Rise of the Alpha
Chapter 16

Magnolia

I couldn’t believe what he told me. He saw me in the most intimate of moments and never told me. Bet him and the other two got a big laugh out of it. Just thinking about it has my b***d boiling. I’m not paying attention to where I’m going and run smack dab into a wall. Well, a human wall. No, that’s not right either, it’s a gargoyle wall.

“Whoa now, be careful, Miss Holloway, wouldn’t want you to fall and hurt yourself,” he says as he reaches out, gripping my arms and holding me steady.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Godrickson.”

“Nonsense. Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?” He lets go of me once I’m steady and wipes the tears rolling down my face. His voice is so dominant , thinking someone hurt me. Like he’s ready to hurt someone for offending me.

“No, just upset. No one hurt me physically. Let’s just say it’s what I get for being uneducated on supernatural species, which I can now thank you for informing me about.”

“Ahh, are you from the Exodus pack?”

“I am. Why does everyone ask me that and look shocked when I say yes?”

“History doesn’t have them letting their females leave pack lands to go to school. They’re normally taught by one of the teachers if they are of a higher stature or intended to be the mate of a high-ranking Beta or the Alpha. It’s also uncommon knowledge, but with my age, I know they’re not educated on other shifters, especially some of the more uncommon ones such as myself,” he explains. I can’t help but notice how his nostrils flare and his face looks disgusted when he mentioned being mated with someone.

“Yeah, well, that would be me; uneducated and dumb. I’m sorry for running into you, but I need to catch my friend when she gets out of class.” I take off running, not even waiting for his answer.

I make it to Wylla’s English class just as they are letting out. She stopped at the teacher’s podium, pointing to something on a paper while talking to her. I stand to the side so as not to block the door, wiping the last of my tears and waiting.

Shifting back and forth on my feet, I keep looking down the hallway in both directions, wanting to make sure I don’t run into the men who live above us, who were in on the big f**k with Magnolia joke.

“Hey, chica, what’s up?” Wylla sings out as she comes up beside me, reaching up to run her fingers down my arm. She stops when she sees my face. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

I go through the whole story, telling her first what I learned in Supernatural History class, then about Zeke wanting to speak with me privately. I went through the whole sordid story of his explanation as we walked back to the dorms. She never interrupted, listening to every word I said. Once I’m finished, she stops in her tracks and turns and looks at me.

“What?” I cry out.

“Okay, first, I am so sorry, Magz, that this happened to you. But first off, it sounds like an innocent mistake. You didn’t know about ferret shifters, and also how f*****g cute is that? I could just cuddle him and stick him inside my shirt and walk around with him.”

“WYLLA, FOCUS!” I scream out, before realizing there are people around when they turn to stare at the commotion I just made.

“Sorry. You’ve got to admit it’s cute. Anyway, he thought you knew and were doing it on purpose, a simple misunderstanding. Plus, he’s a dude, and what guy wouldn’t react like that? Hell, if I was in his shoes, I’d have done the same thing, and I’m a girl. He could’ve never told you and kept it a secret, but he didn’t. He came clean with you. That says something right there.”

“You mean you’re siding with him. He only confessed because I learned there were ferret shifters,” I remind her.

“No, he could have never told you what he was or denied it was him. I doubt he’s the only one at this school.”

“You know, I thought you were my friend, but you’re siding with him. I can’t right now. I’m going for a walk, I’ll see you back in the room,” I tell her as I take off toward the woods. My wolf crying to go run.

I need to process how my friend can be on his side. To say it was just a misunderstanding.

What the f**k is she thinking?