Between 2 Kings

12 - A New One

As soon as he pulled into the carpark I rushed out of the car and yelled my thankyous as I ran towards home room. The people in my home room looked almost shocked to see me as I rushed and sat in my seat taking out my book to read through the lesson.

As the bell rang I was already making my way out of the room and hurrying to science. I rounded the corner and walked straight into the chest of the guy who had driven me to school.

"Are you always this unaware?" He laughed pushing me off him.

"I'm not unaware" I stated trying to side step him and continue to class. He picked something off the ground and handed it to me.

"Bukowski" he stated nodding "we must bring our own light..." he trailed off "my uncle loves this stuff" he handed me my book back. I hadn't even realised I dropped it and I took it gratefully.

"I'm sorry" I sighed "thankyou" I took the book and stuffed it into my bag. "I know I'm coming off as a bit weird and like, antisocial. I'm not really... usually. I'm just working through things in my head".

"That's OK too, I think a thinker" he laughed "where are you headed?" He waved off the guys he was talking to turning his full attention to me.

"Biology, AP with Dr Brown" I said "you don't have to-" I started as he began walking towards the labs.

"Come on, we're in the same class, any jock with two brain cells to rub together is in Browns AP" he laughed and I followed.

I moved in and sat, as I usually did at the back by myself. Except he followed me, and with him came another jock and a pretty little girl I'd been in classes with since preschool.

"Hi" she called extending a hand to me "I'm Alissa, we've had classes together forever".

I glanced up at them all "Why are you sitting here?" They just laughed at me and my expression I'm sure turned to a frown. "Really..." I stated blankly.

"Lux, we're just being nice" the other jock Wiley stated and I continued to glare "besides, Cole seems pretty attached to you and we're attached to him" he laughed smacking the guy next to me.

"We'll leave if you want but we're in this class anyway" Cole stated.

I nodded and took my book out of my bag before dropping my bag.

"You going to take notes?" Cole asked and I ignored him to read the poetry in my book.

"How do you even pass this class? You're always reading other things" Alissa laughed.

"I find this easy, English and history are the only classes I don't get" I murmurred back and returned to my book. Dr Brown prattled on about corvids for an hour before releasing us back into the halls where Cole stopped me grabbing my arm. I wrenched it out of his grip violently and felt stunned that I had.

"I was just going to say that we have the same math line and ask who you've got" he stated gently. "Sorry"

I blushed and took a deep breath "Wilson" I said quietly.

"I've got Donahue, I think I'm just next door... can I walk you?" He asked quietly.

I nodded and began walking.

"You're not from around here are you?" I asked

He blushed and took a deep breath "no, this is the closest school that I haven't been in trouble at, I'm actually from Black Forest pack, it's why I drive in every day"

I'd never met anyone from another pack, they rarely came into the valley. I walked straight into math without replying, but still thinking about that and heard Coles gentle laugh as I did so.

I read throughout math and was almost halfway through the book by the time the lunch bell rang and I'd hurried out of class.

I hurried across the football field and into the wooded area sitting at the base of a big old oak tree. I got to read my book for only a few minutes before a sneer behind me alerted me to someone else nearby.

"You still smell like s*x!" It spat and I felt my heart jump to my throat. "It's faded but you're still in a f*****g delicious heat" I clutched my book to my chest and looked around for the voice frantically. I could smell a faint rot and spotted a skinny man between the trees looking at me menacingly "you can definitely still bear my pups!" He nearly yelled.

I felt it, almost as if something had snapped in my Brain like a rubber band, almost a physical tearing as Liam's voice boomed in my mind 'run!'

I turned and sprinted towards the school. I was at the edge of the oval when I screamed as hands grabbed my waist digging into me and pulling me backwards, I let out a blood curdling scream and instantly called to attention everyone on the bleachers. I had almost been pulled into the tree line when I noticed Cole running. I could almost see his eyes glazed over in a mindlink when I recognised panic in his expression followed instantly by fury as he leapt and shifted mid-air into a gigantic black wolf and he was on us in a flash, snatching the man's head off his body over my shoulder. I fell forward onto my hands crying and shaking.

"What did I do?" I whimpered aware that he had shifted back and was walking towards me.

"It's not your fault" he replied softly kneeling next to me and pulling me into his chest in a tight cuddle.

"What did I do?" I repeated quietly. I could hear the footsteps as others caught up.

"You do smell delicious" I heard a voice laugh from the group.

"Like, really" Alissa laughed and Cole growled holding me tighter still.

"You have you wolf" I murmurred so quiet I didn't think anyone would hear.

"I've had it since I was 16" he stated lifting me. I heard gasps and realised he'd be entirely naked.

"Yum" a girl stated quietly in the background and he didn't even flinch as he walked carrying me towards the school.

"Oh my god! Mr. Strait" a teacher barked. And I felt a growl rise through his chest as I nuzzled into it.

"She was attacked" he stated calmly betraying the rage I felt building through him.

The teacher tutted "you'd best take her home, someone get him some shorts" they sighed.

I was placed into his car before he pulled on a pair of shorts and I leaned on the window.

"Alpha?" I asked.

"Future" he stated back as he drove "how did you know?"

"Same age my father said he shifted" I murmurred.

"He was an alpha?" He asked gently.

"Gave it up for my mum" I replied.

"I could do that" he huffed.

I ignored that and stayed silent in my seat. When he pulled up I climbed out of the car and he raced around to my door. The book fell out of my hands.

He chuckled "You're really attached to that book aren't you?" He asked.

"I don't really know" I sighed "it was a gift, I just don't know if it's supposed to mean something".

He began walking me towards the packhouse."he was a poet, died from cancer or something after a lifetime of prolific drinking, affairs and hopelessness."

"Oh" I hummed, "that's even more confusing"

My mother ran out onto the steps and threw her arms around me "the school called" she released me and pulled Cole in to a bone crushing hug around the bottom of his ribs. Cyrus was a few steps behind her in the doorway "thankyou... I owe you everything" she whispered to Cole.

"Cole" Cyrus nodded at us "Come in, you're welcome here"