the girl who cried wolf|Wattys 2015

the girl who cried wolf: eighteen

"You look like crap." I was shocked by Mason's voice and hadn't even heard him come up behind me. I decided to leave early since I couldn't face sitting in the car with Mom while holding all this information in. In normal cases she would be the one I would talk to when I had a problem, but now I couldn't find the words to make Mom understand just what was going on in this crazy and paranormal bubble I had been trusted in.

"Didn't sleep very well." I focused on the cold, pushing all my anger and annoyance at it. My hands were thrusted into my pockets and my fingers tugging at the loose string.

"I know." There was something about the way Mason said those two little words that made me stop. Superb wolf hearing had led me to believe he was still at my side and yet Mason had stopped walking and now stood behind me. An undistinguishable look was stretched across his face. He was wearing a thin sweater, thinner than most people would be wearing in this kind of weather. The clothes were different though, which led me to believe that he had gone home to change. "You were with Lyus."

"What?" I spoke too quickly, thinking that hesitation would lead Mason to believe otherwise. "You followed me?"

"I was looking out for you." Mason defended, sounding hurt and even I was a bit shocked at the aggression I felt - the sense of betrayal. It was strange and foreign and I knew it was this lack of trust that Lyus would be grinning about.

"I was fine. I didn't need any protection."

"So I saw." Mason's hands were curled at his sides as he slowly walked toward me. "You can't let him get into our head Lucy. He's not a nice person. He's a monster and willing to manipulate your little heart and mind because you can't tell the difference!"

"He's not manipulating me!"

"Then why did you go in alone?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Oh?" His chuckles made me embarrassed and angry and to stop myself from biting his head off I turned sharply on my heel, burning the thin layer of snow as I stormed off. Mason wasn't following behind though.

"I've lived this life longer. I've been under Lyus' authority and I saw what he could do! He knows that with you on his side he can ruin other people's lives."

"You don't know anything about him." Inside I was battling with my own truths and Lyla's. I knew Mason was only looking out for me and he just wanted me to remain true to my word: that I wanted Lyus dead and these random murders to end. But Lyla couldn't bear the thought of Lyus being the monster everyone saw him to be.

Mason's hand was firm against my arm as he twirled me toward him. He pleaded with his eyes for me to listen. "Lucy I know this is a lot to take in, I understand that this is difficult and being forced into a war, a world you never wanted can be hard to manage. But you're in and it's up to us to make sure that Lyus is stopped. I know you trust me, I can see it in your eyes and I can get Annalise and the others behind me. But you can't give me reasons not to trust you and right now, I just don't know where you stand." Biting down on my bottom lip, I tried not to cry. I tried not to tell him that I wasn't deserving of his or the others' trusts as I couldn't even trust me.

I opened my mouth to speak, to try and explain what was going on but what meek sound I made was drowned out by the sound of police and ambulance sirens. Mason and I only needed to share a look to know what was going on. Both of us took off running.

The streets were familiar and my stomach flopped at the recognition that we were coming closer to the school. Lyus was no longer going after adults, but students.

A crowd of students were formed in a circle, which a few deputies were struggling to keep under control and pushed back. Phones were hovering in the air, cameras flashing as people tried to get a look. Catching my breath, Mason and I did our best to push through, but were defeated. A lone howl hung in the air, causing all excited whispers and chatters to momentarily pause. In the distance, where the forest was cut off from the school's fence - there could be seen a pack of wolves, Lyus at the front. Mason's chest rumbled and I could feel his body shaking as close as we were.

Another police cruiser pulled up. It was Marcus' father and the look on his face that then made me ever more curious as to who our victim was. The ambulance had gotten the student on a stretcher and the crowd was parted. Mason and my fear were confirmed. With a blood stained shirt and a barely lifting chest, Marcus was confirmed as our victim.

"No," I choked out, the sound more of pain and anguish and an anger that could rival Mason's. The sound went unnoticed by a majority of the students, but Mr. Lanter's eyes locked on mine.

"Still trust him?" Mason bit out.

**I know they keep being short, im literally just coming up with this as I go on guys xD**