Chapter 1 Back To School, Brandon Is Back!

• Chapter 1
• Rays of sunshine woke me up with a slight breeze of morning wind. I wiped my eyes lightly to give my eyes a bit time to adjust from the light and ease my sleepiness.
• Today is the first day of school and the day my bother, Zach and his best friend and soon to be Alpha, Brandon come back from their annual Alpha-Beta camp.
• Remembering that made my senses alert and I excitedly headed to my bathroom to take shower. I hurriedly finished my morning routine as I just needed it to wake myself from sleep. Not much dirt needs to washed since I also took a bath lastnight before going to bed.
• After it I rushed to my closet to pick a tank top and jeans. Upon checking the time on my wall like as if on queue, my brother Charlie called and knocked on my door.
• "Gem, you ready? We need to go down and eat now so we won't be late to school." He howled behind the door and his foot steps are heard going straight downstairs.
• "I am almost done." I answered still knowing he'd still hear it with his wolf hearing sense. I applied my daily make up look and just combned my long brown hair and let it loose.
• Approaching the kitchen, I instantly smelled the chocolate chip pancakes that are being served at the table by non other than my mother.
• "I see my princess is so ready for sophomore year." my Dad says with a knowing smile on his face.
• "I am Dad, morning you guys!" I greeted both of my parents smiling. I sat down and took two pancakes. Charlie is almost done with his food and much paying attention with his phone.
• He stands and grabs an apple and asks, "you coming with me to school sis?" he raises his brow at me.. "I need to meet with the pack warrior trainees in the school field before the school starts" he continued.
• My brother Charlie is the soon to be Gamma of our pack. Usually the post must be given to the Gamma bloodline, not our youngest man in the Beta bloodline, but Gamma Peter and his wife Lisa were not blessed with pups.
• With that, Alpha Mason along with Beta James,my father and Gamma Peter agreed that Charlie is qualified to fulfill the role. He is now training and overseeing some activities.
• I almost choked on my last bite when I heard a thunderous growl from my brother. I hesitantly looked at him and gave an apologetic smile. He hissed and started walking, totally annoyed by me spacing out..
• I threw my parents a timid grin for my not so good morning start that gained a soft chuckle from my mom and dad. "Bye Mom, bye Dad" I said and hurried to the door.
• "Hurry before Charlie decides to leave you, honey." my Dad called out and laughed a bit when I started sprinting to the door.
• Charlie was about to honk his car when I exited the door. He only shakes his head, but still a small grin made its way on his face.
• I am lucky my brothers cannot get mad or annoyed at me for more than a few minutes. Though it takes hours or even a day depending on what I did.
• The ride was quiet and I took the time to enjoy the scenery. I cannot wait to get to school. I know for a fact that my eldest brother Zach and Brandon will go straight there, though he doesn't know what time they'd arrive.
• I can't wait to see Zach for not being around for 3 weeks, but what I am most excited about is to see Brandon.
• Brandon is the eldest son of our Alpha, and soon to be taking the seat. I have been crushing on him since Goddess knows when. I am trying to make myself believe that I make it not so obvious, but if that is really the case, I cannot be sure.
• He is the most handsome and one of the kindest to me among the boys in our pack. One of my best friends, Alex says even if he is handsome and all, there is nothing more special about him since most werewolves are way more attractive and stronger compared to humans.
• Well, I guess that is one thing about attraction, right? Others may not see what it is, but to me.. He is special, it's like his bluish-greenish eyes tell deeper than what he tells and let you know.
• "We're here. Enjoy your day. I can't be sure I am able to drive you home later." My brother pulled me out of my reverie.
• I smiled at him and said, "it isn't that far from home, I will just walk if I won't ride with my friends." I gathered my bag and gave him a kiss on the cheek before going out of the car.
• He only gave me a knowing look and I waved him bye and made my way to the piling numbers of students near the entrance, catching up with their friends.
• Passing through crowded hallways on the first day of school is like going to a big sale in a mall. Tons of students are scattered greeting and waiting for their friends.
• As I walk through the hallways, familiar scents hit my nose, knowing who is around even without or before seeing them.
• I make my way by waving and saying a few hellos with students that caught me on my way.
• Walking by, I already have seen and greeted pack members and the people I know from our nearest neighboring pack, the Crescent Moon Pack.
• I wave and smile quickly making sure to not get much attention.
• I do not want to be sighted by certain people this early. It will only ruin my mood and definitely be a disaster.
• Triton High is on the common ground of Blood Moon and Crescent Moon Pack as it is located between borders.
• To maintain friendly friendship with two packs.. Alphas probably hundred years ago agreed to establish the school open for our packs.
• Yes, I guess they had the brightest idea to have a school with nothing but werewolves students. But since not a lot of pack members decide to teach, they hire human teachers and other staff.
• Maybe in the long run, they realized a school without any humans around would only bring havoc or any other normal school mess.. The only difference is it is messier.. and totally brutal so the humans keep us on ground.
• We cannot let them know of our kind for our and their safety.
• I am not sure if humans do not find it odd that there is a school named Triton and is only open for selected students.
• My mom would always tell me that humans simply took it as private school being too selective of their students. How they bought that is a wonder to me. But hey, we can't be anything but just thankful about that.
• "They are in the lockers" my wolf says in my head.
• "That's where we are going, in case you didn't notice," I replied jokingly. "thought you forgot how to speak with me" I added that earned a low growl from her.
• It's her first time talking to me today, not a morning wolf. I skidded my way and their scents getting stronger and stronger as I nearing our lockers.
• They were so busy talking that they did not even look my way when I arrived.
• "Here she comes" Vincent, one of my friends, says not looking and shoving his stuff in his locker.
• He is currently double checking his backpack, putting things back and forth undecidedly. His hair looked messy.
• "Were you stopped along the way?" Alexandra eyed me knowingly following it by shaking her head and slightly grinning.
• "Like as if they care about me when my brothers aren't around to see" I answered sourly, making my way to my own locker to leave my things.
• Most people in our packs act friendly and all with me when my family is around. Not that they are picking on me or something when they aren't, but just do not care that much.
• "And like as if it matters." Vincent bumped me slightly on the shoulders. I turn to be met with his gray eyes slightly darkening in spite of him trying to lighten the mood.
• "It's okay, really." I assure him. "Where is Jaxon, by the way? I asked, changing the topic.
• "Still in the field with the warriors and the Gamma, your brother remember?" answered Chelsea showing her head behind Vincent, her eyes mirroring his.
• The twins share the same shade of gray eyes and dirty blonde hair. She moved to her locker and gave me a smile that says sorry, even if she is not voicing it out.
• Chelsea has long and curly blonde hair, mesmerizing gray eyes that hold softness in them giving them a slight difference as her brother's eyes hold toughness and authority given the twins are from Delta bloodlines.
• "They always know when to play nice, as always, those packs trying to get closer to your brothers." Alex growled, her golden eyes getting darker than their original color, failing to sound funny and bobly.
• Fixing her black bob cut hair she pulled me to start walking, followed by the others. As if on the dot, the students started to pile up going to their lockers.
• "Jaxon will just meet us later for Biology, third class." she stated while practically not giving a care to most people that are greeting us.
• "Hey there, you guys!" says Drake. He is from our pack and from the same year as me. Not all of our pack aside from my friends are fake to me.
• There are good numbers of them that are genuinely nice, Drake and his friends being one of them.
• "Hello Drake!" I greeted, and a glint of excitement swan in his for a second. It instantly went back to normal, or maybe I am just imagining things.
• He licked his lips and smiled even more and looked to my friends to give them regards.
• Vincent greeted him with a slight tap on his shoulders and the girls greeted him.
• Drake has copper hair that is always kept in a clean cut. His blue eyes shine whenever he smiles and speaks with excitement that makes him look cute.
• Vincent and he talked about the upcoming meeting that we are attending soon regarding patrol duties now that we are mostly sixteen year olds.
• While talking he would throw me glances and smiles. I always find Drake super kind.
• He did it a couple more times and I started to feel conscious and started rechecking on my things and looked the other way.
• Silent giggles travelled my ears and tilted my head towards my two friends.
• Chelsea is trying hard to conceal her giggles while Alex is smirking at me.
• "What?" I hissed at them through a mind-link trying to not catch attention.
• "Are we still going to deny the fact that Drake has a huge crush on you?" Alex answered with playfulness in her voice.
• "He doesn't. He is just really nice and all smiles." I reasoned out and mentally rolled my eyes at the two of them.
• "He is always all smiles, alright. But most of the time he is the one getting sneak glances from girls and not the other way around." Chelsea chimed in still giggling
• "Shut up, you gals! Don't give it any other meaning. I said.
• "Whatever makes you sleep at night, Gem." Alex said and shook her head, smirking still.
• I just decided to cut the link 'cause I know for a fact they won't stop so reasoning with them is a waste of time.
• The bell rang signalling us it's time to get to class.
• "Vincent and I have the same 1st class. So we are this way" Drake says pointing in their direction.
• "We are this way." I answered pointing the opposite seeing that he was looking at me and it is rude not to answer especially with how nice he is all the time.
• "Laters then,ladies!" He waved goodbye to the girls, looked back at me and gave a boyish grin and took off.
• Vincent smirked and raised his brow at us, then jogged to catch up with Drake.
• I shook my head and started walking to the hallway and dared not to say a word.
• I just do not want to feed my friends wild imaginations. The guy is just really nice ever since.
• "So he's coming back today" Alex whispered in my ear and passed right ahead of me then went straight inside the classroom not waiting for a response or anything.
• Chelsea definitely heard her wolf hearing and just gave a grin and walked past me. She waved me once they found a seat motioning me to hurry and sit in the seats they took for the three of us.
• The class teacher showed up five minutes later and gave us the first day routine of introducing ourselves and gave us a sit work that will test how much we've learned the past year.
• Every once in a while the girls would tease me about Zach's and Brandon's arrival fuelling my absolute excitement and nervousness.
• To be honest, I've been feeling all nervous for weeks now since Brandon's nineteenth birthday is nearing.
• Werewolves start feeling and finding their mates at the age of nineteen. He never showed interest in me, but who knows?
• Mates are the most wonderful gift from the Moon Goddess. It is not unheard of that others do not feel any romantic feelings for one another until they reach the age and find out they are mates.
• Who knows and the Goddess might hear me out,right?
• The bell rings, surprising me completely. I heard Jaxon and Chelsea chuckling at my surprise. And just like that, the third period is finished and it is now time for lunch.
• I am classmates with Alex and Chelsea for the first and second period. Third period I share with the love birds, Jaxon and Chelsea.
• They really do adore each other, and are hoping that if they stay strong .. they hope they turn out to be fated mates. And as much as I do not voice it out much, I am deeply rooting for them.
• "Try to stay where your body is, if I were you." Jaxon teases me as we walk out of the classroom and make our way to the cafeteria.
• "Just that first day of school is a bit boring." I lied, which I know they totally know anyways.
• This morning I was nothing but so excited. I still am, just do not know what to do as the time passes.
• I am excited and nervous at the same time. It is always a wonder why I still get excited when I am nothing but a nervous wreck around him.
• Alex waved her hand when she saw us enter the cafeteria. She is already sitting with Vince on our spot.
• I waved motioning. We'd just get our food and stand in line.
• "What are you thinking about getting Chel--?" I stopped when turning Chelsea and Jaxon weren't the ones behind me.
• "What an honor to be standing next to the Beta princess." sarcastically thrown in my ears by an irritated Stephanie, Brandon's girlfriend.
• There are a few people in fact who show their true colors when no one sees them. Stephanie and her friends being one of them.
• I decided not to take her bait and turned back front and just continued waiting.
• "Always playing the good girl, aren't we? She said again so low to avoid others from hearing.
• She chuckles slowly giving the illusion of us being in an interesting conversation.
• "I do not want to fight Stephanie, please." I say so low to make sure to not get any attention from anyone.
• That must have annoyed her more instead then I felt her claws extending and on my sides.
• "What a shame. Just know your place mutt." and with that, she flicked her hair and walked away followed by her minions, Ella and Diane who rolled their eyes on me.
• I discreetly checked myself for bruises or if my top was ruined. Good thing she did not grip it strong enough.
• I plastered my practiced calculated face not letting anyone see, even if deep inside I just want to burst in tears.
• If there is anything I am good at , that is probably acting. I fake it all.
• I act as if id doesn't bother me.
• But I cannot tell anyone, can I? That will only satisfy them.
• Only proving that I am just being protected by my family.. that I am worthless.
• I cannot let that happen. I will show them.
• I sigh and continue with the line to get my food and relax my nerves.
• I got myself salad and yogurt and made my way to our table. I smelled someone very familiar as I was sitting. His scent making its way on my nostrils made me smile. Totally shoving Stephanie and her minions out of my mind.
• I stopped midway to sitting and two callous hands covered my eyes.
• "You know.. you need to accept that it doesn't work on us." I commented mostly to myself and chuckled a bit.
• "Hey! You can't blame a brother for trying." Zach answered by removing his hands on my eyes and flapping his whole body on the seat.
• "I missed you, princess! He added and pinched my nose that I instantly slapped.
• I hugged him and inhaled his scent that earned a chuckle. I buried my head on his neck, not thinking of the eyes watching us.
• I do not have to worry about a thing since it is normal for all werewolves to smell and inhale scents, especially the ones so close and important to them.
• He hugged me back inhaling my scent, once content he pulled slowly and grabbed a box in his pocket.
• He retrieved a pink velvet box there and handed it to me.
• "I may have missed your birthday, but not the gift giving." He smiles at me and nods to urge me to open it.
• I see Alex and Chelsea eyeing the box with much excitement in them.
• Opening it, a necklace with an iced gem cookie pendant is neatly placed in the box.
• It is so beautiful a tear fell on my eye. I know he sensed that it was a happy tear because he stayed quiet and just smiled at my reaction.
• I hugged him again and said thank you.
• "Belated Happy Birthday, Gemma!" I froze a bit when I suddenly heard a husky voice in my head through mind-link. Voice I haven't heard for a few weeks.
• I searched and there he was in the far corner of the cafeteria, sitting with Stephanie and their other friend Brandon.
• His bluish-green eyes are looking straight at me in acknowledgement. He nods and smirks.
• "Tha--Thank you!" I tried but still came stuttering. He smirks again and goes back to whatever he was telling Stephanie. She laughed at whatever it was and snaked her arms around his.
• How I wish I was the one sitting next to him and not Stephanie who acts nice to me when they are around, but always finds a way to torture me little by little when no one is watching.