Freya I poked the steak, not feeling hungry. "You've seemed so distant ever since you've returned from school," grand aunt Zira said as she studied me from across the table. "I'm okay," I said. "I'm going upstairs to do my homework," I told her, not having the appetite to eat anything. She nodded. Again, I lied; I never got any homework. I just felt the need to be alone. I closed the door of my room and went to sit beside the window, leering into the forest. I didn't understand why he was so mad at me when I had done nothing wrong. Hot tears formed in my eyes, rolling down my cheeks, remembering that for many years my mom had wrongly blamed me for Dad leaving her. What if he, too, mistakenly vented his anger out on me as well? I feel as if I was born with a curse—bad luck for taking someone else's blame. I was starting to believe it. I heard a knock on the door. "I'm coming." I quickly wiped away my tears. I opened the door. "Your grand aunt and I are going to a friend's
Jurius A tree tumbled down with one punch. I was so angry. I'd decided to kill her and bury her body where no one would find her, but seeing how broken she was, I couldn't. It was too difficult to Instead, I felt a strong urge to protect her, to take away her pain, and to make her happy. I despised it, but I wanted to. My father must be worried about me. I went for clothes I had hidden under the tree in case of emergency. I was naked; I put it on and went home. As I arrived home, I saw the entire pack leaving. "Dad is allowing us to sleep in the forest under a bonfire tonight," Kathara said excitedly. Being partly wolves, we loved being out in the open, around Mother Nature. I wasn't in the mood to attend this time. I walked past everyone entering the home, heading upstairs to my room. "Jurius," I heard my father say. I didn't stop; I just kept walking. I slammed my door as I got into my room. I was filled with so much rage. My eyes kept flashing uncontrollably into my wolf's.
Freya I couldn't stop thinking of Jurius saving me and how fast he ran into the forest right before I could turn back around to look at him. He was so fast. His speed didn't seem human at all. I also couldn't figure out why he was at my house. I was worried. He knew I was committing suicide by jumping from my window. What if he tells someone? I couldn't risk anyone finding out. In history class, I looked at the seat where I first saw him. He wasn't there. At lunch, I didn't see him either, just his brother and the others. Throughout the day, all I could think about was him. The memory of him catching me in his arms, how close we were as we stared into each other's eyes, and the feeling of the comfortable warmth of his body. Every time I'm reminded of him, I feel butterflies in my stomach. Was I truly falling for him? I've never fallen in love. I am too scared to, seeing how bad-lucked my mom and her family are with men. I didn't know whether to think of it. The last class for
JuriusAfter discovering who my cursed human soulmate was, Dad stopped me from going to school for a while. He didn't want anyone within the pack to be suspicious of why I had done so, and so he made it seem I had more training to help me prepare to one day take on the pack.I'd been in the packs' gyms for hours for the past few days I've been absent from school, working out. I worked so hard that I felt I had overworked myself. My dad would often tell me to take it easy; it is so hard. Every time I sat down for a rest, all I could think about was her. I was starting to become worried about her. I wanted to put that feeling aside. It was not good for me.Dad was returning to the gym.I stopped working out and grabbed a towel to wipe away the sweat from my face.He was not alone; Uncle Lennox was with him as well."How many push-ups have you done?" Uncle Lennox asked. I could sense sadness within him as he tried to lighten the mood, as he always does.At that moment, I knew Dad had told
Jurius Like the love two wolf shifters had for each other when paired by the moon goddess. I had that same deep affection for her; the only difference was that she wasn't one of us, and it was wrong. A human and a wolf shifter can never be together. That has been the rule for hundreds of years and will remain unchangeable. I felt miserable fighting the love I had for her. I felt like I was fighting myself. "I thought it was teamwork to get rid of her," I said, covering my lies. If Dad only knew how badly I was starving for her—to touch her, to be next to her—every single night instead of going off to bed, I secretly watched her from her window as she cried, desiring that one day I could put an end to her tears. Dad gave me a grave look. "For a minute, I thought you were accepting her as your soulmate," he said. "Never!" I retorted, lying again. He and Uncle Lennox kept looking at me as if they didn't believe me. I knew they were listening for a sudden rise in my heartbeat. Over
FreyaI stood gazing through the window outside, where Jurius had saved me. I couldn't stop thinking about him.A knock on my door caused me to spin away from it. I went to open the door. It was Zira."It's Saturday, a day to go out with your friends and not lock yourself in your room all day," she said.My head lowered as I took a large strand of my hair and placed it behind my ear."I like staying home on Friday to read," I retorted as my head lifted back toward her.I did, but after what had happened between me and Jurius, every word I saw in the book was his name. It is hard for me to stay focused.A sad look appeared on her face."I'll be fine," I told her, not wanting her to worry. Beside, this is something I did often when I was with my mom," I tried to cheer her up.My back turned, and I walked away, feeling down and blinking every tear from my eyes, remembering my mom. I recalled reading as a hobby. I didn't do it because I loved to; it was a way for me to be somewhere that ma
Jurius My teeth clenched in my mouth, and I held tightly onto the left leg of my pants, causing my leg to soon feel cramped. It was difficult to sit still knowing she was right there at the back. My body stiffened in my seat. There were 25 students on the bus, and her scent was the one I couldn't stop picking up; it overpowered everyone else. I slid myself closer to the window, opening it for some fresh air to get rid of her scent. I hated myself for loving her scent and for accepting her as my soulmate. It is very wrong. Can't this stupid bus go any faster? I cursed from the inside. The wind from the window wasn't helping at all. I quickly reached for a handkerchief from my pocket and covered my nose. Finally, it helped. The handkerchief smelled like the sweet scent of softener, a laundry item my mom used to rinse our clothes. Just when I thought I was safe from her attractive scent, another issue occurred: her beautiful face. In the window next to me, I could see her reflection. H
Freya My palms began to sweat, and I felt like I was about to pass out the moment I saw Jurius look at me as I exited the bus. I held my breath nervously, and both feet felt weak from his stare. I'm surprised I managed to leave the bus without falling flat on my face or suffocating myself for holding my breath for too long. I was glad I didn't. I have no idea how I'd deal with such embarrassment. As I gathered with the others, I glimpsed him at my right side; he was still staring at me. I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I lowered my head, allowing my large, puffy, curly hair to hide my face, taking a deep breath out and in. I felt so stupid for acting so shy before him. I was worried he would find me uncanny or immature. Finally getting my breath under control, I raised my head and bravely turned to look at him. A gloomy feeling swept over me, seeing that he wasn't looking at me. I bite my bottom lips angrily, blaming myself for him not paying attention to me anymore. I worried
FreyaThe day I was upset with Dolly, and angrily stormed off from school. I didn't go to school the next day. I lied to my grandmother that I felt too sick to attend school. I was too worried to go, knowing that Jurius would see the werewolf councils. I feared that they would never accept Jurius and me being together. I'm glad they did.Jurius wasn't at school yet, so I looked for Dolly. I needed to apologize to her for how I treated her.Two of her close friends, Becky and Tamara, were chatting by their lockers."Hi. Do you know where I can find Dolly?""She's not here yet." Tamara answered."Thanks." I walked off."Freya." Becky stopped me.I turned to look at her."What is going on between you and Dolly? She's been down since the day you drove off upset." Becky was curious."I can't say. But everything will be fine between us pretty soon," I reassured them.They nodded, and I went to wait in the parking area for Dolly.I was leaning against a wall when her pink Porsche was driven
JuriusWe held hands as I followed her home."This is my stop here?" I halted, causing her to stop as well."Please stay a little longer with me." She gently squeezed my hand, not wanting me to leave."I can't."I wanted to, but my head kept ringing with my dad calling me telepathically, wanting me to come home."When will I see you again?" Her hand let go of mine, and it folded.I drew closer to her."Tomorrow, when I return from the wolf shifter councilors,"Her eyes closed as I leaned in to kiss her forehead, and they opened as I stood straight."Promise?" she said."With all of my heart."She smiled for a while until it disappeared with worries."I hope they'll allow us to be together.""Me too." My arms were wrapped around her.Dad was standing on the porch, anxiously waiting for me to return."Finally, you're here," he said telepathically as he spotted me.He left the porch and met me in the middle of our land."Why were you taking so long?" He shoved me across the land, sending
Freya"It has been the rule for many years that a human and a wolf shifter can never be together. But today we've been amazed by something we thought never existed again. Visit the werewolf council elders tomorrow evening. Probably they will have no choice but to spare your human mate since your title as the alpha of all alpha is far greater than there's," said the one in silver.And as he walked away, he respectfully gave a nod to both Jurius and his dad.Jurius quickly brought me inside and placed me in the living room. He was soon returning with an ice pack. I watched him as he sat before me and placed the small ice pack on my forehead. Concerned, his eyes never left my forehead.I just kept staring into his face, not knowing whether I should be happy for him that his status as a wolf shifter from being a future alpha of his pack changed immensely to become an alpha of all alphas or whether I should be scared of him. He was more powerful, and the mightiness of his growl terrified m
FreyaI should have driven home, called my mom, and started packing. Instead, I parked my car where no one could find it and walked along the forest to Jurius's home. It was a bad idea what I was doing, but how could I leave without saying goodbye?I spotted a male wolf shifter as I got onto the land, an elder of the pack. He stopped what he was doing to look at me. Nervously, I walked to find Jurius."What are you doing here?" I flinched and became motionless at the loud shout.I knew who it was; it was the alpha, Jurius's father.Like a plant held firmly in the ground, I stood straight as I felt his unwelcome presence go around me, and he towered above me as he stood before me."What-are-you-doing-here-human?" he again asked, sharply repeating his question."I need to see Jurius," I said, terrified of him."He's not here," he growled as one of his hands reached out to grab me."Don't hurt her!" I heard Jurius.The alpha hand was kept away from me, and I watched Jurius as he ran from
FreyaI wanted to turn back around, but my vehicle stopping in front of the driveway somehow allowed her to know I'd arrived.A bad feeling ran through my gut as she exited the door and stood on the porch.Carefully, I drove the car along the driveway, and I took five minutes before leaving the vehicle.If Jurius hadn't been waiting for me in my room, I would have turned the car around and driven away.I know why my mom was here; it was because of what had happened to me.My head lowered, not wanting to see her face as I walked to the house."Hey honey," she stopped me on the first step to the porch, causing my head to be raised.In her eyes, which were as dark as mine, I could see guilt. I know she didn't want to be here and that she was because of Zara and Grandma."Mom," I said in my throat as I went inside.Whatever she was here to say, I wasn't interested or cared to know."Are you doing much better since what happened?" I heard her as I opened the front door.I was so angry at h
FreyaTime flies by so fast when you're spending time with someone you're madly in love with.Jurius and I sat down on the grass, and his arms were wrapped around me while I lay on his chest."I wish we didn't have to leave now," he said, holding me tighter in his arms."Me too," I said softly as my head lifted to his.I smiled and my eyes closed as he kissed my forehead, and as he did, the pain of being separated from him once more arose inside my heart. My head went to my left breast as I now felt one of Jurius's arms resting on my heart, as if he had felt the pain as well, and my gaze steadily went back to him."I hate being away from you as well, he confessed. I wish you could dwell with me along with the pack, so I could always be with you, even when you are asleep.""I wish I was a wolf shifter," I now yearned to be, and then I would always be by his side."Don't say that!" Jurius detested what I had said."I wish nothing else of you, for you are the perfect mate for me," he tol
Freya P.O.VAfter seeing Jurius yesterday, I couldn't wait for the next day to see him again.Before going downstairs, I arranged my long, curly hair.When I walked into the kitchen, Zira and my grandma were both surprised to find that I was going to school."You cannot go to school today," Zira announced, and my grandmother agreed."I'm fine," I said as I began to make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast.They watched me with concern as I finished making my sandwich. I took a big bite and went into the fridge, pouring myself out a half full of orange juice."Make sure you take your supplements," my grandmother reminded me.I nodded.Three of the supplements were in my pocket. I removed them from my pocket and swallowed them together with the rest of the orange juice and some water."Goodbye; I'll see you later." I was rushing from the kitchen."Freya, wait," Zira stopped me. She gave me an apple and a banana."You can eat these whenever you feel hungry," she said.
FreyaI was awakened in the hospital, and I caught sight of a needle jammed into the front of my elbow. I discovered I was hooked up to a drip. My grandma, who was sitting next to me in the room, noticed I'd gotten up and promptly stood up."I'm going to get the nurse," she said as she stormed out the door.Shortly after, she returned with a nurse.I watched as the nurse connected me to a new bag of drips."Dr. Weather will be here soon," the nurse said to my grandmother before leaving.My grandmother approached me and softly touched my face. And my gaze was drawn to her."Why are you causing yourself harm by dealing with your problems on your own, child?" she asked, concerned.My attention shifted away from her."Can't you see my sister and I are willing enough to help you? Why are you refusing to accept it? She stated."You can't help me," I wailed, removing her hand from my cheek."Please give us a chance," my grandmother begged.It never occurred to me that my actions were having
FreyaSince Jurius's departure, I've not ceased to cry. My grandmother and Zira had returned home to find me lying on the floor, drenched in tears.They surrounded me with their concerns."What happened, Freya? Why are you crying? My grandmother asked, disturbed, as she embraced me in her arms.I couldn't tell her.She and Zira supported me on the bed, and I curled into a ball.Screams suddenly took over my room.My grandmother sprinted downstairs, and Zira sat next to me, assuring me that everything would be okay.For a little while, I felt as if I were unconscious. I had no clue what had transpired."Why were you screaming? I asked as I tried to sit up, but Zira demanded that I not."You had a fit from crying too long," she then explained."But don't worry," she again assured me."Your grandmother has gone to call the family doctor.""I don't need a doctor," I tried to tell her as my eyes closed tiredly.My cheeks and back of my head were all sore from crying for so long, but the pa