15

•••2 days passed•••

In math class, I'm borderline sleeping on my table, Elsa, who's next to me, doesn't approve. But Elsa loves math, personally, I don't understand her.

The teacher looks at me insistently and I end up straightening up reluctantly. I'm exhausted! I've seen Etienne again and I love him, I'm sure of that. However, there is now a distance between us and I do not know if it will disappear over time. When we talk to each other, there remains a certain embarrassment between us, I don't know how I can do so that there is no more.

-"Miss Koss, can you tell us what the binomial distribution is?"

I go bright red when I notice my teacher talking to me. Embarrassed, I stutter:

-"The... the law... uh... binomial... it's... it's......."

A silence settles. The teacher makes it last on purpose so that all the students turn to me. My cheeks burn and have taken on a crimson hue. The teacher sighs and explains:

-"The binomial distribution is a random experiment which has only two outcomes, one called success and of probability p, the other called failure and of probability 1 − p."

He looks at me sternly and the bell rings. I leap from the chair and stalk towards the door. Outside the room, I lean against the wall while waiting for Elsa. She arrives and glares at me before heading to the next yard. I laugh to myself but I know she's right all the same. She's disappointed in my behavior, and I just watch her blonde curls fly down her back. I follow her and we don't speak a word. Elsa likes math a lot and I know she wonders why I'm not as usual. Serious and attentive. That's why I consider Elsa a real friend, she takes care of me. She doesn't just laugh at each of my nonsense, because studying is important.

At the same time, everything that is happening at the moment disturbs me and destabilizes me. There is a war, I found my soul mate, moreover the Alpha of Europe.

In front of the door to the science room, there is an impossible hubbub, the students are talking and I feel a headache showing the tip of its nose. Fortunately, the professor arrives and silence returns.

We enter and I take out my things, Elsa settles at the other end of the room. I'm disappointed that she makes me the mouth, I prefer to discuss.

We do not linger and the court begins.

The seconds, then the minutes pass, from time to time, I look at Elsa, she ignores me and there is a sort of routine. The teacher speaks and it's deadly boring, science is not something that interests me very much, however, I listen carefully.

Suddenly, the ground shakes and a dull rumble resounds, like thunder. The teacher stops talking and looks at each of us carefully, when he realizes we haven't done anything. His eyes panic, distraught. Outside, in the city, the siren begins to sound its long complaint. The students stir when a second rumble shakes the ground, some of us get up but the teacher yells that we have to calm down. Obviously, nobody listens to him, while I, I do not move, paralyzed.

We hear noises in the hallway, footsteps. They are getting closer.

The door to the room slams loudly and students throw themselves to the ground. I get up when I see who it is.

-"You come with me! Now!", the voice is serious, it is that of an Alpha.

Etienne takes me by the arm and pulls me, I resist while his bullies order the evacuation of the room. No one moves, they look at Etienne with admiration.

Étienne yells, in his Alpha voice that has no effect on me. I don't know why, but Étienne is scaring me. My heart drums against my rib cage. Eventually I reluctantly follow him and soon I'm in a car that starts with the engine roaring. Elsa. Elsa, where is she? I panic.

-"Étienne! Stop! Elsa, we have to go get Elsa!" , I beg him, pleading.

He answers me in a tone without call.

-"Out of the question."

-"Étienne, you have to go get her, please... I haven't even made up with her, what about my parents?", I become furious when I realize that Étienne is taking me to the airport.

He does not answer me.

I grab the door handle and try to open it, but it's obviously locked. Anyway, we are driving at 150 kilometers per hour. Étienne always wears this mask of impassiveness.

I notice that several cars are following us, they are beginning to surround us. My fingers are tense on the edges of my seat.

I start to cry and Étienne speeds up. The cars are always close.

Étienne must have noticed my panic because he sheds light on my lantern.

-"These are my betas."

It does not add anything and continues to accelerate until the airport appears to us.

We slow down and park in front of the airport gates.

I get out of the car. It's the right time, I have to run away.

I turn into a wolf and before Etienne and his betas can realize what's going on, I'm already running.

Suddenly, my muzzle meets the concrete floor and I'm pinned to the ground.

-"Lou, trust me. That's all I ask of you.", her voice has regained soft and protective tones.

He lets go of me, knowing that I'm not going to run away anymore.

I get up and shake my head as if to get rid of invisible dust. My gray and white paws follow Étienne reluctantly.

He transforms back into a human and I hesitate to do the same. I will find myself naked. Luckily, the Betas end my hesitation by bringing me a large sheet while their Alpha dresses in a corner.

I whisper a vague "thank you" and take the clothes they hand me.

After getting dressed, I head for Etienne who is surrounded by his beasts.

The Alpha sees me and looks up, our eyes meet and I glare at him. His eyes ignite with anger and he decides to ignore me, concentrating on the conversation he has with his inferiors.

Minutes pass and I'm still on the sidelines, I've given up trying to run away. For some time now, we have seen military planes crossing the sky. They are our enemies. I contemplate the sky, a strange emotion invaded me at the sight of these dozens of planes, they bombard the city, my city, my little sister Jenna. I stifle a cry of rage thinking of her, my little sister whom I love so much. There are also my parents, my friends, all the people I care about.

Someone grabs my waist and I turn in the blink of an eye, ready to strike the unknown. I relax when I see that it's Etienne but I free myself from his hold.

A vexed expression appears on his face but I don't care. He didn't warn the people who matter to me, he kidnapped me.

His betas are watching us and Etienne moves away from me to head for the runway. Some betas take the direction of the cars and go back to the city. I know they take risks.

In the end, there were about fifteen of us with Étienne, his betas and me.

We walk on the runway and head towards an airplane or rather, a jet, white. A small staircase is already installed in front of the jet door. Etienne motioned for me to get in first and I obeyed after a little hesitation. I climb the ten steps and enter the jet which is the very image of luxury. The armchairs are in beige leather and are enormous, televisions are in front of each seat and a pleasant smell hangs in the air.

Curiously, there is insulation made of black curtains every two or three rows.

I walk a bit, lowering my head slightly before choosing a place that suits me. I'm disappointed that there aren't any single-seat rows, so I sit near a window where there are three seats. A tear slowly rolls down my cheek as I fasten my seat belt. Inwardly, I pray that no one will come and sit next to me even though I think Etienne will come. After all, he's my soul mate and I love him, even if I hate him.

I feel the plane move and we start to taxi, no one has come to sit next to me, that's the only positive point. Shortly after the plane takes off and I watch the ground move away from me. My heart is torn as my native land moves away from me. I break down and start crying quietly, my throat hurts, my eyes sting.

Finally, I give in and fall asleep, tired from this cursed day. Before sinking, I feel a movement on my left, then nothing.