Loner

                          Prologue I liked my solitude. A strange attribute for a werewolf, an animal who should thrive in packs and group settings. But it wouldn’t be the first time I was described as unusual. I think the very first time was my first shift at 14 years old. My wolf greeted my parents with midnight black fur and crystal blue eyes. I didn’t think much of it, seeing as my hair is naturally black and my eyes are blue, however, it is the rarest coloring for a wolf known to our kind. And some believe it is a bad omen. To those people, I say f**k off. I’ve never needed friends or people to like me. As I said, I like being alone. I like my individuality. And now that I’ve graduated from high school and got accepted to a prestigious were-college, I can focus on less group activity and more on books and my passion for medicine. In a few short days, I’ll be on my way to becoming a researcher and helping cure the horrible diseases plaguing our kind. It’s a long road, but anything worth it is never easy. No distractions. Nothing is holding me back.                                                                                           Chapter One “We are going to miss you, sweetheart. Please call me every day, I want to hear everything about school.” My mother says, her honey eyes shining with unshed tears, making me want to roll my eyes. I don’t doubt the emotion my mother is displaying, but it feels a bit dramatic. The university I got accepted into is only a two-hour drive from our pack. With my father being the alpha and mother being the Luna, they can keep tabs on me anywhere I go. They support my dreams of becoming a researcher and ‘odd’ lone wolf behavior because my brother is being groomed to take over the pack in a few months. Meaning there is no reason for me to stay, unless they want to form an alliance via marriage, which is archaic.  I look from my mother’s petite form to my father’s towering demeanor. I get some of my coloring from him; dark hair and light blue eyes. But my mother so graciously passed on her light complexion to me and if I hear a single person call me ‘Snow White’ I will be in jail for murder. Being pale as a werewolf isn’t really a thing. We are in the sun practicing combat religiously and almost everyone has a golden/bronze tan. Except yours truly. Strangely, I never burn, but I like being different. I don’t mind my long black hair, light blue eyes or the fact that I’m only 5’5 when most were-women are 5’8 and taller. However, I am the alpha’s child, so my training has been brutal and extensive, making me one of the best female fighters in our pack. Due to that training, my body is fit and helps accentuate my hour glass figure. I’ve heard cat calls and whistles my whole life, thus making it even easier to want to be alone. “Keep your head on a swivel and we're only a few hours away if you need anything.” My father says in a deep rough voice, his piercing eyes looking into my soul. “Yes sir.” I reply, turning back to my one-bedroom dorm, already half decorated with my assortment of belongings. I’m a creature who enjoys the darker colors in life. Much to my mother’s chagrin. She wanted the cheerleader daughter so badly, but she got me. Her loner, black and grey wearing nerd. “Julianna.” My mother says and I put a sweater I had picked up on my bed and turn, anticipating her next words. “Please…get out. Have some fun. Make some friends. These are the best years of your life.” Ugh. There it is again. The same song shes been singing to me since my first shift. My eyes flick to my fathers unapologetic ones. He has the same opinion, I should have friends and even a boyfriend by this point. I thought a father would be happy but not when hes the alpha and all my actions reflect on him and the pack. “I know mother. And thank you both for helping me move in but I need to study the map and my class schedule…so..” I trail, hoping they go peacefully. My arms swing awkwardly at my sides while I wait for them to answer. “Call me.” My mother says and hugs me, letting go before I can react. I look to my father who inclines his head before turning and leaving the room. My mother follows him out but not before turning and giving me a sad smile and giving me a disappointing once over. You’d think it would be enough having a son who is everything they ever wanted and bonus, your other kid is going to be a scientist helping cure diseases. Nope. Not alphas. I lay on my queen-sized bed covered in black sheets and gray blankets. How did I manage to get a queen-sized bed and single dorm? Because my parents are who they are. They run the largest pack on the east coast. And if their nerdy lonely daughter is going to go to school, she’s going to be privileged and no doubt noticed. The room is no more than 700 square feet with a small bathroom. My walls are bare and white, something I plan on changing soon. I’m going to paint them, but I’m not sure with what yet. I have a chest at the foot of my bed and one cheap dresser that seems like it’ll fall apart if I bump into it. I have a picture of my family sitting on top of said dresser. My father is looking as imposing as ever, my mother has her gorgeous smile on display, my brother is smiling at me and I’m smirking at him. It was a rare family moment, one I wish we had more of. “Knock knock” A girl close to my age walks into my room and says the words, rather than doing the action of knocking. She has a long bob of light brown hair, hazel eyes, gorgeous freckles on the bridge of her nose and of course; sun kissed skin. Shes got to be only a few inches taller then me and is very slim, reminding me a lot of human super models. “Most people will actually knock, instead of saying what their doing.” I remark, sitting up on my bed and looking her up and down. “Oh god, I didn’t realize I stepped into Dracula’s lair. Color much?” She looks around my room with disgust on her face and I roll my eyes. “No, that would be the point of all the black and fifty shades of grey. Although to be fair, I do have white, maroon and blue mixed in.” I remark, finally standing and crossing my arms. “So, stranger who is now judging me. Are you the welcoming committee?” “Not exactly, I’m just here to give you a tour before your first day tomorrow. They like first years to have their routes mapped out prior to classes starting.” She says, still eyeing my all my stuff. “How very controlling of them.” I sigh and pull on my combat boots. I stand straight and raise an eyebrow at the girl. “You have a name I assume?” “Yeah. Names Lucy. And you?” She asks, turning to go out of my room. I follow and shut the door behind me. “Julianna.” “Well Julianna, I already looked over your schedule and have a good idea of what way you should take it your classes. Luckily a lot of yours are in the science buildings which is close to this dorm. But you do have some art classes across campus and those will be tricky to get to on time.” We walk out of the dorm building and take a right, walking toward the main courtyard which has the cafeteria. So many people are sitting outside at tables I can hardly stomach all the scents. “You’ll get use to it. Wear a scarf for a few days while going to class and it’ll help dampen the smell until you acclimate. “ I make a mental note to buy one or two dozen scarfs off sss. “Noted. Thank you.” “If you want to make here, you’re gunna have to know the major cliches. You have your ‘daddys little princess’’, here to take classes on how to be a good Luna. Next is your ‘basically ninja warriors’, these are the best trained fighters from all packs, here to make alliances and establish connections for their packs future success. Next is ‘Next in line to be alpha’, im sure that explains itself. We have ‘normie’, humans who have werewolf linage and maybe wolf out, so packs take them in and send them here to educate them. If they never wolf out, they become a pack historian. And lastly, the group the think you’ll be most comfortable in the ‘nerds’ group. Future doctors, nurses, scientist, ya know, scholar types.” I watch carefully how every group interacts and looks. Of course daddy’s little princesses have designer bags and gorgeous figures with beautiful faces. The ninja warriors look like they might be on steroids with how big their muscles are. It actually looks uncomfortable. The next in line alphas are exactly as you expect, muscular but not overly muscular, hair that’s perfect, square jaws. Puke. The normies are shorter and less muscular, but look perfectly comfortable around were’s. And surprisingly, the nerds aren’t bad looking. Although it is hard to find a ugly were, these ‘nerds’ have lean muscles, perfect skin and sharp features. “Is it fair to call the future health care providers and people who will cure sicknesses nerds? Shouldn’t that be ‘the backbone of the pack’? Also, where do you fit into all this?” I ask, following her towards I assume is the science building. “I’m next in line to take over as alpha. No boys in my family so it’s up to me.” Her tone sounds a little sour but since I just met her and don’t care, I don’t question it. “Hey Lucy.” A deep baritone voice calls from behind us and I feel a shiver go up my spine. We both turn to see a man jogging towards us. His hair is almost as dark as mine and his eyes are a smoky grey. His arms would be drool worthy to any female and his sharp features make him looks like he was sculpted and sent from the Moon Goddess herself. “Hey Xavier.” She replys casually and I get the impression shes not impressed by him. Interesting. “I wanted to let you know that training is starting at 5am tomorrow, they changed it because the assembly.” His voice is like velvet to my ears and I look anywhere but him. I’m deeply disturbed that someone is having this effect on me. “Mother fucker.” She hisses and growls, I make a mental note; lucy doesn’t not like early mornings. “And who’s this?” Xavier asks, no doubt speaking to me. But I don’t pay him any mind, I pretend im more interested in the buildings around us. “This..darling little thing is Julianna. Shes from the East coast Blood moon pack. Alpha daughter.” I glare at her for the lengthy introduction. “Pleasure to meet you Julianna, I’m Xavier, my dad is Alpha of the West coast Blue Moon pack. I know your brother from last year. I’m surprised we never met. “ He says sweetly and I want to groan. Im somewhere between being effected by just his voice and alpha powers and wanting to run from having to interect with another being. “I don’t really…like to talk to people or be in the spot light. I keep to myself. That’s probably why we’ve never met.” I keep my tone light, after all, his pack and mine are huge allies and if I f**k it up, my father will kill me. “Wow, the complete opposite of most Alpha daughters. You know who you remind me of?” His full lips quirk and I narrow my eyes. “If you say snow white..” I trail, challenging him. “No, but I do see why youd say that. Actually I was thinking of Wednesday Addams. Very dark but alluring.” His grey eyes flash when he says alluring and I decide that’s enough for today. No distractions. “Well its been a real treat.” I turn from them both and continue walking to way we were going. “I’ll see you around Julianna.” His voice slithers up my spine and it sounds like a promise, a remark I’m going to have to ignore. I’ve been here three hours and all of a sudden, my body and brain want to derail all I’ve worked so hard to get to. Not today Satan, not today.