Chapter 4: His Secret

Chapter 4: His secret

A clearing greeted me the moment I emerged from the concrete looking tunnels. Just a little beyond the grass covered ground rose a forest where tall trees are huddled and I could see a lake at the middle!

I find it hard to believe that I am still inside the school, I must have been teleported somewhere else! But that's impossible. We're wolves, not witches.

Then I heard it again. Sound. Rhythmic, and melodious sound that's very pleasing to the ear. I almost froze when I heard a male voice accompanying the sound. I have never heard anything like it. Wolves aren't supposed to create any other sound than the howl to the Luna, the full moon. To do such a thing is disrespectful to the whole wolf race and is worthy of a lifetime's torture.

The scary part is, you can't even wish for a quick death, Sir Finnegan always reminds us that.

And yet, this voice sounds so good, and I find myself taking a step towards it, towards the huddle of trees. 

I cautiously hid myself at the back of a tree and took a peek. Revealing myself wasn't part of my plan. What I intended to do was take one itty bitty peek to satisfy my curiousity and then I'd leave just as quietly as I have come.

But what I saw made my plan evaporate into nothingness.

"What is that?!" I jumped out of the tree and pointed at the wooden thing with strings that creates pleasing sounds when strummed. The guy holding it jumped in surprise, emerald eyes flashing in instant anger.

"What are you doing here?!" He stood, all six feet something height of him towering over me. "Who are you?! How did you find this place?!"

"I- I am... do you own this place?" I stammered. Was I trespassing?

He looked angrier, if that's even possible. "Tell me your name," his voice sounded like molten rocks in a pool of magma. I know a bit of science. And that means he sounds scary.

"Layan Howler," I squeaked then added, "Don't kill me." 

He took one menacing step forward, eyes shifting from light to dark emerald. "What's to stop me from doing exactly that?" 

I took a step back, and almost cried out in frustration when I felt the trunk of a tree at my back. "You don't wanna eat me! I don't have a lot of meat! Really!"

He doesn't seem to like that so I continued stammering, "Someone who can make beautiful sounds like that surely won't slaughter a helpless wolf!" I hope.

His expression changed, the taut muscles on his face relaxed but somehow this alarmed me more than the rage he displayed earlier.

Before I could consider running away, he managed to curve one huge hand around my neck, choking me, and lifting me off the ground as I struggled in vain.

"Don't speak to any other soul of what you saw here today," he warned in a cold voice.

I flailed helplessly, my eyes growing wide in fright, certain that I am going to take the last precious air down my lungs any second now.

"I'll be watching you."

And just like that, he dropped me to the ground, choking and in tears, before disappearing.

I curled into a ball and hugged my trembling body, taking in air greedily.

"Oh God, I'm alive. I'm alive."

I was sure I was at death's door. I was sure I had seen Turisia, the wolf God of death, beckoning to me.

I have never felt this scared before. Not when Sir Finnegan threw me in a raging icy river, not when I was lying weakly on the ground because of starvation, not even when Sir Finnegan threatened to kick me out of the pack to fend for myself.

I stood up unsteadily, wondering how I managed to drag my dazed body through the tunnels, through the hallways, up the stairs, and into the classroom.

Our teacher isn't here yet and Diana immediately came up to me the moment I stepped inside.

"I waited for you!" She flared. "I even shoo away that hot Chaser guy because I was saving you a- oh my God! Are you alright?" 

I blinked. I looked at Diana standing there, beautiful and tall and full of life and I feel angry with myself and with that he-wolf.

I can't let him suck the life out of me just because he literally introduced me to Turisia!

I slapped both of my cheeks soundly. "Get a grip, Layan!" 

Diana looked at me and stepped back. "Have you gone mad?"

I grinned. "Probably."

We all have to die sometime. I refuse to let that raging male wolf be the death of me. I mean, I should be safe as long as I keep my mouth shut, right?

Right.

Our next class was History, our teacher was a chirpy she-wolf who made us introduce ourselves. Again.

Introduction was pretty much the only thing that happened all through Geography I, and Herbology I, I'm just glad our Arithmetic teacher wasn't in attendance because if I hear one more 'my name is' or 'years old' or 'nice to meet you' I'd probably stand on my head and start screaming like a madwolf.

"That was a nightmare," I told Diana as we went out after getting dismissed at six o'clock.

"I was getting so sick of all their faces," she answered lifelessly. "On the bright side! Tonight, juniors and seniors are joining us at the mess hall!"

"They weren't there at lunch?"

"Unfortunately. They have tasks to finish or something, so they had meals delivered to their quarters. I was sooo disappointed! There were only sophomores and they only have a few hotties! The Chaser I shoo away included."

I remembered the scary string guy, I wonder what year he is. I hope I don't meet him tonight.

"And do you have any idea how famous you are?" Diana told me as we entered the mess hall.

"What do you mean?" I asked, letting her drag me to the nearest table. Some of the freshmen and sophomores had started filling in the other tables. Looks like the juniors and seniors weren't dismissed yet.

"News spread fast around here, and now everyone's talking about the special and mysterious freshman from the Northwoods."

I groaned, remembering all the friendly smiles and hellos I met from random strangers.

"You know what they're calling you?" She grinned. "The purple princess."

"No way!" I exclaimed, completely horrified. I didn't know it would turn out like this. It was supposed to be a harmless little getaway from all the questions about how I look, but since Viilla supported it quite convincingly, it has come to this.

"Is that a bad thing?" I whispered hesitantly.

"A strong wolf hardly needs to worry about trivial matters like this, you can just beat all those puppies up if they act up and start challenging you." She gave me a look. "Was it true tho? Are you really a special wolf?"

I opened my mouth to speak. I know I should at least come clean with Diana. She's my friend. It's not nice to trick your friend.

But that's the exact same moment the juniors and seniors decided to take their entrance, demanding all of Diana's  attention.

Based on the delighted look on her face, I gathered she must be seeing an awful lot of hotties. I don't even dare turn around, I might just stare straight at string-guy and I'm not very sure if I can stand with my previous declaration of not letting him suck the life out of me.

But I'm determined and stubborn, and okay... stupid. So I should be fine. So far, no one's trying to murder me yet. Meaning, string-guy hasn't saw me. Yet.

Finally, Diana deigned to give me her attention. "Guy at your back, taller than most, dead gorgeous, with a mop of dark hair."

"Uh, what?"

Diana rolled her eyes. "He's staring at you!"

"Does he have long black hair?" I asked nervously. "Like 'til his nape?"

Diana raised a brow. "No. Longish, but not that long."

I tried to hide my evident relief. Now that that's settled, I couldn't care less who's looking at my back.

"C'mon, girl. Check him out."

"I don't wanna. And maybe he's looking at you. We're in the same direction."

Diana looked like she's about to start plucking my nose hair one by one. "I'll know if he's looking at me. And if you know who he is, you might just wanna look at him."

"So, who is he?" I asked, my mind wondering when's the meat coming in. I am starving. I could devour a herd of buffalos.

"Lancelot Chaser, a senior, and a walking wet dream." Diana looked like she might wet herself a little with all this energy. "Every sane she-wolf is probably kneeling to the moon goddess to make him their mate. Present company included." 

Now I'm curious. Just how hot is he to be worthy of such flying praises?

I turned around and immediately regretted it.

Instead of Lancelot Chaser, my eyes immediately zeroed in on the abnormally tall guy (even in wolf standards), with long black hair, and dark brows furrowed above intense emerald eyes.

And he's walking this way.

I shakily turned my attention back to a Diana who seemed to have dropped her jaw.

Oh God, save me.