I walk into my first class of the day and immediately sit at the back. I fiddle with the buttons on my sweater as I wait for other students to make their way in. My schedule is almost the same to what I was enrolled in at Waindale High School, except for two electives. They've been replaced with nutrition and wellness and the very mysterious lycanthropy. Vivianne explained before class that it's something the humans at the Academy can take. It teaches them about their fellow students, how to cope with the idea, and how to view the world from this new perspective without becoming overwhelmed.
I never thought I would be taking a class about werewolves, especially at some private school that's filled with them. I never thought I would be okay with it because it makes the person I am mated to feel better. I never thought I would be giving into all of this.
"Oh, Wrenley, you're home. I thought you'd be back later than this. Oh! Also, I found your mother's old yearbook." Grandma grabs the thick book off of the dining table and flips to a page she had marked. She points to a small picture of a guy. "That's him. He's your mother's first love. John Aymon."I glance at the image for a second before hurriedly taking off my shoes and bag and jacket. "Grandma, where's mom? She wasn't on the porch working.""Why, she's gone to the grocery store to pick up a few things." I think for a moment before stepping back into my shoes and tugging my jacket back on. "Where are you going, dear?" Grandma asks."I'm going to go find her.""I'm sure she'll be home soon. Just wait here and I'll make you a snack.
I follow Vivianne to her bedroom upstairs as her mom continues to talk things through with my own. Vivianne's room is neat and tidy. The books on her bookshelf are ordered by color, and under her bed are baskets labeled according to their contents. I sit down on a chair that hangs from the ceiling while she crashes onto her bed, covering her head with a fluffy pillow. I stare up at the chair's connection to the ceiling above and feel as if the thing is going to pop right out and send me tumbling to the ground."This is all my fault," Vivianne whines, her voice muffled. "How could I be so reckless? So stupid? I shouted in front of everyone!""Yeah, I know," I say, getting up from the chair. "Did you mean what you said about me? Do you really think of me that way?"Vivianne comes up for
Adam leads the way up the porch steps and to the front door. He knocks then peers back at me. I stand like a child who has been called to the principal's office. I'll do whatever they want as long as I'm not in trouble. I'll agree to anything as long as things can continue between Adam and I. Hollow footsteps sound inside and grow louder. Through the fogged and distorted glass window on the door, I watch a figure reach for the handle and push down. A woman is revealed on the other side. "Adam," she says, her voice unwavering."Mother."I take in a sharp breath. Her gaze glides to me. "Hello," I say, trying my best to sound relaxed. "I'm Wrenley.""Of course," his mother says, not overtly obvious about her distaste, but the hints are there, hidden in the layers. "Come in, I want this to
I enter the house as I listen to Adam drive off. Immediately I'm bombarded by my mom. She comes out of nowhere and takes me down the hall, her hand gripped tightly on my arm as her eyes watch for grandma. I can hear her in the kitchen; it's nearly dinner time. My mom ignores my questioning whispers and brings me into her bedroom. She closes and locks the door behind us."Why did you leave?" She asks lowly. "Y-You went off with that guy without asking. You can't do that."I straighten myself up. "I had to talk to him about everyone finding out. It's not that big of a deal. It's just Adam.""It's notjust Adam. I don't know Adam. For all I know, Adam is some freak monster luring you in to kill you and eat you.""So you bel
I turn on the lamp that's sat on top of my dresser. The pink lampshade makes my room glow with a feminine warmth, and it shines through the glass of my window; a signal so he can find his way home. It's dark out there, so bone-chillingly dark that I nearly fear for him before realizing thatheis the greatest danger in those woods.A thick cover of clouds masks the moon, but I feel close to her. I glance back the wooden charm strung on my headboard. I like to think that it helps me sleep, like a dream-catcher. It makes me feel like a part of their world. If Adam's mother won't approve of me, then the moon goddess will. The woman from that shop on the water said that she loves all her children and those who love her children. Being mated to one of her children must be beyond qualifying, but are all these feelings and things I'm experiencing—is this bond love? If I
I walk to Lycanthropy class with Vivianne. When I told her that there was no ceremony, she was surprised. Apparently there's always been some sort of celebration, small or large. From what Adam supposedly told me last night, I can tell that he isn't on the best terms with his family right now, and I can't help but feel it's because of me. The last thing I want is to tear him away from his family, but I also don't want to start hating myself again for being human. I've just begun to get over it, and as usual, something has to try and drag me back. I'm scared of a situation where Adam may have to choose me or his parents, yet I feel like he's already made his decision. Would I ever risk my relationship with my mother for him? Now that I think about it, my immediate dedication to Adam scares me.How could I trade in an eighteen-year relationship with my mom for someone I have known for not
"Stay here?Now?"Adam stands before me as I feel like the bed is starting to digest what's fallen into its trap. I sit helplessly and hope that I'm swallowed before anything else can be said."I know it's a big idea to throw out there.""Big?" I question sarcastically. "I-I—I knew something like this was going to happen. I walk into the house and act like it's all casual, but I-I knew it couldn't be that easy. I thought we were going slow?""I've been trying to, Wrenley. I want you to be comfortable; I just think that we would be better off living together," he explains.I glance down at my school uniform. I don't feel like a teenager, or at least I'm not suppose
When I was young, I always wanted to climb the clothesline in Grandma's backyard. She had a dryer and never used the thing. The lines strung across drooped and were worn down by the weather, and the two white poles stood like a playground. There was a flat part on top of the poles. I wanted to climb up and sit on top and stare out at the trees. So, one day, when grandma and my mom were busy inside, I went out and dragged a lawn chair to the pole and set it against it. I got up and reached to the horizontal bit. Managing to grasp it, I jumped and struggled to pull my body up. It was a balancing act, but I didn't fall. When I actually did it, when I sat up there like a perched bird, I watched the trees as I hoped to.The high branches swayed in the wind. The sound of the leaves reminded me of waves. If I wasn't afraid of slipping off, I would have shut my eyes and imagined myself on the be