The Howling Prophecy

Kari leaned against the windowsill looking into her snow-covered backyard. The woods were just at the edge of her parents' land. The frost covered the trees and glistened in the sunlight like diamonds. Kari loved to be outside. She remembered how much she would play in the woods for hours until her mother would tell her to come in. This was her childhood home in Riverside, Colorado. She loved this house so dear and missed it when her family moved away. This house stood for a happy life. Kari watched the sun tip over the trees warming her as it shined on her skin. She sighed and walked to her closet as it was time to get dressed for her first day of her last semester of high school. She never liked high school with all the ridiculousness that came with it. It was even harder to tolerate being the new girl all the time. Finally, I am eighteen and my family and I will no longer have to move. My dad has some sort of weird government job or something, he doesn't really talk about it. But we have had to move every six months since we left this house. I never understood why, or why we came back since we never would live in the same place before. I am just glad it is finally over and then I will graduate and be able to be in control of my own life.  Kari put on jeans and her favorite werewolf shirt. She loved reading and her favorite stories were about werewolves. She would read about the way they mated for life and wanted someone in her life the way her parents had each other. It was difficult to get to know someone, let alone date, when moving all the time. She put on a navy-blue sweatshirt and smiled at herself in the mirror. Kari only dressed for herself and rarely to impress as there was no need due to the moving. Kari was plain with shoulder length hair and bright blue eyes. She never wore makeup. She always thought putting makeup on was tedious and unnecessary since whomever she was going to end up marrying was going to wake up next to her without it on. "Hurry up honey, you're going to be late! Your father had to leave already with the car, so you will need to walk to school," yelled her mom, Julie. Kari let out a dramatic sigh as she slipped into her tennis shoes. She hated not having her own car but understood her parents didn't want to move a ton of stuff around each time. She hopped down the stairs skipping every other step and walked into the kitchen. Her mother smiled at her, taking a hot breakfast sandwich off the stove top and handing it to her. "Alright, fine. Nothing makes a first impression like a senior walking to school on her first day. Thanks for the sandwich mom." Kari sarcastically responded to her mother with a hint of annoyance.  Julie smiled at her daughter and responded, "since when do you care about making a first impression?" Kari looked up at her mother with a smirk while packing her backpack. She put on her thick coat, hat, and gloves. She put on her bag with minimal enthusiasm and headed out the door with a breakfast sandwich in hand. "I love you and have a good day," yelled Julie as Kari waved leaving the house. Kari thought about her eighteenth birthday when her parents told her they were moving back home. It was odd when they told her their house never sold and still had all their possessions inside. How has a house not sold in over a decade, she wondered? She felt odd that day as well when she woke up, it was like a hole had developed in her heart and she started thinking about boys. She never really thought about guys before since she never really had the time to get to know someone, let alone date them before another move. Once they arrived at their old house, it was like a sense of longing rushed over her and she could see it on her parent's faces as well. Her parents always seemed on edge like they were waiting for something bad to happen, but now they were happy and relaxed. It was perplexing how a move seemed to change everything in a second.  Kari always wondered why they moved so much. Why would this all stop when she turned eighteen? She would make up stories like they were in witness protection and once she was a legal adult it would be voided. The thought made her laugh as she never remembered anything bad happening to her or her family. Her parents never mentioned anything, and they always made the next move seem like no big deal and that it was just part of life. She remembered digging through her parents' closet once seeing if they were spies or part of a secret military. She never did find anything that stood out, but what she didn't find were family photos. There were no photo albums, no relatives or friends in an ugly frame above the dining table. They never did get a letter or phone call from anyone, outside of the odd occasional one from her father's work. Kari tried looking up the number and it came up disconnected. Eventually, she gave up and just lived life day by day as nothing she said, or thought would change anything. Kari arrived at the high school shortly as it was only five blocks from her house. She was able to find the secretary quickly as it seemed most schools were built similar in style. She started looking at her school and almost jumped for joy when she saw her first period was open. This meant she could hide in a corner before the other students arrived and read her book. Kari found a bench under a tree in the open promenade. She reached into her pocket for her phone and set an alarm to make sure she wasn't late to her class. Even though it was chilly outside, the cold didn't bother her. She pulled out her favorite book that was worn from being read over so many times. She loved the idea of vampires and werewolves. It always sounded so exciting, and she started reading the chapter when the werewolf was revealing itself to his mate. "Shouldn't you be in class, new girl?" said a low melodic voice. Kari looked up into steel colored eyes attached to what looked like the next Calvin Klein underwear model. The man was strong by the looks of him with a playful smirk on his lips. Kari's mouth ran dry, and her body ached at the thought of him. Suddenly, she had this urge to walk up and touch this over six foot tall gorgeous being. She quickly looked away from him trying to hide her blush growing on her cheeks as her body did not protect her from embarrassment. She took a deep breath and stated as firmly as she could, "nope, I have a free period right now. My name is Kari, not new girl and please leave me be." Kari scrunched up her face with annoyance. She reminded herself she just wants some peace and quiet and he is impeding on that, and rather rudely. Heat started radiating from his body onto hers as he sat down on the bench next to her. She felt a spark when his arm brushed against hers and she noticed he wasn't even wearing a jacket. In her mind she begged him to leave as she was not used to being alone with a boy, or a man. "That book you are readying is kind of ironic," the man said while giving Kari's shoulder a nudge with his and a laugh.  Kari slightly jumped at the touch as a funny tingly feeling erupted from the contact. She forced herself to continue to read her book and ignore him. The man examined her face and smiled with a deep sigh. Kari's phone started going off and the bell rang for the end of the first period. Kari took the excuse to pack her things and get up while silencing her phone. As she began to walk away the man stood up and shouted after her. "My name is Trent, thanks for asking as one normally would when meeting someone new." Kari turned to look at him and he gave her a gorgeous smirk. Before she could respond an annoying, squealing voice sounded off from behind her. "Trent babe, I have been looking for you everywhere! You were supposed to meet me at my locker!"