Chapter 4

His dark cloths molded his body perfectly, emphasizing his lean muscles and wavey light brown hair. His arms were crossed, and though he didn’t seem to be overly muscled like some of our strongest warriors, he was far from helpless. Quite the opposite, in fact, and I could just tell that he knew how to handle himself. His strength wasn’t obvious, like our warriors. No, his was subtle, and so much more deadly. I had no doubts that he could take on, and defeat, every single person in the lunchroom.

But it was his eyes that really made my body flush. Dark brown, full of both mischief and cunning, I knew I could lose myself in them forever if given the chance. And it was then that I realized what was wrong, that there was only one reason why I was able to see into his eyes so clearly.

Because he was looking right at me.

Panicking, I broke eye contact and hide behind Misty, who was just as enthralled as I had been a moment earlier. It made me sick, realizing that we had that moment in common, but I was also grateful that she was so much taller than me. I hid like a the coward I was, just as Principal Thompson finally started speaking.

“First of all, let me be the first to officially tell you that the war with the Bloodmoon Vampires is officially over,” he said, having to pause as the room exploded in cheering and applause. True, most of the guys in the room were disappointed, but even they were thrilled by the fact that we won the war. Once the noise leveled out again, which took a while, Principal Thompson continued.

“Alpha Lord Grizzle will be making an official announcement later tonight, so pay attention when he does if you want more specifics,” he said, clearing his throat and gesturing towards the new guy. “On a more immediate note, I would like to introduce a transfer student. This is Benjamin Clover, from the Briar Kingdom across the mountains. The Alpha King over there heard that we were nearing the end of our war with the Vampires and wanted to open up talks between our territories. Benjamin here will be joining our school as a Junior, and a few more of his Pack might be joining us at a later date. I expect everyone to behave themselves, and to show Benjamin here how we do things. Misty, Chris, can I count on you to show him around.”

I didn't miss the warning he gave in there, about everyone behaving themselves. From what Alpha Lord Grizzle often complained about, I knew that he'd been trying to form an alliance of some kind with the Briar Kingdom. Our territories rarely had much to do with one another, from what little I understood, thanks to the mountain range that seperated our territores. Part of me hoped that, with Benjamin being here now, that my daily torment at school would cease. However, my mood plumeted instead, and I knew that Misty and the rest would only have to be more sublte about it.

She and her mother, Luna Lannie, were already experts when it came to subtle torrment. Making sure that my face was always left clear, and forbidding me to wear any cloths that showed any skin. Even in the dead of summer, I was still required to wear pant's of some kind, and a long sleave shirt or sweatshirt. Any hope of a reprieve was definently off the table.

“Gladly,” Misty purred under her voice before she took off with her friends in tow, shaking me from my thoughts. Chris and his buddies followed as well, though not quite as enthusiastically. I wasn’t a guy, but I’d seen them enough to know what they were probably thinking. Benjamin was a potential threat, someone who might steal away their numerous hookups and conquests. They needed to make an ally of Benjamin quick, to keep that from happening.

As for myself, I kept low, not that I really needed to try, and slipped out a side door before anyone could notice me. My heart was still beating out of my chest when I reached the nearest bathroom to begin trying to clean myself off as best I could.

Why was he looking at me?

However, before my imagination could get the better of me, logic and reality kicked right in. Obviously he walked in right as Misty poured the shake over my head, and was no doubt just as amused as everyone else. Despite telling myself that this was for the best, I couldn’t help but slump my shoulders. The new guy had only been here for less than an hour, and already he knew how pathetic I was. To save myself from further disappointment and ridicule, there was only one thing I could do.

I needed to make sure I stayed as far away from Benjamin as I could.

And that's exactly what I did.

The one class in the afternoon that I shared with Misty, and therefore Benjamin now as well, I pulled my hood up and kept my eyes on work. Mr. Davidson never called attention to me, which I was grateful for, and just went over the formation and tactics our Vanguard forces used to defeat the Vampires just a few days ago.

"We knew there was going to be an amush," he explained, tapping his tablet to change the image on the projector. "So we sent our strongest fighters forward to trigger it. Then, once the Vampires closed the trap, our reserve forces moved in. Half of them shifted into their wolves to tie down the enemy flankers, while the other half remained in human form and picked them apart with long range firepower."

That meant we had to use silver bullets, things that were in short supply these days. Silver was one of the few things that could slow down, or even kill, both Werewolves and Vampire. In human form anyway, it was either that, cutting of their heads, or stabbing them straight through the heart. A tricky thing to do since they were very fast, and had a cage of bone protecting most of their vital organ. Which meant the easiest way to kill them was in wolf form, when our superior strength could simply rip them apart.

Alpha Lord Grizzle must've really needed this victory if he was willing to use up a significant supply of our most precious resourse. But it was no concern of mine, not realy, and so I let it slip from my mind as I listened to the rest of his presentation. And by the time he dismissed class, he never once mentioned the Silver Myst.

I was the first one out the door, wanting to escape while I could. I'd made sure to sit as far away from Misty and Benjamin as I could, but even so, I thought I could feel his eyes on me several times. And sure enough, when I worked up the courage to peek at him as I slipped through the door, my nerves exploded when I once again met his eyes.

Unfortunately, Misty had noticed this too, and so I fled as fast as I could.