Chapter 10: Human or Wolf

*Jo's POV*

I smiled as I received Nikko's response to my good morning texts, and laid back down on my bed and covered my face. Then I sighed. If I was honest with myself, I knew that I was always going to say yes to Nikko, so now, I just had to work on the part that I was putting off…talking to my mom.

I sat back up and kicked my blankets off. It was Monday, which meant I would have to wait for my mom to get off work before I could talk to her. But I was too wired to sit still, so I decided to go for a run.

I threw on a pair of workout shorts, a sports bra, and a baggie zip up hoodie. Walking into the bathroom, I grabbed a hair tie and threw my hair up into a ponytail. Then, before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of myself and sent it to Nikko with a text.

'Here is a picture to help you with missing me- don't want you to forget what I look like.' Then I added a winky face.

My headphones were still in my room, so I went back to grab them and then I was down the stairs and out the door. I walked the first block to stretch my legs and get the right workout playlist going, and then I was off.

Running hadn't always been a passion of mine, but over the last couple of months, when I started to feel different, running or activity had been the only thing to help. Now, I ran at least a couple of miles every single day. Though, over the last week, it had been more from Nikko stress than personal stress.

Actually, now that I think about it, I had started to feel more normal since I had met Nikko, but especially since my birthday. Maybe everybody experienced that around their 18th birthday though… a lot of life-changing does happen over the course of that year.

My headphones were blaring as I rounded yet another corner on the suburban street, so I didn't hear as a car pulled up behind me and somebody yelled out my name. It wasn't until I felt a cold hand grab my arm that I realized there was someone there.

Without thinking, I spun around and kicked away from the person, yanking off my headphones. They staggered back, but as they righted themselves, I realized exactly who it was.

"Jesus Christ, Jo," Aaron said, rubbing his hand on the part of his leg my foot had made contact with.

"Sorry, you startled me," I admitted, and pointed a hand to my headphones. "I didn't hear you walk up."

"Well, I was just on my way to your house. I was hoping we could talk," he said and I clenched my jaw.

"I'm sorry, Aaron, I don't have anything left to talk to you about. I told you that at my party. I've made up my mind."

"It wasn't about us, it was about that new guy you were talking to. I don't like him, and I think he's bad news," he lowered his voice. "I've heard some things about him. I don't think he's good for you."

"He's lying," the voice inside my head said. "Get away from him."

"First of all, who said I am even with him?" I asked and, seeing him glance at his car, I looked and saw Emily's head poking out over the dash, obviously trying to hide. Shocker. "Secondly, then who do you think is good for me? You? And thirdly, and most important, how is any of that any of your d*mn business?"

I was straight fuming now, so much so that I felt my body vibrating below me. Aaron just stood there in shock, as I had never talked to him, or anybody, like that. But talking about Nikko was crossing the line. Nobody spoke badly about my mate.

"I'm just trying to help, Jo."

"No, you are trying to be the possessive boyfriend that controls everything I do with my life and makes sure that no matter what I always come back to you," I was almost yelling. "And I already told you, I don't want you! And you know what?"

I stomped over to his car and grabbed the passenger car door, ripping it open. Emily cowered down. She wasn't used to dealing with a Jo that would stand up to her.

"In case you were wondering, we are no longer friends," I screamed at her. "If I have learned anything this week, it is that you are a jealous, passive aggressive person who couldn't give two sh*ts about me! I'm done taking your crap, Emily."

Aaron walked over at this point, still staring at me in shock.

"In case I haven't made it clear already, I don't want to ever hear from either of you selfish, miserable people ever again. That means no texts, no calls, no popping up like this, nothing!" I started to turn around, but stopped. "Oh, and go f*ck yourselves."

And with that, I took off running before they could say another word. By the time I cooled off and looked around me, I had no idea where I was, and didn't recognize the houses around me. I looked down at the run-tracking app on my phone and was shocked.

It said that I had run 5 miles since I left Aaron and Emily, and in 20 minutes! That cut my best 5 mile time almost in half. How is that even possible? I guess rage is a great motivator…but I had never felt rage like that before. I felt as if I was going to pass out; my eyes had gone blurry, and all I could hear was my heart pounding.

My emotions had definitely been on high the past few months, but nothing like that. I looked back down at my phone, and retraced the path I had taken to get back home. It took me twice as long, but I made it in one sweaty piece. At least that was almost 2 hours off the 'waiting for my mom' clock.

I got to my bedroom and put my headphones away, then proceeded to the bathroom for another long soak in the tub. While it filled with water, I checked my phone again and saw that I finally had another text from Nikko.

'Are you trying to tease me or torture me? Or is that your way of getting me to send you a picture back?'

'Hey, I wouldn't say no to a picture.'

I peeled the sweaty clothes off of my body and climbed into the bath to shut the water off before I heard my phone buzz again.

'I'm not really a selfie kinda guy, so I guess you'll just have to get your cute butt up here and take my picture yourself.'

'Awww' I typed out followed by a sad face, and then I thought better and sent another text.

'What if I gave you my answer? Could I have a picture then?'

Almost immediately I received another text.

'Now, you really are teasing me…'

'Yes or no?'

'That's what you are supposed to tell me.'

I sank into the water and didn't respond. After only a couple of minutes it buzzed a couple more times.

'Ok, you win.'

Then a picture of him sitting at a desk, and it was weird that I could tell by his face already that he was nervous. But man, did he look as handsome as ever…the natural light from the windows behind him was creating highlights through his brown hair and his green eyes looked so bright. Then another message after that.

'Now, please tell me, what is your answer??'

'Was there ever really a question? I just want to be with you…so count me in! I still need to talk to my mom about me moving out though, and she doesn't get home until later, so could you possibly come pick me up tomorrow?'

Within seconds I got a reply.

'Just tell me when and where and I will be there! Thank you, Jo, you just made me the happiest I have ever been…and I can't wait to wrap my arms around you again.'

'You and me both…I will let you know the second I know for sure. And in the meantime, I'll start packing!'

I hurried and washed my hair, so that way I could get out of the tub and really start packing. Now that I had told him, it made it all the more real and I couldn't stop thinking about everything I needed to get ready.

After drying off and getting dressed in some pajama shorts and a t-shirt, I went into my closet and grabbed my huge suitcase, and my sports duffel bag. Then it was a haze of throwing clothes, make-up, toiletries, shoes, and everything else I thought would be useful into the two pieces. I made sure to grab my nicer bras and panties too…just in case.

I felt like I had been packing forever (in reality, it had only been about 20 minutes) when I heard my mom call my name from the front door. I hollered to her to let her know I was coming and glanced at the clock—she was home a couple of hours early, which was odd for her. So, I hurried down to see what was going on.

"Hey, mom, what are you doing home so early?" I asked when I finally found her in the living room.

"I received a call from one of your friends, and they sounded pretty concerned," she said looking worried.

"What? Who? And about what?"

"Mainly, she seemed to be concerned about that wolf boy that has been hanging around," she stated.

Must have been Emily, retaliating for me cutting her out of my life. Trying to ruin it one last time.

"Wait," I said slowly, in shock. "Did you just say wolf boy? Wha-How do you know what he is?"

"Oh, honey, I know a lot about his kind," she said in her sweet motherly voice. "I realized at your birthday party what he was, and when I caught you two by the patio door, I could tell that you are mates."

I spluttered out loud, but my mother put her hand up to tell me she wasn't done.

"But the thing that concerned me more, was that she said when they talked to you today, that you seemed to be in a rage, and that you took off running faster than she's ever seen anybody run in her life," my mother continued. "So, I was just hoping that you could explain that encounter to me from your point of view."

With that I recollected how my run had gone, including the interruption by Aaron and the 5 miles in 25 minutes part. I always told my mom everything, and it was obvious that she was very serious, so I didn't want to hide anything from her. When I was finished, she sat down onto the couch with a deep sigh.

"I knew this was a possibility, and I knew that you had shown some symptoms the last couple months, but I didn't want to say anything and freak you out," she admitted.

"What was a possibility, Mom? What's going on? Why do you know so much about wolves?"

"I know so much about wolves, because I was once a mate to a wolf as well…your father," she stopped to let that sink in. "You aren't human, Jo, you are a hybrid. And based on what happened today, and what has been happening for months, you got the wolf gene. You have a wolf."

I stared at my mom with my mouth wide open and my eyes enlarged. Then, from inside my head, I heard that familiar soft voice again; the one I had heard throughout my life and thought it was just me talking to myself…

"Hello, Jo. My name is Cressa, and I'm your wolf."