CHAPTER TWO

"Are you looking for someone?" a girl asks.

I freeze, worried that someone is trying to make fun of me again, when I’m just trying to get some food in the cafeteria.

I turn though, and the female student in front of me doesn’t look like she’s teasing me or anything.

"Yes,” I admit. “I'm looking for the food line."

"It's over there," she says, pointing to the back of the room.

“Thank you,” I say, turning to go.

“I'm Jillian, by the way,” she calls out after me.

I’m surprised. I turn back. Is she actually trying to start a conversation with me? Or is she just going to make me look stupid like everyone else does?

"I'm Keira,” I say, deciding to take a chance.

"I know,” she says.

"You do?"

"We're in the same homeroom,” she explains. “I’ve noticed it maybe be hard for you to… find people to talk to.

“I get it though. It’s my first year here too.” She points to the table she was sitting at. "Come and sit with us."

I hessite then agree. Though I’m still wary, I follow Jillian to her table.

She introduces me to her friends. Then, I set my stuff down and go grab some food.

I’m worried that by the time I get back, they’ll have changed their mind about wanting me there. But everyone remains nice and welcoming in a way that I’m not used to anymore.

I’m just starting to relax when Heather comes over to our table with some of her friends. Her fake smile oozes trouble.

“You know there’s a huge party tonight at the club,” Heather says.

“Yes, I know,” I sigh. “You told me.”

“I forgot to tell you that I want you to come,” Heather says.

I look at her in shock.

“What!?” I ask, wondering if I’d lost my mind.

“I said I want you to come,” Heather repeated. “To make up for my being mean before.”

“Why would you want me to come?” I ask skeptically.

“I don’t,” Heather laughs along with her friends.

"Seriously?” Heather says. “Do you think I’d really invite you?"

Heather leans in close.

"Listen, if you're trying to steal my guy---" Heather says.

"I'm not,” I reply. I try not to play into her games, but that’s absurd. “I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Oh, yes, you do,” she says. “You're trying to steal my boyfriend."

"You're a liar,” I say as I roll my eyes.

Suddenly, Heather grabs me hair and yanks me from the table, shocking me into submission.

“Fight! Fight!”

A crowd gathers around.

The Luna in me awakens as I wiggle free and push back

The girls around us break out in a frenzy of excitement as Heath and I face off against each other with our fists balled up.

I swung and hit Heather's face. Heather's nose begins to bleed as she throws a punch my way and hits my cheek so hard it feels like she’s broken it.

The fight wears on though.

The others start cheering and chanting: "Hit her! Hit her! Hit her!"

I barely hear them though. I don’t see anything else as from me and Heather, fighting like wild animals.

Pent up aggression is unleashed as we pull each other’s hair and scratch at each other’s faces, all while the others cheer us on.

When someone pulls us apart, I run because the energy still drives me forward.

I’m tired of this school. I’m tired of this pack.

I run into the woods until I collapse.

*

I stand and sniff the air, searching for the scent of the giant gray wolf that’s been chasing me.

Then, I continue running through a grove of pine trees whose branches lash at my face and get caught in my fur.

I’m desperate to escape.

Until I awake.

I’m still in the woods, but I’m not being chased. There’s no one else around me. I’m just running away from my pain.

I lay back down. The cold and damp ground feels refreshing against my fur. In my wolf form, I’m wild, creature of instinct and sensation. I’m more alive than I have ever been.

I lay for a long time, thinking about nothing at all, feeling the dampness of the ground against my fur, the soft breeze that carries the smell of pines. The birds twitter somewhere nearby, and squirrels chatter as they move from tree to tree.

Then, after a while, I stand again and shake myself off. I stretch, yawn, and lick my chops. Then, I lift my nose and sniff the air.

I follow a strong and familiar scent to a spot beneath an oak tree where a deer has been lying down to chew its cud.

Suddenly, a wolf emerges out of the dark woods.

I freeze as I face off against the dark gray wolf of my nightmares, not knowing if I should run or stand my ground.

He stops a few feet away from me.

Then he put his head down and howls a mournful howl.

I’m frightened, but I stand my ground.

Then, I realize he’s not the same wolf. He’s much small than the wolf that haunts my nightmares; a yearling just like me.

He touches me with his nose, so I lick his nose in return.

He was the only one out here in the cold, just like me.

I think he’s lonely, just like me.

We nuzzle each other’s necks.

Then, suddenly, I sense danger from this rogue wolf.

In that instant we both shift back to human form.

The man grabs me from behind, both arms around me in a bear hug, and swings me as I try to break free.

I kick my legs, but he’s too strong.

“You’re mine now,” he laughs.

"Please," I beg.

Snap.

I turn and that's when I see him.

My mate.

The one who will always be there for me, always love me, and who will never leave me.

Troy runs towards us, angry but not at me.

He tackles my captor who frees me so he can fight Trop.

I fall to the ground as Troy punches the man in the face.

He punches him until the man is unable to get back up.

"Are you okay?" Troy asks.

I nodded, but I’m not okay at all.

Troy.

I’m in love with this man who I can never have, and my life will never be the same.