The Troubles

“You’ve heard it all, right?”

“Mark?” I stared at Mark with fear now.

Randy walked up to Mark and raised his eyebrows. Mark was so hooked he grabbed Randy’s collar. 

Everyone there was shocked. Including Jammie and Abbie who ran away from that place.

“Screw you!” Mark shouted at them.

Randy smiled at Mark.

“You don’t have to go through the trouble of defending a weak man, Mark.”

Mark tightened his grip.

“You are a coward, Randy.”

“It’s better to be a bully than a werewolf who doesn't have a wolf until she grows up,” Randy replied.

Mark punched Randy in the face. Randy’s down on the floor. His cheek is bruised. 

“Would punching me in the face change the fact that your sister is just a weak human?” Randy asked me.

Mark’s jaw stiffened, he cupped his hands and walked over to Randy. Mark forced Randy to stand up and Mark was gonna bang him against the wall. I grabbed Mark's hand without thinking any further.

“S-stop it, Mark.” 

“Why are you still defending Randy, Lauryn?" Mark's mad because I stopped him.

“Mark, stop making a fuss here. I’m fine,” I said.

Mark was laughing. “Stop being so naive, Lauryn. How much longer are you gonna act like they're good friends? Look, they’ve been hurting you since you started your first semester!”

“I’m all right,” I said.

Mark beat up on Randy, and Mark ignored me.

The atmosphere in the lobby got tense as Steven and Clayton intended to leave but Mark stopped them.

“Do you think you can leave after doing this terrible thing to Lauryn?” Mark was asking.

“Dude, we don’t have anything important to do with your sister. That was Randy’s plan,” Steve said.

“After you hurt Lauryn?” Mark said it again.

“Man, we can talk this through. We are–”

Mark kicked Steve, I closed my mouth in shock. I’ve never seen Mark go off like this before. Mark’s face flustered with emotion.

“Mark, what are you doing? Stop that!” I begged Mark to stop making a fuss there.

“Tell me, whoever hurt you, Lauryn?” Mark asked me about it.

“Stop that, Mark. They’re just immature and–”

“Stop defending someone who is clearly wrong, Lauryn! You are always being oppressed because of your indecisiveness!” Mark was holding out on me.

“Mark please... I could be expelled from school if you keep making a fuss like this!” I screamed in tears. “This is my last year, let me go through it normally.”

“If you are expelled from your school, is the punishment. I’d be happy to find you a new school, Lauryn! Look, the best school is not just this school! There are other schools better than Volvo High School!”

Randy laughed and stood up. Mark looked at him with hate.

“No school will accept a wolf that doesn’t have its own wolf until it grows up, Mark,” Randy insists.

“Stop being such an asshole, Randy. With your trash attitude, you’re hurting your dad’s position as a leader,” Mark pressed Randy.

“And my dad would be satisfied if I managed to remove a weak human from our pack,” Randy replied.

“Being the son of a pack leader, you should have a wiser mind. You’re just trash and acting like you own the world. You disappoint grandfathers and ancestors who have worked so hard to establish justice in Highcrown Walkers.’

“Our family ancestors had no real human blood,” says Randy.

“Lauryn is a werewolf just like you bastards! She’s just a late bloomer!” Mark’s got them all. “Damn, you’re eighteen and you’re still childish! Go to the nursery!”

“Get out of here with that useless little sister of yours,” Randy chased us away.

“All right! But remember, you’ll be sorry after you kick us out of here. You’ll be sorry when we don’t recognize you,” Mark bluffs.

Mark pulled me out. He dragged me all the way to the parking lot. I tried to let go of his grip while crying. 

“Get dressed and let’s get out of here!” Mark ordered me to.

I cried and refused the clothes Mark gave me.

“Stop crying! They won’t change even when you’re old,” Mark told me.

“It’s my last year of school, Mark. You ruined everything.”

“I’m sorry, but even though this is your last year at school. You should get out of Volvo High School.”

“Why? I can finish my first and second years with that negotiation. I can get through it, right?” I asked.

“It’s not just about the oppression they’re doing to you. There’s something else you should know.”

“What? Why should I get out of here after–”

“Stop asking and cry. You know, some problems don’t go away just by crying. Come on, Mom and Dad are waiting at home.” Mark opened the door for me and let me in.

I follow all Mark’s orders. All the way home, Mark didn’t say much. Mark was just driving in silence and listening to a podcast. I was surprised when we arrived at our home yard.

“What’s going on?” I asked Mark.

“Nothing happened, just a little last packing.”

“Last packing up? What do you mean, Mark?”

“Take a shower, I’ll help Mom carry the stuff to the van.”

Mark got out early. I called him but Mark seemed reluctant to answer my questions. I followed him and Mom looked at me. Mom was holding me.

“Did someone hurt you again, Pumpkin?” My mom asked.

“Mom, what’s going on? Why are you packing?” I asked Mom.

Mom smiled and led me inside. I followed him in wonder.

“You better take a shower first. Then we can talk about this. After Dad came back from the Alpha Hughes house,” Mom said.

“Did Alpha Hughes expel me from the Highcrown Walkers?”

“Yeah, Lauryn, you know.”

I turn around and find Dad just entering the house. Dad smiled with a mimic that’s hard to explain. Dad came up to me, he stroked the top of my head slowly.

“We’re getting out of here,” Dad said.

“We’re getting out of here. But am I not the only one who doesn't have wolves here?”

“We’ve decided to leave Highcrown Walkers, Lauryn. No matter what happens I won’t leave my daughter,” said dad.

“But, Dad, why are you following me? You are the leader of the strongest warriors in the Highcrown Walkers. I can accept the fact that I don’t have a wolf, I’m going to Rogue.”

“That’s not gonna happen while we’re alive, Lauryn. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect our family,” Dad argued with me. 

“Dad…”

“Everything will be okay if we get away from the Highcrown Walkers. We’ll find a pack that can accept the flaws of their members,” Dad mumbled. 

“But there won’t be a pack that will accept a werewolf without a wolf, dad.” 

“Who says?” mom asked me. 

“Rand–” 

Mark slammed into the house, Mom checked on him. Mark got beaten up.

“HUGO!”