1

This is Nel's first time going to school after being homeschooled for 13 years.

Before this, she had been educated at home at her mother Leana's insistence and had helped out at her mother's inn and restaurant, making her a familiar figure in the town. She stood in front of the mirror, anxiously fiddling with her soft, loose, and brightly colored curls, taking frequent deep breaths. Nervously biting her lower lip, she pressed her hands onto the curly mane, hoping to find a way to make her lively hair less attention-grabbing.

However, she was not entirely unknown in the town. Her rich brown skin, lush red hair, and emerald green eyes confirmed that.

Oh, indeed, she was the outcast of Mystic Cove.

Eventually, Leana and Nel found themselves standing outside of a large school. “We’re here,” announced Leana as she stared up at the large cornerstone of Mystic Cove. As Nel’s eyes found the doors of the astoundingly intimidating school, Nel felt her mother’s stare rooted on her. “You, okay?” Nel’s mother asked.

“Sure,” Nel lied. The abrupt end to the earlier conversation left her feelings unresolved.

“Hey!” When Nel heard her best friend’s voice from behind, a swarm of relief flooded over her. She turned around to see Manari standing there with a bright smile on her face.

“You didn’t think I’d let you enter the dungeon on your first day on your own, did you?”

“I thought you’d be at school by now.” Nel and Manari embraced and then, with newfound confidence, Nel turned to her mother and embraced her. “I’ll see you later.”

“I’ll probably be at the packhouse,” Leana informed Nel.

“So, then you’ll be closing the diner early.” insinuated Nel.

She nodded, a yes. “There was a party for the Delta’s son, so needless to say, there is a mess to be cleaned at the packhouse.”

“You’re too good to be cleaning up after some laze abouts, Ms. Larken,”

“You’re too kind, Nari, love.” Leana smiled.

“I’ll come by there after school,” Nel promised, though she certainly was not happy about it.

The Mystic Cove packhouse was the last place that Nel wanted to be, especially after having to deal with them during school. Nel knew the wolves of Mystic Cove and how messy they could be, though. She wouldn’t dare leave such frustrations for her mother to handle on her own, so more often than not, she was at the packhouse helping out Leana.

“Be careful on your way there,” Nel’s mother cautioned, and kissed her daughter’s forehead. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Ms. Larken!” said Manari.

After they parted ways, Manari and Nel started toward the school, and with every step that they took, Nel’s anxiety began to creep back on her.

“Are you nervous?” Manari asked Nel.

“I hate this, Nari,” Nel hissed. “As soon as I go into that school, they’ll stare…as if they don’t see me almost every day at the restaurant, waiting on their every whim and request.”

“Well in their defense, they’ve never seen you in a schoolgirl outfit,” Nari, attempted, as she always did, to tease and make light of the situation. After she got her uneasy chuckle from Nel, she became slightly serious again. “Just ignore them,” insisted Manari. “They’re not worth the concern, so-”

“It’s not that simple, Nari,” Nel interrupted her best friend before they imposed on the school. “I don’t like people. I’m not good with people for one, and you know that I-”

“Nel,” Manari smirked. “You’ve had plenty of practice. You’ve dealt with worse at the inn and certainly in the wolf’s den from what you’ve told me. I assure you that it can get no worse than that. You go in there, be yourself, get your schedule, go to class, and do what you’re supposed to do. You’ll be fine.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Nel attempted to make light of the conversation with a dry chuckle.

“It should be…for you,” she snickered. “Despite what you think about yourself, you’ve always been good at handling people, Nel. Your insides may always be screaming but you’ve always handled yourself like a boss. I’m sure a bunch of teenagers with raging hormones will be a cakewalk for you. Just…be you, Nel. Everything will be fine, I promise.” She chuckled and opened the door. “Honestly, I think you’re psyching yourself out for no reason and part of you knows that.”

“Maybe,” Nel muttered and walked into the school. “I guess we’ll see.”

Manari walked with Nel to the guidance office. “You’ll get your class schedule from here. If you get lost, call my name and I will come,” she promised.

“Thanks, Manari,” Nel smiled gratefully. “I’ll probably be okay.” she took in her surroundings. “You think they made the place big enough?” Nel sarcastically pointed out in passing.

Manari laughed and squeezed her shoulder as the starting bell rang. “Well, that’s my cue. Hopefully, we’ll have a few classes together. I’ll try and catch you at lunch so we can look over your schedule and see.”

“Okay,”

“Remember, you got this,” she attempted to reassure Nel before heading off to her first class of the day.

After watching her walk away, Nel took a moment to get herself together, taking a deep breath before entering the guidance office. There were quite a few kids in there, most of whom she’d already met numerous times, waiting tables in the diner. Just as they would at the restaurant, all eyes were curiously on Nel. Unlike at the restaurant, however, Nel didn’t have to acknowledge them. They weren’t her business. This was the idea that she had to adopt.

Nel walked past them and toward the office desk. “Good morning,” she greeted the person at the desk nervously.

A reasonably young, brown-skinned woman with her black hair held up in a neat bun, sat at the desk looking over papers, “Morning, how can I-” she started to greet when she finally got a good look at the girl standing on the other side of the desk. “Ah, you’re…you’re Leana’s girl,” she seemed to recognize Nel.

“Yes ma’am.”

She nodded. “You’re integrating into the Academy,” the woman noted to herself more than Nel, it seemed, as she looked through a file. “You may not remember but you waited on me a few times at Cove.”

The woman looked at Nel again, giving her a chance to remember. “Ms. Cody,” Nel recalled. “You’re a regular. Medium-rare steak, side of raw cut vegetables and fry.”

She laughed and confirmed Nel’s quote of her meal with a nod of her head. “Yep, that’s me,” she chuckled and started clicking about on her computer. Shortly after, a mechanic whirring began to sound. She stood and walked around her desk, toward a machine in the distance, where a paper was. Nel hadn’t put two and two together until Ms. Cody handed Nel the warm sheet of paper.

“Neliyah Larken, these are your classes,” she said, pointing down the line of five classes. “I told your mother that I’d look out for you. I know this is all new, so if you have any problems just come to my office and let me know. I double as a guidance counselor as well,” she smiled.

“Thank you,” Nel replied appreciatively. It was reassuring that Manari wasn’t the only person that she’d be able to talk to during the school year, if she had any problems. However, Nel had already decided that she wouldn’t take complete advantage of Ms. Cody’s offer. After all, she didn’t know the woman that well just yet.

Nel couldn’t say that she necessarily knew Ms. Cody, but as customers go at Cove, she was one of the few that Nel liked waiting on. She never sat on time, trying to figure out what she wanted; Ms. Cody always ordered the same time every time. She never lingered and she always, always left a considerate tip for anyone who served her.

Knowing Ms. Cody’s regular wasn’t grounds for Nel to feel comfortable enough to confide in her simply, however. Though, the fact that her mother associated was probably a great indication of the counselor’s character. Still, Nel decided she’d wait and see for herself.

She looked down at the paper again. “Ms. Cody, my mother said that there were supposed to be eight classes?” Nel pointed at the paper. “I only see five.”

“Ah yes, well. Your transcript showed that you hardly needed any curriculum. So, what is left is what would serve best for you. To be honest, it should probably be four classes but, I think that PA Trials is a class that everyone should take.”

“PA Trials?”

“Physical Abilities. It’s like a…hyper-active version of what the humans call gym class,”

“Ah,” Physical abilities course. Leana was always reluctant to test Nel’s physical abilities, so Nel wasn’t sure how she felt about learning the extent of them. Admittedly, Nel was quite curious about what she’d learn about herself, though. She could only hope that her mom wouldn’t mind. Fortunately, Nel wouldn’t have this class until the next day, so there would be time to ask Leana about it. “Thank you, Ms. Cody,” said Nel.

“Good luck, and have a good day, miss Larken. I look forward to experiencing this year with you,” she smiled before heading back to her workspace and calling another student to her desk.

Reluctantly, Nel headed for the door in search of her first class of the day, wondering what MystHaven Academy had in store for her.

As she pushed past the guidance counselor’s office, a group overwhelmed the exit, trying to get through. They’d all but ignored the fact that Nel was trying to get through. And when she tried to get out of the way, the pushback of the clustered group refused release.

A girl looked directly Nel. It was as if Nel had offended the girl long before she’d ever met her, aggressively brushing past Nel to get through the door. A few of her friends followed a couple of guys glancing down at Nel with glimpsed attraction in their eyes before walking off as well.

The rush of bombardment was so advancing that Nel eventually lost her footing as she tried to get out of the way. She started to twist so that she could at least catch herself before hitting the ground, when a pair of hands stole her from the inevitable descent to the floor.

Her waist was harbored by strong hands and powerful arms. The force behind his snatched made Nel drop her schedule and grab the unknown guy’s chest to steady herself.

She gasped, and then with bewilderment looked up into a radiant and unexpressive gaze. “I’m…thank you!” she swallowed the anxiety garnered from what had just transpired. When he didn’t respond, Nel seemed to become far more aware of herself. Quickly, she backed away from him, and it was only then that her mind and heart stopped racing long enough to realize who he was. “Alpha!” she averted her stare and bowed.