Becoming Alpha

I rolled my eyes. “My brother?”



“Yes.” She scrunched her nose. “I can take it down—”



“No way.” I ran my hand down the edge of the frame. She didn’t know my brother or me well enough to get the joke. But it was like having a piece of him here. If she wanted it gone, she’d have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. “It’s perfect.”



“Your father insisted on new furniture for the room. He told me to tell you so.”



I nodded. To the side of the bed, metal shelves had been attached to the wall. Each of my books was in the identical spot I had placed them in my room.



I was fully set up here, which probably meant I wasn’t going home anytime soon.



“My parents…” I stopped. My voice sounded pathetic even to me, and I couldn’t have that.



“They don’t want this anymore than you do. But after seeing what happened to you at the hospital, they didn’t have any other choice.”



“So when can I go home?”



“Let’s not worry about that right now, but maybe they can come visit.”



That didn’t sound vague at all. “But my dad works for the school. Can I see him at least?”



“He works off-site.”



I nodded as I clenched my jaw shut to keep from saying something awful.



“You’re going to get through this. Just remember to take it one day at a time.”



I tuned her out as she rambled on. Her assumptions were a bit more than I could bear at that moment.



I tuned back in as she tapped the stack of books on my desk. “Your books are all here, as well as your schedule and a map of campus. Our curriculum is a bit different from your usual high school, so don’t let that throw you.”



“I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” Because I was getting out of here as soon as possible.



She picked up a small, brown leather bound book. “The Werewolf’s Bible. It’s basically a guide to everything about being a Were. It explains most of what you’ll be going through.” She paused, waving it at me. “Please read it. If you have any questions or just want to talk, I hope you’ll come find me. You don’t have to go through this alone.”



Maybe she didn’t think so, but I didn’t know a soul here. I sighed. That wasn’t exactly true. I kind of knew Dastien. Not that I wanted to see him again.



No, I was lying to myself again. I totally wanted to see him, but I wasn’t going to let my hormones win. Not this time anyhow.



As soon as Dr. Gonzales left the room, I collapsed onto the bed. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Instead, I got up and searched for my cell. Axel would have a plan to get me out of here.



My suite-mate’s door slammed.



“Hello,” a voice called out. There was a knock from the adjoining bathroom door. “Can I come in?”



I wanted to say no. I hadn’t even had time to find my cell, let alone catch my breath.



“Tessa?”



I pulled off my ripped gloves and tossed them in the trashcan next to my desk. Clearing my throat, I tried to sound confident. “You can come on in.”



A girl with long black hair flowing down her back came into my room. Two thick chunks of bright blue hair framed her face. She had ice blue eyes and rosy cheeks. She was nearly six feet and thin. My first thought was that she should be in a magazine or on the runway, not sharing a bathroom with me.



She started to walk toward me, but then stopped. “Are you okay?”



I laughed, but it didn’t have any humor. “I’m so not even in the realm of okay.”



She sat down on my bed, resting against the footboard. “Well, I’m Meredith—if you hadn’t guessed that already—and I’m here if you want to talk about it. Dr. Gonzales said you might have some questions.”



The good doctor had already sent a spy? “I wouldn’t know where to start. But thanks anyways.”



She reached over to pat my hand. I flinched.



There it was. My skin touching her bare skin, but nothing happened. What was wrong with my visions? I always hoped that by some miracle they would go away. Now that they might be gone, I wanted them back. Pronto.



“Being a Were is amazing. Promise.”



Not sure she could make that kind of a promise. “I’m sure it is.”



“It’s dinner time. I’ll introduce you to all the good people and fill you in on the gossip.” She gave me a megawatt smile. “You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers,” she said with a wink.



A surprised laugh escaped as I realized she’d quoted the RadioShack slogan.