Just by the amount of scarring, I could see on his neck and the side of his face, the man in front of me was incredibly terrifying. He responded to the apparent location of my look, which immediately made me feel horrible. "Yeah, they never did heal, right." "I'm only looking to determine whether the scar tissue ever irritates you. I might have a cure for you," I said, immediately hiding my crude, apparent looks.
These wounds have been present on his face for too long to be saved at this point, remarked the shaggy wolf while flashing me a twisted grin and speaking sternly. Only because we were on a portion of the absolutely deserted road did I hesitate as he took a step closer, but he held out his hand for me to shake. Aztec, the lead warrior, is who I am, he said. "Julie," I responded.
I have heard about you, but I rarely visit the town. I'm better out there," he said, glancing at the dense woodland. As if I were aware, I nodded. "My son will be returning from training," You two will be introduced by me without fail. He smirked and hushed me as if it were a secret, then laughed and continued walking. "It's always good to have a lead warrior in your pocket," he said.
I returned to the Pack residence to get a few things before spending a few nights in Alexandra's place when I couldn't find her among the town's residents. The separation from everyone else in the Pack home will benefit us all. As I ascended the stairs, I nearly ran into someone and arrived at the landing before halting shortly. "What the heck are you doing up here?" The loud voice of Darius pierced the silence.
I stammered out, "I-I'm going to my room," as my response. I had no idea it was possible, but his face tightened even more, and his nostrils flared. "Do you reside here? He inquired for some clarification, "On this floor?" "Um, yes?" I asked a question that I wasn't even aware I was asking. Like the reason for his rage over that. He grunted, "This is my floor."
I reminded him, "And Caleb's." It served as the floor for the house's younger residents. When I moved in, Caleb was given most of my responsibilities here. He adopted me as his own. He muttered "Caleb's" a second time. I assumed that would end our conversation, so I sidestepped him and continued down the corridor just in time to collide with Darius's body lying on a concrete slab.
He would purposefully interrupt me. I had to tilt my head back to see his face from this distance. His eyes were frosted over, but they were slowly piercing mine. "Let me be really clear about this. I hate human; I don't even like them. He spat the term out like it was the biggest of insults: "Your type thinks they control the world that they so easily ruin every day of their sad lives, but this pack, it's mine now, and a human has no place in it. I was speechless as I stood there in awe.
His tone was filled with so much hate. It took a while to register, but once it did, it felt like the ground was giving way beneath me. I have no place here, he said. He desires that I go. Right now, my biggest nightmare is becoming a reality. After that, he wasn't around for very long. He only continued to glare before advancing by me and going down the steps.
My eyelashes started to water, so I hurried into my room and closed the door. It's no longer even my room. I took time to take everything in while I looked about. The bedsheets that smelt like me, the clothing in their drawers, my trinkets on top of the dresser, and a pair of slippers under the bed. I had settled down here. I had possessions and a space in which to store them. For the first time in my life, I believed I had permanence, and it was dumb of me to let my guard down in that way. Never will I have my own space. Amid the room, I was all of a sudden sobbing and falling to the floor.
Being a human among wolves, I knew I had no business being here, but I couldn't help but feel that Caleb and Alexandra were the real deal. Persons I care about.
I've been hosted by Alpha Arles and Luna Eira out of their kindness. Even though I was aware of it then, I allowed myself to get complacent. I had forgotten the most crucial lesson I had ever learned—never to become at ease in an uncomfortable world. My personal life philosophy. I cried till I started hyperventilating. I curled up on the hardwood floor, hugging my knees to my chest, trying to hold my breath.
I closed my tear-stained eyes and imagined myself writing my name backwards, beginning at the last letter and working my way up to the first. I used this technique as a child and would experience similar crying outbursts. I have no actual idea whether they are panic attacks or not. I know that until I calmed down, I had to go back and forth this time.
If not for the arms already picking me up, I almost jumped up when I heard the loud footsteps racing toward me. What the heck just happened? What's not right? Caleb held me close as he observed my messy appearance. I was still absorbing the idea that I had dozed off on the floor, curled into a ball. He must have noticed that I had vanished and had come hunting for me when he discovered that. He said, "Julie, talk to me," and gently moved me aside so he could face me. I mumbled, "I-I fell asleep," in a haze. On the ground? He said, "And you've been sobbing; I can see it in your eyes. I started crying again as I considered the first trigger for my tears.
I cried out, "He wants me out of here. Caleb sighed and drew me back to him for a consoling embrace. You already know he won't do it, right? He again groaned, "Stop worrying about Julie. I pushed past him and am now standing.
No, you don't understand. He told me previously," I retorted. "What do you mean he told you already? Were you asked to leave? I could see the complete amazement on his face, followed by an angry frown. One I'd never noticed on him before. Caleb is so submissive; I've never seen anything more. "He said he hates humans,' he said. That everything we touch is destroyed. He claimed that a human has no place there now that it is his pack. He spoke as though I were the most disgusting thing he is. I stumbled to get my breath back.
I only needed a brief pause to reel in the tears streaming down my cheeks. The last thing Caleb muttered before stomping out of the room was, "That fucking asshole." I soon followed him.
Asking, "Where are you going?" I tried pulling on his arm to get him to halt in the hallway. 'He can't do that. He screamed, "I won't let him. "Caleb! I yelled, "Stop!" he immediately stopped running down the hallway. "Don't you dare utter a word? You guys, today is significant for you. I shook my head at him and said, "I'm not going to be the cause of the drama here.
Who gives a crap about tonight, Julie? If he's threatening to eject you, it needs to be resolved immediately," he said. You can't fight your own Alpha for me, I promise. I said, "It's not worth it." He concluded with a firm "You are worth it" before descending the steps. I exhaled at how swiftly it happened and immediately started after him again. I couldn't allow this to occur. I had to halt it before it even began.
"Darius!" He yelled, and I heard it.
I hissed, "Caleb," attempting to re-grab his arm. Instead, the two of us stormed into the living room, where everyone in the house had gathered to celebrate the family's return. Caleb's arm was swiftly dropped as my eyes widened. All eyes were on us, and I can only imagine what I must have looked like. Caleb looked to his friend and incoming Alpha and said, "We need to talk.
Darius jumped up angrily and appeared to know what was happening. "What's up, boys?" Alpha Arles enquired while visibly feeling tense. They remained silent and left the room, leaving me behind.
What's wrong with you, exactly? Caleb began. Darius appeared carefree with arms crossed over his chest and a wide stance, but his eyes betrayed otherwise. They were on fire and alert. Caleb stepped forward, which could be seen as a challenge, and said, "You aren't kicking Julie out." I discovered that it was harmful among the wolf pack. I also moved forward, but only to attempt to yank Caleb back.
I'm not, you see? Is that a demand?" he inquired coolly. Caleb's torso stayed rigid while his nostrils flared. Caleb didn't answer vocally, so Darius kept talking. And why do you think you have any authority to tell me what I can and cannot do? Darius's voice rose ominously as he finished his sentence, making me cringe. He took two strides forward and let out a snarl as he was now toe-to-toe with his Beta.
I asked Caleb to leave it. Caleb hissed softly, "You haven't even given her a chance." Darius intervened, saying, "She's a human; I don't need to give her a chance." "What is happening here?" Both Alpha Arles and his wife made an appearance.
His mother asked, "Darius?" He and Caleb hadn't yet shifted from their fighting position. I was distraught because they might start fighting at any moment. Dakota stood next to his incoming Alpha when he entered the room. Caleb explained to his other friend that "he's trying to eject her." Dakota looked at Darius briefly before looking back at Caleb with his black gaze. Alpha Arles sprang up and said, "Woah, hold on a second."
Did you inform Julie that she must leave? His father enquired about something. He quickly turned to face everyone else before turning to look at me. I used to console myself by holding myself, but now even that made me feel like I was exposed before him.
"I don't know what poison she put in all of your heads, but you seem to have forgotten that we've kept them out of the human world and kept us out of theirs for millennia. What the hell is different about this? Darius let out a growl. His father turned to face his son with a straightened posture.
You were not present. His father again chose to modify his stance, saying, "You don't understand, but if you simply get past the fact that she's human, you'll learn to like her. Although I could feel the young Alpha's eyes piercing the side of my head, I refrained from turning to face him. Caleb stood in the path when he took a threatening stride in my direction. Darius's gaze swiftly switched to his pal rather than me. What have you two been doing this year, Caleb, because she seems to be so important to you? Darius posed a query.
Say nothing, Darius. You're acting like a jerk, Caleb said. Darius pulled him in by grabbing him by the collar. Caleb barked, I gasped, and Dakota and Arles attempted to break them apart with their hands.
Immediately, everyone burst out into yelling. The words blended together due to the excessive number of voices. As others questioned everything, I believe I overheard someone say, "Relax," and another remark "Don't test me." Caleb she is staying' snarl can be heard in my ears. I don't know who swung first, but before they knew it, they grasped each other against the wall as the vase from the side table fell. I couldn't handle the noise of the screaming, fighting, and crashing objects.
My body responded to this scene before my intellect because it felt familiar. I ran.