His Weakness

In 1890, my great-grandmother Takoda was only a child when her ancestors told her stories while they huddled around the campfire with handmade blankets from buffalo hide. Later, she told my mother the same stories about humans who could walk on all fours and pale skins and drink your blood. Nowadays, no one talks about the past, which leads us to believe they are just scary stories the tribe elders tell for fun or to put fear into the youngsters so we won’t enter the woods outside our borders. However, I believe nothing they say. But my grandmother does and never lets my family forget it. I usually get grounded for laughing at her, thinking she’s a crazy old woman.The story of my great-grandfather is one that my grandmother sears into our brains. He was killed by ‘the creatures’ while saving our tribe. She says the Alpha of the pack helped him escape the blood-sucking leeches after being attacked in the woods, leaving him wounded too severely to make it out on his own. But I never un

The legends are true. Both night stalkers and fangs are very much real, and I’m standing between the two.How could I be so oblivious to it? Always scoffing at my grandmother’s stories. Maybe this is my punishment for being a brat and not listening.There is nowhere for me to go. The only choice I have is to decide if I want to die by the night stalkers or the fangs. I think I’ll take my chances with the wolves. They seem like they’d give me a quick death. The bloodsuckers would probably keep me around for feedings, letting me die slowly and painfully.There’s no more time for thinking. So, I make a choice and run towards the wolves.The larger of the wolves tilts his head, confused.He must think, what a dumbass.I'm going to die anyway. Why should I care what everyone thinks of me? I never did before. It's not like anyone likes me anyway. I can see it now - the whole reservation celebrating my death. A crowd of my peers cheering and clinking their glasses of beer, happy that they ar

Ice cold water hits my body like a ton of bricks. “Ah!” I shriek awake, darting my eyes from side to side.As I sit up, there stands the bitch from hell with a bucket and a pleased smirk on her face. Slapping that look off her face would really make me happy right now, but I refrain.I send her an icy glare, wrapping my arms around my shoulders as I shiver. “You could have just said wake up,” I mumble between chattering teeth.Sia smiles wider. “Now, what’s the fun in that?” She laughs as she leaves the room, and her annoying cackle echoes down the hall.So, what the hell did she even wake me up for if she was just going to leave? What a bitch!In walks Alpha Cree and narrows his eyes, confused. “Why are you wet?” He asks, looking around for where the water came from.Irritated, I give him a deadpan look. “Ask your lover,” I reply, ringing my dirty drench sweater out.Instantly, his eyes burn red. Cree is furious, which confuses the hell out of me. I’m a measly human. Why does he care

The cheese puffs hit the floor, and I slowly chew the remaining bits in my mouth. I’m annoyed my puffs are all over the floor. I had dreams about them, and I finally had a taste. The world feels as if it’s crumbling as I watch the last Cheeto skid to a stop at Cree’s feet. I seriously thought about grabbing it. I mean, there is a five-second rule. But I’m worried that he might strangle me for hitting him where the sun doesn’t shine if I go near him. So I refrain from listening to my grumbling stomach and focus on Cree’s aggravated expression.I give him an encouraging smile. “Nice to see you again,” I joke with a sweet, innocent expression, hoping to lighten the tension between us.Cree stands from the sofa, and I gulp. He slowly comes my way, as if he is building up a climactic death for me. If he wants me terrified, it’s working. My body moves involuntarily back towards the kitchen. I don’t know what to do. There is nowhere for me to go. I look behind me at the window. Maybe I can j

I’m walking ahead of them when Cree decides it’s time to take back control and steps in front of me while his asshole of a Beta stays behind, ensuring I didn’t run off again. Like I would get far, they found me once. They could do it again.We walk further, and the other pack members come into view. They are hovering over something. I can’t tell what, but I hurry behind Cree to find out.Cree’s arm comes out in front of me as I approach, and I stop. “No, you shouldn’t see this,” he says, his face full of remorse.Is it Jay? Is he dead? Or dying, and Cree doesn’t want me to see it. Why does he care about my feelings? Or that it could be my best friend, who he was going to kill, anyway. Unless he would not kill him, it was only to trick me into giving him what he wants. Oh, this man is scandalous. He made no sense. One minute he is so affectionate. The next, he is a ruthless killer. He’s bipolar, and I thought teens were so up and down. I’d rather take my chances back at Blackfoot high.