I was great! If great was wallowing in self-anger and shame, then that was what I was: great. Yesterday was a disaster, and my stupidity proved how incapable I was of handling my emotions.
My truck slowed at the stoplight. The Redlight illuminated the road in the bleak morning. Colin drummed his fingers on his thighs. The only sound that indicated I wasn't alone.
For once, the passengers in this vehicle were quiet. And, somehow I hated it. I mean, this was expected. After all, they were still upset and a little confused about what happened yesterday. Even I was somewhat confused and shocked by my behavior. I had multiple experiences with the Red Moon and never had I lost control before. Not even while I dated Scarlett.
'Maybe because she wasn't your mate,' mumbled the voice in my head called Wolfie.
I sighed at the thought and drove off at the green glow.
To be honest, I hadn't expected Josh nor Colin to drive with me this morning. However, my anxiety was drowned when they both were waiting for me as usual. It wouldn't take long before I had to deal with them. And, I would rather it be sooner than later. The silence was killing me.
Colin would be the easiest of the two to win over. He was too loyal. No matter what he always came back. On the other hand, there was Josh. Even though he was loyal, Josh often leaned towards holding grudges and planning revenues. This characteristic made him harder to win over after a fight.
My gaze flickered in the rearview mirror. Josh was in the same position as yesterday; still fascinated with the view outside his mirror. Looking back to the road, I flicked on the right indicator before turning onto the school road.
Moments later, the large iron gate came into view. The closer I got to it the more uncomfortable I became. My foot eased off the gas pedal. I fidgeted in my seat. The vehicle crawled to the already opened gate. Its tall, dark design provoked fear and submission.
Two meters away from the entrance of the school.
I leaned against the steering wheel, scanning the entrance for anything and everything.
One meter away.
The hairs on my skin rose.
A ground dove landed in the road. Its head was down, pecking at something on the hard pavement. When the vehicle got close, its head shot up, and he looked at us.
It took him a minute before he flew off towards the school gate. When he neared it, the area glowed a rainbow color and sucked the creature through.
Magic?
My eyes bulged. My feet sank on the brakes and the truck halted inches from the entrance of the school. I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and hopped out of the vehicle. Holding onto the hood of the vehicle, I bent to inspect the gate. Tiny seeds ran across the ground.
"What is it?" Josh questioned, peering over my shoulder.
"Magic," I responded, straightening. I grabbed my phone from the glove compartment of my truck and dialed Amy's number.
By the second ring, she picked up. "You are the most impatient person I know. You don't have to call me, Kyle. I am on my way." Amy's voice was stained with annoyance.
I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop from rolling my eyes. "That's not why I'm calling, Amy."
"Oh, what's up?" she chirped; her earlier accusation was forgotten.
"There's a magical barrier at the entrance of the school. And, by the way, I'm reacting to it, it's not a good spell."
Without missing a beat a response came, "You react badly to all spells, Kyle."
An exasperated sigh left my lips. "Amy?"
"Okay, fine. I'll check my mother's lib—"
"No," I interrupted. "I want to discuss it with the other members before we set off any alarms."
"Hmmm." Shuffling rumbled through the phone speaker. Then, "I'll call Sabrina."
Sabrina?
My gaze flashed to Colin. He and Josh were busy pushing sticks through the barrier, laughing when it glowed. I frowned. "The same witch that caused hell Friday night?"
The incident of when the witch was last with us was still hot on my thoughts. I was sure Colin still could not control himself, and Eric would be there. If anything happened this time I was going to kill somebody.
A long sigh flooded the speaker. "She's the only straight witch we can trust. I know a lot about spells and magic, but she probably knows more. Besides, her grandmother is one of the most powerful in the witch community. If anything we'll need all her grandmother's knowledge."
I bobbed my head in agreement. As much as I hated this, I couldn't dispute the fact that this Sabrina chick held valuable knowledge. "Okay, call her. In the meantime, I'll check if the courthouse is in the circle of the spell. If not, then we'll meet there as planned."
"Okay, then," was the last response before the line was cut.
Grabbing my bag from my trunk, I alerted the two men, or should I say kids, " Let's go. I'm going to check out the courthouse."
"What about your truck?" Colin called out. "Are you going to leave it in the middle of the road?"
I paused and eyed the vehicle. "Yeah, no one would be able to pass it to get onto the school premises unless on foot."
"But, what about those in the dorms?" Josh questioned, grabbing his bag.
The dorm houses semi-circled the school. A dorm house for each species. There were hidden paths that led to the school building everywhere.
"We just have to pray we get down this barrier before anyone comes along. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."
Both males shared a glance, then settled with a nod.
I grabbed the nearest stick and continued with the men's previous childish actions. It could help me to pinpoint where the spell ran without tracking the seeds on the ground.
The stick was dragged along the wall of the school. The magical barrier glowed and opened to allow the stick through, but closed once it passed.
The action was done until we neared the courthouse. As the little experiment had proven, the spell had circled the school. The courthouse was in the forest, escaping the wrapping of the spell. Whoever cast the spell was a powerful witch. Or maybe warlock. It had to take every ounce of energy to get the barrier up fifty-yard of space.
We semi-circled the house and unlocked the Debate Room with my spare key.
"Do you know what kind of spell it was?" Colin asked, flopping down in his seat.
"I'm not sure, yet. I do know the seeds look familiar, and it looks like an ancient spell." I took my designated seat, and Josh followed.
"Maybe it has something to do with what happened yesterday," Josh murmured.
"Could be," Colin agreed. "I was doing pretty okay until we arrived at school."
My gaze flashed to him.
This was my chance to correct my wrongs. "No, you mean, after I said what I said in the truck."
"No, not really," Colin explained. "I admit what you said was painful to hear." He shifted in his seat. "But, when I left you guys, I went searching for Eric. I wasn't pissed at you, Kyle." Blue eyes stared at the table. "But, at Eric. I wanted to kill him for touching Sabrina. Halfway through my search, I heard some of the guys saying they saw you and Brian going into the forest. I knew you weren't so reckless to talk to him in public, so I came after you."
I scrubbed a palm across my face.
"Yeah, I lost it and went after Brian in there," I explained.
"When I realized you and Brian were fighting, I was relieved," Colin confessed. "I wanted to take out my anger on someone and you were there."
And, the rest was history.
Colin bowed his head, and Josh followed suit. "We're sorry for the in-subordination."
I nodded. "I'm not upset with you guys."
I was the one who should apologize.
The boys still had their heads bowed.
A sigh slipped past my lips. "I'm sorry for the poor leadership qualities I portrayed yesterday."
They gave curt nods and chorused. "To you, Alpha Kyleon we pledge our allegiance."
I pulled in a deep breath and joined. "Together we will conquer all."
By the end of our pledge, Eric and Sabrina came walking into the room. My eyes flashed to Colin and my spine straightened. If he made one single move I had to be ready.
"Morning," the provocative witch whispered, eyeing Colin.
Surprisingly, he did not say anything.
Sabrina and her companion ventured further into the room. The witch pulled out Eric's designated seat beside Colin and sat. It was odd how Eric never seemed to mind. He grabbed Brian's seat instead.
The witch's gaze flashed in my direction as if to say she had the situation under control. I halfheartedly relaxed in my chair. She had better or else I wouldn't be as lenient as I was the last time.