh. "We are not trying to hurt you."
"You did," I replied.
He massaged the back of my neck. "Dominant have to start training. Things are still hostile between free humans and us. Not to mention, Wolfsbane is a bit unpredictable. Do you want to spend part of your summer at a boot camp?"
"Yes." I rubbed my eyes. "If it's part of my rank, then I want to."
He moved his arm around my shoulders. "I know. I know I'm sorry, Rudy."
"That's why he won't give it to me." I sniffed. "Because I'd be required to go to training, and they are done in werewolf form."
"Yeah," breathed my father. "We're not going to put you in that kind of situation. It wouldn't be safe."
I let out a shaky breath. "Then why not make me a middle rank and then change it when I learn to shift."
"Middle ranks have training as well. Not as much, but they'd be expected to fight if someone threatened the pack."
"So, I can't be a middle rank either? Great, just label me as an omega," I snapped. "Then, I don't have to do anything. And you can have them move me to the sub-campus when I go to the academy. You won't have to worry about anyone picking on me for being defective there."
"Rudy." He rocked side to side. "You will be placed with the other dominants. I believe your roommate was already assigned."
I perked up. "Did I get Case?"
"Well, Andreas is the headmaster, and he thought rooming with your friends would help with the shift to public school."
"Yes!" I pumped my fist. "I'm going to call him and let him know when we get home."
"So..." He turned to me. "Are you feeling better about this?"
I bowed my head. "I want a rank, but I get it." I wrung my hands together. "If a miracle happens and I learn to shift one day, I'll get my rank?"
My dad nodded. "And you'll have a lot of catching up to do. You are a dominant, Rudy. But if Andreas formally gives you that rank, you will have to fulfill the requirements." He patted my knee. "So, we're going to wait, and when that miracle happens, you'll formally get your rank."
"Okay." I took a deep breath. "I was kidding about being an omega. I don't want that. I'll wait."
"Figured." He stood. "Come on. Your mom and Andreas are waiting."
I rose to my feet. "What am I going to do about school? Will they tell them that I get to be with the other dominants."
My dad laughed. "Isn't Case a dominant?"
"Yeah."
"I'm pretty sure Case is in the dominants-only dorms."
Excitement filled my chest. "Oh, yeah. I knew that."
"If you think about it, you get all the perks of the rank without having to do the dirty work. Boot camp isn't fun."
"I guess." I smiled to myself.
As long as I got to be with the other dominants, I'd be okay with giving up some of the other responsibilities. Case was going to be so mad when I told him. His parents had signed him up for a training session for next summer, and he was already dreading it. I guess being rankless wouldn't be too bad.
***
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