My Demon

‎"Siaaaa" My mother's howl was way louder than my alarm clock. I cradled the pillow closer, refusing to open my eyes. Sleep is sweet, why do mothers ruin it. ‎ ‎Yanking the curtains open, the bright glimmers of daylight slashed against my eyes. I open them grudgingly "Mom!". I rolled my eyes. ‎ ‎"It's the first day of your last year at school and you still want to turn up late?" My mom stared at me incredulously while I grumbled beneath the bedsheets. ‎ ‎I did not need the tragic reminder. God. My final year at Belcaris Academy. I hated it. ‎ ‎I stared daggers at mom. She stood dressed elegantly in a neat frock, her brown hair tucked neatly without stray strands. Catalina Thorne believed every morning deserved elegance. I believed mornings deserved an extra two hour of sleep. ‎ ‎"I hate mornings" I muttered sullenly. Especially mornings that reminded me of Belcaris Academy. ‎ ‎"Well no daughter of mine is going to skip resumption day" My mother shrugged and then snapped her fingers "Up. Shower. Your father wants everyone downstairs in twenty minutes". ‎ ‎She disappeared into the hallway before I could invent another excuse. ‎ ‎I sighed heavily and dragged myself out of bed. ‎ ‎The polished mirror beside my wardrobe greeted me with the same reflection it had for the past four years. ‎ ‎Dark hair. ‎Blue eyes. ‎ ‎Freckles scattered across my nose. ‎Nineteen years old. ‎Still wolfless. ‎ ‎I stared at myself for a long moment. ‎ ‎In Belcaris, wolves shifted between fifteen and eighteen. ‎At fifteen, people celebrated your first transformation. ‎At sixteen, they teased the late bloomers. ‎At seventeen, concern quietly replaced amusement. ‎By nineteen... ‎You became the joke. ‎ ‎The sudden ringing of my phone on the table took my focus away from the mirror. Georgia Summers. Best friend of six years. ‎ ‎"Hey there, Alpha Thorne" Georgie's voice is cheery, a little too cheery like there's anything to be happy about. ‎ ‎"I haven't yet wolfed out" I reminded her testily, dragging my feet to the bathroom. ‎ ‎"Now, don't be a pitiful wreck" Georgie snapped "It's our last year. We are seniors now, Sia". ‎ ‎"It's also kind of my worst nightmare " I scowl, my fingers wrapt carelessly against my toothbrush. ‎ ‎"I'm guessing you haven't heard the news yet. It wouldn't be your worst nightmare." Georgie's voice sounds like she's giggling. ‎ ‎"You don't say" I replied nonchalantly, letting my eyes scan the basket for the toothpaste. ‎ ‎Georgie has a habit of getting excited over intrepid nothings. Typical girl s**t. ‎ ‎"Tyleen Ash is returning to Belcaris" ‎ ‎The toothpaste tube slipped from my fingers and landed with an undignified plop inside the sink. "What?" ‎ ‎"You heard me." Georgie's triumphant laughter crackled through the phone. "The mayor's son is back. The entire school is practically having a collective heart attack." ‎ ‎I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror a little too harsh. The freckles. The acne spots on my forehead. "Tyleen Ash?" ‎ ‎"The one and only." ‎ ‎"But I thought he was studying abroad." ‎ ‎"People return from abroad, Sia " Georgie lowered her voice dramatically. "They said he's been training under one of the Four Elders" ‎ ‎A grin tugged at the corners of my lips before I could stop it. ‎ ‎Great. ‎Absolutely fantastic. ‎ ‎The one boy I'd spent four years nursing a ridiculous crush on had chosen the exact year my life was at its most embarrassing to return. ‎ ‎"You're smiling," Georgie accused. ‎ ‎"I'm not" I lied. ‎ ‎"You are lying" Georgie said drily. ‎ ‎"Fine" I admitted with an eye roll "I guess I'm smiling a little". ‎ ‎"I knew it!" Georgie squealed. "I swear, Sia, if Tyleen Ash walked into a volcano, you'd probably volunteer to rescue him." ‎ ‎"I would not." ‎ ‎"You'd at least consider it." ‎ ‎"I'd watch from a safe distance." ‎ ‎She laughed again. ‎Then her laughter softened. ‎"So..." ‎ ‎I knew that tone. And I hated what it would venture to inquire. ‎ ‎"No dreams?" ‎ ‎"No wolf." ‎ ‎"No strange instincts?" ‎ ‎I squeezed toothpaste onto my brush a little harder than necessary. "No anything." ‎ ‎"I'm sorry." ‎ ‎The apology sat awkwardly between us. ‎ ‎Georgie had wolfed out on her sixteenth birthday. Beautiful silver wolf. Elegant. Fast. ‎ ‎Everyone in my friend group had shifted years ago. ‎Everyone except me. ‎ ‎"It's fine," I lied. ‎ ‎"It isn't." ‎ ‎"No," I sighed, staring at my reflection once more. "It really isn't." ‎ ‎Then Georgie cleared her throat. "Well... if it's any consolation..." ‎ ‎"It won't be." ‎ ‎"Solene has been posting about you again." ‎ ‎I closed my eyes. ‎Of course she had. "What did she say this time?" ‎ ‎Georgie said quietly "She's celebrating eight months anniversary with Vale." ‎ ‎My stomach tightened "You mean eight months of snatching Vale Krugger? How beautiful " ‎ ‎"Ignore her." ‎ ‎"Easier said than done when we share the same last name." ‎ ‎"Promise me one thing." ‎ ‎"What?" ‎ ‎Georgie's voice became unusually serious. "Don't let Solene ruin your final year." ‎ ‎I looked into the mirror again. ‎The same blue eyes. ‎The same freckles. ‎The same girl who still couldn't shift. ‎ ‎"I'll try," I whispered. ‎ ‎But even as the words left my mouth, a strange feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. ‎As though this year had already decided it wasn't going to let me try. ‎It was going to make me fight.