3: The curse of being different

Anyone in Unique Academy would call Spencer a big-time bully. It so happened that after his premier shifting two years ago, he became the strongest werewolf amongst us. He knew it and made it a mission to let everyone know it as well. Being from a powerful bloodline of alphas, everyone knew someday he would become an alpha of his own. He had all the traits of an alpha alright. He had arrogance, pride and the height of his ego competed with that of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The academy frowned at bullying. But with his name and background, Spencer got away with almost every cruel thing he did at the school. Everyone feared him and no one reported him to the school for his abuse.

He was unapologetic and mean and bent almost everyone to his will, and no one stood up to him for fear of being a target of him and his crew. A majority of the students hated him, but they kept their feelings to themselves and avoided eye contact whenever he spoke to them to avoid triggering him.

“Hello, Spencer.” I grit, my eyes lifting to meet his, as usual, waiting for his reaction to my audacity.

His green eyes sparks and for a second yellow flashed in them, “You know better to look at me, weirdo.” he growl through gritted teeth. 

Yes, I am the weirdo of all my classmates at the academy. I happen not only to be the oldest amongst them all at nineteen; I am also the only one left to have her premier shifting.

Every student in their final year should have already experienced the shift, also known as a manifestation of their werewolf gene, which usually took place between the ages of sixteen to eighteen, and everyone except me has. 

The premier shifting gave the sense of belonging to every human wolf. And we had considered it a shift throughout all of history. This reminded us that although yet to take a life and trigger the werewolf curse, they weren’t humans according to folklore classes. The shifting differentiated a born wolf from humans. Unless one experienced the shift, they remained human. 

I was yet to have my premier shifting and no researches I’d carried out in the past gave reasons as it had never happened in all history. 

My mother believed it would come in its time, but I have become impatient and the school wasn’t helping either. 

“Go away, asshole, you don’t have to bully everyone just because you’re the strongest.” Ken jumped to my defence.

Spencer didn’t like that very well and his eyes flares, switching from its natural green to a blazing yellow. 

“You want to have a go at me, you rejected wolf,” he sneers with his teeth clenched.

Ken rose abruptly. “Well, I’m sick and tired of you bossing every one of us around like you’re our god. You’re no one’s alpha.”

.

Spencer launched forward and grabbed Ken’s shirt and pulling him off the lunch seat and closer to himself. He drew a fist and was about to lunch it at Ken when we heard a voice in the lunchroom.

“Everyone, gather around.” Ms Adams, our school principal, called to her, clapping her hands together.

The students rose from their seat and moved towards the corner of the food stamp where Loretta stood. Spencer, however, would not let Ken go and neither could I leave and join the rest.

There was really nothing I could do. I wasn’t even a wolf, so throwing a punch would only bring more trouble. I’d say I’m too old for this, but I could blame no one for my dormant werewolf gene. 

“Spencer! Let him go!” Mrs Adams, who somehow spotted us from where she stood, commanded and in that instant Spencer let go and dusted his hand for dramatic effect.

“We'll continue this later.” He assured, his finger pointing between me and Ken before walking away with his minions.

I placed my hand on Ken’s shoulder and stared at him, wanting to make sure he was okay. He nodded, muttering, I’m fine under his breath.

We approached the stamp and saw the principal with an impeccable smile on her ever-radiant round face. The news she was hoping to share with us in the lunchroom appeared to be a great one that even she, with all her self-composure, couldn’t mask up.  

For a moment, I forgot about the asshole called Spencer and became excited by the impending news. 

“Good morning, students.”

“Good morning, Mrs Adam’s.” We echoed back to her.

“It’s nice to know that you are all good.”

Ken coughed dramatically because some of us weren’t as others and I couldn’t have agreed more.

She carried on. “We all know that at the Unique Academy, we strive for the best. We make it a duty to go far and beyond just to make sure every student here gets the most out of their unique lives.”

“That includes everyone but Jaclyn.” A student yelled from behind and the students chuckled, making me go weak on the inside.

My hands balled into a tight fist and I pressed my lips together, making sure the tears threatening to spill didn’t.

“They are a bunch of assholes.” Ken’s voice echoed in my head. 

My head snapped up to glance at him, and I saw him staring down at me.

Yes, that was one of Ken’s ability apart from being a werewolf; he could also get into someone’s head and speak to them, especially the sad and vulnerable ones. Other times, he gets into a person’s head and just mess with their minds. Those who realise his tricks like Spencer block him out of their head and other never figure out that the other voice in their head isn’t theirs. This ability he inherited from his mother, one of the great witches in all the North Central. About six months ago, he discovered his psychic ability and since then has been working to master that ability, but he was still very sloppy at it.  

I smiled at him before returning my gaze to our principal, who still looked excited. It must really be as great news.

“As always, we find each student at the UA an opportunity to be useful in the world they will step into and that is why we always encourage you to be diligently, at your best behaviours in school and study hard. This year just like the last, we will pick ten top students from the academy to represent the school in every way.” 

India raises her hand as soon as Mrs Loretta finishes speaking, “How will the students know this will happen based on merit?”

“Thank you for raising the question, Ms Lopez, and you asked an excellent question. Some of our past partners and sponsoring the past have required some sort of merit from the students before giving them a chance, and this time it won’t be any different. However, we know everyone’s ability is different and while some of you are excellent in class, other is exceptional in practice and field. I am happy that this year’s partner is taking all of this into account while selecting the best ten amongst you. We will choose the best as always, but I can assure you we will touch every aspect of your intelligence.”

I raised my hand up, and everyone’s eyes turned to me. Their gazes weakened me from the inside out, and I would have dropped my hand if Loretta hadn’t already sighted me. “What about those yet to experience their premier manifestation of their ability? Will they also get a chance like the rest?”

Almost all the students laughed even though I didn’t see any funny side to the question I just asked.

Loretta flashed me a sympathetic look. “We already face a lot in the outside world, let’s not do it to ourselves in here.” She scolded those still chuckling.

If the students listened, the bullying would have ended a long time ago, but they didn’t and they did what they like. The strong bully, the weak and everyone laughs and enjoys.

“Being yet to experience your premier shift not does not mean you don't have the werewolf gene, Jaclyn. The moon goddess knows why she does what she does and, in time, everything will reveal itself. So that aspect of your life will not be a barrier in determining, neither will it disqualify you.” She assured, a smile coming into her face.

I can't help smiling back at her because her reply just made my day. 

As soon as I get home, I am going to tell mother about this opportunity while I hope and pray. This will surely put a smile on her face and I can already picture it.

Mother hasn’t smiled so big in so long and this will be a refreshing sight.

I felt the warm arm of Ken wraps around me and pull me closer to him and I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Any more question?” Mrs Adams asks, her eyes scanning the faces of each student inquisitively.

When we all remain silent, she clapped her hands together in glee, “so with no further ado, boys and girls, I introduce the newest partner and sponsor of this year’s Go project. Mr Dane Vixon.”

As if compelled, we all put our hands together and the lunchroom door opened and through it emerged a man in a three piece black suit. I couldn’t make out his face fast enough, but from what I could see, he appeared tall and well built. He matched towards Mrs Adams, each step taken with confidence and grace, and the entire room became awestricken with his presence. 

Something about this man, however, felt familiar, and my stomach stirred an uncomfortable way. I took my head off Ken’s shoulder to have a proper look at the man, who now stood beside Mrs Adams. At five feet four inches, I was one of the shortest final year student at UA a few head blocked my view, but I stretched my neck to find his face and the sight of him seem a brusque jolt of terror right through me. My stomach flipped, and before I knew it, I took Ken’s hand in mine for support.

He glanced down at me with his thick brow raised, and I swallowed shakily and pressed my lips together, my eyes panicking.

That’s him, I muttered, terrified of being heard, “That’s who?” Ken, who seemed lost with my sudden change of mood, asked.

“That’s the man I called a piece of shit.”