Chapter four

Alessia.

The Winters were known for over centuries before my existence of its strict principles. We were known as the werewolf hunters. While my great great great grandfather invented the wolf hunting system decades ago and termed himself the wolf slayer, he had left his empire in the hands of sons after sons, daughters after daughters.

My grandfather, Gregory Winters had left most of the family traditions to my mother who happened to be his first child and his succeeding heir. My mother was a strong woman and obviously the apple of her father's eye. While Gregory had retired from most of his work, now staying up in Denver, completely trusting this whole thing to his children, it's only right to think he's living the dream.

My mother, being the first child and irrespective of gender had inherited her father's hunting empire, taking over many of his positions. My grandfather had built this mansion and it had remained a safe den for the extended family. Even when the daughters gets married, they can only leave for vacations with their families, they continued to live here with their husbands, tending to and looking after the family's empire and leading on the legacy. The Winters had that power.

Laying on my bed now, I could still remember that day like it was yesterday. My father had moved into the house too after marrying my mother. i remember him arguing with grandpa Gregory and then he walked into my room, kissed my head, and bade me goodbye before I watched him walk out and into his car. And he drove off. I had thought it was just a casual drive out of town and that he'd be back......but he never came back. I'd thought he'd be back the following day because he didn't pack a bag before leaving, but......he never did. 

Mom never lets me find him. She says he's a drunk and that he left me. He left us. I still find it hard to wrap my head around that.

A firm knock sounded on my door and I raised my head from the comforter to look at the door. "Come in," I said loud enough and my door pushed open.

Nanny Cara walked in, pushing a trolley with a trey sitting on it. Nanny Cara has been taking care of me since I was little, she's like a second mother, the only person I've ever really felt connected to, with whom I shared my thoughts without remorse. at Seventy, she looks like she hasn't aged a bit since I learned to recognize her. Her grey hair has remained the same since day one.

"How was your day dear?" she asks with a smile as she places the trey beside me on the bed. I turned around and sat up on the bed to face her.

"It went well, "I replied carelessly "I guess"

She hands me a glass of water before reaching for the pills on the tray.

"You guess? Didn't Patrick make sure you had a nice day today?"

"No. He ruined it all. He beat up some innocent guy who was just passing by at the quarter, Cara. One thing led to the other and I broke up with him"

"Oh dear," she hands me four pills "did you tell your mother about it yet?"

"No. She doesn't have to know" I replied, staring at the yellow and white pills on the center of my palm. Just the sight of it made me nauseous. Why the hell am I still taking these pills again?

"My dear, you know your mother is going to be very upset with you if she finds out. Have you forgotten your last attempt to break up with him?"

Yeah. I could still remember perfectly. Five months ago I'd attempted to break up with Patrick. My mother found out and she had given me a slap that still resounded each time I thought about it. The following day, she'd set up a date for the two of us at a fancy restaurant. How could I forget that?

"Cara, I don't have the flu anymore" I tried to change the conversation.

"Just take these last ones," she pushed my hand towards my mouth " you don't wanna get sick to your birthday, do you?"

"Not like anybody cares about birthdays in this house" I mutter to myself, throwing the pills into my mouth and shutting my eyes as the stinging odour exploded in my throat. I quickly gulped down the water in my glass and tried to keep it down, praying not to throw up.

"Good night dear," she said calmly before wheeling the trolley out of my room. I let out a long sigh before rolling back onto my stomach.

The image of the guy from the quarter crosses my mind. How oddly strange.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I forced my eyes open and stared out my open window for a second. Looking away, I searched through the walls of my room. Gently, I pull off my duvet and stepped down from the bed. School.

Grunting painfully, I matched over to my bathroom and did the usual routine before getting dressed. What would be more perfect to wear to a Monday school if it wasn't a pair of black skinny jeans and a crop top. I decided putting my hair up today would add a little to the Monday look. Slipping on my black flats, I swung my backpack over one shoulder and walked down.

Patrick is sitting on a leather couch talking with my Mom who's seated right opposite. Their heads turn towards me the moment I started to descend the stairs.

Pat smiled at me, rising up to his feet just before I reached the bottom floor.

"Alessia" my mom called.

"Good morning beautiful, "Patrick said to me.

I faked a smile and replied "good morning, Pat"

"You two are waiting for breakfast right?" my mom asked as she stands up too.

"No mom, I....."

"We have plans, Miranda, "Patrick cuts me off, stepping beside me "we'll eat breakfast on the way"

I gave Patrick a confused glance but he doesn't see me, his eyes are fixed on my mom.

"Very well then. Have a nice day at school"

I walk out before Patrick, his blue convertible car coming into view at the end of the long doorsteps. I helped myself get into the copilot seat before he sat behind the wheel. I wasn't in any mood to say anything to him. I'd thought he wasn't gonna come pick me up this morning and that somehow made me feel better. But here he was, looking radiant like I didn't just break up with him. What was he playing at?

He revved out of the compound and into the neighborhood street. The street was always quiet and a constant reminder of the zoo to me. The tall trees planted in beautiful patterns at each house's front yards,the quietness of the place. It was beautiful.

Just as we got to the third block at the opposite of my house, I heard the unmistakable voice of Tephanie White. I turned to the side to see her propped out of her window on the building's rooftop as Patrick slowed down.

"Assholes!!" she screamed. 

I smiled tenderly. Honestly, I wonder what goes on in her head. Doing this every morning Patrick drives us to school has become such a norm to her that Ashley has thought that maybe she's psychologically unstable. But hey, we did go to the same school.

Tephanie White is known to live alone in the big mansion, for the past seven months now. Her parents are never around so she pretty much does whatever she wants. That's the life.

"Hey, hey, Patrick," she called "give me a ride, huh? I think my car broke down again!"

Patrick pops his head out through the window and screams back "you don't even have a license, Tephanie! And nope, not today!"

He sped off, crossing into the main road that led to school.

A twenty minutes ride suddenly seemed like an hour's ride as I watched the streets. The ride had been a silent one and regardless of its awkwardness, it was peaceful.

"Do you wanna eat first?" Patrick breaks the long silence.

"No, I'm gonna be late for science class" I replied.

He nods. He drove into the school's parking lot a minute later.

"Did you tell your mom?," Patrick said as I tried to get out of the car, causing me to stop "that we broke up"

"No, "I replied "I'm not telling her. Don't wait for me, I'll be going home with Ashley"

I stepped out and hurried up the long steps that led to the school hallway. 

"We're late for first period, Lee" Ashley, my best friend asked with hands wide open, an exasperated look on her face as she stood at the end of the hallway.

"I'm sorry," I reached her "it's Monday anyways"

"Where's your boyfriend?" She asks as we started to walk towards science class. We were pretty much the couple around here. Patrick always went to class with me, even when he didn't have the same class with me. He was such a nosy nuisance, making trouble in my classes.

"I broke up with Patrick, Ashley"

She stops, pulling me into a stop too.

"What? You did?!"

"Yeah, big deal" I rolled my eyes at her, pushing the science class door open. She tries to pull me back as we both fell into the class but stopped as she saw the glare on the science teacher's face.

We quietly sat at the back, me making my best efforts to clear my mind off the thoughts about how I'd broken up with Patrick last night. Was I harsh on him? Of course not. I have not even the littlest ounce of feelings for him. Maybe two years ago, when we just started dating, I'd have thought he was cute and nice. But not anymore.

After first period, Ashley and I cornered the rooms and burst out through the hallway.

"I called you like a hundred times yesterday, how come you never picked up?" Ashley asked as we stopped before my locker "you said you were gonna come over. My dad got that awesome wine I told you about!"

I rolled my eyes at her as I pulled my locker open "I was at the quarter with Patrick, "I told her grimly.

"Patrick? You know there's a lot of things I don't know. Like why you ditched me to go to the quarter with Patrick. I mean you guys go there all the time! And why you broke up with him. How?"

I stared back at my best friend, wondering what to say to her or how to even say anything to her. Ashley has been my best friend since junior year. We've been through a lot together. While I wasn't a quiet type, Ashley was the timid and introverted one but her beauty was exquisite. I could count the number of top beautiful girls in this school and Ashley would fit in perfectly. Her black popstar hair always ran straight down her back. And she was the jeans and top type of girl. She hates heels. Yeah, she's a little nerdy but.....she was the one with the brains. She does my homework sometimes.

Sighing deeply, I replied "Patrick asked my mom if he could take me out after dropping me at home on Friday, Ashley. I was so mad at him"

"See? I told you you should've gone with me"

"Yeah. Then he beat up some guy at the quarter. He can be so mean and irrational! I left without him and he dropped by afterwards. That's when I finally broke up with him"

"Are you sure this time? Cause I can see you guys coming back together in the next......seven days maximum"

"Please, it's not like I actually love him" Ishut my locker close.

"Leesha, I'm really worried about you. I mean that" she said seriously "no one, and I mean absolutely no one but I is actually glad you finally broke up with him. But I think you should tell your mom that you don't wanna be with him. She's dictating everything for you. I mean, your love life too?"

"I know"

"That's exactly what I think, Ashley" a third person spoke from behind me and I fumed immediately. Just my cousin Allen, sneaking up on me again.

If I wasn't paying so much attention to Allen, I bet I would've missed how Ashley lowered her gaze embarrassingly.

Fully turning to him, I questioned "stop sneaking up on us, Allen"

"I was just passing by when I heard your conversation, Lee. It's no secret that you broke up with Patrick. Only a matter of time before the school finds out and you'll be in trouble," turning to Ashley, he added "I think she made a good choice too. That douche is a scumbag"

"Get out of here!" I pushed him away and he laughed before entering the nearest class.

Tephanie White walks into the hallway, making her presence known without even as much as saying or doing anything. Tephanie White was a beautiful Canadian girl. She was someone you'd describe as tall, sexy at most with a long baby face and deep raven black hair which she always kept down. 

"You missed first-class, Tephanie," Ashley called as she passed us "again"

Turning back to us while still walking backward, she yelled "what do I care?!" before disappearing into the classroom.

"That girl has got to work on herself doesn't she?"Ashley said and I laughed.

My stomach made a thunderous rumble, reminding me that I haven't eaten anything all day. 

"I really need to go to the cafeteria, "I told Ashley.

"Didn't eat?"

"You know what it is"

I started towards the cafeteria. Taking the stairs up towards the cafeteria, I made a sharp corner, my eyes fixed on the floor. I can swear that I had my eyes right in front of me when I bumped into something. Someone. Someone hard and strong.

I stumbled backwards, pushing Ashley a little, my bag knocked off my shoulder as I tried to regain my balance.

"I'm really sorry!"

The person whom I presumably bumped into exclaimed, his hands reaching out to steady me.

"It's okay..." I started saying when I looked up, only to meet a pair of dark eyes staring worriedly at me. I looked closely and I could swear that I'd seen those eyes before.

My eyes went wide in realization as I remembered those eyes.

He was the guy from the quarter. 

Collin.