Chapter 20: The Wrong Shift

“It broke,” I mutter, because that’s the best explanation available. I have nothing else to offer.

Whitmore raises an eyebrow. “I can see that.”

A few students laugh, and I shove the broken pieces into my bag before anyone can make another comment. Marcus surprisingly doesn't even say anything.

I try to ignore the smell of blood drifting through the open window but it’s hard to focus when my urges are screaming at me to jump out the window. I press my lips together and try to breathe through my mouth.

I awkwardly look around the classroom and notice Macy watching me funny. I roll my eyes, barely, and turn back to the front.

Moon Goddess, what the hell is happening to me? It’s been one bad shit after another. First a fire, and now I want to sink my teeth into someone.

‘Why do you want her blood?’ Momo asks, sounding just as confused as I feel.

‘I don’t know,’ I mutter inside my head, keeping my eyes on my notebook. ‘Maybe I’m morphing into a vampire.’

‘That’s not funny.’

‘Then sing or something,’ I snap at her. ‘Just get my mind off that smell.’

Even with the girl walking further away, I can still smell it, and I’m suddenly very aware of every human walking around outside that window.

Whitmore turns back to the board and continues with the lecture, but I barely hear him. Every few seconds, my attention drifts toward the window, and I want out.

I push my chair back so quickly that it scrapes loudly against the floor.

Everyone looks at me, including Whitmore. I don't care. The smell is getting stronger again, even though the girl is moving farther away. My entire body feels tense, and I can hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

“I need to go,” I mutter.

Whitmore frowns. “Where?”

I don't answer. I grab nothing, not even my bag, before rushing toward the door.

“Billie!” he calls after me.

I keep walking.

The second I step into the hallway, the scent hits me harder. There are people everywhere, and suddenly I can smell all of them. Their blood. Their bodies. The tiny cuts and scrapes I never would've noticed before are suddenly impossible to ignore.

‘Run,’ Momo says.

I break into a sprint, pushing through students who yell at me to watch where I'm going. I don't know where I'm running to. I just know I need to get away from everyone before I do something completely fucking insane.

I make it across the yard before something twists inside me.

I stumble and grab onto the nearest tree, sucking in a sharp breath as pain shoots through my body. At first, I think it's another weird reaction to the blood, but then my bones start shifting.

“Fuck!”

I drop to my knees as another wave hits me. My fingers dig into the grass while my back arches, and I wait for Momo to take over. I howl as the pain gets worse.

My bones crack and shift beneath my skin, but it doesn't feel like a normal shift. There's no familiar pull toward Momo, no connection to my wolf taking control. It's like something else is moving through me, changing things that aren't supposed to change.

‘Billie, what’s happening?’ Momo asks, her voice sounding frightened.

‘I don't know.’

My teeth ache suddenly, and I clamp a hand over my mouth. Something sharp presses against my gums, and when I pull my hand away, I stare at my fingers in confusion. My nails are longer.

I’ve never done a half-shift before, and it’s not supposed to happen after I’ve already had my full shift and my wolf.

Another sharp pain tears through my spine, forcing a groan out of me. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for it to stop, but the sensation keeps moving through my body. My skin feels too tight, my heartbeat is now faint but every sound around me suddenly seems louder.

And I can smell blood.

I lift my head.

There are students walking across the yard, and I can hear their heartbeats.

My stomach drops. “No. This isn’t Momo.”

I almost cry at the realisation, because I can see humans in a way I couldn't before. Werewolves have always had great vision, but this is something else. It's like I can see them in color, the temperature of their blood almost visible beneath their skin, and I want to pounce on them.

A group of students notices me and starts backing away. Someone whispers something, and another person grabs their friend's arm as they move in the opposite direction.

I look around the yard, trying to figure out what they're seeing that I can't. Then I spot her.

The girl from the classroom. She’s walking toward the agriculture building, a bandage wrapped around her hand. I start walking in her direction, my mouth already watering again.