by CY Jones
“We should go. We have school in a couple hours,” I reluctantly tell her.
“Oh goodie. I wonder what horrors the wonder twins have waiting for me,” she grumbles, sitting up.
“You’re tough, and soon they’ll get bored once they realise they’re not getting to you.”
“And you? What will you do?” She questions.
“They’re my friends, my brothers. We don’t need blood to tell us what we are to each other. I’ll always side with them,” I answer truthfully.
“Good, you’re a great friend,” she replies, and I can tell she’s being sincere.
Together we walk in silence. When I drop her off at Alpha’s house, I kiss her lightly on the cheek. I hope whatever the twins have planned is over quickly. I don’t know how long I can keep this shit up. Stripping out my clothes, I move them out the way to pick up later, and shift into my wolf, so I can get home quicker. Despite being tired, I don’t want to be late for school. I may not be able to help Aspen, but I can make sure she doesn’t go through this all alone.
10
Aspen
No one is up yet when I come inside the house which I am glad for. I don’t feel like rehashing the events of last night with mum or Tyler. It’s my fault for ignoring all the signs while I dealt with my own problems. How mum was getting closer to Tyler, him just handing over his black card, or even the car. Mum found love, and she is so fucking happy, and I wish I can be happy for her. Sure, I can now see why she did everything she did. She couldn’t have Tyler because of her low standing position within the pack, so when my father came here, she saw him as an opportunity to get away, and not see the man that she loves marry someone else. She alienated everyone around her, so she didn’t have any reason to visit, and left it so no one would ever invite her here. She suffered through a loveless bond, hoping to be able to fill the void she made when she left the man she really loved, thinking maybe love with my father will come later in time. I get it, I really do. Mum was never the selfish bitch she painted herself out to be. That’s why she was so hell bent on not staying here when she first saw Tyler at my grandparent’s. She thought he was still married. Mum has a good excuse for being the bitch she was, and maybe that’s why I’m having such a hard time with this, because she has an excuse, and I don’t.
Not caring what I wore to school today, I dress in shorts, a t-shirt, and my trusty pair of chucks. Thinking about the chair incident, I gather all my hair on top of my head, and wear it in a messy bun. Not bothering to use the front door, I scale down my balcony and the side of the house using the transitions in the logs as notches, and run to my car. I have time to spare, so I take my sweet time to get to school, stopping by the nearest Starbucks for the biggest cup of coffee they have. I need a caffeine fix if I’m going to make it in school today. When I pull into the parking lot, I’m still early, so I stay in the car and drink my coffee and people watch. I'm almost jealous when I witness a group of friends run and greet each other. That is something I never had. Besides April, no one really talked to me unless I ordered them to, or they wanted something from me. The girls in my old pack hung out with me because I was rich, and could pay for everything, and the guys just saw me as a stepping stone to their own ambitions. The twins painted me out to be this horrid person, and yes I admit I was, but so was everyone else. They were the only good ones, and maybe that’s what drove me to taunt them so much. I should have been their friend, and maybe I would have someone by my side who’s loyal, like with what Mekka has with them.
When I walk in class, I don’t even look at them when I set my bag down. Pulling out my sketch pad, I start another drawing. This one is of Mekka’s back as he watches the moonlight shine off the lake. I’ve never seen his wolf before, but I draw in a huge black wolf sitting beside him. I’m so absorb in my drawing that I’m surprised when the bell rings signaling the end of class. Gathering my stuff, I sling my bag over my shoulder. So far the idiot twins haven’t tried anything, but that changes as soon as we all get out in the hall.
“Word on the street is that you have a particular skill set with that mouth of yours. Are you ready to beg yet, princess?” Ethan taunts, as a crowd starts to gather around us.
“I’m sure your source,” I say, making quotation marks, “is as full of shit as you are,” I reply back.
“I think they’re quite reliable. You look like the type that’s born to suck dick. Is that why you left your old pack? Did you get tired of being passed around, and needed new meat?” Logan says crudely, stepping beside his brother.
“Whatever, think what you want. Why should I care about the opinion of idiots?” I tell them, trying to push pass, and Ethan grabs my forearm squeezing hard enough to leave a bruise behind.
“We’re not done here, bitch,” he growls, and Logan picks up a trash bin in the hall, and dumps it over my head.
Liquids from gods knows what drips on me mixed with sticky, smelly trash, and everything else. It was one of the bins that’s kept outside. They must have purposely brought in for this reason. Swallowing back my tears, I push past them and the laughing crowd, and into the ladies room. Once I’m safely closed in, I pull all the trash off me, and wash my face and hands in the sink. Again my clothes are ruined, and I smell like crap. Sighing loudly, I head to bio hoping April can fix my situation. To my relief she’s waiting for me outside the door.
“I heard,” is all she says before muttering a familiar chant under her breath.
To my relief my clothes are clean again, and she was even able to make the smell and sticky goop in my hair disappear.
“Thank you,” I choke from emotion.
“Hey, it’s ok. Soon those assholes will get what’s coming to them, just you wait and see,” she says taking my hand as we step inside the class.
Bio was pretty fun today since we did a lab instead of lecture, and despite the start of my morning, I did feel better. By the time lunch time came around I was ready. When we were standing in line it wasn’t hard to miss the identical pissed looks on the twins’ faces when they see me clean and well. With the same plan as yesterday we head towards the doors leading outside, but again just like yesterday the twins stop us, but this time Logan pulls me on his lap.
“Where are you going in such a hurry, firecracker?” He whispers in my ear.
“Let me go,” I growl.
“And why would I do that? I have you right where I want you,” he says nuzzling his nose in my neck breathing me in. “You need to teach me about your little cleaning trick. Or is it your pretty witch friend that’s helping you?”
At his words I turn my head to April suddenly terrified for her, and scream out a warning when I see someone step behind her and grab her from behind, holding her against their chest. Where the hell are the teachers? Is everyone here going to watch while they mess with us like this?
“You look confused,” Ethan says smiling wickedly. “You see, we have our own mage, and he was nice enough to make an illusion, so it looks like we’re all just sitting around talking.”
“What are you going to do?” I say scared shitless. Logan’s grip on me tightens, and I squirm in his lap.
“I wonder, if we burn your clothes will your pretty little friend be able to restore them, or you?” Ethan taunts, and my eyes widen as he pulls a lighter out his pocket. They both have lost the plot, and this is going way past the point of simple bullying. Garbage I can handle, but fire, fuck no.
“You’re fucking insane, “ I yell, trying to break out of Logan’s grip while at the same time watching his insane brother move closer with the lighter lit in his hands.
“Beg me, and I’ll tell Logan to let you go,” Ethan says moving closer.
When I look over at Mekka, I can tell he’s truly surprised by all this. This was definitely a plan the twins did not share with him, or I’m sure he would have warned me. Once Ethan gets close enough that I can feel the heat of the flame on my skin I scream.
“Beg,” Ethan shouts, and stubbornly I refu
se, shaking my head.
April’s cries grow louder as she tries to escape to help me, but the boy holding her is too strong. Resigned to my fate, I look Ethan straight in the eyes. I did this to him. I made this sweet boy from my childhood into a monster.
“Last chance, princess.”
“No,” I growl.
Surprise flashes in his eyes, but he quickly schools his face to indifference. He was expecting me to beg for mercy, cry out that I’ll do whatever they wanted, but I’m too proud to give in to his taunts.
“You know, once upon a time, I would have done anything for you, but even now, you can’t give me what I want. Would you really rather be set on fire then beg me for forgiveness?” He questions, letting a tiny bit of vulnerability slip out.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to you, but if you want me to beg you, you’ll be better off burning me,” I tell him, and he drops the lit flame on my shirt.
Preparing for the pain, I close my eyes, and a lone tear slips past my defenses. When the pain never comes, I’m confused. When I open my eyes it’s to a furious Ethan, and a laughing crowd. It wasn’t real. The lighter must have been nothing but an illusion. A very convincing illusion, but I didn’t give in. I did not give him what he wants, and now I’ve probably made things worse.
“I’m going to do worse to you than burn you,” he threatens walking away, and Logan pushes me off his lap and onto the floor to follow after his brother. Giving me a remorseful look, Mekka follows after them, and April runs to me helping me off the floor.
“Are you ok?” She cries.
“I’m fine,” I answer, looking down at the bruise Ethan gave me earlier on my arm. This day has been just fucking dandy.
11
Logan
“What the hell was that?” Mekka asks as soon as we’re alone in the hall.
“She’s fine, don’t get your panties in a twist, sweetheart,” I mock.
“That was beyond cruel and you two know it. That’s probably why you idiots didn’t tell me what you were planning. I thought we were in this together.”
“Are we?” Ethan, questions, raising his brow.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Mekka growls.
“Ever since your little lunch date, you’ve been all anti-hate Aspen. Did you forget all the things we told you about her? All the shit she did to us?” Ethan replies, practically growling.
“Of course I haven’t. But there's a fine line between getting your revenge, and being just plain cruel. What you just did in back there was beyond fucked up.”
“She was never in any danger,” I yell, fed up with his cynicism. “We also had a dark Fae working with us to weave a glamour to make it look like the lighter and flame look and feel real for fuck sakes.”
“Is that your guy’s justification? That it wasn’t real? It looked real, it felt real to her, that’s why she screamed. Do you really want to turn into the old her? Fuck that, if anything, you two are ten times worse,” Mekka accuses, and turns away down the hall before either one of us can say anything.
“Is he right? Are we worse than she was to us?” I ask my brother.
“Don’t tell me you’re losing your balls too,” he growls annoyed.
I don’t want to admit it to him, but hearing her scream did something to me. It was like that one moment of vulnerability broke through all my hate, and I wanted nothing but to protect her. My wolf is pissed at me for allowing it to happen, and I can’t lie and say I didn’t have a hard on while she was sitting on my lap. She felt perfect there, like the missing piece to a long forgotten puzzle. A familiar pull to her that I’ve been having trouble shaking since the first day of school when I first laid eyes on her.
“Look, she said she was sorry, plus she didn’t break. Even when you threw the flame at her, she just took it,” I say, trying to reason with him.
“So? Saying sorry isn’t enough for the years of torment she put us through. For not fucking being there for us after,” he cuts off, and he doesn’t need to finish his sentence. I know what he means. “Mekka will get over it, and you need to, too.”
Sighing, I let him get his way. There's no point in arguing when he sets his mind on something, and right now it’s set on ruining Aspen Wolfhaven. I just hope my dear brother doesn’t lose our souls in the process.
“I’m going to go find Mekka,” I tell him, walking off.
12
Aspen
After the incident in the cafeteria, I decide to leave school early. I reached my quota for bravery today, and don’t think I can stomach the aftermath from being the mid-lunch sideshow. This time they brought April in this, and that was going too far. I don’t want her to end up getting hurt just because she’s my friend. Driving around I find myself back at the mall. I never gave Tyler back his black card, and he hasn’t asked for it. Walking around lost in my head, I stop in front of the window to a shop I must have missed the last time I was here. The clothes in here was just my style, cute but with enough edge to not be mistaken as a princess.
“Can I help you?” A pretty salesperson around my age asks. She’s human and probably in college.
“The clothes in here is so cute,” I tell her.
“I know. I have so much trouble not spending my whole paycheck in here,” she replies, smiling.
“If I worked here I’m sure I would have the same problem,” I chuckle.
“I’m Lanely,” she says, holding her hand out as she introduces herself.
“Aspen,” I reply.
“Well Aspen, let's find you something hot to wear. You look like you had a bad day.”
“You have no idea,” I tell her dramatically.
For the next hour, I try on so many outfits while Lanely keeps me entertained. Since most of the customers that shop here are still in school, we had uninterrupted free reign over the store. Unlike my first trip to the mall, I spent quite a lot of money, but at least now, I have enough clothes to get me by, especially now since our stay here is definitely permanent.
“Greywolf,” Lanely says reading the name on Tyler’s card. “There are a lot of people here with that last name.”
“Yeah, there are generations of us here,” I answer not really lying. It’s not like I can tell her that wolves take on the last name of their pack.
“That’s cool,” she says smiling, oblivious to my lie. “I wish my dad would pay for a shopping spree,” she says wishfully.
“Stepdad,” I correct. That’s the correct term since that is what Tyler will be once he and my mum are mated. “And like you said before, I had a bad day.”
“Want to tell me about it over lunch? “My replacement will be here in a couple of minutes.”
“Sure,” I reply, happy to have made a new friend, even if she is human.
After Lanely gets off, I follow her in my car to this Mexican restaurant, a little gem hidden near the college.
Once seated I ask, “do you go to school here?”
“Yeah, I’m working on getting my doctorate in psychology. I work at the store part-time to help pay for the things my scholarship doesn’t cover.”
“That’s cool. I’m in my last year of highschool,” I admit sheepishly.
“Nothing wrong with that. I’m just a freshman, so I just graduated highschool not too long ago.”
“Are you from here, or did you move here for college?”
“I was born and raised in California, but I’m actually from the San Diego area.”
“Is it nice? You know, being away from your parents, and basically living on your own,” I inquire.
“The freedom is awesome, but at times I do miss my mom. She’s a single parent, and has given her all to raise me and my little brother. I barely see my dad, but I do miss him at times.”
I wonder if I would feel that way if I ever had the chance to leave the pack. I never had those thoughts before, to want to live as a lone wolf out in the human world, but with how hostile everything is at school, I can’t help wanting to esca
pe.
“Hey, where did you go?” Lanely asks gently.
“Sorry, I was just admiring your life. Days like today I wish I can just break free,” I tell her honestly, shocked that I’m admitting my feelings to basically a stranger.
“Want to tell me about it?” She gently prods.
“It’s nothing. It’s just these twins at school who’s making my life a living hell. Today they took their pranks a little too far,” I find myself confiding in her.
“These twins wouldn’t happen to be guys?” She asks smiling.
“Yes,” I reply.
“Girl, you’re fucking gorgeous. I believe those two have a serious crush on you, and this is how they’re expressing their feelings.”
“Didn’t you see that movie He’s Just Not Into You? You’re not supposed to be giving me that kind of advice. Those two hate me.”
“There's a thin line between love and hate. Trust me, those two want you,” she says, sticking to her advice.
“Aren’t you grossed out that there's two of them?” I ask curious. Shifters don’t really care about that kind of thing, but humans believe in monogamous relationships.
“Two, three, five, if their hot, I don’t care how many there are. My mom always raised me to think freely. I don’t let society’s normalcy define my decisions,” she explains.
“You know, you’re really good at this. You’ll make a great psychiatrist,” I tell her feeling a whole lot better about today. I still think she’s wrong about the twins being in love with me, but the rest of her advice I can stand by, plus it’s nice to know she’s open minded and not closed off like most humans.