Lessons in Love

Chapter 5: Good Vibes

POV: Riley Campbell

I’d been on the road two days and living for the freedom. The sun was shining, the traffic was light, and my excitement could barely be contained. I knew I was heading into a huge challenge, but I also knew this could be a truly rewarding job. These kids deserved a fresh start, especially after losing so many people in the war.

I knew what it was to fight off Rogues. I’d seen the damage they can do when it’s just a few of them. Several of my classmates had been killed by Rogues on the Crystal Lake campus my last year at college. It had been a quiet afternoon when 16 Rogues charged into the quad and started killing people. No rhyme or reason, just murdering people. My friend Alice was one of the 22 victims. We had fought side by side on the quad that day. I lived, she hadn’t.

The college was supposed to be safe, but there didn’t seem to be anywhere that truly was anymore. The large packs had been fortifying their territories and denying aid to the smaller packs over the last ten years. It left the small packs open to all sorts of violence. It was wildly unfair, considering the larger packs were the reason Rogues existed at all. Instead of aiming for understanding or rehabilitation, they immediately turn wolves out, forcing them into a life of solitude. Wolves don’t survive alone; we’re pack animals through and through.

I pushed all those thoughts out of my head and turned the radio up. I was finally going to get my chance to be out of my parents’ reach and focus on what I felt was important. I rolled the window down as I drove along the road outside Sapphire Lake Pack and smelled apples before I could see any orchards. There was a sweetness to the air from the ripening fruit and a mugginess that came from the humidity of the day mixing with fertilizer. It smelled like freedom, I thought wistfully, as I turned down the road and officially entered the pack territory.

Delta Rick had told me to meet him at the packhouse, and he would give me a tour. The packhouse was a modest building, as far as packhouses go. It looked to be four stories, with grand windows lining the front of the brick building. It had a veranda that ran the length of the building and wrapped around the western side of the structure. Large hanging plants adorned the whitewashed posts, adding a very country feel to the estate. It looked like an oversized farmhouse, with all the charm and warmth that implied. I was immediately in love with it and hoped I’d get a tour of the building.

Two men were standing on the steps o the modest building when I pulled up. They approached my car as I turned it off and hopped out.

“Welcome to Sapphire Lake.” One of the men approached. He was tall, probably 6 feet, I guessed based on my 5’9” frame. He had chestnut brown hair and green eyes that made me wonder what he was hiding. His voice told me he was the same man I’d spoken with on the phone. He held his hand out to me, and I took it without hesitation.

“Nice to meet you, Delta Rick.” I said confidently with a firm shake.

“Please just call me Rick. We’re not too big on the formalities around here. This is Sam,” Rick stepped aside and made way for the other guy. Sam extended his hand with a genuine smile that instantly put me at ease. He wasn’t much taller than me, but he was built as wide in the shoulders as the veranda behind him.

“I teach at the elementary school with my mate, Katherine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Sam said.

“Pleasure is mine, Sam. Will I be meeting Katherine today, too?”

“Undoubtedly,” Sam laughed. “Just not on the tour.”

“Give me your keys,” Rick said. “I’ll have someone move your car to your house, and we can make our way on foot so we can show you around.” He waved toward someone on the veranda as he took my keys. The young man came trotting down the steps to take them from Rick and hopped in my car.

“Is he old enough to drive?” I asked quietly.

“Thomas is seventeen and has been driving a tractor since he was twelve.” Sam laughed.

Rick started walking up the path with Sam and I following behind. “I wanted you both to meet each other. Sam is also from an officer family. Riley’s father is Delta at Forest Pines.” He looked at Sam.

“Mine was Gamma at Hershell Lake.” Sam said.

“My plan is to make sure you both train together and that we find a schedule that works around school hours.” Rick continued. “You’ll both be teaching out of the elementary school this year until we decide what to do with the high school building. I really want the two of you to work as a team.”

“I’m glad for the teammate.” I smiled at Sam.

The three of us continued on our walk, with Sam and Rick pointing out landmarks as we went.

“Most families live in their own homes, tending their lands.” Rick explained. “But we do have small neighborhoods for those who work the land or in the shops on our little main street.” We wandered down the main street that boasted a few clothing shops, a massive green house, a pub, and a kitchen store.

They walked me around the greenhouse to a dirt path. “Your place will be up there,” Rick said, pointing to a row of cabin style homes in the distance. “We’ll finish the tour there.” He said, walking in the opposite direction. We passed the hospital and came into a small neighborhood, not unlike the one Rick had pointed out to me.

“Afternoon Rick,” a friendly voice called from a porch. “And to you, Sam.” He nodded politely. “Who have we got here?”

“Riley Campbell, sir.” I went up the steps of his porch and extended my hand.

“Well, the pleasure is mine. Henry Sloan.” He smiled, and he shook my hand. “I take it you’re new here.”

“I’m the new high school teacher.” I said happily.

A cloud crossed his face. “I see,” he forced a smile. “Good luck with our students this year. Don’t let them push you around.”

“Thank you, sir.” I said, rejoining Sam and Rick on the sidewalk. My two escorts seemed uncomfortable. “What is it?” I said quietly when their silence became too much.

“One of the former high school teachers was his nephew.” Sam spoke up when Rick rubbed the back of his neck. “He died during the war.”

“Oh!” I said and felt my face turn red.

“Mr. Sloan knows we needed to fill the position. Though, I imagine we’ll get a talking to for not informing you.” Sam chuckled. “He’s a nice man, but he has strong opinions.” Sam continued chatting with me as we left the neighborhood and saw the schools on the far side of an outdoor training facility. Rick, who had been chatty and upbeat, became quiet. He straightened his back and marched across the training grounds toward the schools.

“The elementary school is this way.” Rick finally spoke.

“I take it that’s the high school?” I said, pointing the other building. It looked sturdy from the outside; no holes or structural problems were immediately visible. I turned to my guides and found them inching toward the elementary school.

“What’s wrong with the high school?” I asked.

“The two high school teachers and 7 students died in there.” Rick said, his eyes firmly glued to the grass at his feet.

“I’m so sorry.” I said, reading the distress in his body language instantly. “I had heard about the deaths, but I didn’t realize it had happened inside the building.” I added apologetically.

“Contractors assessed the damage inside earlier.” Rick said, turning on his heel and moving toward the elementary school. “Our Beta has the report. I’m not sure how bad it is inside.” He said.

We went into the elementary school. It was small, but it would have to work for now. Sam took over the tour inside. We chatted about the curriculum and generally got to know each other. Rick hung back, like he was catching his breath. Sam occasionally looked over at him but kept the conversation going without making it too obvious he was checking up on his friend. I liked Sam immediately and knew I was going to make fast friends with him.