THE JILTED LUNA

"Ulrica! Wake up or you will be late for school." My mother called from outside my door. "I am tired of dragging your ass out of bed every morning!" She yelled as I heard her footsteps dwindle as she descended the stairs. Without opening my eyes, I reached under my pillow for my phone. Checking the time, I forgot all about my laziness and my drowsy eyes and rushed to the bathroom. I thanked the moon goddess for blessing me with the gift of being a fast wolf because within a few minutes I was already done and rushing out the door. I grabbed a pancake from the stack my mom and the cooks were stacking on the dining table and dashed out. I was late and the school bus had already left. I cursed myself for watching till late. I had to either cycle or run to school. I decided on the latter and I took off down the road towards my high school. I arrived in school just in time for first period. I signed relief as I entered my first class, English Literature with Mrs Becker. I liked this class but disliked the teacher. I always felt like she had unique dislike for me. She always put me on the spot and deliberately embarrassed me. At home I rarely eat in the pack dining as being around so many people makes me dizzy. These are my family members and friends and I am scared of them but Mrs Becker keeps making he whole class gaze at me and laugh at my speechlessness due to fear. As usual, today she decided I would be the first one to present the assignment she had given earlier. It was not even due yet but leave it to Mrs Becker to put me on the spot. "Ulrica, come and give us a preview of what you have done so far for the assignment." What! What assignment? I thought as all eyes slowly turned to me. I had not looked at the assignment yet and hence had nothing to say. I looked around like a lost puppy wishing I would just disappear into nothingness and not be gazed at. "She is so stupid," I heard someone say and suddenly the whole class was laughing at me. "Who just said that?" Mrs Becker asked. "If you think she is so stupid Camilla, why don't you come and share your genius!" "Of course, the class queen already done the assignment! More like bullied someone to do the assignment for her!" I cursed under m breath as Camilla strode to the front. I was relieved that I was no longer in the spotlight but angry. Camilla is my opposite. She is vibrant, beautiful, a boy magnet and has always been cruel to me. We were friends once, when she joined school in junior year. She is from a different state and joined our school to live closer to her grandparents. Rumor has it that she is the daughter of the most powerful alpha whose name sends shivers to every wolf. I helped her settle in but as her fame grew, she became one of them. One of the others who made fun of me, bullied me and made my life a living hell. I was lost in my own thoughts when suddenly a smell caught my attention. It was soothing and when I smelt it I felt my anger subside. I felt my wolf Maria purr and my heartbeat increase. It was brief and disappeared soon but it was left lingering in my mind. It was a new and unique smell. I was lost in thought trying to check if I can catch it again when Mrs Becker brought me back to class. "Ulrica, see you in detention!" What!What did I do now? I tried to open my mouth to protest but I thought otherwise and just tried to make myself so small that no one could see me. The rest of the day went swiftly. I never smelt the lingering smell again but some part of me was looking for it throughout the day. I had almost forgotten about it when in detention I heard Maria scream in my head... MATE!! Then the sweet smell engulfed my whole being and I could not decipher when my own stated and the unique strange smell ended. I closed my eyes and took a long inhale as if trying to store it for later in case I lost it again. Suddenly the detention door opened and the unique scent hit me like a gush of wind. It was a mixture of strawberries and red roses. Weird but yet so soothing. I opened my eyes and quickly turned towards the door and there stood the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.