Chapter 1: Aaliyah

“Aaliyah, come downstairs for a moment before you head out, your father and I need to talk to you.” I hear my stepmother call from downstairs.

“What have I done now?” I whispered to myself as I finished packing my book bag. “Four more days, and I’ll be free.” I mumbled to myself.

“Grab your sister and meet us in the dining room. We’re having a family meeting before you two leave for school.” She called out.

Amber married my father only seven months after my mother was killed and taken by rogue wolves. I was only six years old. I never got a chance to say goodbye. Her body was never even found, only a puddle of blood in the forest where she ran on full moons. Come to think of it I don’t think my dad or the Alpha sent anyone to search for her.

“Come on, Jackie. Yo, Mom is calling a family meeting.” I said annoyed, before opening her room door.

“Oh my god, get out, you creep.” She yelled, covering herself as if she was naked.

“Drop the act. You’re fully dressed, and your mom is the one who called for us. I could care less on how long you take in there.” I said, pushing the door open all the way, seeing Kyle standing in the doorway of her closet. “Next time, get a smarter boyfriend would you. One who won’t stand in front of a mirror trying to hide.” I said shaking my head as she frowned her face.

“Get out.” She said, slamming the door in my face.

“Don’t let him fall climbing out the window this time.” I teased as I started to walk downstairs.

Jackie was two years younger than me, but she was more like a RomCom cliché. She was the popular, pretty sophomore who hung out with seniors. She was co-captain of the cheer squad, and her boyfriend was Kyle, the second most popular senior boy at school who wasn’t very bright, but he was on the football team, and his father was beta to Alpha Jacob of the Black Ice pack.

Me, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. I was an ugly step-sister who no one paid attention to. Amber and Jackie made sure of that. I was a bookworm who ate lunch in the library alone between books of romance and fantasy. No one noticed me even when I was right there. I hid my body because Amber and Jackie thought if boys paid attention to me, Jackie would never marry into “royalty”. I stayed quiet and to myself to avoid drama and to stay out of the way of the girls who made fun of me. I had one friend Riley who stayed right behind us our whole lives. I was 5’7 and had the complexion of bronze. My hair held tight curls that always hung covering my face. Most people who knew my mother swear I look the spitting image of her. But to my family I was just the burden.

“What’s this all about?” I asked as I sat at the table across from Amber.

“Where’s your sister?” Amber asked, looking annoyed by my presence.

“Your daughter is upstairs getting dressed.” I said, reaching for a piece of toast.

“Aaliyah, don’t start with your mother.” My dad said, rubbing his temples.

“Stepmother.” I whispered as I buttered my piece of toast.

“You see, James. She always does this.” She said, starting with the fake tears.

“Great, what has she done now?” Jackie asked, walking towards the table.

“We called this meeting to discuss Aaliyah’s 18th birthday. Since she will be coming into her wolf and her mate will be able to scent her, we thought we should throw her a party and invite all of your friends to introduce your coming out.” My father said, consoling Amber, who had full blown started the waterworks.

“What friends? She doesn’t have friends unless you’re going invite Riley, the librarian and the books.” Jackie said, laughing.

“Don’t be mean to your sister.” Amber said, nudging Jackie’s side.

“She knows I’m only joking.” Jackie said, walking over to hug me. “Right, sis?” She asked, giving that phony smile she only did around my dad.

“Whatever.” I said, shoving the toast onto my mouth as I stood up and grabbed my book bag off the back of the chair. “Do what you want.”

“We need to go shopping.” Jackie squealed to Amber, as she jumped up and down.

“Yes, Aaliyah, come straight home from school so that we can go and get you a dress for the party.” Amber called to me as I made it to the front door.

“Yep.” I responded as I closed the door behind me.

“What took you so long?” My best friend Riley called from the corner.

“Mother dearest called a family meeting.” I said as I approached him.

“What is she accusing you of doing now? Did you use the wrong dish towel again?” He said, laughing.

“No, stupid.” I said, pushing him. “She’s planning a party for my 18th birthday.” I said, hunching my shoulders.

“So a party for Jackie and her friends with your name on it.” He said, grabbing my arm as we crossed over to the school grounds.

“Exactly.” I said before Kyle and the clan ran over to us.

“Looks like Riley finally likes girls.” He teased from behind us.

“Aaliyah’s not a girl.” One of the other boys chimed in. “She’s an orphan.”

“Do you hear something, Liyah?” Riley said sarcastically.

“Nope, why do you?” I asked as we both laughed as we entered the doors of Thornton High.

“He’s an ass.” Riley said as we approached our lockers.

“Yeah, but you’re the one who mated to him.” I said, closing my locker.

“Haha, very funny.” Riley replied.

“Wait, if your mated to him, doesn’t that mean…” I said, coming to a complete stop.

“Yep, he’s gay.” He said, causing us both to laugh.

“So why don’t you just reject him?” I asked, confused as to why Riley would torture himself with being mated to such a jack ass.”

“He doesn’t know yet; he won’t know until he turns 18. So me rejecting him won’t do anything until he’s mated back to me.” He said, smiling.

“Why are you smiling?” I asked, curious.

“Because right now he’s hiding the fact that he’s gay, and I get to be the one who watches him go through the changes and watch him try to ignore it. Just like you did with me.” He said, laughing. “And to put the icing on the cake, I get to destroy him when I reject him.” He said as we walked into first period, Advanced Economics.

“Good morning, class. Are you ready to pick up from where we left off Friday?” Ms. Kingsley said, motioning for the students to arrange the desks into our groups.

“Of course he’d never want to admit it so I get the satisfaction of rejecting him.” Riley whispered as the door opened.

“Ms. Kingsley, this is a new student, Jordan Johnson. This is Ms. Kingsley’s class Jordan.” Superintendent Miles said as she stepped aside so that the class could see him.

“Oh my god, he’s gorgeous.” Riley whispered in my ear as Jordan walked into the class completely.

“Hey.” He said before his head snapped towards our direction.

“Hello, Jordan. Welcome to Advanced Economics .” Ms. Kingsley greeted him.

Something clicked in me for a split second. He smelled of lemon and cedarwood. His eyes glowed with a deep brown color around his pupils.

“Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?” Ms. Kingsley continued.

“I’m Jordan, but everyone calls me J.J. I’m a transfer student from Lakeland County.” He said, brushing his loose dreads back.

“Well, welcome, Jordan. We are just about to start a class project. You can join.” She said, looking around the class.

“Did you see that?” I asked Riley, trying to find his scent again.

“See what?” Riley responded, looking around.

“His eyes changed.” I said, sounding crazy to even myself.

“No, changed like how?” Riley asked, amused.

“Changed like he had a deep brown ring around them for a split second.”

“Sounds like you’ve been hitting the books a little too hard,” Riley said, laughing aloud.

“Ahh, Mr. Middleton and Ms. Haywood. You can pair up with them.” Ms. Kingsley said as she pointed to our table.

As he walked towards our corner, it seemed as if time slowed down, and again his scent overpowered my nose.

“Oh shit, your nose is bleeding, Liyah.” Riley yelled, forcing my head back. “Tissue, someone get me some tissue.” Riley yelled as Ms. Kingsley rushed over with a box of Kleenex.

“Take her to the nurse.” She yelled as she moved out of the way.

“Are you okay, girl?” Riley said as he walked me down the hall.

“Yes, drama queen.” I said, blowing my nose. “See, it stopped.”

“You sure you don’t want to go see Tabby?” No, I don’t. She’s going to ask a million questions and fuss at you about being a disappointment to y’all’s dad.” I said, blowing my nose again.

“You’re right. So what happened?” He asked, handing me more tissue.

“I don’t know. I smelled lemon and cedarwood, and it started to get really strong and boom, nose bleed.”

“Where did the scent come from?” He asked, checking me over.

“I think the new boy.” I said, removing his hand from my forehead.

“Wait, it sounds like you mated to him, but I never heard of it causing a nosebleed. I never even heard of it happening until after your wolf is awakened.” He said, looking me up and down.

“What, no, I’m not 18 yet.” I said, pushing the thought of actually mating out of my mind. Amber and Jackie joked all the time about how no one would ever want me as a mate because I was so nerdy and looked funny having the dark complexion and dark eyes. I never even thought about mating honestly.

“Yeah, you’re right. The moon gods aren’t usually that dramatic.” He said with a sarcastic laugh.

“Oh, shut up.” I said, grabbing his arm.

“Are you okay?” A deep voice whispered. From behind us.

“Yes.” I said, turning to face Jordan.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He said as I watched his face go from worry to embarrassment.

“You didnt scare us.” I lied looking away from him.

“I got a little lost trying to find the bathroom.” He said, not breaking his gaze.

“Umm, it’s right there. Riley said, pointing to the left of us.

“Oh, okay, thanks.” He said, finally breaking the trance between us. “See you in class,” he said, walking away.

“Sexy as he is, he’s a little creepy.” Riley said as we walked off.

“Oh, whatever.” I replied, laughing, looking over my shoulder as we walked back to class.

“Welcome back, Ms. Haywood. Are you feeling okay?” Ms. Kingsley asked, rubbing my back.

“Yes, I’m okay. Just a little nosebleed.” I replied, walking to my seat.

“Mr. Johnson, did you find the bathroom okay?” She asked as she opened the door for him.

“Yeah, I found it okay.” He responded, taking his seat between Riley and me.

“Okay, everyone, let’s get to work. You guys have until Friday to solve the problem that’s been given to you. You have to come up with real-life solutions that will solve the issues at hand.” She said, placing a paper on the desk. “You can take the rest of the class period to discuss what you need.” She said with a smile.

“Okay, so about this party.” Riley whispered. “Are you really going to attend?”

“Kinda don’t have a choice. My dad would kill me if I don’t.” I replied, looking at the paper as if I was reading it.

“So what’s our problem?” Jordan asked, reaching for the paper. “Where do we start?” He said with a smile.

“I guess we research what’s needed in third world countries other than the obvious and pick one and solve the problem at hand.” I said as I slowly looked up at him.

“So when do we start this research?” He said, looking at me as if he could see through me.

“Well, we can exchange numbers and work something out.” Riley said, looking between the two of us.

“OK, class, that’s it for today. Please don’t wait until the last minute to start the project; you will be graded on your presentation.” Ms. Kingsley said as the bell rang.

“You think you can show me where my locker is and my next class?” Jordan asked as I moved the desk to free him.

“Sure, she can; she has a free period anyway.” Riley answered, pushing me towards Jordan.