Chapter 3 - 2.1

Stacie Mea Dowager POV-

This was not how I imagined my first day in the new town. I was late to school and now I am stuck helping this shredded kid. Those wolves did quite the number on him. He grunted in pain as I placed him onto the gurney. He gripped his chest like it hurt more than anywhere else. Shaking my head, I looked around the room for something to help.

The room was small and painted a dreadful yellow. There were two beds side by side with a curtain hanging between them. A desk and some cabinets on the opposite side of the room. Luckily, one of the windowed cupboard doors showed exactly what I needed, a first aid kit. I walked across the small room and slipped the medium sized green canvas box from the cupboard. I zipped it open as I returned to the patient. His eyes screwed shut in pain, his right hand still on his chest. On the other arm, his wrist was swollen and red. He had bruises forming, cuts scabbing over, and unseen internal damage.

"They really did a number on you, didn't they?" I mumbled to myself as I got to work on cleaning his wounds. At some point during the process he seemed to fall asleep. I was thankful for that, at least so his heart would calm down and not attack my sensitive ears with its pounding.

I got to his neck but his shirt was in the way as I tried to patch him up. Without a second thought, I grabbed a pair of scissors from the first aid kit and cut the fabric from him. However, When I looked up to check on him, his eyes were open and cautiously looking me over.

"Holy fuck sauce…warn a girl!" I chastised and his eyes grew as wide as saucers. He then fell into a fit of laughter before abruptly stopping in pain. I got back to work fixing him up as he got ahold of himself.

"Who are you?" he asked in a broken voice. For some reason, that put me on edge. I had always hated to see people hurt but this was different.

"My name is Stacie Mae Dowager. I found you all torn up on the sidewalk outside. Who the fuck did you piss off?" I responded and he looked to the ceiling with a glare in his eyes. I wondered, only for a moment, if I had said something I shouldn't have.

"I have never done a rotten thing to anyone in my life. However, everyone in the God forsaken town hates me. It's as if they all had a meeting and decided that I was this generation's bitch." he answered and I nodded along as I dressed his various wounds.

"What is your name by the way?" I asked, curious about the boy who had no wolf in a town of werewolves. It was easy to see why they shunned him. He was not one of them, unable to join the pack without a wolf.

"My name is… Jackson Collin Levine." he said and my jaw dropped. Levine was the last name of the Beta of the Elsewhere pack.

"I hope things get better Jackson Collin Levine." I said, shocked at the sincerity in my voice.

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Jackson Colllin Levine's POV-

I plopped a hand onto her head and ruffled her short red hair. She seemed like a good kid, something this school desperately needed more of. Though she glared at me as she reached up and grabbed my arm. Then, as if a flip switched, she released my hand and left my hand where it was. The corners of her lips turned up and she looked at me with a look. It reminded me of the way my younger siblings used to look at me. It was like I was a big brother again and I always loved that role.

"Things will look up as soon as I am out of this dead end town. I want to see what this world has to offer and I intend to find out." I answered her earlier statement and another odd look took over her features. It was as if she was excited to hear that. I smiled softly as I hid the pain growing behind my eyes. It was like a strong pressure that seemed to get stronger the longer I ignored it.

My head felt as though it was about to explode. The pressure in my head brought pain like I had never felt before. When the pain got to be too much for me, the pain kept growing. Then, it sept slowly to the rest of my body. The pain only grew more intense until I could no longer see. I could no longer feel anything and I finally passed out.

*

A wolf the size of a trailer stood before me with a snarl on it's long face. It was a mix of grey, white, and darker grey stands that covered its massive body. It's fangs too aim while it's glowing golden eyes glared at me. I was afraid, trapped inside of a small body that I recognized from all those years ago. I was but a child of five and there was a large wolf that stood between me and the people I once called family. That was the beginning, the day my life began to fall apart.

*

I was covered in sweat, the sheet beneath me soaked as I opened my eyes. Though, I instantly regretted the action as bright lights attacked my eyes. Slowly, I reopened them to find I was still in the nurses office. Instead of the girl, Stacie, I had met earlier sat a familiar figure at the nearby desk.

"Miss. Williams?" I croaked and the woman turned to me so fast I worried her neck might have snapped. Though the worry was short lived as she climbed out of the wheeled office chair and approached me. Worry was clear on her face as she once again took a seat next to me.

"Oh Jackson, again? This is only the first day of school!" She spoke with a tone that could only be called motherly. It was soft, concerned, and filled with unyielding compassion. The young nurse stuck out her chocolate hand and rested it on my sweaty brow.

"This is not exactly how I wanted to spend my birthday either, you know." I mumbled unhappily. I hated that she had to work so hard because of me and it was always me. Nobody else needed to come to the nurses office other than me.

"You see me more than your bloody teachers, don't you? This is getting out of hand!" she hollered and looked like she was about to stomp down to the principal's office that moment and demand I be protected. The thought made me smile but I reached out a hand to stop her. I gently wrapped one of my hands around her wrist.

"I still get straight A's and would much rather be here than in class. It is not much better from the teachers as you know." I replied and referenced the scar above my left eye. It was small but still visible if you stood close enough. A teacher had gotten annoyed that I answered every question she set forth correctly. Even though I had never been to her class, I had no trouble because I studied instead of wasting time in the nurse's office. She hated it and threw a stapler at my head. She was fired but, only because once it hit me, it also put a staple into another student.

Miss. Williams smiled sadly at me as she stood from her seat. She strode across the small room and grabbed a couple pill bottles from the cupboard. She doled out a couple different pills. She grabbed a mini water bottle from a mini fridge she had under her desk and walked back over to me. She handed me the small bottle of water and an even tinier cup with three different pills. I didn't ask any questions, I already knew what the pills were and that they would help.

"So, how are you feeling?" she asked as she retired to the uncomfortable chair next to the gurney styled bed.

"Like I got my ass kicked and then hit by a fuzzing train!" I exclaimed and she glared at me.

"Language, Jackson Collin Levine." She chastised and I held my hands up in defeat. I already had my ass beaten once, we don't need it to happen twice. Not that she would, Miss. Wilion was the nicest person I knew.

"Where is Stacie?" I asked, once again I noticed the red head was nowhere to be seen. The nurse looked at me questioningly for a moment before realization hit.

"The young lady that was here went to class. She said she would come back at the end of the day if she didn't see you in the hallways." she answered calmly and I nodded understandingly. It made sense, we were not friends and she had no reason to stay by my side. Though, I feel like I already lost the chance to make a friend.