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"Wolves, like many other species, differentiate their packs into alpha males and alpha females
whom the others defer to. Alphas are almost always the strongest physically, though many
times, confrontations turn out to be more a matter of willpower and personality. When an alpha
is challenged and replaced, that wolf may find himself ostracized from the group or even
attacked.”
I looked up from my daydreams and focused on Ms. Meissner.
"Most challenges are likely to occur during mating season," she continued. This, naturally,
brought snickers from the class. "In most packs, the alpha pair are the only ones who mate. If
the alpha male is an older, seasoned wolf, a younger competitor may think he has a shot.
Whether that is true works on a case-by-case basis. The young often don't realize how seriously
outclassed they are by the more experienced.”
The old-and-young-wolf thing notwithstanding, I thought the rest was pretty relevant. Certainly
in the Academy's social structure, I decided bitterly, there seemed to be a lot of alphas and
challenges.
Mia raised her hand. "What about foxes? Do they have alphas too?”
There was a collective intake of breath from the class, followed by a few nervous giggles. No
one could believe Mia had gone there.
Ms. Meissner flushed with what I suspected was anger. "We're discussing wolves today, Miss
Rinaldi.”
Mia didn't seem to mind the subtle chastising, and when the class paired off to work on an
assignment, she spent more time looking over at us and giggling. Through the bond, I could feel
Lissa growing more and more upset as images of the fox kept flashing through her mind.
"Don't worry," I told her. "I've got a way—”
"Hey, Lissa," someone interrupted.
We both looked up as Ralf Sarcozy stopped by our desks. He wore his trademark stupid grin,
and I had a feeling he'd come over here on a dare from his friends.