It was early in the morning and Frankie Jefferson was getting ready. She was straightening her hair in the bathroom. She had to wake up a few hours early so she could look her very best for school. After all she is an Alpha hopeful. She and her boyfriend Julius were chosen to join the Alpha Society in ninth grade. Now they are seniors and the Annual Senior Hunting Retreat is in a month.
It opens opportunities for those who wouldn't have the leg up in achieving the American Dream. Frankie fiddled with her Alpha Society ring, according to Alpha Society rules, was facing inwardly because she hadn't completed her final trial, the Senior Hunting Retreat. Once she fulfills this, she can turn the ring outward for people to see and will be able to achieve her dreams.
She looked at herself one last time in the mirror, double checking her green romper, gold hoop earrings, and gold wedges." She rolled on more pink lip gloss on her lips before she left the bathroom.
Frankie walked into the kitchen where her Omega mother was fussing over her five year old twin sisters Macey and Lacey at the breakfast table. Frankie stared at them annoyed. When she was the twins' age she just moved to YoungBlood Kendra already lived there and cared more about her job than Frankie. Then when Frankie was thirteen her mother announced she was pregnant. Her mother never told her who the twins' father was.
She glanced at her mom in disgust. Kendra Jefferson looked every bit as uninteresting. Her red hair now has streaks of gray in it. She's a bit on the chubby side blaming it on giving birth to the twins. Frankie scoffed at the fact that the twins were born five years ago; her mom was just too lazy to work out.
Kendra also used to be in the Alpha Society but she got excommunicated for reasons Frankie doesn’t know. Her Alpha mentor Mercy won’t tell her anything. She just told Frankie “Your mom just crossed the wrong person.”
The thing about the Alpha Society is that even after someone is accepted, they still have to prove their worth in keeping their status as Alpha. Alphas are dominant, whenever someone challenges them, they will come out victorious. But it's a constant battle to keep that position the moment you are no longer presenting as an Alpha you get excommunicated and shunned and in some extreme cases like her mom banished from ever stepping foot in YoungBlood . Her mom got off easy because she works as a maid at GrandMaster Creed’s house. Frankie snapped out of her thoughts once she realized her mom had been talking to her.
“Huh, what?”
Kendra looking above Frankie’s head smiled that fake smile she gave Frankie since she found out she’s been given an opportunity to join the Alpha Society. She fiddled with a napkin in her hand before she asked. “Are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast before you go?”
Frankie, ignoring a feeling of hope forming in her chest, answered, “No, I have to meet with my mentor before school starts.” Frankie turned her back to her mother and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. In order to recompose her strong Alpha like persona Frankie said a voice full of exaggerated malice.“It's about the Hunting Retreat.” Frankie
Kendra put both hands on the table, her eyes bright. “Wonderful! What do you have planned, sweetheart? If you want, I can help yo-”
Frankie cut her off. “You are an Omega, you are a tool for the Society, the only thing you should focus on is your next command from your Alpha..”
Her mother’s hopeful look turned, pleading. “Please Frankie, I want to help, I want to start over!” Her sisters looked uncomfortable at their mother’s pathetic display.
Frankie felt her resolve slipping so she had to harden herself. She said to her mom in a cold voice.
“I want my childhood back. Guess we both aren’t getting what we want.” Frankie stared directly in her mother’s eyes before Kendra put her head down in a submissive gesture. She snorted. “I’m going to succeed in what you failed at and I know it eats you up inside.” Frankie twirled around modeling the clothes she was able to buy with the money she earned working for Alpha Mercy. She walked towards the door and left her mother with parting words. “Take a good look, I’m your what could have been.”
Frankie couldn't leave the apartment fast enough. She walked down the stairs and made it to the entrance, she was holding back her tears and the pain of her neglect by her own mother still affects her deeply still. Even though her mom is trying now, the pain of the past won’t let her forgive her. Her emotions were getting the better of her. Frankie rummaged through her purse and pulled out a purple pill bottle. She popped two pills in her mouth. And drank from her water bottle. The bitter after taste made her cringe.
Frankie shouldn’t have let her mother go through her defenses like that. She needed to take her power back somehow. She walked out of the entrance of the apartment complex. She saw that the portly white man who lived in the apartment downstairs with his family was walking to the parking lot behind the complex. She grinned and hurried to catch up with him.
“Hello Mr. Dozier, how are you?”
Melvin Dozier smiled at Frankie and avoided her eyes.
“Fine Frankie I’m running late so I have to go to work.”
He tried to walk to his beat-up Impala. Frankie quickly walked in front of him; she needed an outlet and Melvin Dozier was an Omega, Class of 2005 the same year as her mother.
“That’s pretty rude of you Melvin, I’m trying to have a conversation with you, and you are just leaving.” Melvin glanced at Frankie’s Alpha Society ring nervously. She whispered in his ear. “I can ruin your life with a single word.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on her breast. He quickly pulled his hand away from her and fell, landing on his behind. The man glanced at the camera that surveyed the front of the building.
“Please Frankie just leave me alone. I already have nothing to my name. The Alpha Society took everything from me. I just want to exist.” The man looked on with a verge of tears, his face red.
Frankie walked even closer to him. She was just about to reach him when she was grabbed firmly by the arm. She looked angrily at the person who would dare lay a hand on her. She was met with the angry gaze of her boyfriend Julius Aquino.
Julius turned his gaze towards Melvin and gave him an apologetic look. He let go of Frankie and extended his hand towards the cowering man.
“ I’m sorry Mr. Dozier.”
Melvin, who was bawling timidly, accepted Julius’s hand. Once Julius pulled him up he quickly put distance between himself and the Alpha hopefuls. He stared at the ground, his arms at his sides. Julius gave Frankie a tight look.
Frankie stared back at him, then looked indifferently at the sobbing man.
“Have a nice day,” she said without any emotion.
Melvin sniffled “Thank you.” before running towards the parking lot.
Frankie turned around and saw that Julius was already walking away. She felt a pang of fear then ran after him. She got to the front of the apartment where she saw Julius leaning on his car staring back at her with a disapproving look. Frankie felt dread, she couldn’t think of an excuse to explain what happened like the other times she harassed an Omega. She walked up to him and tried to kiss him.
“Hey babe.”
Julius moved his head, and she kissed his cheek. He got into the car and Frankie got into the passenger seat afraid that he was going to drive off without her. But Julius wouldn't do that; he was too nice for his own good at times. They drove in silence.
Once they reached the school Julius was about to get out of the car, but Frankie grabbed his arm afraid to let him go.
Julius pulled his arm away from her.“Frankie we have to talk.”
Frankie felt a surge of panic. She knew what those words meant, “Babe, I'm sorry,” she said. “My mom just pissed me off earlier.” Frankie always mentioned Kendra because Julius would empathize with her when it came to family drama.
Julius cut her off. “When are you going to stop using her as an excuse? Frankie, you are eighteen years old and you have your own mind. When are you going to start taking accountability for YOUR actions?” He closed his eyes and let out a breath. Then he got up abruptly and got out of the car leaving her behind.
The hallways of Frankie's school were empty. It didn't start for the regular students for another two hours, but Alpha hopefuls were expected to report to the building earlier to meet with their mentors.
Frankie turned into an obscure room hidden behind the library. There are many secret rooms in YoungBlood Prep School since it was the original headquarters for the founders of the Alpha Society. When the Alpha Society had more of an open presence many years ago; everyone in the town practically knew the inner workings of the Society and everyone had the opportunity at becoming Alphas.
But once the original Omegas moved away and warned away anyone who was curious about the financially successful town. It was decided for the Alpha Society to set up a barrier that surrounded the town and the woods that are now used for the Senior Hunting Retreat .
Frankie sat in the only chair that was in the small room. The wall in front of her lifted and a TV was pushed forward. The screen turned on Mercy Banks Alpha Class of 2004 and Frankie’s idol. Like Frankie, Mercy wasn’t born into money; she grew up in the trailer park that was built on the border end of YoungBlood. Almost as if they were purposely put there to not mess up the appearance of wealth the town is known for. Mercy was also born to Omega Parents. Mercy’s ability to have people follow her is what led to her being sought out by the Alpha Society. Now she was a self-made millionaire of a cosmetics company.
Frankie also wants to start her own business, maybe something in fashion but what she really wants is to be the first female GrandMaster since there hasn’t been one at all. She wants to change most of the outdated rules.
Mercy looked at her from the screen, lifting her eyebrows. That is the only way Frankie knew she was smiling because the amount of botox in her face set Mercy with a permanent pout. She wore her long black hair in a tight bun. Her bottle tan skin complimented her peach Louis Vuitton suit.
Mercy greeted her. “Frankie, darling, how are you?”
Frankie answered while not looking into her eyes and kneeled down as a sign of submission. “I’m well Alpha Banks.” It was a common practice that the younger Alphas always submit themselves to older Alphas. Frankie hates bowing to other people; they should be bowing to her. Mercy continued.
“Frankie I seem to have a lot on my mind, what is the annual Senior Hunting Retreat again?”
Frankie rolled her eyes, grateful Alpha Mercy couldn’t see her expression; she always feigned amnesia whenever she wanted to quiz her.
“The Annual Senior Hunting Retreat is the final trial Alpha hopefuls must compete with their graduating class in order to successfully join the Alpha Society.”
“What is the common misconception the people of YoungBlood have about the Alpha Society?”
Frankie smirked, “That anyone can be an Alpha. The rest of the town believes that the Senior Hunting Retreat is what determines that you are an Alpha. But realistically we are chosen in secret at the beginning of ninth grade. ”
“Is the hunt an actual hunt?” Mercy asked.
“No, the hunt is an opportunity to dominate the rest of our class who are Omegas . In order to be a successful Alpha you must have Omegas that will be forever bonded to you.”
Frankie still doesn’t know how that worked.
“What is an Omega?” the woman asked her. Frankie repeated the definition that was drilled into her since she got recruited.
“An Omega is the lowest of the low. Their only purpose is to be a tool for Alphas. They only exist to fit our needs.”
Mercy paused then asked with a calculating tone, “What is the GameMaster and why is it important to be granted that title?”
Frankie felt a satisfied shiver run down her back.
“The Title GameMaster is granted to one Alpha of a pack after that Alpha impresses the Grand Council of the Alpha Society made up of GrandMasters.”
“And what are GrandMasters?” Frankie’s knees were starting to hurt. “GrandMasters are the Alphas among Alphas and anyone can rise to GrandMaster by showing their dominance in society and in Alpha Society.”
Mercy sounded as though she was typing something. “I’m sorry for the ninth grade lesson Frankie. I wanted to know if you knew what the Alpha Society’s core values are. Plus I’ve been getting flack from the council. Apparently one of them thinks that you are only here to get a free ride.”
Frankie clutched the ground. It's not the first time someone on the council questioned her dedication to the Society. And Frankie had a feeling it’s the same person. But she knew better than to ask because Mercy would explain it away.
Mercy's tone turned stern. “I heard GrandMaster Creed’s daughter bested you at the Science Fair.”
Frankie held back a curse. Jainiah’s hoverboard won first place last week. How she got that thing to fly Frankie still doesn’t know. And her youth serum which Alpha Mercy helped her make had won second place.
“That girl is a problem.” Mercy sounded like she was talking through her teeth. “She had your number from the beginning. And the fact she’s Andre’s daughter.” she finished bitterly. “Maybe I should intervene.”
“No!” Frankie forgot herself and corrected her tone. “I mean that won’t be necessary, Alpha Mercy. Because Jainiah will be my target for the Hunting Retreat.”
Mercy said unsure “Frankie with all do respect, even after you sabotaged her social status in Middle School, she climbed her way back to the top. You stole her friends and she found new ones. You stole her boyfriend.”
Frankie growled. Mercy continued “And she still walks with her head high. What will make this time be different than any other time you tried to have her submit.”
Frankie adrenaline pumping blurted out “I've been working on a plan.”
Mercy stayed quiet for a few minutes. Frankie felt her ears beating filling the silence.
Then Mercy finally asked “What’s your plan Frankie?”
Frankie choked out “I can’t risk anyone knowing about it yet. I’ve been making arrangements in secret. I don’t want to risk losing the position of Game Master.”
“Frankie stood up and looked at me.” Mercy said in an emotionless tone.
Frankie fixed her expression so she looked confident, she can’t risk letting Mercy know she lied. She stood up quickly and looked into her mentor’s eyes.
Mercy stared at her down for two minutes. Frankie felt her mask about to break. Then Mercy relaxed her face as much as she could with the botox. “Ok Frankie I will leave it to you do not disappoint me.
Frankie bowed her head “Don’t worry Alpha Mercy.at the end of the Hunting Retreat Jainiah will bow down to us.” but what Frankie really means Jainiah will bow down to her.
Alpha Mercy sniffled “You are ready, I’m so proud. DOTTIE WIPE MY FACE MY MASCARA IS RUNNING,” she yelled offscreen at her mousy assistant. Frankie flinched at her screechy tone. “See you later Frankie Darling don’t disappoint me.”