Chapter 2

Our first day was basically like every other day of school with the only differences being the classes. The only hint of excitement came in the break right before my lunch period. I stupidly ran right into my own personal bully Jocelyn and she wasted no time in reminding me of how much of a loser she thought I was. 

“Ugh, watch where you’re going freak!” Jocelyn shouted with a look of disgust on her face.

Instead of answering or apologizing, I thought it best to just keep walking. I knew if I even tried to say a word she would just keep going and I didn’t feel like getting into it with little miss popularity today. 

“Yeah, run along freak,” she called as I stumbled past her. She had always thought herself better than me just because she wore fancy clothes to school and was head cheerleader. It never really bothered me when she called me freak, it honestly was just never worth my time. I didn’t care if she wore dresses and heels and had all the boys chasing after her. I’d rather be comfortable with myself then try and put on a show for a bunch of shallow guys. That being said, my love life had been rather dismal. 

Most guys saw me as a tomboy, which I was, but that didn’t tend to throw a lot of interest my way. Not many guys wanted a girl that could probably beat them up, and if I’m being honest, I could. I’m not sure if it was because of my tendency to participate in athletics or if it was just in my DNA but I had always been incredibly strong for a female. Though I often wondered what it would be like to have guys look at me like they did Jocelyn. I had only ever had a crush on one guy, Derek. He was the captain of the football team and all around a great guy. We were friends for a while years ago but that all changed when he started dating Jocelyn of course. After that, we didn’t really talk much.

After practice that day, Seth met up with April and me to walk home together. They would often sit in the stands together and watch my practices so I wouldn't have to walk home alone. Secretly, I think April just enjoyed having time alone with Seth.

“Hey Seth, mom wanted me to invite you over for dinner sometime. Says you haven’t been over in too long,” I said laughing. Seth was over a week ago. “You're always welcome as well,” I added looking at April.

“Yes,” they both said in unison. My mom had always been a fantastic cook.

 They each sent a message home letting their parents know they would be having dinner at my place as we walked to my house.

“Mom, we’re home!” I called while opening the front door.

“I’m in the kitchen,” she responded.

After shedding our bags, we walk into the kitchen together.

“Mhmm, smells good Mrs. Adams.” April said with a hungry look on her face.

Standing at the stove mom looked over her shoulder at us, “April, it’s nice to see you sweetheart. How was your guys’ first day?” 

“Oh, you know. Just brimming with excitement!” Seth exclaimed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

The three of us sat at the kitchen table and chatted with my mom about our new classes while she finished cooking us dinner. After Dad gets home from work, we all sat and enjoy my mom’s chicken marsala. Awhile after finishing up April and Seth excused themselves needing to get home. 

“April, I can take you home if you’d like,” my mom said as they gathered their things.

“It’s alright Mrs. Adams. Seth is going to walk with me,” April replied with a shy smile crossing her face.

Later that night as I was drifting off to sleep, the strange voice I had been almost hearing in the back of my mind finally seemed to snap into place.

“Finally, I’ve felt like you pushed my miles away for weeks now. It’s not very nice you know,” the strange voice shouted in my head.

“What the fuck?” I exclaimed out loud sitting straight up in bed and looking around for an external source for the voice.

“You know I can hear you even if you don’t talk right? Just think it and I hear it. You act like you don’t know how being a werewolf works. Though now that I think of it, your family doesn’t really behave like I thought werewolves would. It is rather strange but then again, I am new to this as well.” says the voice.

I could feel my body fill with panic. What the hell was happening? How had I suddenly become crazy and what did the voice mean werewolf? I'm not a werewolf, I’ve never been bitten before. Yeah, sure my dreams were weird lately but they were just dreams, there had to be an explanation. Or maybe Jocelyn was right and I’m just a freak?

“So, calm down. I heard your little freak out. You aren’t crazy just so you know and you are a werewolf. I guess I should have eased into that one. You don’t become a werewolf by getting bit silly. You’re born one. Your parents must have told you. Oh, and my name is Leah by the way, your wolf.”

I just sat in bed like a statue, willing my mind to stop racing. Whatever this voice was I am not going to respond or acknowledge it. I’ll just go to sleep and everything will be fine in the morning. 

The voice seemed to disagree with my decision and continued shouting in my mind, "Hello, are you listening to me? You can’t get rid of me you know, I’m part of you and always have been. I’ve just been stuck until you turned 18, which by the way was weeks ago. You’re really stubborn keeping me at a distance. It took me a hell of a journey to get here.”

“Do you ever shut up?” I asked the voice.

“Ha, I’ve been quiet for 18 years! I’m not about to shut up again now. And plus, I have been waiting to get to know you and would like to start. Though that does work better when you engage in the conversation instead of attempting to ignore the wolf that is literally a part of you.” Leah replied.

All I could think was, if I’m going crazy why did the voice in my head have to be so chatty. After taking a few deep breaths I decided to try and get some answers from Leah. “If I were to believe you at all, then maybe you could answer a few questions. Like, do you know what happened to our parents, I mean my parents?”

I had a strange feeling in my head like this voice was pacing back and forth before replying, “What do you mean? Aren’t our parents' downstairs?”

I realized then that if this voice was telling the truth, she also had little idea what had happened to us as a baby. “I’ve never met my, our, real parents. I was adopted when only a baby. No one knows what happened to our family.”

I felt a rush of pain go through my head that’s not my own and yet it is. Though still doubtful about the whole werewolf part, I was starting to feel a strange connection to the voice in my head. It was almost like having someone that could share all of my feelings and yet had feelings of their own that I too could share. I may not have been able to fully accept what was happening to me but somehow this voice gave me comfort.

Leah let out a deep sigh, “I never knew, I guess it makes sense that you would not know what we are. I’m sorry that I put all of this on you so quickly. Maybe you should get some sleep, you have school tomorrow.”

Though my mind was racing and I knew sleep wouldn’t come easy, I also know Leah is right. We could continue talking tomorrow and I had to be up for school in under 5 hours. “Alright Leah, good night.”