/// Trixie ///

I stared at Lulu as she froze inside the classroom. Many of the seats had already been taken, and the people who had found their seats were glaring at her viciously. Her sudden entrance was bound to stir up gossip within minutes.

Mitzi waved to me across the room. I walked towards her, not looking at my step-sister. It was just a school; what was there to be afraid of?

I walked up to Mitzi, who had four other people standing beside her. The girl smiled with satisfaction. "You are aware, correct?" She asked.

I replied. "I know,"

"Good," Mitzi purred. She eyed her companions. "We'll perform the ceremony on Friday night. Think you can make it?"

"I should be able to, as long as Laurel doesn't rat me out," I scoffed, looking back at her. She had finally found her seat, near the front, and easily stood out.

One of the people standing close to Mitzi, a red-haired girl, spoke up. "Is she aware?" She asked, glaring harshly at Laurel.

I shook my head. "Like I'd tell her. She can find out on her own. I don't get why Stephanie and Dad thought it was a good idea to bring her with me here. She should've kept going to Brookside,"

Mitzi nodded. "True. Why would they allow a human among wolves? Was Principal Hogan stupid or something?"

"Whatever, I don't want to hear about her," a guy spoke up. "If she gets hurt, she gets hurt. Plain and simple,"

A small, harsh sound came from Mitzi. "Hush, Easton," she growled. "You said it yourself. Don't speak of her. If Trixie wishes to speak about her, then we can. But as your Alpha I command you to be quiet, mutt,"

Easton whimpered, walking over to his seat. I gazed at Mitzi, surprised. She really wasn't holding back from letting her pack-mates know who's boss.

"Alright everyone, in your seats!" Mr. Watkins, the home room teacher, hushed his class. I settled in a seat, sitting next to Mitzi on one side, and her Beta Desiree on my other.

"Now, does everyone have their schedules?" He asked. A few students glanced at each other, as if they were uncertain. "Really?" I muttered under my breath. How could these wolves already have lost their schedules?

Mr Watkins sighed. "Raise your hands if you forgot yours. I have extras for everyone if needed,"

A few people raised their hands. The teacher grabbed a few schedules off his desk, and proceeded to pass them out.

Laurel seemed to squirm a little in her desk, watching every move Mr Watkins made. I sighed. She clearly knew something was off.

Laurel glanced at me, as if looking for reassurance. But I looked away. She needs to learn to not depend on her literal step-sister, for god's sake. Unless provoked, the wolves here would never hurt her...

Once Mr. Watkins had finished handing out the extra schedules, he walked up to the front on the classroom. "Welcome to the new school year, folks! As per usual, your lockers are assigned based on your packs. If anyone is pack less, feel free to come see me, and I'll give you an assigned locker,"

Fuck. Watkins just had to mention packs as blatantly as that.

I felt tension grow in the room as Laurel raised her hand. "Um, Mr Watkins?"

The teacher gazed at Laurel kindly. "Yes... Laurel is it? Do you have a question?"

Laurel nodded, fiddling with her thumbs. "Yeah. Um, I don't mean to sound disrespectful or ignorant or anything, but what did you mean by pack...?"

The classroom had a dangerous silence. Some packs were glancing at one another, and I could hear Easton quietly snickering behind me.

"Is she really that stupid?" Someone whispered. Mr Watkins glared at them. "That's enough," he scolded. "Laurel, I'd like to talk to you in the hall for a moment. Everyone else, stay in your seats, and I mean it,"

Laurel looked terrified. She slowly got out of her seat, and followed the home room teacher outside.

Desiree leaned over to speak to me. "You think old Watkins is gonna shred her?" She asked excitedly.

"That wouldn't be like him," Mitzi replied sourly. "He'll probably end up directing her to guidance for a history on werewolves or something,"

I blinked. "Guidance here does that?"

For the first time, Mitzi looked uncertain. "I'm not entirely sure. I haven't witnessed anything like her situation before. She most certainly will be forced into transforming, if she wishes to stay here,"

I felt a genuine pang of shock. "They wouldn't," I whispered.

The Alpha shrugged. "You never know. Besides, I thought you hated her guts,"

"I mean..." I trailed off, unsure. "I do, sometimes at least. She can be annoying. But she is my step-sister, I guess..."

I sighed. "She's just... so... ugh! She jumps at the stupidest of things sometimes. She'll never survive here,"

Mitzi looked bored at the subject. "Desiree, have you heard anything from Benjamin? He was supposed to report to me this morning,"

The red-head groaned. "No, my Alpha. He texted me and said that he's been throwing up all night. His parents were pissed cause' they thought he took drugs. Turns out it was just food poisoning and he's been grounded from seeing us,"

Mitzi growled. "Bitches, all of them are bitches," she relaxed. "Just leave it for now. I'll find a way to talk to him myself,"

I blinked. Clearly pack politics was still something I needed to learn. Oh well. I'll have plenty of time to learn before my turning this Friday.