INTO THE WOODS

Roman was never the type of guy who flinched.

The first time I met him, he had come over to the house with Uncle Victor. At the time, he was working for him.

I remember that day like it was yesterday, I remember not knowing how to describe his beautiful skin, his complexion was more tan than Kat’s but lighter than mine. It was so flawless, with only a few freckles sprinkled around his nose, it made him all the more gorgeous. He always kept his hair short but even at the length it was at, you could see the deep coils in it.

And his eyes, they first met mine where I was seated on the patio swing, reading a book.

They were grey and they looked like they held a beautiful storm. Are we even supposed to describe storms as beautiful? Because that’s all I can come up with.

Uncle Victor introduced us for the first time.

I remember Roman smiled at me, it was the kind of smile I hadn’t seen in a while. That ‘I’m genuinely happy to meet you’ smile.

I didn’t know how important Roman would be in my life then. I couldn’t foresee all the storms he would bring along...

I can just tell you, Roman has always been one of a kind.

When people tried to pick on Chris and I, he always stepped up without a second thought.

When he asked me out, he did it without even missing a beat. He even set up a meeting with Uncle Victor and Aunt Sarah to explain his intentions.

When his name was called out for the AAP candidacy during assembly, making him the first ever halfling to become a candidate, he didn't show any fear as he walked up to the stage.

The first time he kissed me... he did it so surely, like he knew how crazy I was about him and that there was not a chance in hell that I would ever refuse him.

When he betrayed the pack... I'd like to think he was as sure as he always was even in such a moment. He had been acting completely normal earlier that day. He came by to the house and we hang out before he had to go in for work.

Next thing I know, I'm hearing that he was stealing pack information and had fled before anyone could catch him.

He left, just like that. And he took my heart with him.

The most painful part is that I thought I knew him. And there was never a day that would go by when I didn't find myself trying to come up with a way in which there must have been a misunderstanding. My Roman would never commit treason. He would never be the person they told me he turned out to be.

I trusted him with everything and I thought he trusted me too.

The only person I trusted more than Roman was Kat.

Even when we fought and argued, I could count on Kat. She was the sister I never had.

But her and Roman? Why the heck didn't she tell me? Why didn’t either of them tell me?

I would do anything for Kat and if she had told me about Roman, I would have backed off and chosen her over him anyday.

I felt betrayed and hurt.

I carried my anger with me as I made my way to the classroom where our second session of training for the day would be held.

The school was mostly empty and also quiet because almost everyone had gone home. As I should have as well.

I was exhausted from the morning workout and the day of learning.

Thankfully, the second session of training was more based on theory than anything else.

We had three lessons in total.

Spiritual and Moral affairs, Social and Development studies and International relations.

Each taken by a different member of the Alpha's council.

For Spiritual and Moral affairs, we had the assistant spiritual advisor to the alpha, Terry Gonard. He was pretty chilled for someone who was taking us in one of the most important aspects of the apprenticeship.

He was young too, just in his mid thirties. His lesson was actually really easy going and even though I hadn't necessarily grown up studying the Holy scriptures, I had been learning them the minute I moved in with Aunt Sarah. She was determined to have all her children grow up with the word in them.

Following Mr Gonard - who preferred that we just call him Terry - was easy enough.

The Spiritual and Moral affairs class was necessary for us because it provided a base in which we would learn to make sound decisions based on the laws of old and the things considered morally upright. It mainly dealt with studying the 'Good book' and learning from it.

Then there was Social and Development Studies, which basically dealt with pack affairs and our territory. We studied the basic internal affairs that kept the pack running, the businesses, power and water sources, relations among the members and all that.

It was probably the most involving. And none other than Headmaster Forbes took us in this one. He was a bit more serious in his teaching but none the less, fair and impartial towards students. He moved at a pace we all followed and he allowed for questions where we weren't clear.

Finally, we had International relations. Being such a dynamic course, it was divided into three components that three different people would be taking us in. Instructor May would take us in the History of International Affairs, Instructor Peter in the Current International Affairs and - to my great delight - Mr Tanner in Human and Werewolf relations.

Instructor May was starting us off. She was okay, it's just that she was basically a walking textbook and expected each of us to be one too.

The classes were all okay, I guess. I really couldn't complain, theory classes have always been my thing and I had a feeling they're what I'd be looking forward to the most. I knew they wouldn't be easy though with how broad the syllabus was

And I was even more grateful that Major Raphael wasn’t in any of them.

I could tell Allison and I were really the only ones enjoying it because we were really the only ones answering and asking questions, especially in Instructor May's class.

She had just been wrapping up the lesson when Andre raised his hand and asked a question that I'm sure had been on most of the candidate’s minds.

"This is cool and all but when do we actually get to work under Alpha Tristan?"

I looked at her expectantly. While I'm sure everyone was anxious to get right into the action of the apprenticeship and all, I, personally wasn't.

Being around Tristan had been awkward since I rejected him. It's not like I was around him a lot though. We were in the same pack but he was like the President around here. I saw him at pack social gatherings but I didn't seek many private audiences with him.

In fact, the number of times I had even found myself alone with him were countable.

What we had was a secret I wasn't willing to share with anyone.

How we met was a story precious to me but one I would keep locked in my heart.

And how we parted was just as painful but no one would ever know that, probably not even him.

Parting with someone you know was designed for you is probably the hardest thing you could ever do in your life.

But it needed to be done.

He just doesn't realise it yet.

May started packing up her books.

“Well, you officially interact with the alpha this Saturday at the AAP ball.”

Whispers of excitement spread around the classroom.

I had totally forgotten about that.

The AAP ball was held at the Alpha’s manor to officially welcome the apprentices and to introduce them to the society. As if everyone didn’t already know.

It was honestly just an opportunity to brag and show off in an extravagant way.

“But-“ May continued, “You don’t start working with him until next month when you all prove yourself worthy.”

Andre groaned. “That sucks, the last interns got to work with him in their second week.”

I saw May’s eyes look at me then quickly shift away. “Well, the rules have changed.”

No awards for guessing why; R O M A N.

“That’s not even fair, half the class has already met him. Doesn’t that give them an unfair advantage?”

My heart started beating faster until I realised that the half he was talking about was Joshua, Bea and Courtney.

“There’s no such thing as favouritism with the alpha, you either work hard or you get booted. No in between.” Joshua spoke in a low voice, narrowing his eyes at Andre.

The class was silent, even May gave Joshua a look that said; ‘chill bro.’

“Okay.” May cleared her throat. “Class dismissed. And don’t forget to read up on the origin of human and werewolf relations.”

Everyone started getting their stuff and leaving.

I thought I’d be able to talk to Allison after class, at least to make a new friend but Andre swooped her away immediately.

“Joshua, fall back, will you?” May spoke, hardly looking up at him.

Joshua, who was about to head out sighed. He glared in my direction and I honestly wanted to raise my hands and say, ‘I haven’t done anything.’

He kissed Bea’s cheek before saying goodbye to her.

If they didn’t despise me so much, I would have ‘awed’ at that.

I let Courtney, Bea, Ashton and Joshua leave the room first before I did, the last thing I wanted was drama after this long and tiring day.

When they walked out, I counted to ten before following.

The hallways were still lit but completely deserted and as strange as it seemed, I felt like for the first time in a long time, I could breathe.

No one was watching. Not Aunt Sarah and Uncle Victor who have been walking on egg shells around me since summer.

Not the multitude of students who saw me as an outcast and as an accomplice to the pack’s traitor.

Being alone with God and my thoughts was really what I needed.

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

“Does it get better, Big Guy?”

I wasn’t expecting an answer.

But I was too exhausted, mentally and physically.

I kept walking, the last thing I needed was someone finding me in the hallway talking to myself.

I used the back exit because at this hour, I knew the front gate would be locked.

The back exit went through the soccer pitch which was perpendicular to the Northern forests.

As I walked down the concrete foot path that separated the forest and the pitch, I couldn’t help but wonder why it had been declared out of bounds.

Sure some of the things that used to happen there were questionable but it was all good fun.

I heard once, some of the seniors from the previous year through a party so wild, a fire almost broke out.

It could be a lie, I really wouldn’t know. I’ve never been invited to a party here.

But I bet Kat had since she apparently once used to run with the popular crowd.

I could just imagine her sitting at their table, laughing at their jokes.

I wasn’t jealous... just confused.

Kat could have told me about this, couldn’t she?

Why did she stop being friends with them?

Other than the fact that they are kind of awful.

And don’t even get me started again on the Roman thing -

I suddenly heard a ruffling sound in the woods.

My head whipped to the right.

Okay, it was probably just the wind.

I kept walking but not even a few seconds later, it sounded like someone - or something? Was running.

Okay, nope.

I have seen horror movies, this is not how my life will end. It hasn’t been too impressive thus far.

I started running, from what? I really didn’t know.

I had almost reached the end of the pitch when I realised how ridiculous I was being.

There was nothing chasing me. And I was honestly too sore to be running.

I looked back. There was silence.

See Crystal? Nothing to worry about.

Stop acting crazy, girl.

I straightened my school blazer and kept walking like a civilised young lady.

“Crystal.”

Okay, now I didn’t imagine that.

I quickly turned around towards where the voice had come from in the woods.

I would recognise it anywhere.

“Roman?” I whispered.

I walked towards the thick foliage.

“Roman.” I whispered again.

I looked around the pitch to see if anyone was coming.

I’m going crazy, right? I’m exhausted and I’m going crazy.

But there’s really only one way to know for sure. I started walking towards the woods. If I die, I would have never tried to make those Nutella, chocolate chip pancakes, Kat and I have been planning to make.

Sweet, sweet chocolate.

Wait, maybe they have chocolate in heaven. They just have to, right?

I heard another sound, then I saw a light. There was definitely someone there, I walked faster.

“RO-“

“What are you doing here?”

Not Roman, definitely not Roman.

I stumbled back as I was met with the furious face of Major Raphael in one of the pack’s army uniforms.

“Um... I am-“

“It’s after hours, Candidate. You should be heading home, not wandering into the restricted territory. Do not make me ask you again, Miss, what are you doing - “

“Raphael? What’s going on?”

Another voice I would never miss anywhere. Now I was really in trouble.

Major Raphael turned around and offered a slight bow.

"I'm sorry, alpha, it's just one of the unruly candidates. I'll take care of her."

Tristan walked out of the shadows of the trees, his eyes glowing green slightly, I could tell he had just shifted back from his wolf form. That, and the fact that all he had on was a pair of loose shorts. This man was planning on killing me.

I tried to avert my eyes.

"No, I'll handle it." He spoke, I knew his eyes were glaring daggers at me.

"Really, alpha, it's just-"

"I said, I'll handle it." Authority radiated from his voice and I knew Raphael wouldn't dare question him.

“Go help the others.” 

Raphael nodded before narrowing his eyes at me one last time and turning away.

Tristan's eyes became fixed on me.

Uh-oh.

"Didn't you ever read the story about Little Red Riding Hood? Or watch any horror movie ever made? You never and I mean never go into the creepy woods alone at night." Tristan growled as he walked towards me and grabbed my arm, dragging me away from the woods, back towards the foot path.

"We're werewolves, Tristan, we're supposed to be in the woods." I told him as I yanked my hand out of his grip.

He glowered at me. "The Northern Woods are out of bounds. I thought I already made that clear."

I wasn't about to tell him I had heard someone say my name. And not just someone, the one person I knew he would murder on sight if he saw him again.

Wait. Something suddenly didn’t make sense.

"Why?" I blurted out.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Why are the woods suddenly out of bounds? And why are you here in the middle of the night, Alpha? What’s going on? Did you join a midnight nature club I don’t know about?”

The 'all mighty' alpha of this here pack actually froze.

"I’m the alpha, Crystal, I don’t have to explain anything to you."

"Is something happening?" I continued.

Tristan looked away, as usual, he looked irritated. “Go. Home.”

I grabbed his arm. “Tristan.”

He looked down at my hand on his arm and I could feel him tense up.

I felt the sparks too.

I quickly pulled my hand away and looked down.

“It gets worse the more you fight it.” I heard him speak in a low voice.

I looked up at him and opened my mouth but he beat me to saying anything.

“I’m not suggesting anything.” There was no emotion on his face or in his voice. “I’m just saying, if you insist on fighting this, you might want to abstain from touching me.”

My cheeks heat up and I knew he could tell.

He suddenly got a faraway look on his face and his eyes flashed green.

“I need to go. I’m serious, Crystal, straight home.”

With that, he turned around and ran off.

Thank you for being of totally no help, alpha.

I sighed and gave one last look at the woods. It was nothing.

I was thinking too much. And all I needed right now was sweet, sweet sleep.