(With Alina, the next day)

Alina jumps out of her mom's silver Prius and starts walking towards the main entrance of school. With the field trip to Bunny Hill Lodge in less than two months, she could only be a bit nervous. She still can't believe her parents are actually letting her and Blade go, even when it says they have orders to kill the Ultima.

They have orders to kill her own brother. Irene, she refuses to let that happen. She'll protect him, she hopes.

"Maybe it's a good thing he's not here." Alina mutters.

"Who's not here?" a voice asks her.

Alina looks up and instantly smiles. "Hey Harper!" she hollers.

"Answer my question, Alina." Harper snaps.

Fine. "I haven't seen Blade since yesterday during gym." Alina whispers.

"He's missing?!" Harper shouts then sighs. "I mean...whatever, he's missing. Who cares."

Alina smirks. "My gut's telling me you care. Even though you literally just met him." she says.

Harper rolls her eyes. "And?" she questions, harshly.

"And I'm just saying! Irene, calm down." Alina quickly apologizes.

Her parents had to know something. When she got home from school yesterday, she immediately questioned her parents about why Blade left in the middle of the school day. But to her misfortune, they never told her. They just said, he'd be back in a few days tops.

"Alina! Where is he?" Harper snaps.

Good question. Where is my brother? Alina hums and continues on her way to class.

Harper groans then follows behind her slowly.

(With Blade)

Blade stares at his wrists, which support the pack marking of Bloodcrest. He got them slashed a few years ago, behind his parents' backs. Neither of them even knew he willingly did that. He's not about to tell them either.

In front of him are several werewolves, burying the elder's body in a respected grave. Nathan stands beside him. The other werewolf had managed to track Blade down, much to his displeasure.

"What are you going to do now?" Nathan asks him.

Blade shrugs his shoulders. "I guess go home. Bloodcrest is free now so I don't have to stay any longer." he replies after a minute of silence.

"Sure you freed Bloodcest, but aren't they without an Alpha?" Nathan raises an eyebrow as he speaks.

"They don't need me to lead them. They can pick their own Alpha. Someone who isn't me." Blade whispers.

A blonde haired woman then walks up to the two with Zalia, Brynci, and several other Blood wolves.

"Bloodcrest is the only pack that gets to chose their Alpha. And as members of that pack, we chose you." the blonde haired woman says and points to Blade.

Blade gaps. "Me? Alpha? I can't." he replies. "I'm messed up."

"Isn't the Ultima the top Blood wolf?" Nathan whispers quietly to Blade.

"That doesn't have anything to do with this." Blade growls back.

"What do you say? Will you be our Alpha?" Zalia asks aloud and crosses her arms as she waits for an answer.

"You'd succeed the famous Joshua Greywood." an elderly man says.

Blade looks to the ground as he thinks. Succeeding Joshua Greywood is an honor itself. But I can't bring the manhunt into this. I can't be the Alpha if I'm wanted dead!

"I can't be your Alpha." he sighs. "Not if I'm wanted dead."

"The Ultima." the elderly man who speaks earlier whispers.

Blade stares at him with a shocked expression. "How did you know?" he questions.

"The killing instinct and your exposed fangs but your eyes were the biggest giveaway." the elderly man tells him.

"Should you accept the responsibility and title of Alpha, we will always protect our Alpha." Brynci says. "That's what werewolf pack members do."

"Protecting the Alpha and Luna is our number one job! Just as the Alpha and Luna does us." Zalia smiles.

Blade looks at Nathan. "What do you think?" he asks.

Nathan shrugs his shoulders. "In the end, it's your decision. I'm here for you whatever you decide." he replies.

Blade inhales sharply then exhales. "Then I'll do it. I'll succeed Joshua." Blade grins.

"We were hoping you would." the elder says.

"It'll keep rogues off our territory now that we have an Alpha finally." Zalia cheers.

(With Alina)

Alina sets her backpack down at her feet after she pulls out her notebook, ipad, and pencil. She frowns as her chocolate eyes notice Nathan's empty desk near the front.

Blade and Nathan are both gone? Where the hell are they!?

She jumps when Destiny walks in and huffs. The white haired girl sits beside her and has an angry scowl on her face.

"What happened now?" Alina asks.

"Blade and Nathan." Destiny answers.

Alina raises an eyebrow. "What about them?" she mutters quietly.

"What about them? THEY ARE GONE! AND I'M WORRIED!" Destiny shrieks, loudly.

"Why are you worried?" Alina says.

"Oi, Destiny, shut up! This class is in session!" the teacher shouts at her.

Destiny yelps then sinks further into her seat. She pulls out a piece of paper, looking up and down between the teacher and the paper.

'Something tells me, they're together somewhere.'

Alina rolls her eyes and writes a response back.

'They aren't dating.'

Destiny turns her head at Alina then shifts her head back down.

'Gross! Blade is mine! Besides, Forest likes Nathan.'

'Blade is yours? He's my brother!'

'So?'

'So you're my best friend! You aren't allowed to crush on..oh my Irene...you like my brother?!'

Destiny responds by ripping the paper and crumbling it into a ball.

Alina scoffs. "I can't believe you." she whispers harshly to Destiny.

"Harper, you're late." the teacher mumbles as Harper strolls in with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, I got lost, again." Harper defends herself.

She goes to take her seat, beside Nathan's empty one and starts pulling out her notebook. Her blue eyes glance up at the board.

Da pack (girls only)

I hate her! - Destiny.

Hate who? - Zia.

Harper. She thinks she can steal my man, I think not! - Destiny.

What? - Zia.

Her crush is my brother. She hates the fact Harper's slowly befriending him.

Ouch. Does he know? - Zia.

NO! YOU WILL NOT TELL HIM! - Destiny.

Destiny, pipe down! I'm in class and this group chat is lighting my phone up nonstop! - Forest.

Whatever. - Destiny.

Blade needs to know. He's flirted on by almost every girl in school. - Zia.

Not every girl. The three of us don't. Plus, Harper doesn't either. - Forest.

Ew. Why would I flirt on my brother?

Say, where is Nathan? I haven't seen all day. - Forest.

He's with Blade somewhere. What's it to you? - Destiny.

Zia has kicked Destiny from the conversation.

Much better! Now we don't have a snobby brat complaining! - Zia.

"What! I got kicked!" Destiny shouts.

"Destiny! Stop shouting or it's detention!" the teacher shouts back.

"Oh just give it to me, why don't you! I'm done with this betrayal." Destiny says then stands up from her seat.

She walks out of the classroom.

"Finally. Peace." the teacher mutters.

(With Blade, two hours later)

Blade lays on his back, his eyes are looking up at the sky. In a few short minutes, he would be rising to Alpha status. It's something he never dreamed of achieving yet, here he is. He stays there for three more minutes before Zalia walks up to him.

"It's time, Alpha." she declares.