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♡ Amelia's pov ♡

"So this is your room. It's not much but I think it's good for your size. If there's anything you need, I'll be downstairs." My father mumbled while scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

The father I only just got to know a couple of hours ago existed.

I nodded, barely. I was still so numb after what happened two days ago. I still couldn't fathom how it happened.

I never saw the signs....

My mom was always so happy. So carefree. I never thought that my mom would leave me in this way.

"Thank you," I murmured softly in an awkward tone. I didn't know how to regard my 'father'. Should I say dad, father or call him by his given name Giovanni?

My father nod, looking around the tasteless room. I had an inkling it had been a storage room. And  I had a feeling only a few hours ago was switched into a room.The room was tiny, not suffocating but tiny nonetheless.

But I was tiny too, standing at just five feet with a slim built and too much hips and a tiny waist. I didn't have much boobs to fill a cup but I did have cushion on my bottom. My mom called me tinker because of my short height. I blinked back the tears. I would never hear that nickname again.

"I can go at Green's and buy a bucket of paint or those sticky paint walls thingy if you want?" My dad suggested while wincing at the old chipping paint on the walls.

I forced out a smile. I nearly cringed by how awkward my face felt while doing that. " No. It's fine. I'll just settle in and think about decorating later."

Gosh, this was really awkward. How can I interact with a man I only knew existed hours ago? Even the long drive here was silent, so she knew nothing about him but him sharing her DNA.

My father smiled, more like winced before nodding and then stepped out of the room. When the door closed behind him, I could finally breathe. I let out a gush of air and walked further into the tiny room. The bed looked new, perhaps the only thing new around here.

I set my duffel bag on the light pink covers and groaned.I had been counting down the minutes until I let that heavy thing down. Moving away from the bed, I strut over to the only window in the room. It brought in a lot of light and also showed the beauty of the endless green foliage.

Even with the beautiful greenery beaming at me in all its thickness, I couldn't smile like I would've done if the circumstances were different. How can I ever smile again when my mom was not here to smile with me?

I felt my heart shred into pieces as I opened the window and let the cool air beat my cheeks and whip my hair back. Mom would've loved this place. She was always fascinated with anything foresty. Living here would've been a dream come true for her. If only.....

I hauled in another breath, this time holding it longer in my lungs until it burned. When I let it go, my breath only gets caught in my throat again as I witness a shift in the bushes down below. My fingers grip the edge of the windowsill as I watched the huge shadow shift through the bushes.

Brown fur......

Was that a bear?

My heart somersaulted. A growl emerges out of the creatures throat and I wanted nothing more than to go beneath that small bed and hide, because I swore I just saw a wolf. The animal run back into the darkest of the green, disappearing from my sight and easing my beating heart.

The house was surrounded by trees, in fact the entire town was surrounded by luscious trees, so I should've expected that there were wolves in the forest. Shaking my head I backed away from the window and walked back to the bed. I slowly sat down on the mattress and skimmed my eyes around the tiny room.

This was going to be my home now. I fell back on the bed, my hair spreading beneath me as I stared at the white ceiling. A tear leaked out from my eye and trailed down slowly until disappearing into my brown hair. "I miss you mom."

It hadn't been four days since the passing of my mother, and the pain was still raw. I didn't think it would ease up anytime soon. Suddenly the door burst open again. My father walks in, this time with a plate in his hand. The aroma of what was in the plate reaches my nose. My belly growled a little.

I didn't know I was hungry.

"I made you a grill cheese sandwich. It's burnt-" my dad said, raking his fingers through his hair sheepishly until he froze when his eyes dropped on me. More specifically, my tears.

"You're crying." His voice pitched with a bit of panic.

I was sure that he didn't have a clue about comforting a teenager. I wouldn't hold it against him. I sat up, smiled at him a little. "It's okay. Just remembering mom."

His face twisted with sorrow and he looked away from me and set his gaze on the floor. "Oh."

See, he had no clue about how to comfort a teenager who's mourning.

Poor guy, he had a lot to learn.

"I'd love that grill cheese sandwich." I uttered, trying to save my father from awkwardly looking at the floor. He pass it over to me, a sad gleam in his eyes. "Everything will be okay."

Basic words.

I nod.

Not able to be in that awkward silence any longer, my father looked for a way out.

"Well, I have some work to do..." He pointed at the door, backing away slowly. I refrained from rolling my eyes but nod instead. Before he stepped out of the room, I stopped him.

"Hey Giovanni." My father froze midway, his back was stiff and he didn't turn around to face me. Did he not like that I called him by his given name? I couldn't bring myself to call him dad just yet. We haven't reached that stage yet.

"Yes Melia?" He looked at her over his shoulder this time.

"Are there wolves here? I could've sworn I saw one a while ago." My brows furrowed, trying to recall the huge brown wolf I saw. If it was possible, he stiffened even more. Seconds tick by, silence enveloping us, until he responded.

"There are no wolves around here."

Even though they only just met officially a few hours ago, I could tell by the slight pitch in his voice, that he was lying.

* Next morning * 

The buzzing won't stop.

I outstretched my hands, blindly looking for that clock so I can hit that snooze button.

I ended up just flinging the clock to the wall, groaned and curled myself more into my covers.

A second later, my door slams open.

"Did something happen, I heard a crash."

I peeled my eyes open sleepily to see my father standing in his pajamas, a hand up holding a frying pan as he looked around frantically.

That was not the sight I thought I'd see so early in the morning. I didn't know if to laugh, or be concerned that he brought a frying pan as a weapon.

"Clock. Throw. Wall. Crash." I grumbled still half asleep.

The tight worried lines on his forehead visibly disappear and are replaced with a sheepish embarrassed smile.

"Oh." He chuckles sheepishly.

He lifted his hand in his hair. "Thought it was something else. Anyway you should probably get up. Today's your first day and you'd not want to be late."

I nod, reluctantly peeling the covers off my body. If I had the choice, I would sleep in.

It had only been five days since I've been here. Five days seemed long, but they felt short. All I really did was get my room ready, eat, shit and did what normal human beings did on the regular.

Giovanni tried to bring me out, to show me around Willow Creek. But I declined every single time. I wasn't ready yet to see the town I'd be staying in for a while.

Things were too new, too fresh.

I'd wish he would wait to send me to school too, but he thought it would be best to not skip on my education for longer.

"Nice frying pan." I told him the moment my bare feet touch those cold wooden flooring. They creaked under my weight.

I stretched my hands above my head.

Giovanni flushed, and awkwardly swung the frying pan around his finger. "Oh that-

Pang.

He winces when the edge of the frying pan hit him on his forehead.

I throw my hand over my mouth. "Ooph." I giggled.

His eyes narrowed. "Haha, very funny. Get down to eat your breakfast young lady. I'm going to pack you your lunch."

I smiled at his disappearing back softly. At least he was trying.

-

The eggs had a couple of eggshells in them, and I tried to not wince every time my teeth crunched them, but it was getting hard not to.

"How are the eggs?" Giovanni questioned, lifting his head to peer at me.

He was busy throwing a good amount of peanut butter on one slice of bread. It was messy. And I suspected it was my 'lunch'.

"Great. Good." I nod as I pray that those egg shells won't mess with my digestive system. I better not be shutting out huge chunks of eggshells.

Giovanni's huge beam made me happy that I lied to him.

If I had told him that he added way too much salt and suggested that he stay away from eggshells then he'd probably look disheartened.

The man only just found out he had a daughter a couple of days ago.

"I think I'm done. Do you want another PBJ sandwich or is one good enough?"

I looked down at the sandwich and cringe inwardly. I'd have to show him some YouTube cooking videos when I get back.

"I think one is good enough. I don't eat much."

He smile. "Tomorrow I'll cook something better for you."

I winced.

Na uh, not until you watch those cooking videos you won't.

"Or I can get food at the cafeteria? They have one right?" I suggested.

"Those cafeteria foods taste nasty. Wouldn't you rather some home fresh meal?"

"I guess." I grumble.

We talked for a little bit until he told me he'd drop me off.

"I'll pick you up at three." He said before driving off.

I watch his red truck barrel down the street and sighed. I'd rather spend the day with him at the vet than to be at school right now.

I whirled around slowly and stared at the huge building. It looked better than my old school.

For a small town, everything seemed....luxurious.

A light mist of rain poured down.

I probably should get inside before I catch a cold.

I took a step forward with a sigh.

*loud screech*

I whipped around quickly, my eyes wide and my heart lodged in my throat.

A black sports car is inches from my hitting my knees. I slammed my palm down on the hood by instinct as I glared at the occupants inside through the windshield.

The glass was a bit tinted, but I could make out two boys in front. I couldn't quite see them properly and couldn't make out their features.

But by the shape of their broad shoulders I knew they were guys.

"Watch it!" One yelled.

I shook my head and with one final glare, hurried towards the school.

Great. My first day here and I nearly went flying.

___

Raiden's pov

"You missed out on the hot babes last night." Damon chuckled as he swerved into the school compound.

"My dad makes me tag along to his alpha duties. No time for parties now." I grumble.

"My dad's making me attend gamma training next week. So I have a couple of days to get a good feel of the ladies before I'm booked and busy." Damon snorted and playfully punched my shoulder.

"Sucks to be you right now mate."

I rolled my eyes.

"Speaking about babes, how are you and Dayna?"

"We broke up." I answered nonchalantly.

Damon spared me a glance. "You two broke up five times already. Just fucking mate and be done with it."

I wiggled my nose. "Dayna and I mates?"

Damon laughed. "So she's good to dip in her pussy but not to spend a lifetime together?"

I shot him an irritated glare, not bothering to correct him that Dayna and I never slept together despite how we acted. "Man shut the fuck up."

He laughed and brought his attention back to the road. But his eyes go wide and he stepped on the brakes.

"Shit!" He yelled.

A petite blonde girl in a cute red dress and Jean jacket crosses in front of the car. She stops abruptly when she hears the screeching of the tires.

Fuck.

She whirls around, her hair tossing behind her. Damon is breathing roughly and sighs when the car stops just inches from crushing her.

My breath catches in my throat.

Pale blue eyes. They were big and reminded me of the doe's in the meadow. Round face, plump lips that looked so red and juicy.....

She slammed her hands on the hood, pulling me out of the trance I had unknowingly been in.

"Watch it!" Damon yelled.

She shook her head, said nothing and hurried toward the building. A light breeze brushes her and I inhale. A faint scent of vanilla bean. My mouth watered and my wolf stirred.

"Can you believe this chick?" Damon grumbled and started the car again. I can't answer him, I'm too occupied peering at her while she disappear from my sight and into the building.

Who was that girl? And why did she make my wolf stir uneasily?