The Beta's Daughter

One

Jaxson parked the car in the school parking lot, turning the car off and pulling out the keys. "Brynlee?" I shook my head as I tried to wake myself up from my quick nap. I barely got much sleep last night. All I could think about was the big presentation for my Government class that I had today. I was up until 4am trying to memorize my lines and material.

"Sorry," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. "Just tired."

"You look more than tired," my brother laughed. "You look like you just got into a fight with someone." I punched my twin brother in the arm as he laughed.

"Shut up," I glared. His laughing calmed down, but he still chuckled a little as he got out of the car. Brothers can be so annoying sometimes.

I got out too, swinging my backpack around my arm, looping the other through the other strap. I watched Jaxson take off towards the other side of the parking lot to meet up with his friends. I shrugged and headed inside the school building to find mine.

Dad said that this was the school he went to when he and Aunt Kiera were younger, right before he met Mom. Most kids here tell stories of their parents meeting when they were in college or beyond. Mine met during a simple snowstorm after a dance. My parents weren't even out of their teens before they got married and had me and Jaxson. I guess it's just a werewolf thing.

Oh, I guess it's important to know that my family and I are wolves. Werewolves to be exact. Some think werewolves are evil beings who shift during a full moon and kill anyone that's in their path until the sun comes up. It makes me cringe when I see or hear those tall tales.

I remember watching a movie a few years back about some girl falling in love with a vampire. Because that makes sense: a blood sucking creature who falls in love with a human because she smells good. The only thing I liked about that movie were the werewolves. A perfect representation of how we look and act, minus the fact we shift when vampires are near.

No known human really knows that we exist. Except my mom. She's the only human I know that knows the truth about us. After finding out her and Dad were mates, she happily agreed and joined our world. I honestly couldn't ask for a better mom. She really is the best person I've ever met. Although sometimes I feel she's a little too soft and too forgiving at times.

I found one of my close school friends, Aurelia, talking with a few of our other friends by the cafeteria doors. I adjusted my grey shirt that sat underneath my brown leather jacket as I walked up to them. Even though it was November, it was still warm enough to wear lighter clothes.

"Brynlee!" Aurelia smiled at me. "Ready for the government presentation?"

I sighed. I rubbed my eyes again. "No. I was so stressed about it I couldn't sleep. I was up until 4am going over the material."

Sam, a girl I've known since 7th Grade, laughed. "You look like it." She examines my tired face. "We have about the same skin tone. I can add some makeup to you so we can hide those circles under your eyes."

"I don't know." I hate wearing makeup. Mom tried to get me into it when I was old enough to, but it never pleased me. I hate the way it feels on my face, and you can't seem to touch anything otherwise the makeup gets everywhere and messed up. I just try to avoid wearing it at all costs until I have to.

"Come on, Brynlee!" Sam protested. "I know you hate it, but do you want to look like a slob while you're up there?" She was right. I may not like wearing makeup, but that doesn't mean I don't like to look good.

I sighed. "Fine. I'll give it a whirl." Sam cheered. "Perfect! I'll help you during lunch." She squealed. "I'm already excited."

I gave her a weak smile. "Me too," I mumbled.

The bell rang, signaling us to go to class. I waved goodbye to my friends and headed towards my first class of the day: English. Reading and writing always came natural to me, just like Mom. Mom worked as the Head Editor for the city's news company. She never really needed to go to college and get a job, being that we were wolves with lots of money anyway, but she wanted to pursue a career and provide for us, and that's what she did. I guess I inherited a gift from her.

I sat there in my seat for the first ten minutes, half listening to Mrs. Hart explain our schedule for the day. I tapped my pencil at the air, sometimes hitting the desk. When do we get to the good stuff like writing stories, not reading them?

That's when my head started to throb. I could feel the pain starting to swell from the middle of my forehead to the sides of it. Ugh. Why now? I rubbed my forehead, hoping that would help with the pain. It didn't.

I checked inside my bag to see if I had any Tylenol or Ibuprofen left. I found the ziploc with the pills, but nothing inside. I shoved the plastic bag back in.

Out of no where, I could hear someone talking. I looked around the room, searching for the voice. Not a single mouth was moving except the teacher's as she talked about last night's reading of The Great Gatsby. I knew it wasn't her. The voice sounded male.

I looked behind my shoulder slightly. Still no mouths moved. Who was talking?

The headache began to hurt more, the pain feeling like someone was slamming a hammer inside my brain. I placed my hands on my head, trying not to focus on the pain.

The voice, which was quiet and muffled at first, became more clear. "Does Josie like red or blue shirts?," the voice said. "I think red. People say that makes me look hot. But blue does bring out my eyes. That's what my ex said."

I growled quietly. Josie? As is Josie Woodlock? I've known her since elementary school. We were friends for a few years when she decided to become a snob and treat me like I was her servant or something. She may be rich, but she doesn't need to prove to everyone that she is. Any mention of her always makes my teeth grind.

I turned my head, trying to find the kid saying these things. Nothing. I heard his voice again.

"Wait, I didn't do the homework last night. Ugh. Josie is too distracting. Oh well."

Shut up! I wanted to shout. I needed to get out of here. The pain in my head felt like fire.

I quickly raised my hand. "Yes, Brynlee. Do you have something to say about your thoughts on Chapter 10?" Mrs. Hart crossed her hands in front of her.

"No. Sorry. I just wanted to know if I could go to the nurse's office and get some Tylenol."

"Oh, of course. Be quick though." I shot out of my seat as soon as she finished her sentence. The obnoxious guy still spoke, his voice ringing like a bell in my head.

"Wow! She seems desperate to get out of here. Maybe I could pull that trick and get out of here too."

I pushed open the door, flying out the classroom and into the hallway. As soon as the door closed, the voice went away. My headache still remained, but it hurt less now that the annoying voice was gone.

My breathing felt fast as I stood there, my hands on my legs.

What just happened back there? What is wrong with me? Could this part of being a werewolf, hearing voices at random times of the day?

I pushed myself up against the wall and slid down. I hate being a werewolf! All my life, I keep a secret from everyone I know about my true self. I hardly ever invite my friends over to my house because of how afraid Dad is of them knowing the truth. I couldn't explain why I could smell things before anyone else could or hear when someone was behind us before they even came close to being in earshot. How would they understand? They can't.

And now, with this incident? Could it be part of why I am what I am? Dad always explained to us how we weren't monsters. We're protectors of the humans who live our lives just like them. However, I felt more like a threat than before. I could feel the anger of all this swelling inside of me.

I growled, slamming my fist on the ground. The pain of my hand helped me focus on that instead of the pain from my head.

This is unfair. All of it is unfair. Why couldn't Mom just marry some human and make me a human as well? Life would be so much easier for me if she had!