WHO IS THE JEALOUS BOYFRIEND?

I made my way to the student foyer. To my surprise, there was a party going on.

{Betas are near}

I dismissed Wolfie's radar bleeps as I tried to make sense of the hub of activity.

The cheerleaders were having their celebrations at one of the benches. There were other students making their way out of the school or sitting around the side benches waiting for their rides. I supposed this was the best place to party at the end of the day if you wanted to be seen.

I saw my gang sitting around one of the benches, sans Jasmine. Then I noticed Jasmine with the cheerleaders. Oh good, she made it.

"She made it!" I grinned when I approached the bench. I surprised myself at how glad I was for Jasmine. I guess I was rooting for her more than I thought.

Pearl sighed, she looked wistfully at the party, "They are so fake."

"Did they teach you to braid your hair at archery club?" Henry grinned, ignoring Pearl's comment. Was he avoiding the sticky prickly stuff too?

"My club senior helped me." Then I couldn't resist, "Bet you think it's cute."

Liam smiled at that.

Marcus chuckled, "Sam, 'cute' is the last word I'd use to describe you."

I laughed at that.

That's true. Cute was something used to describe Savy and girls like that.

{Betas approaches}

The guys stiffen at someone behind me, more like someones. I turned around at the approaching footsteps.

"Hey, Sam?" Oh, it was Jules.

I smiled, maybe it was Priya's influence, or just the fact I hadn't seen the guys for ages, "Hi guys!"

Once he has ascertained my identity, Jules broke out, "Man, what happened to you Sam? You disappeared for a week and reappeared as the moon goddess?"

"Yeah, what the heck!" Bra said.

"Not to mention, you are the warlock princess currently blessing our school with good weather." Matt added.

"Yeah, what the heck!" Bra said.

"We should erect a shrine for you." Jules joked.

The guys laughed, but behind me there was growling.

"Who's the jealous boyfriend?" Bra asked.

I looked at Henry, he stood up, Liam and Marcus on his side, "Maybe I should be asking that question."

Matt, Jules, and Bra squared up too.

What the heck.

"Guys, cut it out." I took a deep breath, "These are my classmates, Henry, Marcus, and Liam. And these are my, uh, trainmates, Jules, Matt, and Bra."

"Trainmates?" Henry questioned.

"Check it out, she said Jules first." Jules hit Matt with the back of his hand. Matt hit back, because guys had to be mature like that.

"Yeah, I take the train home with them a lot." I said.

"Yeah, let's go, Sam." Jules said.

{Beta approaches}

"I can't. I got a ride today. Maybe tomorrow." I said.

Harvey's black truck pulled up along the foyer. It's a cool truck. Black, gleaming, large and completely black from the tinted windows to the rims and trimmings.

"Woah." Bra said.

"Meet the real 'jealous boyfriend'." Henry smirked.

The car door opened, and Harvey stepped out with his usual confident smirk, leather jacket and jeans.

Even the cheerleaders paused their celebration to take a second look.

"Hello, Princess." Harvey's greeting was calm. He lifted a brow at my trainmates.

I quickly stepped in, "My beta, Harvey. Harvey, this is Matt, Jules, and Bra."

"Check it out, she said Matt first." Matt hit Jules with the back of his hand, but it stopped there because of course, guys being guys, they had to all size each other up.

Actually, with them standing there, all the Betas together, I suddenly realized that not all Betas were built the same.

I mean, Harvey was obviously the stronger wolf compared to Marcus, he was actually probably stronger than Henry. I've never met Henry's wolf form, but I suspect Harvey's wolf was bigger. I had always assumed that it's because Harvey was in his senior year. His wolf would be fully mature in a year. We were just freshman, just out of our first shift.

But now, compared to Matt and Jules, I realized as far as betas went, Harvey was cream of the crop. They were all seniors. They were all beta wolves. But Harvey's wolf was much stronger. He didn't even need to shift for it to be obvious.

"Woah." Bra said again.

I wondered if it were true, that the water or air in the north had a magic that made Northern wolves stronger. But that was just ridiculous. It must be because I'm being called the warlock princess all day and bombarded with all the ridiculous lies! Omo I'm definitely losing it.

But it was still too obvious to deny that while I had taken our large wolf sizes for granted, expecting Ben and Jonah's wolves to match up with their dad's ginormous ones, we were large compared to the wolves from other parts of the continent.

I gave them a few moments to finish staring down each other.

Harvey raised his hand and Matt took it in a firm handshake.

"Matthew is also the president of the student council." Jules added.

Harvey answered, "Ditto, Green Leaf Academy. Maybe our schools could do something together."

Oh, I should have known Harvey was student president. Why didn't I know that?

"Sounds cool." Matt said.

He shook hands with Jules next.

"Jules keeps me company till my station." I told Harvey.

"Thanks for taking care of our princess." Harvey said.

"No problem." Jules answered.

I bristled. I take care of myself just fine.

Then he shook hands with Bra, "I'm just a weak wolf." Bra said.

Harvey laughed and patted his shoulder.

Suddenly they were exchanging numbers and jokes like old friends just catching up with each other.

I sighed. Guys...

"Warlock princess!"

It was Priya walking over with Captain.

Bra rolled his eyes, "Priya, what the hell? Yo, Alvin."

"That's my junior, Bro. Out of bounds!" Priya pulled me aside, "Those guys are players. All of them, well except Jules... Do you know what players are, Sam?"

"Don't worry, she is with that guy." Jules said.

Priya looked at Harvey, "Wow. He's built like a fight dog."

"My sister. Don't mind her." Bra said quickly, "She's an idiot."

"Harvey, this is my club captain and vice captain." I indicated to Alvin and Priya. I leaned in and said softly, "They're cool."

"Did you hear that? She thinks I'm cool." Priya punched Bra in the arm.

"She meant Alvin." Bra said.

"You joined the archery club?" Jules asked, "I wanted to ask you to join our debate team."

Oh, so Jules was the debate captain Henry didn't get along with?

"She won't be able to sit through it." Henry scoffed.

I flared up full now, my hair rippling. Grrrr... I could too sit through a debate!

The others watched my hair with widened eyes. Harvey simply and very calmly brushed off the strands that caught on the front of his jacket.

Then he shook hands with Captain and Priya.

Priya was all starry eyed, "Are you the warlock princesses' mate?"

"I'm her beta." He answered smoothly. And then he looked at me, "Warlock princess?"

"It's a long story, but Mr Yarde was going to cut off my hair otherwise." I laughed, but Harvey growled lowly, "Who is Mr Yarde?"

"Nobody." I answered quickly. But too late, there was low growling all around.

"It doesn't matter, it would have grown back anyway." I shrugged.

"And you didn't do anything?" Jules growled at Alvin.

Captain held up his hands, "I told him she was the warlock princess."

"You told him what?" Matt asked. And then all the guys burst into laughter.

"Well, it worked." Captain indicated to my hair, "Her hair is well and alive."

More laughter at the expense of my flaring hair.

"I take it Mr Yade is the teacher-in-charge of the archery club?" Harvey asked. He was typing in his phone.

The guys nodded.

"It's just hair, Harvey." I told him.

Harvey's mouth was pressed in a straight line but he nodded without another word.

"Talking about troublesome teachers, the discipline mistress is coming over, opps, principal too." Marcus said.

"You can't park and mingle here, Harv." Henry informed him, "School security is strict."

Harv? Suddenly they were all buddies on half-name terms?

"Don't worry Harv, we got it." Jules said. He patted Matt's back and the student president stepped forward.

But Principal Laura had other ideas.

"Good afternoon, my dear students!" She beamed.

We froze in shock before all the guys quickly nodded a bow, "Good afternoon, Madam Principal."

Principal Laura's beam widened impossibly, "It's good to see the best and brightest of Winderhill together."

"Ah, Beta Harvey, I see you are travelling casually today." She smiled, "How is Alpha Kingsley?"

I carefully took a deep and even breath. I hated this, how I would be singled out as the Alpha's daughter again, and hated for it later.

"He is well, thank you Madam Principal." Harvey answered correctly, "How are you?"

Bonus points to the Beta for inquiring.

"Oh, as well as I could be. I wonder if you can get me a consultation session with your Alpha, I would be very appreciative." She asked.

"Of course, I can. I will have his beta arrange it." Harvey promised.

Principal Laura laughed happily at that, "So young and capable."

I bet it didn't hurt that he was "built like a fight dog". I crossed my arms and bristled quietly on his side.

"Oh, let me introduce you." Principal Laura continued beaming, "This is Alpha Henry, the son of the highly esteemed Alpha George of Silver Moon Pack. And here are other future betas of your generation, Beta Matthew, Beta Julian, Beta Marcus. As you can see, our school takes pride in molding the leaders of tomorrow."

And I realized that I wasn't being singled out after all. I relaxed. I never thought I'd be so pleased to be with Henry and the other betas. For once, I wasn't the only one.

"Very impressive." Harvey acknowledged, "But if you would excuse us, I have to send the princess home in time for her meeting with the elders. It would be poor form to be late."

"Oh, of course, of course. Please don't let us keep you." Principal Laura was all smiles and understanding.

Harvey smiled and inclined his head politely in departure.

"Text me." Matt grinned.

Harvey smirked and winked, "Will do."

The girls swooned visibly. The other guys didn't take offense, on the contrary, their expressions held friendly amusement. Even Henry had half a smile on display.

It had to be the Harvey effect.

I used to think Liam, or Nix, or Shannon were bad. But now I've realized the real monster was Harvey.

Maybe my beta was secretly a warlock.