Chapter 1

Sandra

Fitting into Cornerstone high was never a problem. Everyone knew me before I could even introduce myself. I received endless smiles from people I never even knew. While some showed me hate. I got all the publicity I never wanted, all because  a famous boy kissed me on the lips. My favourite crush, a famous pop singer named Hayden. The beeping alarm sounded, I realized that was in dreaming.  

Cornerstone high was an expensive school. I could never afford it. The tuition fees cost the same as my mothers salary. Which is very little. As for Hayden, well he's every teenager's fantasy. Almost 80% of all the girls in my class wish they could meet him face to face and get a kiss or better yet his number. But that's never going to happen.  Fantasies are a curse nothing more or so my mother would say. As I was still in my thoughts, I was alarmed by a sudden noise on my window, I thought it was probably a bird. The noise continued, thats when I became suspicious. I realized that the noise was a stone being thrown at my window. There was only one person brave enough to do such an act. I peeked through the window glass and saw my best friend Peter. He was 1.8 whilst I was 1.6 tall. But height difference did not say anything, we got along like ice and gin. 

I jumped with excitement, as I hadn't seen my bestie for 18 hour's. It felt like an eternity.

"Wait for me there, I'm coming!" 

I grabbed a few dollar notes then ran down the stairs.  Alfi waggled his tail, hoping for a treat. 

"Stay!" 

The dog stayed for a second then stood up to see where I was going. But it was not able to follow me as I had quickly locked the door. I felt slightly guilty. I could imagine what Alfi felt. 

Peter walked at a fast pace trying to go as far away from my house as possible. 

"Come on. Rudolph is harmless." I affirmed. 

"Yeah, right?" 

I laughed. 

"So did you get the invite?" 

Peter raised an eyebrow.. 

"What invite?" 

"You know.." I giggled.  

"She hasn't said anything to me." 

"She's probably going to tell you when you're both alone." 

"Yeah, maybe." 

"Come on don't be like that. Jess Is really into you." I tried to affirm. 

Peter sighed. Doubt clearly seen behind those round  spectacles he would put on his eyes. 

"Well sometimes it feels like she's going to be a crush forever and nothing more." 

I felt very bad for my friend. He just couldn't see his own potential very well. Since he was good-looking and most of the girls in my class would drool for him.  

"I think you should just tell her how you feel." I suggested.

"As if she'll listen to me." 

"You need to loosen up  a little. A little bit of positivity can do wanders for your confidence." 

Peter chuckled. 

"You're really into this positive energy guru shit, aren't you?"  

"Well it has helped my mom overcome many of her life challenge's, or so she says." 

"I guess I'll have to try that positive thinking from now on. Maybe Jess will finally notice me and confess her feelings for me. And I guess I could ask her to be my prom date and we could kiss under the big disco ball then feel her heart beat close to my heart."  

I couldn't stop but smile as I heard such positivity finally.

"Oh.. You should really tell her how you feel. Or should I do the honour's. It will be like a friend doing her best friend a favour." 

Peter chuckled. He's cheeks becoming red. I could tell he wanted to say no. So I didn't press on too hard anymore. 

Suddenly, a red convertible was coming towards our direction slowly. 

Peter cleared his voice with his gaze fixed on the car. 

I watched in annoyance as the boy in the car waved at us. He had black shiny spiky hair and would often wink to everyone he would pass by. 

"Argh, I don't know why you always have to make things obvious." I protested. 

"I like his car and the guy is also chilled. I don't know why you don't like him. Not forgetting the fact that he wants you." 

"Jake is a snob, he likes to be liked and I just don't feel the same way as other people." 

"I think your just in self denial mode. He wants you and you want him. We've been friends since daycare, I know you especially when you like someone." 

I laughed that comment off. I refused to believe any of Peter's theories of me. 

"Well, that snob is definitely not my type. He is way too ignorant and thinks he's this big short just because his parents are rich." 

Peter eyed me with disbelief. 

"Yeah yeah yeah. Keep telling yourself that. My ride has arrived. I'll text you." 

He began to  run after his parent's black limousine which was parked opposite us on the other side of the road. 

I waved my hand but felt sad to see my friend leave me so soon.  

Jake 

It was after 12 pm, when I i had finally finished my  daily routine workout. I quickly reached for my water bottle then began to gulp down the contents with an aim to quench my thirst. 

Paul was my combat trainer. Well fit and intimidating in muscle structure. He offered me another bottle but I refused it. 

"I still remember what you taught me, don't drink too much after a heavy workout." I teased.  

"Oh, so he remembers. Thank goodness." 

"But coach, you know that this bottle alone won't quench my thirst." 

Paul eyed me for a while. I felt guilty already. 

"Okay.. rules are rules. Geez!" 

My trainer threw me the bottle of water and I caught it quickly and began to drink. 

Paul shook his head.  

"When I was your age, I used to take in more than 3 litres a day. My body heat was just too much." 

"Does it ever stop?" I asked..

"The heat? Never. You just learn to control yourself. Its a defensive mechanism that our kind has. It's the fuel we need to transform."

"But you never sweat, neither does my father, unlike me." 

"Well once you transform, the excessive sweating stops. Your body heat will go as high 50 degrees celcius but you won't even release a single drop of sweat. Unlike humans." 

I suddenly remembered someone special. The girl my mind had been stuck on since being enrolled in Lakewood High.  

"Funny, you should say that." I began.

"What do you mean?" 

"I saw her again today." 

Paul raised an eyebrow. 

"You mean?" 

"Sandra, yes. That's her name." 

My combat training quickly changed in expression. His face stern and cold. 

"You should stay away from her." He pressed. 

I felt defensive.

"Why, cause she's human and I'm a werewolf?" 

"No. Because if your father finds out he will.. You know how Daniel is."

"I know. He's a highly feared alpha, ruthless killer and will do anything to protect his precious pack." 

"He will kill her!" Paul pressed. 

I growled in anger. 

"Not if I can help it." 

"What will you do?" 

"I'll fight." 

"Fight for a human? The entire pack will be ready to kill you." 

I couldn't even imagine what my death would look like. Paul's word's felt like a bluff to me even as I was so defensive. 

"Sandra is not evil. She's nice." I stated. 

"It won't matter much to your father, he's old fashioned." 

"But you are modern. Can you talk to him. Please." 

Paul chuckled. 

"As if he'll ever listen to me." 

"Then what about my feeling's?" 

"Better forget about them. You're not human, you're a werewolf. And maybe one day, you will take after your dad and qualify to be Alpha. You can't seem weak because of your feelings for a human. Especially a human."

The phone suddenly rang to alert the trainer that his training time had ended. 

Paul began to pack his items and put them in his sports bag. 

"I guess I'll see you again tomorrow then." He said. 

I nodded and watched my trainer leave.