Was I dreaming or did Jayden just tell me that his parents permitted him to claim me? Me, a lonely Omega with no backing from a powerful pack. No money. No prospect. No pedigree.

Isn't it too good to be true?

Why would a powerful Alpha allow her son to claim a nobody? I am not saying it is impossible, I am just racking my brain to figure out how I could ever stumble upon a fairytale romance like this.

I need to point out that I am far from saying I don’t deserve a good Alpha to claim me as a partner. It is not because I am poor that all I could aspire to is to be claimed by some Beta with a famous last name and undefined prospects. That is not why I have come here to Ravenwood Academy, though to be fair it was within the realm of expectations for me.

But to be honest, I could achieve that all by myself in college. I would not have needed to require a fancy prestigious academy to boost my partnership prospects. My hope by going here was that some Alpha wouldn’t need a rich Omega or somebody that came with a powerful alliance for their packs.

In ancient times, political marriages were the only way a person of higher status was ever married. The King of France’s son was married to the Queen of Scots. The Spanish daughter of the Queen was promised to the future King of England. They were married until he left her for another suitor because she never provided him with a male heir to the throne. It was a whole scandal at a time when there was no divorce possible.

My point is, it would be predictable that Jayden’s parents were expecting him to claim someone like Seth, who holds the most recognizable last name in American werewolf society. Especially in the South.

But that is not what Jayden wants, apparently. He seemingly wants me as his partner. And that is both romantic and astonishing to me. It is frightening to realize that I could be claimed by him. It is a good scare to have, for sure. But it is scary nonetheless.

“I think he bet someone back at his pack that he would cost his mother a million dollars, just to mess with her.” Skylar was commenting to his buddies during dinner on Sunday evening, just after the assembly had finished and Headmaster Lockwood dismissed us.

Seth is possessed by rage for this comment. I am deeply uncomfortable to hear that. The only way Jayden would have to pay that amount was if he put a baby in me and does not claim me at the ceremony next year. It’s a way of protecting the Omegas from being ruined for other Alphas. Nobody is going to claim a person pregnant with another man’s baby. Most especially not an Alpha.

“I know that sounds like a chunk of change to you, Stronghold, but I would never do that to my mom.” Jayden defended himself, not far from him in the same Alpha section of the dining hall.

“Dude, you can’t convince me that your mom just let you claim that charity case Omega! There is no way!” Skylar insisted, causing his brother to get angrier by the second. Meanwhile, I am listening to this conversation mortified that they are talking about me.

“That is because my mother loves me. She doesn’t think I am just a pawn in her political game.” He shot back in a snarky tone. Skylar stood up to go after Jayden but was called out before he could take another step.

“STRONGHOLD!” Headmaster Lockwood showed up at the dining hall, looking disappointed at him.

“If you think you are above being expelled from the academy because of your last name, you have not been paying attention. No one is above the rules here at Ravenwood.” He warned him with his Alpha commanding tone. Not that he can command another Alpha, strictly speaking.

“Maybe it is time you see what breaking the rules will get you in this academy. You are to report to Mr. Kirchner after tomorrow’s lunch, young man.” He determined, looking reprehensively at Skylar. Kirchner is the Ravenwood Academy’s Head of Security.

“Yes, Headmaster.” Skylar grunted in annoyance. Alpha Lockwood is not a man to be challenged here and going against his authority won’t do the twin boy any good.

“Jayden, it’s too soon for you to be talking about claiming anyone. It’s September 2nd. Don’t delude yourself with an ambition you won’t be able to back up later. It’s best to broaden your horizons and see what else is there for you. I am sure there are plenty of people with their eyes on you, you just have to be open to notice it.” Lockwood told his grandson with a suggestive tone.

“Sure, grandfather.” The boy rolled his eyes in annoyance. After this, the headmaster went on his way and the momentarily silent hall continued with its loud whispers. Everybody was commenting on that tiff between the Alpha boys. And Lockwood’s clear message to his grandson.

“I told you Lockwood wouldn’t let his grandson claim a charity case!” Skylar boasted as he finished eating, talking to his buddies.

“For fuck’s sake, Skylar, stop talking about my roommate like that! He is not a charity case! He is a boy who had to get better grades than you in order for him to go here! You shouldn’t diminish other students just because they are not as fortunate in life as you are. For Goddess’ sake, you’re not the king of anything!” Seth snarled at his brother, rising from his desk in the Omega section.

The twin brothers stared down at each other, meanwhile Jayden applauded Seth for standing up to his bully twin.

“Why can’t you be like your brother? Who hurt you, Alpha?” Jayden asked Skylar in a condescending tone.

“You will be hurt soon if you don’t drop the condescending tone. I am only speaking the truth.” He grunted in annoyance.

“I’d love to see you try…” Jayden scoffed at the threat. The two Alphas glared daggers at each other for a while until dinner time was over.

As I was walking out of the dining hall, Jayden surprisingly caught me from behind and planted a kiss on my neck that almost had me passing out.

“Ignore my grandfather. He is not making me change my mind, no matter how many threats he makes.” He whispered in my ear from behind me. Seth, who was by my side, was shocked to see the scene, but his naughty grin at us was enough of an encouragement.

I cannot lie, I nearly wept from this move by Jayden. The way he grabbed me from behind so assuringly, but at the same time not doing anything too inappropriate, I am here for it! However, I would prefer if we were alone instead of having a large audience of curious students watching us.

“It’s fine, Jayden. I am not threatened by him. But I think we should take our time. It’s best if we take things slow.” I turned around to look at him, who stared enthusiastically at me.

“Of course. There is no rush. Then you’ll be all mine. And I am going to love taking you back to Georgia.” He spoke with such cheerful joy that it was infecting me. I didn’t think anybody would take such a liking to me so fast like this. But again, I am here for it.

I have long craved a dependable relationship. I never let myself get carried away in high school because I knew nothing I would have during those years would last. After what happened to my mom in college, I guarded my heart like a treasure. And the other body part of mine. *blush*

I fooled around whenever I could, of course. I am no angel, but other than that, I never allowed myself to hope for more. At least, not until I was in a committed relationship. Now that we don’t have mates anymore, what can be described as committed to a werewolf?

I didn’t know until now.

“How come you are already claimed and I don’t even have a date?” Seth pouted inside our dorm room sometime later. He was happy for me, but a little jealous. No one has tried to kiss him, as far as I could tell.

“That’s because your brother has been cock blocking you since you arrived.” I deadpanned, sitting on my bed for a minute. Seth widened his eyes at my statement but he knew it was true. However hurtful it can be to hear it.

“Tell me about it! I might as well leave this place unclaimed.” He spoke, profoundly hurt by this.

Like me, Seth was never allowed the chance to relax and be really intimate with a boy before. It’s the curse of the Omegas. If we try to have sex with someone, albeit protected, there is always a chance that we get pregnant. It is precisely why we refrain from risking it.

Especially a boy like him who was always destined to attend Ravenwood and be claimed by a contract partner, most likely an Alpha of a powerful pack. At least, that is the plan.

“You will be asked out, my friend. I am sure whoever he is, he is just biding his time.” I tried to encourage him, who felt disheartened. In reality, he should be coveted by the dozen. But his brother casts such a large shadow that it’s hard to come from underneath it.

We talked for a while before we made our way to the locker room for a relaxing shower. But when we entered the place, we heard some suspicious moans. Seth and I looked at each other baffled by this. We kept silent while the suspicious couple was going at it in one of the shower stalls.

I would go out and report this, but I am not a narc. I do not want to spoil anybody’s fun. We are all consenting adults here. And it certainly doesn’t sound like anyone is being forced here. Goddess forbids it.

Seth bent down to the floor and looked at the stalls from below to see which one was being used. It was funny to hear another person’s moan. It is supposedly an intimate moment, but we were forced to witness it.

‘Who do you think it is?’ Seth whispered to me in a very low tone.

At this, the couple stopped what they were doing. They must have heard Seth’s whisper and are now running the hot water as if one would take a casual shower. I was incredibly uncomfortable to have to be here for this, but I shouldn’t leave either.

Without knowing exactly what to do, Seth and I went on our way and each one entered a free stall to take a shower. I made a point to select the one in front of the busy stall to try to take a peek at anybody exiting it, though that would be difficult unless I opened the door. It’s sealed shut when closed for privacy reasons.

I did my thing while keeping my ear out for when the door would open. When it did, a boy and a girl left the place giggling at being caught. When I bent down in my stall to catch a peek from beneath, I saw Skylar about to leave the locker room with a girl I was unfamiliar with, probably a Gamma because I am sure I know all the other Omegas here at least in passing.

When Seth and I were done with our showers, he asked me if I recognized either of them. I double checked if he was sure he wanted to know who it was.

“Yes, I am sure. Please don’t tell me it was Jayden.” He said, causing me to ugly scowl.

“Why would you say that?” I spat at him, frowning at his proposition.

“Sorry, I got a little carried away. Please, tell me who it is.” He regretted, showing remorse for the callous conjecture.

“It was your brother with some Gamma from our floor.” I told him, who grimaced at hearing this information.

“Ah! Gross! I can’t believe I heard my brother’s… Ew!” He looked positively queasy at the discovery.

“It figures. He’s busy fucking anything that moves and I am here without so much as a boy to kiss.” He complained, feeling disheartened by this.

“Straight people have the best luck!” I whined. Seth laughed at my comment, then we finished getting dressed before we went back to our dorm room.

The next morning, we went to the dining hall to have breakfast a couple of minutes late. Seth and I stayed up until late talking about our weekends, and we lost track of time. The Ravenwood Academy has a strict schedule for everything, so the tardy wolf gets the scraps.

We needed to eat because today is the annual Ravenwood wolf run and we ought to be prepared for it. Being in wolf form and running consumes a truckload of calories, so breakfast today was reinforced.

We devoured whatever bacon was left, pancakes with syrup, eggs, and anything to get us good stamina for the upcoming marathon. It is a very long run because outside of this property there is nothing but green.

The castle was purposefully built separately from the nearest town exactly to afford us the privacy we need to run free as wolves. Though we say castle, it consists of mainly three very large properties.

The first tower is the place where most of the classes are administered. There are four floors with classrooms and a laboratory, anything needed to teach the ways of the werewolf world. The first floor is where we take our meals before and after classes.

The second tower is the student dormitory. The three floors of rooms we call Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Houses. All students are required to sleep here since this is a boarding school. It is only monitored by three house advisors, the floor monitors who are in charge of overseeing the students and dealing with any issues. They are the ones you report any trouble with the rooms or your fellow floor mates.

The third tower is restricted to the faculty and academy personnel. Only employees are allowed to enter there. It is where they stay during the school year. No student is permitted to enter that building and only restricted personnel have the swipe card that accesses it.

On the school patio, outside of the three buildings, there is an outdoor gym. It is where the students take combat classes, an elective here at Ravenwood for Alphas, Betas, or anyone who dares.

Unfortunately in life, not everything can be solved with diplomacy and a nice smile. Sometimes, it takes a closed fist or a threatening fully realized wolf. They train in all forms of combat, including in wolf form. All Alphas are encouraged to take this class because they can be called to defend their packs at any time from rogues or enemies.

It is the purpose of Ravenwood to do its best to prepare the pupils for real life. And they take this very seriously.

Next to the high wall that protects the entire estate, there is a small room that students use as a changing station. That is where they take their clothes off and shift into a wolf in privacy, one by one.

With more than a hundred students to shift into wolves, that is not going to be enough for today. We are going to make do and shift inside our bedrooms. There is no time to wait around for 160 werewolves to shift one by one. And that is just the students.

The Alpha boys - led by Skylar - decided to show off, so they sprinted out of their dorm rooms in their underwear. Dozens of very attractive students went to the patio where there is a large space to shift into their wolves and they didn’t seem to mind being seen in minor clothes.

They took the chance to show off their athletic figures, not that most of us minded it. This is a meat market, after all, it’s only disguised as a fancy school. They started shifting all at once, not really caring about ripping their underwear to shreds in the process. It’s all part of the show.

Of course, during the shifting into wolf form, by the time their underwear is ripped apart, they are already on all fours and not exposing "the family jewels". They are not total exhibitionists. *giggle*