CHAPTER 2

Brooklyn.

I run.

Not once do I look back. I run outside the hallway and pass the kitchen. I can hear my dad on my tails as I run up to my room. 

“What the hell, Jack?” I hear my mum —She's not your mom— that woman asks. 

I still can't wrap my head around it. I will, but for now, I need to focus on getting out of here. Alive.

“She found out,” he says to her.

“What do you mean she found out? It was supposed to be kept a secret until we found the right time to tell her.” I hear her pace outside my door. “Not like this. Brooklyn, baby. Why don't—”

He cuts her off. “He's coming for her tomorrow.”

A sharp intake of breath. “Has she turned yet?” She whispers. 

“I don't know, but she heard me. Maybe she's already showing signs of her wolf.” He returns, sounding down. Then groans, “fuck. This is all messed up.”

Wolf? 

I slap my hand against my mouth to muffle my gasp. Hot liquid streams down my face. What on earth are they talking about? So…I'm not a human? Oh, gosh. My stomach churns and I quickly run to the toilet, puking the snacks I had earlier. 

What's going on?

I can still hear their voices, but I can't make out what they're saying due to the ringing in my ears. I have heard enough, and it hurts…so much. 

I bite down on my lips as I fetch out my phone from my pocket. With shaky hands and blurry eyes, I manage to hit the call button. Please, pick up.

“Brooklyn?” 

That's all the push I need. My voice breaks and I begin to cry loudly. “Mm-ike, help. Please, I don't…want to be here. My p-par-ents...no, no, they-they are— oh, gosh.” I shut my eyes as more tears stream down.

“Brooklyn, baby. I need you to calm down for me.” I hear shuffling around. “I'm going to come to you, alright? Just stay where you are.”

 I nod my head even though he can't see me.

 “Mom? I need to borrow your car keys,” he shouts.

“Are you going to the hospital, honey?” His mom asks him.

 I hear Mike cusses before his mom continues. “Come here, you should take something for her. She has been waiting for you.”

A sad smile visits my lips. “It's okay, Mike. I'll be waiting for you.”

“Are you sure? I can quickly stop by, then we go see my sister together. How's that?” He purposes, not willing to leave me behind. 

No matter how much that sounds inviting, I don't have it in me to see people or smile like everything's okay, because nothing is.

My parents…

I smile genuinely at the worry evident in his voice. At that moment, the realization that Mike is the best thing that happened to me comes to mind and more tears gather in my eyes, because I know what will happen next. 

“Yes. Call me after?”

“Brooklyn?” He calls out.

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

My lips quiver. I'll miss you, Mikey. “I love you, too.” 

~~~~

I jump down from my room window, making sure to land on the floor silently. Sneaking out is always a problem because my room happens to be directly above the kitchen floor and window. So, if someone happens to be in the kitchen, they'll see me.

Like right now.

My both parents snuggle together with coffee mugs on the table, looking ahead. I may have doubted it, but this is the confirmation I need. They're truly not my parents. 

Blinking the tears away, I focus more on leaving home unscathed. But things never go my way because she decides it was time to look at the window.

She gasps when she sees me. “Brooklyn?”

My eyes widen when they turn to look at me. They both stand up from the kitchen stool and make their way to the backyard door. But I am faster, sharper, and slicker than they'll ever be. 

Pecks of not being a human as they said.

Once again, I run without looking back.

I can hear my dad running after me. When I hear the familiar sound of a car, I run faster. Now I understand why they don't want me in the track team. Because of this. 

Scoffing, I look behind me to see my dad getting into the car and my mum increases the speed. My eyebrows raise up, do these people have a death sentence?

I am so focused on looking behind me that I don't see the car in front of me, nor is it enough time to avoid getting hit. What I do know next is that I am thrown up into the sky. 

A shrilling scream tears out of my throat as I connect with the bonnet of the car. It feels like needles got stuck inside my back and I try to roll off from the intense pain. I feel weightless for a second before my head bangs against the asphalt.

It feels like my brain just split open.

I blink as I try to pick up on what's going on, but the ringing in my ears won't allow that. Groaning, I turn on my stomach as I try to crawl away. I have no idea where I'm going, I just need to get away before my parents get here.

“Oh, my goodness! Landon, get out here.” I hear a feminine scream as someone appears in my line of vision. “Are you okay?”

I gasp as glasses prickle on my skin, cutting the flesh and sticking in them. But I don't let that stop me.

“Stop moving, you're adding to your injuries.” She says, kneeling beside me.

The sound of a car ramming shut catches my attention and through the blurry bloody lens of my eyes, I see a male standing there. He seems to be frozen in place and just stares at me, in a shocked yet confused state. As if he knows me, but he's not ready to believe I am here.

Somehow, he steals my attention but in my state, all I can manage is a moan of pain. As if something hot poured on him, he snaps and rushes over to me.

“Fuck,she is mine.” I hear him say. In my disoriented state, I feel the numbness starting to set in. 

My eyes close as I feel myself starting to fade away.

“What?” A shocked whisper from the girl.

“You're going to be okay,” someone touched my forehead. Parting my eyes open at the sudden warmness and sparks, I see a set of amber eyes. It's so deep and so beautiful. 

“Bille, I need you to get her on my back. It'll be faster that way.” He said to the girl.

I try to move my stiff head in a no. My hands come up to push him away. “N-no. Th-he-y…c-c-coming…” I gasp as I try to let the words out, why can't I speak? My head falls back on the floor, “...don't-don't..”

Black dots appear next and I try to blink them away. I can't pass out, not now. Not when my parents will soon get here. Tears rolled down the side of my head.

“No one will get you, not on my watch.” The sparks reappear and this time, I let it because I can slowly feel myself fading away. And because…for some weird reason, I believe him. 

But I manage to get one word out before I give into the unconsciousness. 

“Mine.”