Alfred

Lying in my bed at school made me sick to my stomach. I woke up about three times that day with my mind reeling home and back to school.

Dad mentioned that I was supposed to be betrothed soon - to some girl I barely even knew. It sucked how royals were stripped of their rights to actually fall in love. My wolf didn't choose Priscilla, but I think I had feelings for her. Did that matter anymore? No, it didn't. The decision had been made a long time ago by the council.

I'd fallen into a deep sleep, and was even dreaming when the sound of footsteps and suppressed excitement jacked me up into consciousness.

In my dream, I stood before the moon goddess on what appeared to be a sea shore. I had my hand stretched out to the heavens. I couldn't see her face, it was hidden by the moon, but she was reaching out too, and our fingers were just about to touch when the jackasses blew everything up.

"What a nice place you have here!" A familiar voice said with hushed amusement.

"My roommate must've...." a second voice - sorta feminine added.

My maids did, you moron, I thought rolling my eyes and sitting on my bed. If I thought the voice sounded feminine, I thought my roommate looked even more girly than his voice. What was he? A girly boy?

When we locked eyes, I felt a bone slip out of place in my chest. He had curly brown hairs, with a single, lonely strand framing his temple. His eyes were like the sea on a sunny day - a gorgeous, sea green, and he had a beautiful face. The boy looked like a girl to me, and I thought he looked cute……crap! What was this? That's enough, I thought, jumping out of the bed and rolling to my wardrobe.

"Hi, I'm your new roommate. I'd like for us to be friends." He said, following me around as I slipped a shirt on.

"Get lost!" I snarled, finding him irritating.

I didn't have the time to exchange pleasantries with the new kid. I didn't even want to, especially since he wasn't my type, and making friends with a loser on his first day said so much about him.

He paused, but that wasn't all. "Why? I'm trying to get to know you." He said, trailing me.

This time, I stopped just at the threshold of the door, and turned to gaze into his green eyes that trapped me in them for a second. Then, the moment I untangled my mind from his trap, I scowled, "I'm not interested.”

Outside, a loud outburst from the field caught my attention, and I careened towards the pitch where the jeer from the school's baboon blended with the heat of the sun.

It was a nice game, but an abuse of power - if you ask me. The taller player looked older and more sturdy than his opponent and I think the outcome was decided even before the match commenced.

"Who's next?" The guy acting as referee, or whatever he was asked, and the pitch went silent.

I scoffed, wondering who'd be stupid enough to get his ass whooped and started walking away. However, I didn't dip too far when a wild noise hit me. I rolled around and froze like a statue, G"

What's this guy thinking?

It was Alvin Malone, looking like a deflated balloon as he slipped his fingers into a pair of gloves. It didn't surprise me that he was rash, but I was hooked by him.

"Guys, looks like we have a new challenger!" The referee announced and once again, the crowd went wild with cheers.

He slipped on gloves and whispered some stuff to his opponent that got him hot on the collar. And before the whistle blared, the guy was already scratching the soil.

I sidled closer, my arms folded across my chest, and watched with keen eyes at every move and turn.

The taller guy pitched the ball with the strength of an expert, and I quickly deciphered what he was. He was an alpha too, just like me.

The crack of Alvin's bat echoed almost spontaneously as he swung at the ball with all his might sending the object spinning outfield. The other guy sprinted viciously, and with cheetah speed successfully tossed the ball back infield.

"Nice try, boy," he scowled, revealing a set of discolored teeth as he grinned. "But you're not getting out of here that easily, it's never done that way."

"Shut up,Talkative, and show me what stuff you're made of." Alvin mocked, rolling his eyes.

A cynical smirk appeared on my lips on hearing him challenge his opponent. As stupid and sentimental as I thought he appeared as a boy, he seemed quite intriguing. There was something about him that I couldn't quite place my finger on.

At least, I could tell he was a beta from his strength, but that was all. It was difficult to dig more, even with my alpha power, and that bothered me. Also, I thought Preston had lowered her standard. The academy was built only for alphas.

The ball was already in motion, and both contestants were flexing their muscles but neither was ready to lose to the other. After the innings passed and the scores still stood neck and neck, the spectators agreed that Adolph - so they called him, had found his match.

Seven innings went by already, yet the score was still a tie. The game had grown boring and I was just about to bolt when from the corner of my eyes, I saw Alvin deliver a fierce fastball like his life depended on it. Adolph swung with expert might but the other guy was a step ahead. The ball soared past like it was meant for the sky and the umpire called out, "Strike three!”

The kids must've thought they were hallucinating, because the entire pitch turned into a graveyard. The silence was deafening. But that didn't last for long. Lo-ner was the first to suddenly shake himself from the shock. He jumped up in excitement, careened into the field, and lifted his friend up like he was some hero. The rest joined in, and there, I learned a valuable lesson: champions are only respected until they're not.

"Damnit! That was a bad call!" Adolph seethed, slamming his bat to the ground.

I didn't allow the noise to die down when I walked towards the down casted Adolph on the floor, feeling like an abandoned champ stripped of his glory. I picked up his bat and snaked into the field like I owed it. Once again, silence enveloped the pitch and every face turned bleak as I stood in the center of the pitch.

I hit the ball on the ground, and looked up at Alvin. “I challenge you!” I whispered in my softest voice, and a smile perched on my face.

A challenge wrapped up in a smile: what an intriguing oxymoron.