Alora looked at Serenity, her expression frozen, Darien looked into Alora’s gaze and saw emotional turmoil. It was a couple of minutes before the storm settled, and a gentle look entered her eyes, and a small smile curled up the edges of her lips.
“You're right, I am his little sister.” Alora said, and Darien felt elated at her finally saying it aloud. “As for this being the worst day of my life, what happened was barely anything to me. To me, it was also overshadowed by something that has made me incredibly happy. My brother found his fated mate, and I couldn’t be happier it was you.”
Serenity felt overwhelmed by her emotions, and she did the only thing she could think to do to express those emotions. Alora barely kept herself from falling to the ground when serenity threw herself at Alora hugging her tight. Not used to physical contact that wasn’t meant to harm her, Alora felt an instinctual panic.
Darien watched the look that came over Alora’s face, and her struggle to compose herself. It was like she had to take a moment to realize what Serenity was doing to her. All it was a hug, but every high school student started learning psychology 101 in the ninth grade.
As an alpha, Darian would be responsible for those interested under his leadership. The health and wellbeing of fellow Pack members was essential in the growth and prosperity of the Pack. Darien and Damien being the sons of the Alpha of the Alpha’s and the Luna of Luna’s, meant their education started early.
It was a good thing Darien and Damien had been naturally intelligent and inclined to expand their knowledge. They’ve needed that intelligence to keep up with Alora all these years. Alora calmed down the longer Serenity hugged her, her expression changing to one of surprise and curiosity.
Darien watched Alora make the conscious decision to accept the contact, then she embraced Serenity back. Alora looked up and smiled at Darien, she once again thought of his mate as adorable. Alora could feel how affectionate a person Serenity was just by her embrace.
Finally, Serenity pulled back, letting Alora go, looking up to meet her gaze. “You’ll be my friend now, right?” Serenity asked.
Alora had a stunned look on her face, not expecting that question at all. When Serenity’s question was followed up with a “Me too.” From each of the twins, Alora was even more surprised.
Darien laughed and that caught Alora’s attention, she felt a little annoyed that he was laughing at her. Deciding to let Darien have his laughter, she looked down at serenity for a moment, thinking, then up and over at Kain and Galen, before looking back at Darien.
“I think…family…would be a better word.” Alora finally said, her gaze dropping to meet Serenity's again. “If Darien is my brother, that makes you my sister in-law and your brothers my brothers in-law.”
Serenity smiled widely, she couldn’t help it, she felt like she was overflowing with her happiness at the moment. “I’m so happy, I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”
Darien wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her back against his side again. “Come on everyone, let's get into the stadium, we don't want to be late.” He said with a smile.
With some mumbles of agreement, the group started off in the direction of the stadium. Alora and Darien walked side by side with Serenity in between them, tucked up against Darien’s side. With a discreet glance in Darien and Serenity’s direction. Alora could see a possessiveness in Darien’s hold of Serenity.
Serenity was submitting, but only because she liked the touch of her mate, and it gave her an excuse to cling to him. Kain and Galen walked behind and a little to each side, Kain by Alora, and Galen by Darien. As they got to one of the main entrances to the stadium, Alora’s phone went off.
Darien knew that ringtone…it was specifically set for Bettina, Just like you by Three Days Grace. His jaw tightened, Darien had to grit his teeth to keep himself from snarling ‘What does that bitch want now?’ He hadn’t liked Alora’s family ever, now he hated them, truly hated them. The things they had done to Alora were unacceptable to him.
Alora froze in place at the sound of the ring tone, an icy kind of numbness fell over Alora. A quiet fury so cold it burned, ignited within Alora. Taking her phone out of her hoodie pocket, she looked at the caller icon on her phone screen. Alora just stared at it till the call eventually went to her voicemail.
Alora decided not to answer any of the calls that would come in from her family. They could text her if they wanted to talk to her, she had no inclination to listen to their screeching and yelling. Today, despite its minor tragedy, was turning out to be a good day for her, and Alora was determined it would remain that way.
“Not going to answer them?” Darien asked, trying to keep his voice casual when Alora’s phone went off with the ringtone for Allister, In one ear by Cage the Elephant.
“Nope.” Alora said just as casually. “They can yell at me through text messages today. I’ve decided my ears are too sensitive to be abused by their voices.” Alora said the last with a shrug and a half smile on her face.
Darien laughed at Alora’s unexpected words and the way she said them. “Well, I for one agree their voices are abusive for sensitive Werewolf hearing.”
After ignoring both Bettina and Allister, Alora’s phone rang again, this time with the song ‘Do you think I’m a Whore’ by Kittie. Alora decided it was best to put it on vibrate and that’s what she did after the line ‘Remember, what you sow is what you reap.’
“You know, it’s obvious to me by those ringtones you really don’t like your family.” Kain commented. Everyone looked his way, he had an innocent look on his face. Shrugging he added, “Just sayin.”
“You know…” Galen now had everyone looking his way, “I bet they wouldn’t even realize what those ringtones signified, if they ever heard them.”
“Probably not, they're not really deep thinkers.” said Darien.
Alora giggled when Serenity gasped and gently slapped Darrien’s chest. Darien laughed. “Am I right or not?” he asked.
“No, you’re right.” Alora said, laughter in her voice, “They are kinda stupid…and illogical…definitely irrational…I wonder if chronic stupidity, is something that can be cured.” By this point everyone was laughing, and Alora was just standing there looking as innocent as could be.
They walked into the stadium, the first hallway was the underground of the stadium, it led all the way around the inner arena under the stone seating. This was where all the locker rooms, equipment storage and food stands were. Werewolves burned a lot of energy, so food was important during any event.
Today the food stalls would be in full swing with the adults and students all being in attendance today. The humans who transferred into the Pack’s school from their human ones were surprised. The way they described the public school system was like the children were in a prison.
You couldn’t do that to Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, Warlocks, or shifters. They were made from the wild energy of the world, and that couldn’t be forcefully contained without some dire consequences. Classes were only forty five minutes long with a fifteen minute break in between.
Lunch was an hour long affair, and there were two thirty minute yard times. Exercise was important if you wanted to keep the mind engaged in learning. Because Werewolves and other supernatural beings burned a lot of fuel, snacks and food were allowed in the classrooms along with drinks.
It was really disturbing to sit next to an eight foot two polar bear shifter, when their stomach was rumbling every five seconds. Apparently human public schools only allowed water in the classrooms, something about pests. The classrooms had a rotating cleaning chore list, each student had something they were responsible for, and it rotated weekly.
Homework wasn’t something that was generally assigned, mainly because when you went home, you had Pack and Clan responsibilities. Teachers knew this, because they were Pack and clan as well, so they tried to make sure they did not send students home with any unnecessary schoolwork.
While testing at the university could and was most often extensive, that was due to the subjects you were being tested about. The exams in high school didn’t take more than thirty minutes to complete for the average student. The finals would only be a little longer because it would go over everything learned for that year, but not by much.
What caught everyone's attention when they got into the building was the music pounding from the speakers, Rob Zombie’s Superbeast. While music was playing, there were supers everywhere. Mostly Werewolves, this was Pack territory after all.