A Little Wicked

13. Nightmare

CHAPTER XIII

NIGHTMARE

Being a member of a pack wasn't just consist in running around the reserve in the shape of a wolf and howling at the full moon - although, as much as most would not admit, they did it very often. In fact, being a member of a pack meant that each had a designated role, a hierarchy to respect as well as duties to fulfill, ranging from group and individual training to strengthen the group to designating a member to be responsible for bringing food – a huge amount of food - during weekly meetings.

And Seth Clearwater's task as a member of the Quileute Pack was simple: patrolling a small area of forest that bordered La Push Beach from dusk to dawn and then reporting everything to his Alpha, Sam Uley.

The reason they patrolled was more a matter of tradition than necessity, for the Cullens had never broken the treaty and it had been years since nomadic vampires had passed through the reserve, the scent of which was saturated with wolves' musk. The only things they found in these rounds were occasional backpacker camps and hikers who enjoyed the outdoors or hormonal teenagers who used the forest as their hiding place to cling as shamelessly as possible. In the end, the wolves patrolling eventually lay somewhere in the forest and waited for time to return to their homes, for nothing really happened.

If the task was dull for the others, Seth, on the other hand, looked on with enthusiasm: he was the youngest of the pack, recently turned fifteen and that would technically be his first patrol on his own, his solo mission, Sam's vow of confidence who saw the boy's dedication to the idea of being a member of a pack as well as respecting his orders and commands without hesitation – a rare thing, since almost all members had a difficult personality and back and a half questioned him.

So Seth would do his best, even if his mission was something as simple as shooing out troublemakers from the reserve and that was exactly what he was going to do right now.

"Hey you there!" he exclaimed as he approached three teenagers older than him, sitting on the beach sand next to a cooler and empty beer bottles. Seeing him, they stood up in surprise.

"Hey..." a dirty-blond boy of the same height as Seth greeted suspicious manner well as others.

The young werewolf stopped, putting his hands in the pockets of his battered denim shorts.

"You know you can't drink in this area" he stated seriously "Right?!"

"Really?" The shorter boy in the group asked as he opened it by uncapping a beer bottle and tossing the lid on the sand.

Seth took a deep breath. 'Patience ... Patience' he repeated to himself.

"Fuck off... Here is a beach! A public place" The other said in a mocking tone.

"No. This is a reserve" Seth corrected. "You can come in here, but not to drink or much less dirty this place... So I ask you to leave"

The three looked at each other in a serious expression and laughed out loud.

"And if we don't want to?!" The tallest crossed his arms, trying to look intimidating "What will you do?"

"I... I'll call the authorities" Seth responded with dignity "I'm sure your parents will be pleased to receive a warning from Sheriff Swan!"

The young boys looked at each other again, frightened by the threat, but furious as they grabbed the cooler and personal belongings, scowled at the boy who remained serene - or at least tried to look.

As they walked away, Seth again caught their attention.

"Hey... The trash..." he said as he kicked an empty bottle.