Chapter 1
"Happy Birthday!"
I playfully scowled as I heard another yell from down the hall. I didn't even want to glance in their direction. I nudged my friend Christina and rolled my eyes. "If I hear someone yell that again, I'm going to go insane," I declared.
They laughed, but Johanna was the one who spoke up. "It's Warren's 18th birthday. There is absolutely no way that no one wouldn't congratulate him."
I closed my locker and groaned. "I know. I just hate his presence, you know? Like honestly, I don't want to hear his name all day."
Christina rolled her eyes. "Well, he has his birthday party tonight and there's the game too. You know he'll win the game for us. Don't forget that he throws the best parties, so I highly doubt that you'll catch a break. Sorry babe."
I giggle and then playfully scoffed. "We're totally ditching his party though, right?" Lie.
They nodded and we began our walk to our first period classes. It wasn't that I hated Warren, which was the complete opposite of how I truly felt, it was just his feelings for me in general. For some reason, he hated me. It started from very far back, I guess. I had met him in kindergarden and immediately wanted to be his friend. I wanted to be everyone's friend, but he just never really liked me. I think I was too enthusiastic and bubbly to him.
When we reached high school, his friends and my friends easily became the two most popular groups at school. He talked to me once in a while but it was usually to antagonize me. I knew he heard the gossip about us. The rumors that we were secretly dating or the ones where we admired each other from afar. It was obviously a lie in his case. They say we'd make the perfect couple and of course I agreed. I never thought much of it, he'd never want me.
I was in my physics class when I glanced out the window to observe the forest just behind the school. It was a creepy sight. It could be broad daylight and there was still darkness and fog seeping from the insides of it. No one was brave enough to wander in. No one was brave enough to even pressure their worse enemy into those woods. It didn't help that the footbal field was only a few metres away from it. No one dawdled when it came to the end of games. No one wanted to be left alone in the presence of those woods.
"We won!" everyone cheered as Warren made the winning touchdown.
I jumped around and cheered, a wide smile on my face. It was no surprise that we won, Warren was a really great athlete. I'd never say it aloud. He had a large enough ego as it was. I tightened my ponytail and strolled towards my friends.
"So, are we going to Warren's party?" Helen asked as we walked towards our cars.
I childishly scowled and lifted my chin up. "I haven't even seen him today. I don't know if I'm invited."
Tatiana rolled her eyes and pursed her lips at me. She's never really liked me for some reason. "You're just trying to come up with a reason to not go."
"I really haven't seen him today," I defended.
Christina wrapped an arm around my shoulder while Tatiana spoke again. "You know that everyone is invited."
"I'm still wearing my cheerleading uniform."
"Guys, we're going!"
I scoffed and hopped into John's car. "Let's go, but after we're having our own party here." They all cheered and hopped into their cars, driving to Warren's house. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. I couldn't believe I agreed to this.
I'm so glad I agreed to do this. This was the greatest party ever. I downed another shot and grinned. I had won. Christina rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm. "Where are we going?" I asked.
She smirked back at me. "No more shots, we're heading to the dance floor," she explained.
I nodded and followed her to the living room where they were playing a nice rock song we heard on the radio. I moved my hips to the beat of the music. It wasn't even thirty seconds before a body appeared behind me. I knew it was Warren without even turning around. He placed his hands on my hips and moved closer to me. The place he held me was on fire and I had no idea why I was feeling this way. I should've pulled away, but I didn't. The alcohol influence not helping my judgement.
"You haven't wished me a happy birthday," he whispered in my ear.
I shivered. "Well, happy birthday, Warren."
He pulled me tighter against him and buried his face in the crook of my neck. "Thank you."
We danced like that for three more songs before Johanna was pulling on my arm. I felt something graze along the side of my neck and immediately knew it was Warren's teeth. Though, the strange part was that they were sharp and I could only feel two of them. Johanna yanked me away from him and I realised we needed to go. We had all declared that we were spending the after party at the football field. That's why we hadn't drunk a lot here.
"No," Warren growled from behind me. "Don't go."
I turned to look at him and was shocked to see the strained look on his face. His eyes were eluminated in the dark house and he almost looked animalistic. I sighed, "I'm sorry, I have to go. Happy birthday."
He growled and stormed away, heading for his back door. Where was he going? I shook off my concern and followed Johanna out of his house. All of the designated drivers were still sober and even in my state, I was glad that I'd get there safe.
When we arrived there, I knew that we were all excited about sneaking out to the field. We all grabbed cases of beer and the coolers from our trunks and snuck onto the football field. I skipped towards John and we handed the cases of beer we were holding off to a few of our friends walking by. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he placed his hands on my waist. For once, it actually felt wrong, but I didn't pull away.
"I forgot to tell you that you did great out there," John commented, giving me a peck on the lips.
I grinned and shrugged. "All I did was flip around and pump up the crowd."
"You're way too modest for your own good."
I rolled my eyes and gave him a deep kiss. It also felt didn't feel right. I stopped when I heard the wolf whistles from our crew. I smirked and pulled away from him. He grabbbed my hand and swung it, pulling me towards the field. I caught Christina's eyes and was confused with the way she was looking at me. Was that jealousy? I looked away. What'd I do to make her look at me like that?
We all sat on the bleachers and the hardcore drinking began. We all downed our drinks like there was no tomorrow. I was on my sixth or seventh drink when I was really beginning to feel lightheaded. I raised my bottle and cheered randomly.
"I think we should give ourselves a toast," John said, standing shakily on a bleacher.
I hopped up off the ground and skipped towards him. I turned and faced our friends when I reached him. "I believe we shalll!" I giggled, clinking my bottle against his. "We just won the game."
They laughed and clinked their bottles together. "Let's play a game," Tatiana suggested.
I grinned. "Truth or dare."
We all nodded and walked to the middle of the field, sitting in a giant circle. I placed an empty bottle in the middle and spun it. It landed on Helen, she was a quiet one.
I smirked. "Truth or Dare?"
She smiled shyly. "Dare."
"I dare you to run up the bleachers topless and then you can put your shirt on when you come back."
She glanced around the circle and shrugged. She peeled off her cheer top and stood up. She ran up the bleachers, waving her arms wildly with her cheetah print bra on display. She wouldn't have done this around any of us 21 people if she was sober. She ran back and threw on her top. The game continued.
Tatianna spun the bottle and it landed on me. She grinned evilly at me. "Truth or dare?"
I shrugged and downed the rest of my bottle. "Dare."
"I dare you to go into the woods for twenty five minutes."
Everyone's chatter quieted down and they all looked at me eagerly. I glanced back at the woods just a little off of the field and even in my wasted state, I was a little scared. I grabbed Christina's bottle from beside me and downed it.
"Let's do this."
All of them followed me to the edge of the foggy woods. I shook out my body and stretched my limbs. I was so ready to do this. John looked at me wearily, but I knew he wouldn't say anything. I took two bottles from my friends and walked myself into the forest.
I checked my phone again. It was only ten more minutes before I could leave this wretched place. It creeped me out to the extreme. I kicked the bottles I left on the floor. I stood up from my seated position on the ground and was prepared to start walking back. I turned to go back and my breath caught in my thoat.
A wolf stood only a few inches away from me. It was massive and was taller than me. It practically towered over me. My heart was beating so fast in my chest that I was pretty sure it could hear it. I held my palm up and began to slowly back away. It growled and stepped closer to me.
"I'm just going to go," I cooed, taking more cautious steps back. Fight or flight?
Don't go, a deep voice flittered through my head. Do not run.
So I did the only smart thing that I could do. Flight. I turned and bolted out of there. At first it was just the soft hits of my feet against the forest floor, but then the beast began to run and all I could hear were it's paws, pounding on the ground behind me. I screamed and picked up my speed. My breathing became heavier and I cursed myself for walking so deep into the forest. The beast was so close now. My foot caught on a tree stump and I fell to the ground. I was on my hands and knees, ready to run, but I heard it's deep growl and I stopped. I turned over and began to crab walk, my eyes on the animal.
My wolf likes a chase, the voice spoke again. I-I'm so sorry.
I was quickly sobering up, trying to figure out if that voice was my conscious or if I was still incredibly drunk. I stood up in a flash and began to run again. I was far away from the clearing, they wouldn't hear me scream. I hopped over a log and in that one moment, the beast had gained and was right in front of me.
I tried to slow down, but the momentum was too much. My foot slipped and I came crashing into the ground. I screamed as my back arched in pain. The beast crawled over me and ducked it's head down so that it's nose rubbed my jaw. I was ticklish there. I giggled. My laughter stopped as I realised what had tickled me. I scurried back, but the animal followed. I stood and the animal's tongue came out in a wolfish grin. I turned to run, but the animal appeared in front of me. I turned in the other direction, but it was right there in front of me. I tried again. The same result. The wolf raised one of it's paws and pushed me down. A shot of pain ran through my already aching back.
"Am I some sort of prey to you?" I cried.
I already knew I was. The beast let out a bark and I cowered away in fear. The animal was enjoying this. I could tell. "Do you like to terrorize all of your prey or am I just special," I spat. I was becoming irritated quickly even though I was usually a patient person. If it was going to kill me, why take so long?
I'm not going to kill you, a voice drifted through my head. Calm down.
My body began to relax and I was sucking on air, I could breathe. My chest no longer heaved. Somehow, I had no more fear for the beast. It crawled over me and leaned it's head down. I stroked it's face, the fur was incredibly soft underneath my hand.
"You're beautiful," I whispered.
It let out a bark and I smiled. My thumb traced circles on the animal's face. I reveled in the beauty of the brown wolf in front of me. It's color was so rich and luscious, anyone would kill for it. It's eyes were magnificent. They were a bright green, something I've never seen in the eyes of a wolf before.
"You are one good looking wolf," I breathed.
Forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me, the voice chanted in my head.
It made a grunt like noise and ran it's tongue on the crook of my neck. I laughed and scrunched up my face. That is so gross. It happened too quickly for me to understand. It's teeth sunk into my skin and the pain filled with pleasure that ran through my body was undeniable. My body shook with confusion and then, I was afraid of the beast. My mouth opened to scream, but all that came out was air. I realised with a tremor that my body was becoming limp. I tried to raise my hand and push it away, but I was too weak.
"Stop," I choked. "You're killing me."
My body ached and all that I could understand was pain. And terror. I was beyond terrified. The animal removed it's teeth and licked the wound it made. I had trouble breathing. My eyes struggled to stay open and I was in pain. The beast turned and dashed away. I was tired and it was time for me to rest. I needed to sleep.
Stand, the voice commanded.
My mind complied and before I knew it, I was standing. The voice barked out it's next demand and then I was staggering out of the forest. My friends came into view and I noticed that they were playing and running around the field. Christina sat in John's lap. What the heck? Did they forget me? John's eyes zoned in on me and suddenly, everyone stood in front of me. They began to question what happened to me. I had to tell them what happened to me.
I want you to lie, my mind said. Tell them that you didn't do anything and that nothing happened.
I shrugged. "Nothing happened to me. I sat at the base of a tree for twenty five minutes."
Tell them you're going home. Come to me.
"I'm going to head out."
My feet lead me back into the forest. I staggered and tripped multiple times. I couldn't see anything. It was all too blurry. I couldn't see anything. My leg caught on a tree root and I fell. My bare knees bled and my hands were cut up. A chuckle came from ahead of me and I looked up. I could barely even make out a shape.
"I'm very surprised that you turned out to be mine," they said.
I blinked. My vision stayed the same. "Warren, is that you?"
"I suppose it is."
I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Can you please help me home? It seems that I can't see."
Another chuckle. "Come to me."
I rolled my eyes and stood shakily. I held my hand out, feeling for the tree trunk. My hand reached it and I leaned on it for support. "Where are you?"
A bitter chuckle. "You can see my shape. Come to me."
I breathed out and nodded. "Okay." I stumbled towards what I assumed was him. My foot caught and I fell again.
He sighed, sounding annoyed. "You're so weak."
I forwned. "I-I'm sorry." I stood again and smiled when I was right in front of his shape.
"You took your time in reaching me."
My small smile fell. I didn't want him upset with me. "I kept stumbling. I'm sorry."
"I'm an Alpha, I can't have you stumbling like a weak human."
I was confused, but I brushed it aside. "Thank you for agreeing to take me home."
He growled. "I'm getting something out of this."
My brow furrowed. "I never knew you enjoyed helping others."
He chuckled. "I don't."
His hands found my shoulders and he turned us around, beginning to walk me backwards. He shoved me, letting go of my soulders and I stumbled back. My back roughly hit a tree trunk. I winced.
"Why'd you do that?" I asked softly.
He chuckled and in a flash, he was in front of me. Even in the haze, I could still see the bright glow of his green eyes. His finger rubbed against the bite mark the wolf had made. "I've claimed you. So, now you're mine."
His lips smashed against mine and I felt my eyebrows rise. I pushed at his chest softly. He didn't budge. I began to push harder on him, but he didn't stop. My already weak limbs thrashed wildly in an attempt to escape. My mouth formed the word 'stop' but it only caused him to shove his tongue down my throat, nearly gagging me. My head whipped to the other side and he leaned back, giving me a smirk.
"Why'd you pull away?" he questioned.
The back of my hand found my lips and I rubbed harshly. "I have a boyfriend."
He laughed. "I've claimed you. You're mine now."
I shook my head. "What are you saying? Why do you keep repeating that?"
"It's time for you to sleep. Sleep."
I nodded and let him carry me. I was so tired. It was time for me to sleep. My eyes fluttered close. I rested my head on his chest and realised it was bare. Where was his shirt? I'd ask later. My breathing evened out and sleep tugged at me.