Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella – Chapter 65

If there was one good thing to come out of the confrontation with Flicka in the greenhouse, it was what happened the next morning. But I would have no idea until a few hours after I woke up and returned to the greenhouse.

I stopped by the Joseph family’s new lodgings first, a two-bedroom suite in the Lambeth Apartments, the more upscale residence right next to the first-year dorms. It was soundly within the secure territory around campus, so I could go alone to greet Ken and welcome him at last to the new base.

Yesterday had been far too hectic for all of us, with my help being needed in the sick bay because of an influx of wounded werewolves coming in from skirmishes, and Ken because there was considerable difficulty relocating his family’s sub-pack into their rooms appropriately. But now I could say hello and catch up after far too long without contact. His temporary room was sparsely furnished with only a student’s captain-sized bed, a desk and chair, and a small table in the corner with two stools, but a reunion between friends didn’t need anything fancier.

“Ken!”

!”

ardness between us.

ds, even close friends. Without

him about Flicka and my frustration with her, although I made sure to hastily add that I had taken care of the prob

razy! Did you tell Evan yet? Wait, let me sort her out first. I can’t believe she was that stupid. She’s not nice and I don’t think she ever will be by any stretch of the definition, but she should at least have been smart enough to kno

nded?” he teased. “Bi

not. Really. I was mad before

rubbed my temple. “I’m just saying, wh

ir image and that’s it.”

I guess you probably didn’t get that chance to talk to your dad about your business plan, the one you had to revamp Scarlet’s pharmaceutical companies.”

when I have ideas… but only as long as they line up with his gain only. He shut me down as soon as I started talking about including the others. He thinks we’ll become ‘like the rest’, whatever that means. He doesn’t get that that thinking is holding us back. Packs aren’t aristocracies anymore. We have to be more inclusive, or we’ll stagnate and die off.”

hen we’re rebuilding. Maybe he’ll be more open to change then since things are already, well, disastrous.”

en us special dispensation to walk all over everyone.” He shook his head. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to rant. You’re probably uncomfortable.”

just because they’re inconvenient for him. Not that I’m saying your father is like that,” I added hastily. “I’m just saying, if there’s anyone you can talk to about not seeing eye-to-eye with your father, it’s me.”

at to say to make someone feel better. It’s uncanny. Come on, let me change the subject. Let’s check out that greenhouse, I want to visit the memorial of the spot where you gave Flicka the most traumatic smack of her life.”

en! It wasn’t that bad.”

***

we hadn’t heard from them in days. The first thing we would do when communications were restored was call them and make sure they were all right. They had to be. We had to trust that.

ne of the bench plots near the entrance. In fact, it was the same one Flicka had confronted me at yesterday. But there couldn’t be anything wrong — I’d made sure that each row was re-planted perfectly. Not even a single seedling was lost.

tal, crossbred specimens arranged carefully to see if any bore promising fruit. I knew all about it; I had been the one to help arrange them. But maybe I had overlooked something, misplaced valuable seedlings or perhaps Flicka had sabotaged them one last time while I wasn’t looking.

laimed, shouldering my way through the small crowd. “Is there something wrong with the plot!”

bout to ask someone to fetch you. Come closer!”

Ornby, what i

both? What a day, what a day indeed!”

ed professor. The man pulled his glasses back down from on top of his head and pointed at the soil — where a full row of leafy plants grew, vibrant and green with tiny red blossoms already beginnin

ight.

cause I expected such a surprise. You reported to the staff on

y, we have to try to recreate it. Five weeks’ worth of growth overnight! And their growth is accelerated even now! This is unprecedented. A miracle! I’ve never seen such a sight in all my life!”

sses nearly fell off.

oing to find out how this happened. Come with me, Claudia.