Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf

Team Mason

Hell wouldn’t even describe the next couple of weeks for me. Beta Levi pushed me to my limits and spared no mercy for his son either. Every single day after school instead of chores I went to train for a few hours, the weekends were free for us to rest but I still practiced alone when I could. Beta Levi insisted that I rest on the off days but I still felt like I had so much catching up to do. Knowing that a white wolf held abilities that I could not access yet was motivation enough for me to keep training as hard as I could. They taught me everything I needed to know when it comes to facing a well trained assassin. The only thing they couldn’t teach me was how to camouflage myself. It was something I had to figure out myself, Beta Levi told me. Each day became more and more frustrating when I couldn’t accomplish the simple task but Tala assured me it would happen in due time. Instead, I focused on my speed and agility since I wasn’t physically strong like the males and eventually became on par with those of the top warriors in the pack. I received praise from the Beta for the first time after a month straight of training, successfully pinning Mason during a spar. It was something I was determined to prove I was capable of. I almost regretted doing so only because Tala pranced proudly in my head for days after that. She constantly wanted to challenge him again to see how many times we would win, but we never pinned him again after that.

Mason gained more muscle in just a short time. I didn’t even think it was possible with how huge he already was. His hair was starting to get longer and his chocolate brown curls smoother. His arms got bigger and I noticed that he was looking more and more like his mother, Eden. Sweet brown eyes and a smile with straight white teeth when he wasn’t being a complete jerk. Tala dared to say he was attractive, I countered that his personality wasn’t. He hasn’t proved me wrong anyway. He still said little things to piss me off and managed to point out the things I was most insecure about especially during training. “You fight better when you’re angry.” Or even, “You think you can take on daddy dearest with moves like that?” It angered me to no end and every time Tala nearly exploded, wanting to take over my body and show him her own strength. Beta Levi would separate us before my wolf came out and Mason looked satisfied with my frustration every time.

It took some time but I finally noticed my body changing as well. Clothes started to become too small or some much too loose and my curves were tighter and defined. I didn’t cut my hair anymore so it gained an inch or two as well. The only thing that didn’t seem to change was the way people looked and treated me. At school, kids still called me an outsider and bullied me. They would attempt to knock my lunch out of my hands when Savannah wasn’t around. Some even left nasty surprises in my locker like bugs or notes telling me how they really felt about me. Mason though, didn’t seem that much interested in teasing me anymore. I wish I could say it was a relief but I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder when he was around.

“Don’t look so paranoid, Snow.” He snickered while walking past me one day. All the hair on the back of my neck stood and I growled back at him. “I’m not paranoid! I’m preparing for the worst.” He just laughed and joined the rest of his friends during lunch and I quickly made my way over to where Savannah was sitting. Savannah was a goddess in my eyes, she was always so beautiful with her flawless espresso toned skin and curly dark red hair. Her hazel eyes captivated everyone lucky enough to meet them and her teeth were perfectly straight and white. Her size however, being 6 foot tall and only 17 years old made people wary. That and she had a bad temper. She never raised her voice at me though, she always protected me from the bullies whenever she could. Entering high school together was a huge relief to me but we barely had classes together, she would hurry to walk with me between class changes though.

Her face lit up when she saw me walk towards the lunch table but I noticed before she looked at me that her attention was to where Mason and his friends sat. I plopped down and she gave me a wide smile, Tala instantly felt uneasy. “What’s going on?” I raised a brow while taking a bite of an apple. “Ooooh nothing.” She sighed and twirled a finger around a strand of hair. I glanced back at Mason’s table and noticed Tyler smirking at her. “Nothing seems to like you.” I replied and I swore I could feel the heat of her blush. “Tyler? No way!” She laughed obnoxiously and stuffed her face with a bagel. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “What if he’s your fated?” Suddenly bits of bagel flew into the air as she started to choke and I slid a water bottle over to her. After a couple of gulps she panted and glared at me. I quickly looked away with a sly grin, “I didn’t say anything you weren’t thinking.”

At 17, wolves who were near their fated mate experienced symptoms such as sweaty palms, blushing cheeks, and the intense pressure at the bottom of your tummy when you’re really into the mood to mess around. All of our little teenage emotions come to a head when our mates are nearby, it was one of the most raw and instinctual things we could not avoid. Once you’re 18, you just know, or at least your wolf automatically knows. Think of it as extreme love at first sight except you can not pull away. Sometimes people get really sick if you meet your mate and they go too far away. Distance would wear down on their heart and even changing into their wolf would become too dangerous on the body. The only way to break the bond was to reject your mate which hurt much worse but only for a short time. *You don’t seem very interested in finding your mate.* Tala groaned, she was practically teeming with dirty thoughts of an unnamed man doing all sorts of things to my poor body. I learned to shove all of that into a corner when she got like that. *I don’t want a mate… Not if he’s anything like the murdering r****t my real father is.* I replied back to her coldly but she gave me a little nudge. *Not all men are like that you know. One day someones going to sweep you off your feet.* I could tell her comment was more literal than hopeful and that her words pointed to a certain wolf sitting a few feet away. My eyes drifted back over to the table and I caught sight of Marsha linking her arm with Mason. I couldn’t control the look of disgust on my face from that point. “You really think so Ells?” My head snapped back to Savannah calling me by the nickname she gave me. Her eyes shined and all I wanted was to be that supportive friend that she was for me. “He’d be one lucky guy if he is.” I told her and she grinned putting her hands on her hips. “And what about you? Feeling anything for Mason yet?” My eyes fluttered at her comment.

“W-wha- Absolutely not!” She smirked at me but I crossed my arms and shook my head in pure denial. “Have you forgotten the years of torture he put me through? You’ve gotten me out of more messes with him than I can remember.” Her eyes glanced over to the table but she didn’t have the same goo goo eyes she was making at Tyler. Who was she looking at?

“All I’m saying is, people can change. Didn’t you say he said sorry for all that stuff?”

“He also said he couldn’t promise he would lay off.” I responded quickly and she clicked her tongue.

“If he said sorry, shouldn’t you forgive him if he’s being sincere? I mean, he’s been pretty chill these last few weeks. I’ve even seen him waiting at his car for you. In fact, I think you’ve been colder to him than he has to you.” I could feel Tala’s agreement with her but all I could do was roll my eyes.

“That's because we train together. If one of us is late we are both punished.”

Savannah poked her lip out in protest and I knew she wouldn’t let up so I sighed and dragged my hands down my face trying to pull all the negative emotions away. “What do you want from me?” I begged her.

“Just see what happens when you are nice to him. Not so… hostile when you talk to him? Maybe he will ask you out?” My heart raced at the thought and I cleared my throat trying to pull it back together.

“What if he does?” I whispered and she leaned forward to whisper back, “Say yes.”

After lunch was over Savannah walked with me to my next class, I listened as she described how she was feeling and tried my best to be supportive. I just didn't want the subject to fall back on me finding mine. Every now and again she would sneak looks down at me and then look around the hall for someone but the look of disappointment crossed her eyes every time. Luckily her class was across from mine so we had enough time to stand around the hall to talk. Everyone was walking around lazily and paid us no mind, though some would still look at me and my white hair. It had grown some, it’s shine and volume increased from its normal dull appearance. I had no interest in taking care of it before, sometimes I’d let it tangle in a long loose braid. Now I brushed it every day and made sure I washed it often. Tala was pleased at the extra care I took to keep us presentable, she would often go on about what our mate would see and we should never be unkempt. Me on the other hand could care less but even still I felt better about myself for taking care of my body.

“Here he comes!” Savannah whispered while looking behind me. I turned and saw Mason and Tyler walking towards us. I couldn’t figure out which one she was talking about. “Hey.” Tyler beamed as they stopped in front of us. Mason looked down at me and I felt my face heat up remembering what Savannah suggested. “Hey guys, whats up?” Savannah breathed out, not taking her eyes off Tyler. “There’s a party at Marsha’s house this saturday, would you ladies like to join us?” Before I could object Savannah nudged me as if she already knew what I would say. “Of course we’d love to come!”

“She doesn’t even like me, why would I go to her house?” I muttered under my breath and received a sharp elbow to my side. Mason raised a brow and smirked at me, I bit back my pride just a little. “I guess It wouldn’t make a difference. Nobody really likes me anyway.” I forced a smile, already dreading the idea of going to a place where I didn’t belong. Everybody all close together and probably drinking too. Even Tala felt uncomfortable with the thought but I could see she wouldn’t mind the break from training. “This could be your big debut Ells, the chance to show the real you!” When she put it that way it did seem slightly more enticing. But the real me? Do I even know who that is? “It starts at 8. We’ll meet you there.” Mason said and walked off towards his next class and Tyler grinned at us both before following him. “Did that just happen? We got invited to a senior party!” Savannah squealed in delight and shook me. It was so weird seeing her so excited about it, she didn’t like Mason just as much as I did from day one. Now all of a sudden she was cool with dancing around with him in the same room? It had to be because of Tyler, and only Tyler. “That’s great and all but what the heck am I gonna wear? What am I going to do there? This was a terrible idea.”

“Well it’s too late to back out now, Mason is expecting you there.”

“This is so stupid. You only want me there with you so you can drool all over Tyler. Since when are you team Mason anyway?”

“I’ve always been team Aella, but I think this wolf needs some romance. Don’t worry, I’ll hook you up and he won't be the only one that can’t keep their eyes off you.” She poked my shoulder and waggled her eyebrows. Tala snickered at the thought while all I could do was shake my head. Mason was the worst possible option for romance and I already had so much to do with my training and studies. *Relax Aella, it's just a couple hours. What’s the worst that could happen?*

*A fire could break out, or maybe we could have another rogue attack. Or what if there's a fight… or!*

*Or you could just have a good time and perhaps gain some new friends?* Tala persisted.

*I just got a bad feeling about it.* I replied finally giving in and going into class.