"Tomorrow is Monday. You'll be going to school, right?"
I decided to forget about the talk of what had happened during the initiation. The Alpha was not angry with me, he and the Beta had only suspected according to Lucas but that was all. Nothing too extreme had happened. The initiation had worked, I was now part of the Salvatore though I was not sure if I wanted to take the name yet, but I knew as long as I was in the pack, I was a Salvatore by the reason of marriage.
"Don't remind me."
He groaned.
"You hate school?"
I said in disbelief.
"What? You don't hate school?"
He sounded incredulous.
"No. I love learning."
I became self-aware of how nerdy that sounded.
"School is brutal, I tell you."
"Well, not when it comes to learning."
"Hmm. You really do love school. How did you cope in your last school?"
"Well enough."
I did not want to bring up the ugly side especially the one where I was forced to stop so I don't 'affect' others with my abominable self.
"You do know you're not allowed to start school tomorrow, right?"
"Why?"
"You need your strength back. And the Moon Goddess help you, you will need all the strength you can get."
"I can manage."
"I see." Few seconds of silence. "I'm hungry."
He announced, then slid off the bed to the door.
"Where's your maid?"
I shrugged. "I don't know."
"I'm coming." He went out. Almost immediately, he poked his head in. "Are you hungry too?"
"Yes, I am."
"Got it."
I was alone with my thought. I wondered how I would cope in this new school. It actually made my nerves jittery. I did not like the crowd especially when they were students. Students were mean. They were selfish. Inflicted harm without stopping to think how the affected person would think. The Salvatore brothers had their lives to live so I could not expect them to even stand up for me if anyone tried to push me around. Moreover, there was no need to conclude there were going to be bullies. When Lucas had said school was brutal, he probably meant schoolwork. Maybe Stone Shadow academy was going to be different. Stone Shadow academy was not going to be anything like Moon Rock academy. And I was not a nobody here, maybe if people knew who I was, they would let me be. I did not want the whole Your Highness and royal respect stuff but I just wanted to be let alone.
"I'm back." Lucas announced. "And look, I brought other of your siblings."
"Hi"
Aaron greeted.
"Hi."
I replied.
"Hey, hot legs."
"Hey, Zach." I eyed the last brother warily. "Hey, Trenton."
He did not even looked in my direction. If he did not like me, why was he always following them to see me? Maybe Lucas had forced him again, who knew? But he had the option of turning Lucas down though.
"How are you now?"
Aaron asked coolly.
"I'm fine, I guess."
"You guess?"
He raised a brow.
"Yes. Still feeling a bit weak so, yeah."
"Alright. You'll not be in school tomorrow then."
"Lucas has told me already."
"I found your maid downstairs, can you believe it?"
Lucas turned to me.
"What's wrong with her being downstairs?"
"She's supposed to be in here, taking care of you. She knows you're not quite well."
"It's okay. She has her own life to live."
"No, she doesn't."
Lucas disagreed.
"With that attitude of yours, you'll be bullied."
Zach eyed me casually.
"Uhm, what attitude?"
"Stop sounding like a push over. A weak one."
"I don't know. It's how I am, it does not mean I'm weak."
"Yes, it does one hundred percent."
Zach insisted.
"If you say so."
"How did you feel during the initiation ceremony?"
This question was from Aaron.
"I don't know. It was quite painful, which you guys failed to mention."
I smiled to show gat I was not accusing them or angry either.
"Well, in our defense, we have never participated in the initiation."
Zach replied.
"But you've experienced it happened, so seeing has also given you experience that you can tell others about it. So they know just what to expect."
"Your wolf did not come out, why was that?"
Aaron asked. He had been staring since he came in. I wonder what he saw on my face that was always making him stare at me intently. Was he not bothered his brothers might notice it and tease him about it?
"Was she supposed to come out?"
"Through your eyes. Your eyes are supposed to change to hers. It signals she has been bonded to the family too. I mean, as a werewolf, you're nothing without your wolf."
His words stung sharp and painful. I know he had not meant it that way but still, it had hurt. It was not my fault, was it? None of it was my fault. I tried my best, I really did. It just did not happen the way I wanted it to. There was nothing I could do about it. It was the way it was, and it would probably remain that way.
"Yes, I know."
"So why didn't she come out?"
"I don't know. Maybe it was how she wanted it. I can not control her."
"To some extent you can."
"Mine is stubborn. She pretty much does what she pretty much likes."
"That's my wolf."
Lucas put in. Letting his gaze roam from me to Aaron who was asking too much questions. And I was still trying to be in their good books. The relationship was still young, any fumbling from me would jeopardize everything and they might come together to make life hell for me. Lucas liked me, it was obvious but he could still turn his back on someone he'd known for less than twenty four hours to stand with his almost two decades relationship with his brothers.
Soon, Melissa and one other girl I think was a maid walked in with two trays of food. Melissa dropped hers before me and the second maid dropped hers before Lucas. Zach tried to steal food from Lucas' plate but the latter wiped his hand away.
"Bon appetit, sissy."