I stretch my hand out to Sammy, "Reload"
I have no idea how many mags I've burned through, all I know is that imagining the paper target is Jackson isn't helping, not one bit, I want the real thing but then again I would get into some real trouble if I even tried. Not even when I stabbed the dummy over and over again did I feel any sort of relief.
I reach my hand out again but never get anything. I turn around to look at Sammy confused
"We ran out already Als. You're really mad huh?" She stifles a laugh
I huff and start packing everything. I leave the cubicle area and head to the shop to restock on everything I used up before heading back to Sammy's car.
"Are you ready to talk?" She asks as we rev out of the lot
"Yeah. Did you see anything that happened before you went to your car or no?" I look out the window to see a blur of green
"Not really, I saw you walk past me and towards the exit of the school. When I noticed you looking for someone I just walked to my car to wait there, next thing I know you're in my car telling me to drive and Jackson Hunter was coming towards us. So, what happened?" She asks with a giddy look
"Honestly, not even I know exactly what happened. I need sweets, let's go to the ice cream shop"
"Start talking and I'll drive" She probably thinks I don't want to tell her
"Fine. I was walking towards you when a delicious fragrance hit me, so I just follow the scent outside of the school. When I was outside, I locked eyes with Jackson but I was so lost in his eyes that I didn't even notice it was him in that moment. I should've ran right away." I groan
"How do you not notice that you are staring at one of the hottest boys of the city even after not being here for decades?" Her eyes widen
"Do you want me to continue or are you going to keep drooling over him? Cause by all means"
She clears her throat, "Proceed"
"I kind of spaced out while looking at him. After that everything happened so fast." I rub my temples quite harshly, "I think someone put their arm on my shoulder, I'm not sure who it was, and then Jackson was at my side punching someone at my feet, I'm guessing whoever put their arm on my shoulder. I pushed Jackson off the other person. Once I noticed it was Jackson I had been staring at I stormed inside the school to go to your car. I didn't get far before he pinned me to the lockers and I-"
"You got pinned by the Jackson Hunter?!?!" The car swerves
"Samantha! Relax and eyes on the road woman" I point forward
"Sorry" she mumbled and looks ahead, we were almost at the ice cream parlor
"Where was I? Right, he pinned me, but I guess I caught him off guard by pushing him off me and ran full speed towards your car trying to get away from him and, well, you know the rest" I move my hand dismissively
Due to how fast we were going, we arrived in half the time. Sammy just sits there processing everything, not that there's much to process anyway
"So why exactly did you run away from Jackson?" She asks with a baffled look on her face before turning to me
Good question, "It was instinct"
"Ok..." she trails off
"Sammy I don't even know what happened, like," I huff in frustration, this is all happening too fast, "something smelled really good and I just followed that but it led me to him," I don't want to even say his name, "but that can't make sense because his kind smells like wet dog, to me at least. I have trained myself that a werewolf scent smells bad just so I can keep away, but he didn't smell bad to me" I pout crossing my arms like a child
"Hmmm, let's go inside and get you something to eat first" Good idea
I nod and exit her car. I spend a good hour eating ice cream while Sammy drinks a blood from her water bottle. After that, we decide to head back to my house since it's was already 5:30.
"Mom! I'm back!" I raise my voice a little as I throw my bag next to the door. I'll pick it up later
I see my mom coming down the stairs in all her glory. I've seen pictures of my mom as a human, and she was very pretty. It makes sense how she caught my dad's eye even back then, but now as a vampire she's...let's just say my dad has had to build up a lot of self-restraint on his bloodlust.
"Hey, Mrs. Volturi, how's it been" Sammy has always been very casual around my mom
"Samantha, sweetheart, we've missed you around here" She embraces her in a hug
"Hey sweetie how was school" she gives me a peck on the cheek while her hands rubs my arm
"Very....um...eventful" My mom raises her eyebrow as if allowing me to elaborate further
"Actually, I think your family could help you figure this out don't you think?" Sammy says grabbing my shoulder
"Yeah. Mom, is everyone busy?" I ask looking around
"When it comes to you they aren't. They're probably already at the library" She rushes up the stairs
I nod my head and head to the book room. I like calling it that.
When we go inside everyone is already there. I always forget they are faster than me.
"Is everything alright?" They all echo at the same time
"Creepy" I mutter, my mom chuckles from her chair next to my dad
"Ok so I need help figuring some things out..." I tell them everything that happened and watch as they listen closely.
I notice how Jade's eyes widen for a split second when I mention the scent leading me to Jackson, as well as how my dad, if it wasn't for my mom, almost sprint out of his chair when I mention that this includes a guy. I tell them how confused I am about everything and how I just ran.
"So, does anyone know what happened cause I sure as hell don't" I smile sarcastically
"Language Ale," I hear my grandpa say
"Sorry" I mutter
"I think I may know what it is" my aunt Jade speaks up; I knew those wide eyes meant something
I move my hand as if to tell her to continue
"You're his erasthai" She says matter of factly
"Huh? What's an erasthai?" I tilt my head
"Really? But isn't that just among lycans?" Chad asks
"No, it can be humans, werewolf, or even vampires"
"Helloooo, what's an erasthai?" I ask again
"How do you know that?" My grandpa pipes in
Ugh, they have super-hearing but still ignore someone
"Guys, Alex is asking what an erasthai is" This is why Ramona is my favorite aunt, she actually pays attention
"Oh, sorry sunshine. You know how werewolves have mates right?" My dad takes my mom's hand
"Mhm?" Please tell me it's not that. I will hurt someone if it's that
"Well, an erasthai is something similar, but for lycans. Very few lycans have the opportunity to meet their erasthai, it can be whatever species. There are actually two steps to mating for lycans and erasthai. The lycan will first mark the soul of the erasthai, this doesn't do much to them, but it does keep away other lycan that may be interested. I'm sure you know werewolves are very possessive. The second step is the actual mating, but before that, they need to physically mark the erasthai. The reason for this is that the partner does not become a full lycan until they are marked and lycans can't mate with other species that are not lycans. Do you understand?"
I nod my head slowly; not completely sure I got all that
"Ok, but I'm still confused as to what this has to do with me smelling something in the air and why Jade said I'm Jackson's erasthai. I'm sure that can't be possible. He's probably been around before and I've never felt this."
"Well, he does travel a lot. I have a friend that is close to him and he told me that the only reason Jackson comes back to Oborotni is so do his duties as the Lord's son. He doesn't leave his house when he's here and just takes off to another part of the world once he's done. Spoiled if you ask me." She rolls her eyes
"Yeah, I'm confused too. I have known about the lycan species for a while but since I haven't personally talked with a mated one, I don't know how the recognition works" My grandpa rubs his chin
My aunt looks down at her hands and her eyes start watering
"I didn't tell you guys the complete story of how Gio died, at least not the why" Her voice shakes
At this, everyone quiets down
"Ok, this is getting very personal, I feel like I'm intruding. I think I should just..." Sammy starts standing up from her seat
I reach my hand out and grab her wrist, "Aunt, can she stay for this. I want her to know so she understands my situation too"
"That's fine dear, not as if it was a secret or anything," She says, twiddling with her fingers
Sammy sits back down and I tighten my hold on her hand
"Ok so you guys know how Gio died," Her voice is already getting stuck in her throat, I don't think this is a good idea
"Yeah, I saw it happen and it's my main reason for hating werewolf kind" I lean slightly forward
My grandma grabs Jade's hand and takes a deep breath with her
"Do you remember what the werewolf looked like dear?" What a weird question but, as a matter of fact, I don't
"Not really. I mean it happened right in front of me, but I was over a thousand years ago"
"It wasn't a werewolf, it was a lycan" She chokes out
Everyone's eyes widen. I thought it was a werewolf. I saw a werewolf. Didn't I?
I start trying to bring back memories, nothing too prominent, I'm not in the mood for a headache. All I remember is a fury creature, long claws, pitch-black eyes, some type of necklace on the animal, but what stands out is that it's in walking, not in all fours. It's a lycan, there's no mistaking it
After a few seconds of silence, my aunt continues, "One day Gio and I went hunting near the border of the city. There were lots of lycans around since it was hunting season for them. Gio started acting weird all of a sudden and started running. I sniffed around to see if he had found an animal or something but nothing seemed out of the ordinary but I followed him anyway. We came across a female lycan. She was beautiful, you wouldn't be able to keep your eyes off her. After a while of them staring at each other I grabbed Gio and dragged him away. The woman told us to stop and asked Gio if he knew what had happened and what he knew about lycans and mates.
Of course, neither of us knew much so she asked if she could talk to Gio; that it was important. I let him go reluctantly and came back home. Later that night he told me everything. Turns out he was the woman's erasthai, and she had asked him to be together, even though she was meant to mate some other big shot. Gio told her he would think about it, and he did say there was some type of pull between them but he told me that he was going to say no, he loved me too much." A small somber smile plays on her lips, "He explained to me what had happened that moment he suddenly ran off and it was just like what you told me happened to you. The woman and he had made an agreement to meet the week after that at the same spot. He went but when he came back he said someone else had come in her place since she wasn't feeling well, Gio still told the person that he declined the offer. The day after, Gio got murdered by a lycan. My guess, someone sent by the woman since he declined her. My point being, I know you are this young man's erasthai because your uncle went through this"
By the end she is a sobbing mess trying to pull herself together. My grandma takes her away to relax.
No one talks for what feels like hours, but I just can't with this silence. This new information.
"I won't accept him. I will not. Werewolves can reject their mates right? This just gives me more reason to hate their kind." I point somewhere outside the house, "I hope this is a little wake up call to you guys that peace is not with everyone."
I'm not surprised that my dad is the first one to speak, "What do you want us to do sunshine?"
That's simple, "I want to leave this city. I want to leave and not see him again"
"We could do that. I know someone that could get me in contact with Lord Liam. We could be out of here by next week" My grandpa says as he grabs his phone
"And I could arrange everything for the move," I hear my mom say, getting up
"No," I say firmly, making everyone stop, "I want to leave. Now" I know I sound like a spoiled brat but if even my uncle, who was madly in love with my aunt, felt a 'pull' towards the lycan I don't want to risk it. Fuck no
"Sweetie that's impossible. It will take me at least a day to get to the lord and then God knows how long for him to approve our permanent leave and-"
"Father. My daughter doesn't want to be near him so I will do whatever is necessary to make sure we leave by tomorrow morning," My dad's voice booms through the library as he slams the door shut
I knew he would be the one to take my side and help me out. I look over at Sammy and she looks deep in thought. The only person left in the room is my grandpa by the computer emailing someone. I'm glad my family didn't even think twice about leaving everything for me. We're used to moving around the city for the sake of not being found out, but we moved here not that long ago. I'm going to miss Samantha.
"Can we talk in your room Als?" I turn as Samantha speaks up. She's looking at everything but me
"Sure, let's go" I shrug
We walk to my room in our usual comfortable silence. Once we are inside, I close my door and sit on my bed in front of my best friend
"I'm sorry" she blurts out before closing her eyes tightly
"For?" I'm confused
"For all those times I judged you for having something against werewolves. Also, I'm sorry because I never told you that behind your back I was friends with one. I honestly thought you had petty reasons for not liking them so I thought it wouldn't matter but now I know, and you have every right to dislike them" she looks down and plays with the hem of her shirt. Clear guilt covers her face
I knew about her being friends with Cole for a while, I'm not dumb, but I couldn't put it against her. My hate for his kind does not belong to Sammy and I have no right to ask that of her. If she wants to be friends with a werewolf she can, and I won't hold it against her.
I pull her into a tight hug, "Sammy you have nothing to apologize for. I've known about Cole for a while, you're not as smooth as you think you are." We both chuckle humorlessly, "And about not knowing my reasons, that's all on me. You have been my best friend for years and I never told you, I should be the one saying sorry. I'm glad you understand now though. Still, it doesn't change anything. The reason I never confronted you about Cole was because I understood it didn't involve me, and it still doesn't so please don't change because of what you heard"
She nods weakly. We stay hugging for a few more seconds before we pull apart
"So, this might not be the best time for this, but I thought it could do you some good, there's a party going on later tonight and well...." She puts her pointer fingers against each other to look 'cute'
"Sammy you know I don't do parties" I get off my bed to go get my computer
She whines, "I know but tonight might be your last night here and since my parents and I just moved here they won't go with you. We need to enjoy our possible last night together to the max. Also, you need to get your mind off of that piece of hunk" she sends me a look, there's no hope with her. A hot guy is a hot guy in Samantha Stuart's eyes.
"Piece of hunk? Really?" I visibly cringe away
He is attractive, that much I can admit but just no.
"Pretty please, for me? Our last night together in God knows how many years?" She does puppy eyes. she knows I'm weak to puppy eyes
She must have noticed my walls crumble because she squeals, gets off my bed, and runs towards my closet
"At what time is this party?" I ask while I play on my computer
"8 " she screams from the closet. What is it with vampires and screaming? They know we could hear each other if we barely even whispered
I check the clock and it's 6:10. Knowing Sammy, she won't go to a party far away from my house or hers just in case she downs more drinks than her metabolism can keep up with
"If we have so much time why are you in my closet already?" I continue typing on my computer
She peeks her head out and I can see the mischievous glint in her eyes as clear as day, "Because, tonight my dear friend, is that one in a full moon time, and getting you ready is no easy task"
I grunt and lay down dreading what is about to come
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After 2 hours of Sammy getting me ready, we finally head downstairs to see everyone except my mom on either the phone or computer
"Hey hon, where are you guys going?" She perks up when she sees me in something besides sweatpants
"Sammy wanted me to go out since it might be our last night here" I roll my eyes
I feel bad leaving all the work for my family to do, after all, everything they are doing is for me
"But, I mean, if you want me to help you guys out, I could always stay" I look at my mom with pleading eyes
She smirks, "We are fine, go and have fun"
"Damn it" I mutter
I notice my dad running his fingers through his hair in frustration
"Hey dad what's wrong?"
He walks closer to me and gives me a hug, "Nothing you have to worry about sunshine. We just have to go through a lot of different methods to be able to do this, so it gets a little annoying especially since it's just repeating the same thing over and over"
He looks at me and gives me a smile, "But I would do anything for you so don't worry ok? We are getting out of here" he gives my hand a gentle squeeze and goes back to the phone
I look around the kitchen and sigh in relief. I love my family
"C'mon Als we are already kind of late" Sammy pulls at my hand
I walk awkwardly in the tight jeans my friend made me wear.
The outfit consist of tight dark washed jeans and a red bralette like tank top, she wanted me to wear heels but I convinced her to let me wear my usual white combat boots with heel. She wouldn't let me go if the sole of my shoe didn't have at least 3 inches of heel, which I don't understand because now I'm quite literally towering over her.
We got in her car and drive to the party citing
I was right it was barely a 10-minute drive there
When we finally arrived we are 30 minutes late but the party was full swing already
We both get out of the car and I could feel Sammy's excitement for me being here, she was basically jumping in place. I've been to parties before, but I always left 5 minutes in. I doubt today'll be any different
"Are you ready?" She asks as she hooks her arm around mine
"Nope" I look down, literally, and smile at her
"Perfect, let's go" She chirps
It party looks like it's taking place in a cabin in the middle of the woods. The party is supposed to be outside but as soon as we enter the cabin you can see people partying inside as well, the music is so loud that you can even hear it in here.
Sammy drags me to the kitchen and gives me a cup before pushing me to the counter to get a drink
I'm not one to drink but once I notice that there's everything I need to make cherry vodka limeade I go straight for it. Might as well enjoy a little bit
Sammy gets herself some type of brown-ish liquid and grabs onto my arm again to walk to the living room
Since we entered the cabin I felt a buzzing sensation in the air and ignored thinking it was just the booming of the music, but once we got into the living room it was like electricity cackling in the air
I catch on to the very familiar and delicious smell. I freeze in place before droping my drink and running out the house and towards the woods
Damn it. Of course, he would be here. He might have left the place for years but he's still got a reputation with parties
Jackson Hunter isn't exactly your typical rich, popular boy. Yes, he is both rich and popular but not by choice. Since his father is the lord of the city it would make sense for him to be rich and since he's rich he's popular, he's also very very good looking but whatever. He's not one for scandals or to be seen with girls all the time, and he's pretty kept to himself. The one thing that he does fit in for your usual popular boy is the partying, he never misses a party. As far as I'm aware he left the city centuries ago but it looks like he's back
I keep running, not exactly knowing where I'm going but honestly not caring, just trying to put distance between him and me
All of a sudden I feel a grip on my waist and I'm against a tree
"Gotcha" he says in a taunting voice.