Tara POV
Once I got over the lack of modern technology, I realized that it wasn't that bad living with the pack. Before I knew it, two weeks had passed. Not only did I get introduced to the pack, but I quickly became a part of Victor's group of friends.
On the first day of school, Victor held my hand for the short walk from his car to the front entrance. It felt as if everyone was staring at me. Or maybe they were staring at Victor and the rest of his friends.
I pulled out my phone and opened my camera. I took a few pictures of the school wanting to freeze this moment in time. I took pictures of everything in sight fully aware that there were dozens of eyes on me.
I wanted to remember my time here.
A large board read, ‘Welcome to Avalon Prep’. Yep, I was at a prep school, and get this, they wore uniforms. I had never needed a uniform for school until now.
I heard a few whispers stating that I was an outsider, but I paid them no attention. I was too stressed about the fact that I was entering high school again.
“You could attempt to look a little more excited, you know,” Victor said from beside me. He looked down at me with a ghost of a smile on his face. “It’s high school, after all, the best time of our lives.”
“Isn’t that meant to be college?”
“College is overrated,” Axel threw over his shoulder. “Besides, we run this school, so you’re in safe hands.”
Victor rolled his eyes at his friend's statement. “Point of correction meathead, I run the school. You are just cool by association.”
Axel gasped dramatically, “What? Come now Vic, everyone knows my charm can win over anyone.”
Rose took that opportunity to whack him in the gut.
“The only person you should be charming is me, buddy.”
Axel threw his arm over his mate’s shoulder and kissed her temple.
Victor placed his hand on the small of my back making me jump a little from his touch. My neck snapped in his direction but he wasn’t looking at me.
“Tara and I are going this way. We will see you guys in geography.”
Victor turned and we started making our way down the hall. Everyone kept staring at us, which now I believed was just a norm for Victor.
“Why does everyone keep staring at you?” I asked.
He shrugged, “They are looking at you. You are something new and that they don’t truly understand what you are. You smell different from what you should smell like. And it could also be because you're beautiful too.”
My heart thundered in my chest at his words. He thought I was beautiful?
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to play his comment off. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself by swooning like a little preteen girl with hormones raging in her body.
“Your wolf isn’t front and center but there are hints of her. So you smell odd to anyone who can pick up on your scent, which is any werewolf.”
I nodded in understanding but I was still very much confused. It would take me some time to understand how everything around me worked.
“Baby!” I heard a squealing come from behind us and we stopped in our tracks.
Victor groaned loudly and turned around slowly. I followed suit and saw a girl with jet black hair and a done up face make her way toward us. Her stride and the way she carried herself told me what kind of person she was. Confident. Fierce. Arrogant. A lethal combination.
Her smile was as wide as a sea and her chocolate brown eyes had stars in them as they gazed Victor’s way.
When she was close enough she launched herself at Victor which caused him to remove his hand from my back.
“Rena,” he said, holding her by her waist. But he wasn’t pulling her to him but it looked more like he was pushing her away.
Rena removed her arms from around his neck but didn’t move away from him. She then turned to me and the initial glow in her eyes was gone.
“And what are you?”
Okay, rude much?
“This is Tara,” Victor said, detaching himself from Rena. “And we are on our way to class. See you around, Rena.”
Victor grabbed my hand and started pulling me down the hallway.
“You’ve dropped your standards Victor,” Rena called from behind us. If people weren’t looking before they were definitely looking now. “I didn’t know you liked to roll around in trash these days. It’s a real shame. Enjoy your new whore!”
I didn’t miss the stares or the audible gasps I heard. When I looked over my shoulder Rena was still standing where we had left her and etched on her face was an ugly scowl.
“Friend of yours?” I asked Victor, trying to be funny but internally I was a little shaken up and irritated.
“Ex-girlfriend. Stay clear of Rena, she can be a little…invasive.”
I wanted to elaborate more but then he pulled me into our first class just as the bell rang. I didn’t know my full schedule because apparently, Victor had handled all of that for me. All I knew was that I was in a class with at least one of his friends.
I was making my way to my locker when Rena suddenly appeared behind me. She let out an animalistic growl that had the hairs at the back of my neck standing.
“Back off,” she snarled. “I don’t know what you think you are doing with Victor, but he is mine. I don’t share; least of all with half-bloods like you.”
I gulped but I held my ground. I had dealt with enough girls like Rena to know exactly what to do. She had a bigger bark than she did bite.
“Look,” I began, “I don’t know you and you don’t know me. Whatever happened between you and Victor is your business with him and not me. So if you will excuse me.”
I tried to sidestep her but then she shoved me hard into the wall. Her brown eyes turned into a haunting amber glow. She bared her teeth showing off a set of elongated fangs. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated.
There were onlookers but instead of helping they simply looked at the scene unfold before their eyes.
“You think you are so clever don’t you?” She pressed her forearm against my throat restricting my airway. “You are going to die today.”