I finished putting my school supplies away as the door opened.
"Rudy." Case grinned at me. "I finally get a break from my annoying siblings. I am so looking forward to school." He dragged his bags over to his bed. "So, how was summer?" He flopped onto the mattress.
I shrugged. "Fine."
"Did you get to meet Max's mate?"
I shook my head. "Not yet."
Case seemed confused. "Aren't you family with him? Did you get to go to the sub's first moon or whatever? The sub is all over the news."
Swallowing hard, I shrugged. "No. My parents didn't want us getting caught up in a fight. There have been some issues with Wolfsbane, so we're giving the alpha and Max some space."
"That makes sense." He sighed. "Welp, we're starting another year."
"Yeah."
Smiling to himself, Case unzipped his bookbag and lifted out his games. He fanned them out. "Guess who got the new Attack the Pack game?"
I grinned to myself. "I guess we already know what we'll be doing on our first night back."
"Attackin' the pack and taking back the territory," Case sang. "It's going to be awesome!"
***
I gathered my books and slid them into the bag. Gym class was next, and I was dreading it. I needed to talk to my coach and arrange for swimming to take credit for it. I was probably going to have to do the same packets all over again. Stepping into the hall, I followed the flow of boys toward the gym. They went to the locker room while I went inside.
The teacher nodded and held out the familiar white packet.
With a sigh, I took it and started up the steps to the top. One by one, the others arrived in werewolf form and started doing warm-up laps around the track above the bleachers.
I heard muttering every once in a while. The comments were all the same. I'd be annoyed with myself, too. It wasn't fair to them that I never had to do anything.
"Did he go to training?"
I sat up straight.
"He's in the dominant dorms?"
The two werewolves continued on, but the new topic was already spreading. My shoulders rolled forward. Taking a deep breath, I hurried down to the teacher.
"Can I go and talk to my coach? I'd rather swim than do packets."
"Sounds good to me. I hate grading them. Bring that filled out tomorrow." He nodded toward the door.
"I will." I headed into the hall and shoved the packet into my bag. If I was lucky, I'd find a way never to have to come back to this class. I couldn't take another year of sitting on the bench.
***
"I don't want to go." I adjusted my phone as I zipped up my swim bag.
"Rudy," said my mom. "Max is your cousin. You can't avoid him forever. We're family."
"I'm busy. I don't have time. School is starting to pick up."
She sighed. "Okay, but please think about it. If you change your mind, I can come and get you."
"Got it."
"Bye, Rue."
"Bye." I hung up and tossed my phone on the bed where it would be staying. Stepping into the hall, I closed the door behind me and headed for the exit.
"Human—"
I glanced around me.
"He's the alpha nephew."
"Adopted."
I spotted a group standing outside a doorway. They forced pleasant expressions as I passed.
"At least you do some training," one yelled after me. "For a so-called dominant."
I made eye contact with the boy. He wasn't from our grade, and his smug look wasn't helping my mood. I approached them. Some stepped back, but the older boy remained in place.
Folding his arms, he arched a brow. "How is it we have to suffer all summer, and you don't have to do a damn thing?"
"Think about it really hard. My condition isn't a secret."
He scoffed. "Humans do more than you. You don't deserve the rank."
I grabbed his arm and dug my nails into his skin. The color drained from his face. The boy dropped to the ground and screamed. The others moved back with a look of shock and fear.
"I can't shift," I stated. "But that's it. I'm still a werewolf with the toxics of a dominant." Turning sharply, I left.
They could say what they wanted, but I was still a werewolf. I probably shouldn't have taken it that far. What would my parents say? The boy doubted my rank, I had a right to prove it to him. I marched down the sidewalk. The rugby team was coming toward me.
"Hey, Rudy," said Levi.
I kept walking. I didn't want to talk to anyone.
A hand grabbed my arm. I peered up at Bruce as he and Levi closed in.
"Hey, what's wrong, pup?" said Levi. "Did Case piss you off?"
I shook my head and wiped my eyes. "I don't want to talk about it."
"It wasn't my brother, right?"
"No."
Levi smiled. "Someone was giving you a hard time, then?"
I flexed my hands. "I clawed—well, scratched someone."
Levi sighed and glanced at Bruce. "I think we need some food. Ice cream?"
"I was going to the pool."
"Do you feel like swimming?"
I shook my head and wiped my face with my arm. "I have a condition. It's not my fault."
He patted my shoulder. "I think you need some ice cream."
My body felt heavy as I followed them to the cafeteria. I went to the icy machine instead. Bruce did the same.
I grabbed a straw. "How much trouble am I going to be in?"
He sighed. "Just tell them what happened. If you were proving your rank, it wouldn't be too bad. If it was just some fight... we'll see."
"He called me a human." My eyes were burning again. "I'm not a human."
"I know." Bruce filled his cup. "My grandpa was telling everyone about it."
"Jet?"
He nodded. "It's a curse word around here, but people tend to forget Jet is in more bloodlines than you think."
"It's in our alpha line," I replied. "Max is a grandson, too."
"Between Jet and Xavier senior, it is hard to find a top-bloodline without them being a part of it."
"I'm not."
Bruce took the paper off a straw.
"My parents are half-human, and their werewolf side doesn't come from either of those lines. They have alpha blood just not from the main pack—sub packs."
He smiled. "I guess there are other ways to get to the top."
Levi wandered over with a big bowl of ice cream with bacon sprinkled on top. "Alright, I called Case and he's coming over, too. Soccer just got over. We can have a little get-together as we wait for Rudy's fate."
I swallowed hard.
"It's not going to be bad." He stirred the bacon into his ice cream. "I've clawed someone on purpose, and they gave me detention." Levi bumped me. "Welcome to the club. I don't think you can graduate unless you've gotten in trouble for clawing someone." He pointed at his roommate. "Bruce only has one year left to get it in."
"I could claw you." He reached for Levi.
"No way." He dodged him. "Get away from me. I don't have a death wish. You're a future alpha!"
Laughing, I sipped from my drink. Whether they were trying or not, they were making me feel better. At least I had one last thing to worry about. I could mark getting in trouble for clawing someone off my list.