Axel and I chatted for what seemed like hours until he warned me that the games would be starting soon, so we should make our way to the field the game was going to be played on. We cleaned up our trays and made our way down the deserted halls, a few stragglers hurrying toward the lobby. Axel and I hurried down the hallway, giggling at how late we were, ignoring the venomous glares I received from the few remaining people. I knew it'd be fine if I snuck in late, but people would surely notice if one of the Deltas was missing.When the lobby doors opened in front of us, a wave of cool air washed over my heated skin. Axel and I raced across the parking lot to the back of the mansion, the field coming into view, people milling around lazily, waiting for the competition to start. Axel gave me a quick goodbye and raced over to where the other Deltas and Beta Broddi were chatting. I looked back at the ground and began my lonely trek to the field, glares and vicious jeers awaiting me.As I p
Everyone in the group cheered, even Bryce, as we all exchanged fist bumps and happy jeers of positivity and eagerness. We actually found the name just in time, because as soon as we calmed down, the Luna was back on the stage, instantly silencing everyone in the crowd, all of us slowly falling silent one by one. Finally, after a signature menacing glare, Luna Celestia cleared her throat, and spoke up. "Alright, all teams, go over there," she thrust a finger in the direction of the end of the field where I could see Mrs. Lockstern and the Alpha waiting with clipboards and pens, "and get you and your team members written down, the team name alongside it too."At once, people were thrown into action, skittering around one another to get to the clipboards with their team. We had a smaller group of young wolves to mate this year, one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty, so there'd be twelve or thirteen teams. Around me, our whole team began to run in the direction everyone else was, hopin
We'd all walked- more like sprinting- to field two and quickly meet Team Three, only saying a quick, 'good luck,' to the other team. Settling into our positions, the throwers on the front line and the dodgers nestled safely in the back ranks, Luna Celestia stomped over after starting the game between Teams One and Two. She raised a stiff hand, almost soldier-like, and brought it down, signaling the beginning of the game.Instantly, the throwers on each team charged to the dividing line where the rubber, red dodge balls lay motionless for the moment. I saw the bulkiest person on the other team, a woman with dark hair that was tied back in braids, grab a ball with absurdly large hands, and chuck it at the first person she saw; Bryce.Bryce dodged it, but only by a slim fraction and snarled at the woman, his lips pulling back to reveal his pointed teeth. He had a ball in his hands, so instead of surrendering and retreating further away from the line where it was safe, he pulled his arm b
I awoke with a slight start, pressing the backs of my hands to my eyes. My surroundings felt unfamiliar, and my wolf felt uneasy even though I still knew I was at the pack house. Almost instantly, a pair of warm, slim arms wrapped around my torso, pulling me sideways on the bed I was sitting atop. I looked over and Brandy's head was resting on my shoulder, her hair tickling my nose and causing me to sneeze."We were so worried about you," Brandy giggled, sitting back in the plastic chair that was beside the bed"Who's we?" I asked, putting finger quotations around the word, 'we.'"Ryder and I," Brandy paused for a second, chewing on her lip as if she was debating telling me something. Finally she spoke again, "And Raven and Grey.""Is that it," I rolled my eyes, though internally, my heart beat quicker at the thought of Raven or Grey being anywhere near me when I was unconscious."I know you think people don't like you, but-,""Don't like me? People hate me! They pelted me with dodgeb
Doctor Moore fitted me with a cast, not bothering to ask me what color I wanted and giving me a dull black one– I would have enjoyed a happy blue or lightening pink). It was tight on my arm, but the pressure helped the pain subside slightly. She shooed us out, seemingly eager to have us leave, and Ryder helped me back to my room, giving everyone who passed us in the halls a vial glare. I almost giggled at how protective he was for only knowing me for three days, but I knew he'd take my teasing seriously."How bad does it hurt on a scale of one to ten?" Ryder asked, turning to me."Seven," I admitted, "But it was an eleven before.""Well that's good," Ryder nodded, growling slightly as a pair of girls giggled and pointed at me, "I won't go on the run tomorrow, so I can hang out with you.""No - no," I said, shaking my head and gaining a sharp pain in the side of my head from the action, "You said it was the most liked event and I don't want you to miss it.""I want you to have company
I opened my eyes, once again being comforted by the warm feeling of the sun on my back - the way it had felt when I visited the Moon Goddess, "Ruby! Get off your lazy ass!"I looked around, wondering who had called me, since I didn't recognize the voice, "Who's there?"Suddenly, a figure materialized out of thin air, a sassy smirk on its face and its arms folded over its chest. It was a she-wolf, or at least that's what she looked like. She had red hair that wrapped around her head in an intricate braid and hung at her waist. Her eyes were grey - the color my eyes changed to when I was a wolf - that were taking me in, looking me up and down. She was about as tall as me, something pretty rare, but with the heels she had on, she had to be a good two to three inches taller. After neither of us spoke, she gave me a sly grin and asked, "Are you going to ask who I am? Rude, if I might add.""S-sorry," I said, mesmerized by her voice. Earlier it sounded odd and unfamiliar, but now it sounde
Conall and I talked for a while, trying to get used to the echo-y aspect of it all. After a while, she told me to get ready and that she'd talk to me later. I wondered what she meant, but I didn't ask her, because she probably already knew - she did live inside of me.I finished getting ready, wincing almost every two minutes because of my sore wrist, and walked out of the bathroom. I pulled my hair back into a sloppy bun, but my loose, wispy, baby-hair bangs were falling into my face and spilling onto my forehead.Grabbing my phone, I clicked it on and saw the time was an hour later. The time the run started was at nine-o-clock, so I had all day until I had to meet Ryder for the run.I flopped back onto my bed, wondering what I was going to do all day, when the phone that hung on the wall in the corner of my room rang. I sat bolt upright and stared at it, waiting for it to ring a second time before jumping up and racing across the room to the phone, answering a bit too eagerly, "Hell
I collapsed onto my bed, rolling to the side, and wishing I could melt into the mattress. The time blinked into view on the clock, reading, '2:00.' It was hard to believe that only two hours ago Brandy was safe. I didn't have stitches, and I'd never seen Grey cry before. My whole body ached and I still had all day before the race, so I decided that I'd take a nap.But each time I closed my eyes, I couldn't feel more awake. I tossed and turned, but not one bit of my previous drowsiness coursed through my body. I stuffed myself under the plush blankets, hoping they'd swallow me up into sleep, but of course that didn't work. So finally, I sat up, frustrated, and pushed myself to my feet.Grabbing my keys and throwing on a sweatshirt, I stomped out of my room, not actually sure of where I was going. For the third time that day, I marched down the maze-like passageways, ignoring the insolent jeers and quips from the passing wolves. I forced my face into a mask of expressionlessness, carefu