Chapter One

Caitlyn’s POV

“I hate her stupid face!” I snarled as I got into the car. Rage simmered in my chest as I watched my father apologize on my behalf to Lucy's parents.

“Let's go dad!”

“You zip it right now young lady!” My mum shot back loudly. The longer I watched l, the more pissed off I was. My dad shook hands with the brat’s father before returning to the car.

I could feel his disappointment as he drove in silence. What was supposed to be an amazing soccer game under the ambience of the full moon was ruined because of Lucy. She soaked my jersey in bleach and I was made to sit on the bench the whole game.

“Dad, I know ___”

“No,” He muttered with deep breaths.

“We taught you better. Anger is not an emotion to dwell in, don't you remember anything?”

“Honey,” My mum ran her fingers up his arm. I had never seen my dad that upset before.

“Lucy is going to be okay. She's going to be left with a black eye for the next couple of days but other than that, she will be fine,”

“Lucky the parents aren't pressing charges,” My dad said under his breath as he paused at the stop sign.

My stomach churned with frustration and my body felt like it was been torn apart by my pent up emotion. Their voices became muffled to me, distant as I fought every cell in my body to stop myself from saying what already hung at the tip of my tongue.

“Do you really have nothing to say?” My mother's words rang like an echo in my head.

“I have never been enough for you guys. I wish I had better parents,” the words slipped out. Suddenly, there was a brief intense silence that caused me to shift my gaze out the window.

“What did you just say?” My father retorted, his voice itching discontent.

“We have handed everything to you. Do you have any idea how inconsiderate you are? How selfish this is?”

“She stole it!” I exclaimed.

“It doesn't matter, Caitlyn. We don't let our anger speak for us,” My mum answered.

I couldn't help but notice how distracted my dad was. He kept on staring out the window, to the full moon. Anyone could spot how worried he was.

“I’m —”

I winced as a sharp pain throbbed in my head. The pain moved through my body like a fluid, spiralling around calmly. My hand instinctively held on to my head but the pain became worse by the second.

“Caitlyn?” My mum noticed how disoriented I was. She reached out but at that point, my nose was already bleeding. The sight caused her to react with fright.

“Joe!,” She called out to my dad.

The last thing I could remember was my father's frightened gaze before it all went blank.

**********

Being on the road again after two months was traumatic. My aunt had to return to my dad's hometown after the funeral and I had to go with her.

“Here we are,” she announced as we drove past the welcome sign. My father had always tried to keep his life in Aurora Town a secret, never allowing me to visit.

She drove into an estate and the further we went, the more questions I had.

“Welcome to your new home, Caitlyn,”

I watched in astonishment as a mansion slowly emerged in sight.

“Whose house is this?” I asked.

“Ours, so it's yours as well,” She drove into the parking space. I alighted the car and there was someone already waiting at the entrance,”

“Joanna,” My aunt nodded to the elderly lady who approached with a blissful smile.

“Welcome home, Mistress. How was the funeral?” She asked as she collected my bag from the trunk.

“It's still a shock to all of us,” Aunt Betty answered with a deep sigh.

“Joanna, please meet my niece and the new addition to the Fang mansion family. Caitlyn, this is Joanna, our house keeper,”

“Nice to meet you,” I muttered with a brief smile.

“Pardon me,” she smirked lightly.

“You look so much like your father. The eyes are so similar, it's almost unreal. I'm so sorry, honey,”

“Thank you,”

“Let's get you inside. I will show you around,” She dragged me along into the huge house. The house was ornamented with classy decors that had me stunned.

Joanna talked about the histories of each of the artifacts in the mansion but my focus fell on the portrait of my dad by the stairwell.

“Master Joel was one of the brightest people I know,” Joanna commented with a smile that displayed just how sad she was as well.

“I wish I could go back,” I muttered softly.

“I wish we left things on better circumstance but I was too stubborn to acknowledge their relevance in my life,”

“You just have to make it up to them,” She held my hand up the stairs. I had been there for barely two minutes and I was already lost on the directions around.

“On the other side is your room,” We passed a door that was slightly ajar and I had a strong feeling to pause. It was almost like my body stopped working. I looked through the gap and it was an old lady seated on a rocking chair.

“Who is that?” I advanced thoughtlessly. I couldn't describe the drive as curiosity, it was more of an obsession.

“That's your grandmother,” Aunt Betty answered. Her voice caught me off guard as I yelped in surprise.

“Sorry,” She chuckled lightly.

“I have a grandmother?”

“There's a lot your father kept from you and the thing about secrets is that they always find a way to surface when the time comes,” She said with a stern voice.

“She would love to meet you but she is on her meds right now,,”

“Is she sick?” I asked inquisitively.

Joanna and Betty were mute for a while, exchanging looks. It was clear that there was something else going on.

“What did your father tell you about your kin? About the Fang family,”

“Nothing, he never talked about it,” I responded.

“Thats fine,” she sighed.

“I will let Joanna show you to your room. You will find your transfer slip on the bed,”

“Transfer slip?” I reacted.

“Yes, Caitlyn. You resume Aurora High tomorrow,”

******

I had just two more years in high school and I intended to finish Aurora High without any drama. All the needed detail was in the transfer form, I didn't need a guide to find my spot.

“Excuse me,” I knocked on the door. My first class of the day, History.

“I'm the new transfer student,”

“Caitlyn Shoor?” The teacher called my name with a familiar tone.

“Aren't you a Fang? Why aren't you using your proper first name?”

Murmurs and whispers emanated from the class as they all threw a glance at me. I hesitated to respond but I quickly found my confidence.

“Shoor is my mother's family name. My father took it when they got married,”

“Wow,” he riposted as he gestured for me to take a seat.

“You are right on time, Caitlyn. Today's lesson is about the founding families of Aurora Town. What do you know about them?”

“I know there are ten founding families,” I responded swiftly.

“Not just ten families, ten protectors. The wolf guardians,” A girl chipped in behind me.

“Mr Franklin, why are we entertaining someone who is ashamed of her bloodline?”

The whole class burst into laughter but my focus didn't waver. It was too early to be tempted into anger.

“That's enough, Carolyn,” Someone snapped at her. His voice caused the entire class to fall into silence.

“Wow, the outcast speaks,” Carolyn retorted.

"Of course you will be interested in the new girl. Both of you don't fit into society,”

“Watch your mouth, Carolyn,” Mr Franklin warned.

“Everyone has the right to pick their name but… you can't change the blood that runs in your vein,”

The long piercing look he gave with his statement sent chills through me. The class went on as we dived into each of the families in the town.

The class ended and the stranger who spoke up for me stood up and left without a word. He had a dark hoodie on, shielding his identity. I was getting frustrated for not getting a good look at his face.

“Hey,” I hurried after him. I grabbed his shirt and a strange electric-like feeling spiralled through me from the point of contact.

“I __”

I was stunned by the sight I gazed upon. I instantly felt overwhelmed by his build which became more pronounced when he pulled back his hood. His eyes were mesmerizing, dead but still beautiful.

“Did you lose something?” He spoke sharply.

“Your tongue perhaps,”

“Just wanted to say thanks,” I muttered.

“You have said it. Now walk away, pup,” he retorted swiftly before walking away. I stood speechless, wondering what I might have done to offend him.

“Don't take it to heart. He treats everyone that way,” A voice came from behind me. I turned to meet the gaze of a dashing guy, his blonde hair and dark eyes portrayed innocence. He gently walked towards me with a smile and extended his hand.

“Hi, I'm Cameron,”

“Caitlyn,”

“I have heard, the new pup. Welcome to Aurora high,” he replied.

“I am supposed to be your guide but first apologies about Tristan, he is bad news. You should stay away,”

“Thanks,” I breathed. I could feel someone staring at me from a distance — it was him, Tristan. I could feel his piercing gaze from a distance.

“I heard you were planning to try out for the soccer team,” Cameron said.

“Why don't you come with me? Let me show you our equipment,”

“That would be nice,” I looked away to respond but by the time I turned back, he was gone.

Cameron led me down the hall, showing me the different halls and spots in Aurora High.

‘'I might like it here,” I thought to myself as I beamed with a smile.

“Right here,” He led me into a locker room. Something felt off the moment I stepped in.

“Do they share locker rooms? Male and female I mean,” I inquired curiously as I examined the jersey laid on the table.

“No, why?”

“Then why did you bring me to the boy's locker?” I shot back and his cute smile twisted into a smirk.

“You think you are better than us?” His stern voice asked with a frown that had me cowering backwards.

“Yes brother,” someone emerged from the room behind me. It was the girl from class, Carolyn. At the moment, I could spot their resemblance – uncanny, almost twin like. In an instant I was surrounded by shirtless boys, their eyes fixed on me with intent.

“I don't want trouble,” I tried to walk past them but they stood between me and the door. Rage boiled within me, one that I had never felt before. It was like a frustrating itch in my chest.

“Let me go,”

“You think our names are cursed. Ashamed of your birthright?” Carolyn approached me.

“You think dumping your name makes you cool? It makes you nothing here,”

“Trash,” Cameron chuckled softly.

“Take your clothes off. Since you want to be so independent, you don't need them,”

“Let me go,” I repeated, clenching my fist to direct my anger.

“Or what?” Carolyn smiled.

“I will ___”

“Break your bones,” Someone cut in. Everyone's focus became directed at the e

ntrance as Tristan walked in with a lollipop in his mouth.

“I'm going to give you useless hounds two options. One, get out,”

“And what's the other?” Cameron asked.

“Or I will get you out,”