Chapter 6

"Terrence you look like shit," said Silas as Terrence entered the flat from one of his long sad walks.

Today was Valentines day. Terrence missed Azalea.

"So would you if the person you loved most was out to kill you and take over your pack,” said Terrence.

"I know lets play a game. Wolf’s Challenge!" exclaimed Silas.

"I played that game the night I told Azalea-"Terrence was cut off by Remi.

"Don't be so...sulky. Terrence you need to have some fun. Maybe Wolf’s Challenge will cheer you up."

Silas brought the game in. Wolf’s Challenge consisted of a board and a deck of cards. Each card had a challenge on it and points according to how hard each challenge was. However many points was on the card, you'd move your pawn, usually in the shape of an animal, the same number of spaces. The first person to reach the end of the board won. If you refused to do a challenge, you would have to move back two spaces.

"Right I get to be the black wolf," said Silas, setting his pawn on the board. He picked up a card. "Go to a club...and get girlfriends you stupid twits. It's Valentines Day and you all got nothing to do other than play a stupid game," Silas spoke up. He looked around at everyone as if challenging them to deny that that was exactly what the card said. Everyone was quiet, realizing that Silas had a point. This was his way of getting Terrence out of the pack lands and out of his sullen mood. "Right well I guess the game is definitely smarter than us. Lets go!" said Silas. "Oh and I get..." Silas looked at the card. "5 points for that.

With that, everyone dragged a protesting Terrence out of the packhouse.

Flashback

Silas, Remi, Sean, Terrence, Azalea and Klarissa were all sitting in the sophomore common room. They were in tenth grade at the Academy and it was a cold winter’s evening. They had all opted to stay back for the Christmas holidays and spend it together.  Klarissa got up, her bueatiful blonde hair falling in waves around her as she announced she was going to sleep and left for her dorm room. Azalea was not tired and told Klarissa she’d see her in the morning.

 Terrence was looking into the fireplace deep in thought.

"Terrence? What's wrong?" asked Azalea. "Your mind seems to be somewhere else these days."

He’d been her best friend since 9^th grade when they started at the Academy. She could always tell when something was off with him.

"That's 'cause the boy here is in loooooooove," said Silas grinning wickedly.

"Oh who is it? Who is it?" asked Azalea interestedly. "Do I know her?"

"What makes you so sure he’s in love with a her?" asked Silas.

"I am not into boys, Silas," Terrence snapped.

"Who is she?!" Azalea asked again.

"Well yes you do know her," said Sean carefully.

"Oh tell me! Wait is it Amy?!" Azalea asked, wondering if the girl Terrence had group study with finally caught his fancy.

“You’d have to look a little closer,” Silas said wickedly.

“Klarissa?” Azalea asked with pale, trembling lips. “She is stunningly beautiful,” Azalea said in a small voice.

"No it's- MMMMM! MMMMM!" Remi had clapped his hand over Silas' mouth before he could finish the sentence.

"I think it's late. Sean, Silas and I are tired,” Remi said quickly.

"I'm not-OW!" Sean exclaimed as Remi stepped on his foot. Remi then dragged the two boys up the stairs. Azalea giggled her long red hair falling in her face.

"So Terrence …..tell me!" Azalea said. She was sitting across from Terrence on an armchair.

"Er...no. Not today," said Terrence.

Azalea got up and came to sit down on the sofa next to him.

"Please?" she pouted.

‘She looks so cute like that with her white night gown on, her hair falling in her face and her lower lip sticking out maybe I should tell her...’ Terrence thought to himself.

"Uhhh..." Terrence began nervously.

Azalea widened her eyes innocently.

"Well..." Terrence hesitated.

"O.K. I get the picture ….you don't want to tell me. Let’s make a deal. On Christmas you have to tell me," suggested Azalea looping her fiery red-hair behind her ears.

"That's tomorrow,” Terrence countered.

"I know," retorted Azalea smugly. "But here's the catch. We'll play Wolf’s Shallenge. If I win, then you tell who she is tomorrow. If you win, then you don't have to tell me until you want to," Azalea explained.

"Fine," relented Terrence.

He walked towards the far wall in their common room and reached for the game laying innocently on the shelf built into the wall.

"Right well …..I want to be the dove," said Azalea.

 She automatically handed Terrence the golden wolf.

 "O.K. Ter, let’s start," said Azalea using the nickname she had for Terrence.

Three hours later.

"Go jump in the nearest body of water…if you are not close to one, dunk your head in a bucket of water," Azalea read out.

Her eyes strayed outside to the lake on their Academy grounds. It wasn’t snowing outside anymore but she’d probably freeze to death out there.

"Wonder how it feels like to lose," Terrence mused.

Azalea got up.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"This card is worth ten points. I need ten points to win," said Azalea determinedly.

"Azalea you can't be serious."

But she paid him no heed.

"If you drown it's not my fault!" Terrence exclaimed as Azalea stripped herself of her night gown and got ready to jump into the lake.

"I'll keep that in mind!" Azalea yelled back and got ready to dive.

Terrence watched her poise herself to dive into the freezing lake water with nothing but her underthings on. She was part-witch and part-wolf. She had learned a few spells at the Academy and she wouldn’t get her wolf until she was 18 because her father was human. There was a huge chance she’d freeze to death in there.

"Azalea wait I'll just tell-"

SPLASH!

Terrence ran over to the water. "Azalea!" he yelled, for the first time experiencing real terror. No one came up from underneath the water. "AZALEA!" he yelled. He cursed and bent down so that his nose was a few inches away from the water.

Right as Terrence decided that he would go in after her, Azalea suddenly came up right where Terrence’s face was, her arms unconsciously going around the young boys neck. For a moment time stool still as they froze in the magical moment, Azalea's lips mere inches away from Terrence's.