Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening

“Ok, I’m done.” Kitten banged on the steel bathroom door in rhythm. One short, two long then another short again to let the guys on the other side know she was about to open it. “I’m coming out.”

“About time.” Dmitri noted, leaning against the wall that portioned off the shower room from the washroom, his shower kit under one arm. Kitten’s grip tightened on her own bundle as she exited the door, eyeing him wearily. Without warning, he leaned over in one swift motion and licked her on the side of her face.

“Ew.” She cringed, dropping her thing as she stepped aside too late for him to miss her and bumped into one of the boys trying to walk past to go shower. She ignored the stare from the boy, too focused on wiping her face. “You got me again.”

“And ya still taste cleany good.” Dmitri grinned, sticking his tongue and smacking his lips.

“Dmitri, there’s no such word as cleany.” Aleksei sighed, snapping the book in his hand shut. “Did you even study for your English test?”

“El no comprehendo, Senior.” Dmitri replied with added enthusiasm as he popped out his chest proudly, making Kitten giggle.

When she noticed the annoyed look on Aleksei’s face, she dropped to the floor and began grabbing her things, smiling to herself.

“Here.”

“Huh?” She looked up and found Aleksei holding out her bottle of shampoo for her. A huge splot of it was now lying on the ground where it had landed. He seemed to notice this and place the bottle back on the ground. “Forget it.”

Dmitri had picked up her toothbrush.

“Check it out.” Dmitri thrust the object into Aleksei’s cheek. “I’ll fight ya text book knowledge.”

“You’re fighting me, you idiot.” Aleksei growled. “Stop it.”

“Nah. I’m protecting the princess.”

“Fine.” Aleksei leaned forward and grabbed Dmitri’s toiletry bag, sticking his shampoo covered hand into it and tossing the shampoo from it to Kitten.

“Nyah.” She lurched forward, dropping her things again as she caught it.

“Congrats Kitten, you have shampoo again.”

“Hey!” Dmitri protested, sitting up. “That was no fun.”

“We’re on a time limit Dimi. We don’t have time for fun.” Aleksei reminded them. “Now hand back her toothbrush.”

“Nah.” Dmitri stuck the toothbrush in his mouth like a kid. “Mwine.”

“Gimme that.” Kitten pulled it out of his mouth and wiped it on her shirt. “Idiot. Now it smells like you.”

“That makes it a second score.” Dmitri did a victory sign before jumping up and running off with his gear before Aleksei could whip him with his towel.

“Give me strength.” Aleksei shook his head before snapping his head towards Kitten. “And you shouldn’t be encouraging him.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Kitten protested. “It’s not my fault he’s a morning person.”

“He’s an every time person. Never mind morning.” Aleksei’s hand slipped over his mouth as he let out a sleepy growl. “Go on, hurry up and brush your teeth. We’re getting behind schedule.”

Kitten frowned slightly before grabbing Aleksei’s hand and licking it.

“I win.” She grinned, making a grab for her things and running off.

“KITTEN!” She heard Aleksei call after her. She didn’t respond. She pushed her way into the crowd of boys lining up for the basins reserved for Meat-Bags. She stood frozen with her face down, her wet, loose hair hiding her features. She silently prayed the scent of the other Meat-bags around her would mask her hiding place.

“Relax, his gone.”

“Thanks.” She looked up and smiled at Kiddoff.

“Why do you put up with that?” He frowned, thrusting the kit in his hands towards the shower door. “You’re a legend. All the teams want you. I heard even Wunderhein is willing to hand over big for you. I’m talking about the biggest amount ever paid for a Meat-bag. You should be honoured to be worth so much.”

“I’m fine where I am. The Alpha Pack is my team.” She shrugged, dumping her things on the basin when it was her turn to use it and began digging in her kit. “We stick together.”

“I noticed.” He glanced at the toothbrush she pulled out. She stared at it for a moment before shaking her head.

“What doesn’t kill me, right?” She smiled briefly, reaching for his toothpaste and adding it to her toothbrush before sticking it into her mouth. The strange salt taste took her by surprise but she forced herself to keep brushing, determined not to lose face in front of Kiddoff.

Up, down, sides then the back. She leaned over to spit out the foam before rinsing. Dmitri always smelt like salt. She hadn’t thought he’d taste like it too. She froze for a moment at the thought. “Hold on, did I just kiss…”

“Look pretty on your on time, princess.” A grumpy voice behind her yelled. “Some of us need to clean up.”

“Bite me.” She yelled back at the Teen that had tried to steal her space. “Go cry to your Captain. I was here first.”

“Bold.” Kiddoff coughed to hide his laughter.

“Yeah well, not my fault their flippin impatient idiots.” She slipped her toothbrush back into her bag and pulled out her hair-brush, running it in quick strokes through her hair. “Besides I have other things to worry about. I have a history test today that I better pass or else.”

“History?”

“Yeah. We covering the Royal family. Romans….Remains….Regals….Blyad Lexie will kill me if I fail this stupid test…It’s R something….”

“Romonavs?” Kiddoff suggested helpfully.

“That one. I’m so screwed. What the…?” She sighed before blinking as she caught her reflection. She peered closer towards the mirror with a slight frown as she ran her fingers lightly over a collection of bumps on her upper lip. “As if I didn’t have enough problems, when did I get pimples?”

“Maybe you should start skipping your sugar.”

“In your dreams pal.” She scoffed, turning back to Kiddoff. “You want me to be miserable like Aleksei?”

“Just a suggestion.”

Kitten opened her mouth but paused, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

“Anyway I have to go.” She turned back and dug in her kit. A frown settled on her face. “Dang, my ribbon is missing. I know I had it with me earlier.”

She took a step back to check under the basin and felt that strange feeling that something was wrong again.

She turned her head slightly and her eyes widened, spotting the guy next to her wasn’t just pressed against her in the usual morning fight for bathroom space. He was actually inches from her, his eyes closed looking like he had smelt her.

“Hey back off.” She growled, pushing him away. He landed on the floor and another Meat-Bag stepped over him to take his place at the basin. This one turned to her with a strange look on his face. It reminded her a lot of how Dmitri looked sometimes. Or the way Aleksei had looked when he had gone crazy and attacked her.

In fact, all of them looked weird, she noted.

“Not creepy at all.” She muttered about to grab her things. “I’ll catch you later Kiddoff.”

“Miss me Suka.” The familiar voice made her tense up. She forced herself to relax before spinning around.

“You again?” She hissed, spotting the ‘Cut’ amongst the Meat-Bags that were parting for him, making a line towards her. She knew the Meat-Bag rule, ‘Cuts’ should be respected. Only this one made her want to stick her finger down her throat and vomit.

No one attempted to stop Balco as he reached out to grab her. With a slight pivot, she side-stepped past him, using her smaller size to her advantage.

‘Size didn’t matter. Don’t let it scare you.’ She reminded herself of the lesson Aleksei had tried to drill into her head as she dodged between the other Meat-bags. Some remained as still as stone in their spot while others stepped aside for her to slip through. She knew it was mixed feelings between obeying the rules and protecting your own. From the smell in the air, all of them were waiting for a fight. She heard a pounding and realized it was her own heart beating in fear.

“Come back here.” Balco ordered, violently pushing a Meat-bag aside to get to her.

“Forget it.” She yelled out, almost annoyed that he had chosen to attack her in this spot again of all places. Would he seriously try to hurt her in front of so many people? She stumbled as the thought hit her. Breathing quickly, she pushed herself off the floor again. She had to get out before he grabbed her. Meat-Bags could protect their own but there was a point.

‘Cuts’ could do what they wanted.

They were the law.

She swallowed as she tried to maneuver past the limited space towards the showers. It would mean a chew out from Lexie and seeing a few guys naked but it was better than what that sweaty pig wanted.

“Arrrr.” Balco’s growl made her turn in time to spot him running straight at her.

“Blyad.” She placed herself firmly on the ground, waiting for him. When he neared her, she placed her hands on his back, grimacing how oily and sweaty his shirt felt, and vaulted over him.

“You’re mine Suka.” He bellowed as he turned around. “Mine!”

“Funny. I wanted to say the same thing about you.” She huffed. She took a step back as he began running towards her.

“Use your terrain.’ She reminded herself.

He was almost near her when she reached out for the nearest dustbin that had been under the sink.

She held it up in time for him to run into it, ramming his head deep within its steel confines. Satisfied that she was safe, she pulled out her switchblade and jabbed it into his arm. His howl was muted by the bin on his head.

“Listen to me little piggy.” She hissed. “You better stay away from me. Otherwise, I’ll have you taking orders from every guy that witnessed this fight. You get me?”

She twisted her blade for good measure.

“Do you hear me?” She repeated. “Every Meat-Bag here will be ordering you around, do you understand?”

“I hear you Suka.” Balco wigged under her knife.

“Good. Now bugger off.” She pulled out her switch and kicked him hard. The crowd parted so he ended up landing against the wall.

Trying to catch her breath, Kitten looked up to find everyone was still watching her. Slowly they lifted their hands and began clapping. She swallowed as she tried to straighten. Her legs felt shaky. Kitten ran a hand through her hair in disbelief. She had beaten a ‘Cut’. She had actually beaten a ‘Cut’!

A smile started to break onto her face until she saw her team-mates. Lexie and Dmitri were both standing in towels. Ivan was semi-dressed and Boris was missing a shoe. They all looked at her as if she were some strange animal.

The joy of the moment vanished. She turned and grabbed her Wash-kit from the basin and ran for the other exit, feeling a cool breeze hit her face once she was out. She gulped in the fresh air a few times before feeling the wet patches on her face.

“Awe come on.” She sniffed, slinking her hand into her pocket and pulling out the square material Aleksei had given her. “I can’t be crying. I’m like a hero or something. I should feel amazing. I beat that ass Balco.”

So why did she feel like the bad guy?