Screams fill the room as I wake up from that nightmare. Werewolf. I wipe some sweat off my forehead. Looking out the window, the sun casts away the darkness the night brought. I take a deep breath. There's this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I can't quite shake.
The thought I once had that this was just a dream has left my mind. Worry is the only thing that is left in its place. Witches and werewolves are real. Is it really that far off to believe that this is some sort of a vision And if that's true, why is that man after me? Once again, more questions than answers.
Turning my head, I notice the still asleep wolf on my bed. He must still feel unwell if he could sleep through my screams. Upon further inspection, I notice the wolf slowly transform. His fur turns to skin, his paws become hands and feet. His muzzle turns into a face, and not just any face. Caelum.
So he was the black wolf that I was cuddling and the same wolf that protected me in the forest. Everything in me is so drawn to him. When I look into his eyes, I can't help but trust every single thing he says.
To see if I am seeing something, I rub my eyes. But a very naked Cam is still under my blankets. This looks so bad! I cover my mouth to muffle my scream so he doesn't wake. This shouldn't come as a shock to me. I mean, this is the least crazy thing I've witnessed since coming here. People can appear out of nowhere. My best friend is actually a hybrid. The list goes on.
I shake my head to stop these thoughts from filling my mind. I glance over and notice his right arm is still bloody. Don't wolves have super healing or something? Now that's a question I should've asked. Getting up, I grab the first aid kit. I don't want that to get infected or anything. I slowly sit on the bed so that it doesn't creak. I'm not mentally ready for the confrontation part yet.
"How did I end up here?!" he snaps, my arm hovering over his arm.
"You're injured," I reply, pointing to his arm that just healed before my very eyes. "I couldn't just leave you there. You were injured." I whisper.
"Well, that wasn't necessary." He protests.
"A simple thanks would suffice. Do you know how hard it was carrying you here?!" I fume, trying to ignore those sapphire eyes I could get lost in. He has a fiance, I remind myself.
"No offense, but there's no way you carried me home!" he says, his eyebrows furrow in confusion.
"Well, if I knew you were the wolf, I would've just left you there," I tell him, his face remaining emotionless. What a tough crowd. "There's something called a joke," I tell him, rolling my eyes.
"Well, you can't run around the forest, you know, especially at night. You're lucky I got there the moment I did," he tells me in a serious tone, ignoring what I said.
"I'm surprised you even got there since your tongue seemed pretty occupied at the party..." I tell him, regretting it the second those words come out of my mouth. I need to stop letting my emotions get the best of me. This, whatever this is, will never work out.
"I'm the alpha, and you need to show me some respect." He growls. I think this is the first time he has shown me genuine emotion since I got here. What happened to the guy that helped me in those woods?
"Respect is earned, not given. And quite frankly, you haven't earned it." I tell him. He must be so used to always getting his way, well not with me, he's not. No one talks to me like that and gets away with it.
He looks at me again, that emotionless facade back on. A long silence passes. "T-thanks for helping me." he forces out.
"Well, let's just call it even. You saved me first," I reply, avoiding eye contact. He sure is hard to read. "Who was that wolf, anyway?"
"He's not part of my pack, and honestly, I don't think he even goes to this school," he tells me.
"That's weird."
"I didn't recognize his scent and I know everyone that's from around here. I'd be very careful if I were you, especially with that dream of yours."
"I can't believe Talia told you about that!"
"I could tell she was hiding something. She didn't exactly tell me willingly." He shrugs, nonchalantly. "Well, I'm no expert on witch things," he continues, not giving me a chance to question what he just said, "but it won't hurt you to be more careful."
"Stop trying to tell me what to do!"
He looks at me and the butterflies in my stomach go crazy. The familiar spark when he's next to me ignites. I have never felt an instant connection with anyone. This won't end well. I sigh.
"Well, since you already know about that dream, I had it again," I tell him, trying my hardest not to pull him into my arms.
"Was it the same as last time? What happened?" he questions.
"I get glimpses of the dream every time. I always see a girl looking at me with my face. Then I hear someone's voice echoing from the dark." I tell him. "This time I saw the man. He was a werewolf. I couldn't see his face, though. All I saw were his golden eyes."
"You are not to go anywhere by yourself!" He declares. "Do you understand me?"
"You sure are bossy." I breathe, rolling my eyes.
"I don't think this was a coincidence," he says, deep in thought.
"You think someone is out to get me?"
"Yes. I think someone sent that werewolf on purpose," he says as Talia storms into my room.
"What is going on in here?" She shrieks as she covers her eyes.
"It's not what it looks like," I tell her as she uncovers her eyes.
"I know." She laughs. "I just love embarrassing you."
"Caelum?" she questions, looking at her brother. "How did you know where to find her?"
"Don't worry about it." He tells her as he sits up, exposing those sexy abs of his.
Of course, he catches me checking him out. He smirks. I spin around and throw him a towel so he doesn't see the blush creeping onto my face. What goes on in that brain of his?
"I'll catch you up on some things later," he tells his sister, wrapping the towel around his waist.
"Sure," she says, ushering him out.
"So, what did I miss?!" she nearly screams at me.
"I was drunk and in trouble in the woods..." I tell her.
"And my brother was there when you needed him?"
"And now that I remember, why are you telling your brother my business?" I huff.
"Are you talking about the dream?"
"Is there anything else I should know about?" I question.
"I thumb swear, Freya! I only told him about the dream," she says, taking a deep breath.
"So why did you?"
"My brother said he would use his Alpha powers against me."
"What powers do alphas have?"
"Alphas are the strongest members of the pack. They also can use their Alpha voice to force a transformation and make their pack member obey them."
"Do you think he would use his alpha voice on you?"
"I don't think he would, but I didn't want to risk it! I would've still been there blabbing about who knows what."
"Well, I still feel like you're hiding something from me." she questions.
"NOPE," I respond a little too quickly. Mate. The one word that is supposed to bring you happiness brings me nothing but sadness.
"So are you going to tell me?" she says, looking at me straight in the eyes
"I'm not hiding anything," I reply, trying not to break under the pressure. There's no point in bringing it up when he has Vera.
"I don't believe you, Freya," she says without hesitation.
I feel sweat forming on my forehead. I try to take a deep breath.
"Are you going to make me beg?"
"I'm just worried about the dream," I tell her, which isn't a complete lie.
"I won't let anything happen to you! They'll have to get through me first!"
"I'll talk to my brother about extra security. It makes me worried that he even got so close to our dorm in the first place."
"I can't believe this is happening." I sigh.
"Well, it isn't all bad. If you weren't here, you wouldn't have your list of foods you want to try." she jokes.
"That's true!" I laugh. She knows just what to say to make me feel better, even if it is just for a moment.
"Everything happens for a reason, Freya."
"When did you become so wise?"
"I can't help it. I'm just that awesome!" she tells me through her fits of laughter.
I can't remember the last time we laughed this hard. Do I wish to go back to the days before I knew about werewolves and witches? No, I don't. I didn't realize how good freedom would feel. Freedom from trying to be the perfect girl. When I'm here, I don't have to pretend. I can just be Freya.
Ghost jumps on the bed, nudging me with his nose.
"I'm glad we didn't get separated, my sweet muffin," I tell Ghost while giving him belly rubs.
"I'm the alpha's sister, no one would dare say anything to you." she jokes.
"What is my life turning into," I laugh, "Alphas and wolves?"
"You should get used to it, cause this wolf isn't leaving your side!" she says, pointing to herself.
"I'm not leaving your side either!" I hear a voice say.
I stand there dumbfounded. "You can hear me?" the voice says again.
"What is going on?" I shout. Talia looks at me like a crazy person.
"It's me, Ghost." the voice continues.
"How could you do that? And why not before?" I tell Ghost.
"I'm your familiar, your loyal protector. I always could talk to you, but you never could hear me."
"Earth to Freya! Who are you talking to?" she questions.
"To Ghost."
"Why didn't I think of that before? I'm so dumb! He's your familiar!" she shrieks.
"He is. He said that he could always talk to me, but I could never hear him."
"I wonder what changed now that you could?" Talia asks.