A Different Breed ▻ Legacies [1]

16

After getting his plate of lunch, Rafael stood in the lunchroom, his eyes scanning around for a place to sit. His eyes soon locked on Valerie, who sat alone, too occupied by the book in front of her to add into the conversation that was taking place amongst the people at her lunch table. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. He took a deep breath before walking over to where she sat.

Rafael set down his plate at the empty seat to Valerie's left before placing down his bag on the ground. He took a seat beside her, Valerie immediately looking up with a concerned look on her face. Valerie was silent, nervously glancing around before looking back at Rafael, "You shouldn't be here." She nervously told him, causing Rafael to give her a puzzled look.

"What do you mean? I can't sit with you?" Rafael asked her confused and Valerie shook her head.

"No, it's just..." She trailed off, "The wolves usually eat outside."

"I'd rather hang with you," Rafael replied without a care in the world, "And since you're a werewolf, shouldn't you be out there, too?"

Valerie stayed silent, shaking her head, "They don't really like half-breeds. Lizzie was just trying to mess with you when she told you they accept people like me on your first day here." She explained to them, "Plus, I refuse to do the iniation."

"What's the iniation?" Rafael asked curiously, but Valerie was quick to change the subject.

"I didn't see you at the assembly," Valerie commented and Rafael gave her a weird look, wondering why she had changed the subject.

"I didn't really feel like going to it," Rafael replied honestly, "Why didn't you ditch like Landon and go play detective at the high school?"

"I didn't really feel like it," Valerie shrugged her shoulders before deciding to be honest with him, "I'm sick of people telling me that I'm Hope's little lap dog and that I do everything that she says. So because she volunteered, I decided to do that opposite."

"For someone so smart, that was a pretty stupid decision," Rafael commented, causing Valerie to turn to look at him, "Who cares what people think about you? You and Hope are just really close to each other. Just like I am with Landon."

"I also decided to stay because of Josie," Valerie informed him, "She wanted me to help her create offensive spells for a class we're trying to get her dad to allow."

"Isn't Josie the one you talked about last night during the tour?" Rafael asked curiously, "The one you said was mad at you and Hope?"

Valerie nodded her head, "We're cool now," she replied with a smile on her face, "So are you happy to be back?"

"I'll be happy when I know that Landon can stay," Rafael admitted, "But I'm glad you're here to keep me company."

Valerie couldn't help but smile at Rafael, which he gladly returned. She suddenly felt a presence behind her, causing her to turn her head to see Jed standing behind her, a few of his little pack members along with her.

"Bounce, half-breed. Rafael and I need to have a little chat." Jed demanded and Valerie scoffed, not moving a single muscle.

"Soon as Val and I are done," Rafael stuck up for Valerie.

"Actually, newb, I'm your alpha. You're done when I say you're done." Jed argued sternly.

Valerie fixed her eyes on Rafael, who looked for her reaction to it all. Once he saw that Valerie, of all people, was nervous at that moment, he stood up, taking a bit of one of the fries in his hand. Rafael smiled at Jed in amusement, taking a daring step toward him.

Seeing that a fight between Jed and Rafael was on the verge of starting, Valerie began to stand up, "And that is my cue." She spoke up as she turned to Jed, staring at him up and down, "Before my claws meet your face like last year, I think I better get to class."

As Valerie went to get her books from the table, Rafael grabbed them for her, "I'll walk you," He gladly volunteered.

While passing Jed, Valerie purposely bumped shoulders with him, sending him a sarcastic smile before walking away with Rafael.

_________

After class, Valerie was walking throughout the hallways when she suddenly saw Jed and some of his pack members. Valerie scoffed, glancing between them, "Do you really go nowhere without your little bitches?" She asked as she began to walk away.

Suddenly, Jed roughly grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her back, "Enough's enough, Val. Time to join the pack. Your mom can't protect you forever. Just tell us your story and you're in." He ordered and Valerie rolled her eyes.

"You better let go of my wrist right now before I give a headache that will last the rest of your pathetic life," Valerie threatened and Jed looked at her amused, tightening his grip on her wrist, "Big mistake."

Valerie used her free hand to grab Jed's arm and flipped him. Jed fell onto the ground with a groan. The rest of his pack members were about to come after her, which led to Valerie lifting her arms up, causing all of them to fall to their knees, clutching their heads as they heard a piercing sound in their minds.

Valerie turned to Jed, who was now standing up. She walked closer to him, pushing him forward before kneeing him in the stomach. She pushed him onto the ground, causing him to lay on his back. Valerie pressed her foot onto his chest, making him have a difficulty breathing, "You may be able to boss all of these other wolves around, but not me. And no, the reason I haven't joined is not because of my mother. It's because I'm my own person and I don't feel like having to listen to someone boss me around twenty-four seven. Slavery ended in eighteen sixty five."

Valerie let out a breath, removing her foot from being pressed against his chest. She cleared her mind, allowing the rest of the wolves to stop hearing the sounds, "You better leave Rafael alone, too, or I'll be back to kick your ass. And next time, I won't be going so easy on you."

And with that, Valerie walked away, leaving the group of wolves to recover from what she had done to them. Jed panted for breath, standing back up, "We need her in the pack. I don't care what she said about not joining. If we get the new kid in, Val will come soon after."