“Honey, we got a letter,” Mom said, clutching a red envelope in her fist for dear life.
I set my bowl of oatmeal down.
“Who from?”
“From a school, they’re requesting your presence.”
“What kind of school does that? I don’t remember writing to any schools, plus university applications are months away.”
“Yes… I know.”
“Some fishy mom. Throw it away.”
“I can’t.” Her voice cracked. “This is their fourth letter. We have to… consider.”
“Geez, who are they?”
“McGregor Academy… it’s a shifter school.”
My eyes from the red tablecloth to the kitchen window, giving me a perfect view of the oak tree in my backyard. A shifter school? I lost all feeling in my fingers and my cheeks heated. They shouldn’t be after me.
“Honey I think you should…” My mom Anya trailed.
What was she thinking? I couldn’t go there.
“Mom, I can’t shift.” I was eighteen and still hadn’t gotten my wolf. I was pretty sure by then that she wasn’t showing up.
“You just haven’t done it yet,” Mom said, still clenching the letter.
“I’m not a wolf. I’m done with the wishful thinking.” I grabbed my bowl, wandered to the sink, and turned on the water. “I’m not like everyone else.” I could see the backyard completely and into my neighbour’s bigger yard.
I lived in Eastwood a community of shifters. Mom wasn’t a shifter and since dad vanished living in a community of wolves made her nervous.
“The school is requesting you be there by tomorrow Gabbie. They’ve been asking for you for weeks. I thought they would go away if I didn’t answer.”
“But I don’t have a wolf, what are they going to do? I didn’t know they just handed them out.”
Mom groaned, “They’re going to involve the Alpha’s council. All shifters have to go to the academy.”
“Is it because my birthday was a month ago.”
“From what I know most shifters turn before eighteen. They must think you’ve already turned.”
I settled back on the table. I knew about the mysterious shifter Academy. I couldn’t count how many people I knew left town to attend the Academy. I honestly thought a select few got to go. When I was fifteen my best friend Alex left town to attend. Well… he’s no ordinary wolf. He’s the son of the Alpha. I haven’t seen him since or heard anything about him.
I would know if he died. It would be a dark day in the pack. Would I get to see him again?
“Do I have to leave so soon?” I asked.
Mom settled on the empty chair to my right. I didn’t want to leave her here alone. Not that this was a dangerous pack. The Alpha was friends with my dad once upon a time so I’d like to think we’re protected. I don’t want her to be lonely. My dad wasn’t coming back and she was too scared to put herself out there again.
“Yes honey, there’s a bus that’ll take you straight to the school.”
“How long will I be there for?”
She pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, “You haven’t even gotten there yet and you’re thinking of leaving.”
“Being the new girl is hard mom. Not to mention the only one without a wolf.”
“They’ll help you out.” She insisted.
I bit my lip. The kids here were terrible enough. Everyone was expecting me to shift but I didn’t. I always wonder if there’s something wrong with me. I can’t even feel the connection other wolves talk about with their wolves. Mine was just quiet or hollow. Dead.
“You’ll make lots of friends. I think you’re a pretty cool girl.”
I chuckled, “Thanks, mom. You think I’ll see Alex again?”