Shadow Crest

Wyatt We're pulling up in front of the castle. It's only been a year since I was here, but I still have mixed feelings looking up at my former school. I enjoyed my time attending but after graduating a few years ago, I learned I would be returning year after year to help train younger wolves and I guess I just lost interest. As a student at a boarding school for the supernatural, there was so much to learn about myself and the others from this world. I found it all fascinating. Now? Now it seems I know everything there is to know and the training is monotonous. We run the same drills and do the same exercises every year. Sigh. Yes, my summers here have gotten very boring. But I'm a royal alpha and this is my responsibility so there's no point in whining about it. The SUV comes to a stop. I look out my window from the back seat and see Mr. and Mrs. Volmer smiling. They run the school and own the Gothic palace in which it resides. They're great people. And a very powerful witch and wizard that my pack has been allied with for many years. My beta, Michael, opens my door and I step out. "Oh, it's so good to see you, Wyatt." Elizabeth says as she stretches her arms out for a hug. Elizabeth is extremely short compared to me, I'm 6'1 and her head barely reaches my chest. She has short gray hair, freckles, fair skin, brown eyes, and is the nicest person you will ever meet. I lean down and scoop her up in a bear hug. I hear a deep chuckle and set Elizabeth back down. I turn to Paul and reach out my hand. "Good to see you again Paul." I say respectfully. "You too, son." He replies, shaking my hand and smiling. Him calling me "son" almost makes me laugh considering how many people thought we were related when I attended Shadow Crest. I can see it though; we both have dark brown hair and olive skin and brown eyes that are so dark they're basically black. "Would you mind if we head up to the office? We have a few things we would like to discuss with you Wyatt. This is Joseph and he can show your pack to their home for the summer." Paul says, while gesturing to the young man behind him. "Of course. Lead the way." I tell him as I mind link my gamma to stay with Joseph and the pack. I don't normally bring pack members, but we have a few members who need some extra training. "You got it alpha." I hear my gamma, Sebastian, tell me through the mind link. I follow Paul and Elizabeth up the stairs leading to the entrance of the school. The doors open and the second we step inside I'm hit with this delicious smell. I can't put my finger on what it is...but I feel like I've smelled it before. I'm racking my brain when I hear a loud ringing. Then I forget my thoughts as I maneuver through the hoard of students just being released from their final classes for the year. We make it with minimal damage. Michael did bump into some girl who looked to be about fourteen and he was traumatized. "I'm so so sorry!" She kept saying. Michael is still blood red, he's pretty shy. I chuckle to myself. "Would you just drop it?" I hear him snap in my mind as he punches my arm. I'm about to retaliate when we reach the doors of Paul's office. Tall and grand with their family's crest, a lion with a pair of stag horns, mounted in the middle. Before graduating, the only times I came near these doors was the many times I got in trouble. I still get nervous, like I'm back in school and waiting for him to call me inside for my weekly lecture. Paul and Elizabeth don't even stop walking and the doors swing open for us. Once inside they go around the large mahogany desk, Paul sitting in his throne looking chair and Elizabeth standing beside him. Paul clears his throat as I note that sweet smell is stronger here. "Wyatt, we have had reports of hunters creeping along the border of the school grounds. So, we have taken some extra precautions to keep everyone safe. We would like for you and your pack members to stay within the borders. We know that the pack has always been able to roam the forests around the school but, for now at least, they are off limits." He states. "That sucks" Michael whines in my head. While I agree, since there isn't much room to run within the school grounds, I'm an alpha and protecting my pack takes priority over having fun. "No problem, Paul. I will make sure everyone knows to steer clear of the woods." I tell him. "Thank you. We are attempting to purchase the surrounding property, but it may take some time. Now, we would also like to talk to you about something more personal. We are ha..." Paul starts as the office doors swing open again. Paul and Elizabeth beam at whoever is at the door, and I'm almost strangled by the same scent from earlier. But in the best way. "Hello darling." Elizabeth greets our guest with a huge grin. "I'm so sorry to interrupt granny but I have grandpa's lunch and some herbs for his injury." I hear a sweet voice say. Injury? I think to myself and glance at Paul. He looks fine. "What happened? Are you okay?" I ask him, trying to focus on anything but that smell. "Oh, I'm fine. I was helping my grandsons put up a border around the academy and had an encounter with the hunters. Nothing I couldn't handle though. My granddaughter is just a worry wart." He laughs. Then the girl rounds the desk and finally comes into view, sitting a silver tray down on the desk. She has golden hair falling down her back in waves and the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen. "I'm not a worry wart grandpa. You were shot. Warlock or not, you need to take care of the wound and give yourself time to heal." She says condescendingly. I want to laugh. Not many people are ballsy enough to speak to Paul that way. I mean he stands at like 6'2 and has more muscles than anyone who runs a school has a right to have and to top it all off he's a three-hundred-year-old warlock. Paul grumbles something under his breath and Elizabeth just chuckles. "Alpha Wyatt, Beta Michael this is our granddaughter Serena Rose Valencia." She tells us. I make eye contact with Serena and see she is grinning at us. I feel something in my chest, a sudden weight...no, a sudden lightness? I don't know how to explain it but whatever it is, it feels amazing. Serena steps around the desk and comes to my side, hand extended towards me. "It's so lovely to meet you both." She says to me. Her little lilac dress brings out the green in her eyes. It takes several moments before I realize, I've just been staring at her. I cough to hide my embarrassment. "Yes, yes, nice to meet you as well." I respond. Michael's hand arches around my back. "Good to meet you, Serena." He chuckles. He clearly noticed my gawking at the girl. "Please, call me Rini." She giggles, matching his amusement. Then she turns towards her grandparents. "I'll leave you to it. Let me know if you need anything else." She tells them and then leaves, the office doors closing behind her. The meeting ends shortly after she leaves, and Michael and I head to our rooms to get settled. "Cute, huh?" Michael's voice rings through my head. His comment irritates me for some reason, so I just nod my head. Once we reach my room, he asks me if I need anything and I tell him no, to go ahead and chill for the rest of the night since we start our training sessions tomorrow and it was a long drive here. I get in my room and begin unpacking my bags absentmindedly, all the while thinking about Serena and trying to place that scent she had. After showering, I get into bed and try to push her from my mind and get some rest so I'm not beat tomorrow but all I can think about is her. I sit up and grab the television remote from my bedside table and start clicking through the channels. I stop on MTV. A few episodes of Ridiculousness later and I'm still awake. I take a deep breath and decide to go for a run. It's late and everyone else should be sleeping now so I have free reign of the grounds. I toss the covers off me and head to the closet. I throw on some sweats and a tee shirt and check my Apple Watch. I groan. It's two in the morning and I have to be up for training at eight. Hopefully this run can tire me out and I can get at least a few hours of sleep. I open my bedroom door and head downstairs and out the main entrance. I'm heading to the track field when I catch the scent of an animal. Not just any animal, a wolf. I follow the scent to the edge of the school's protective barrier. The scent is strong which means it's close by. I hear a gunshot and a low whimper. I morph into my wolf and jump through the barrier. Wolves are rare this time of year and Shadow crest is full of young werewolves from around the world. The chances of this being a wolf and not a werewolf are slim and it's in my DNA to protect not just wolves from my pack but from all packs. I'm running the woods following the trail left by whoever's scent this is when a loud snarl rips through the area. I turn to see a light brown wolf baring its teeth at me. I can tell it is a female based on the shape of her snout, but I'm shocked. She's nearly as big as me, definitely as big as my beta. I've never seen a she-wolf that size. I crouch into an attack stance and bare my own teeth at her, feeling oddly guilty about doing so. Then I notice her eyes are looking behind me. My ears perk up as I hear light footsteps in the grass behind us. I start to turn around and face whatever is behind me when she jumps past me. A man's body goes flying in the air. I face the she-wolf and see a silver gun in between her teeth. She chomps down and breaks the gun in half, spitting the pieces in front of the now shaking man she had thrown. Then she starts stalking closer to him and once she is a few inches from the man's face...she snaps at him. "Ah" He yells. The she-wolf makes a noise almost like a chuckle and then turns to face me. The guy takes this opportunity to limp off as fast as he can. I stand there staring into her glowing amber eyes and note that something feels very familiar about her. I lift my front right leg to start moving towards her, but she darts off into the woods. What? Does she think she can outrun me? I think. Laughing to myself and kind of excited for the chase, I take off after her. I can see her in the distance, dancing around the trees. Wow. She is freaking fast. I speed up. Still running, she tilts her head back to look at me and I catch a quick glimpse of her face before she darts off in the other direction. I swear she's smiling. She may be larger than most other females but I'm still an alpha. I just feel insulted now. I grumble to myself. I'm getting closer. She's only a few yards ahead of me now. I start to get excited, knowing I'm about to catch her and win this little game of ours when, suddenly, she comes to a halt. She's just standing there. Must be getting tired. I tell myself smugly. Once again, she turns her ahead back in my direction and this time, I KNOW she is smiling. She throws her head up and lets out a melodious howl before crouching down and jumping. What?! I reach her just as her hind legs are in the air. Her wolf takes a diving stance and lands in the water. I can't see her in the black waters below. I'm considering going in after her when the sun begins to rise. s**t. I turn to head back to the school before taking one more glance in the direction of the lake. I hate that I have to go but it's probably about 6 and I have training in two hours. As I'm rushing back, I note that I'm wide awake. I haven't slept all night and I am so full of energy. That girl really made getting no sleep worth it. I get to the front of the school and shift back to my human form. I check my watch - 6:24. Damn, I curse myself. "Bro, where are you? You have to come try these breakfast burritos." Michael's voice enters my mind. I head inside and make my way to the dining hall. The hall is quiet, most students have probably gone home for the summer or are still in bed sleeping in. I search the room for Michael and Sebastian but can't find them anywhere. "Where are you guys?" I ask them in the mind link. "The kitchen." Bash tells me. I head to the kitchen, eager to eat. I'm starving. I realize I didn't have dinner last night. Opening the doors to the kitchen, I'm met with a breathtaking aroma. And it's not the burritos. "Good morning, Alpha." She greets me. Smiling her sweet smile. She's not wearing a dress today I note. She's wearing light blue work out tights and a matching sports bra and now I can really see how nice her body is. Her hair is tied up in a low braid and she looks just as adorable as she did yesterday. "Good morning, Serena." I respond. "Rini, you can call me Rini. Everyone else does." She tells me, rolling her eyes. "Would you like me to make you a plate Alpha Wyatt?" She asks me. "Wyatt, please, and if you don't mind." I state. She smiles, nods, and then turns towards the food on the counter. I sit down at the small round table next to bash. I've never been in the kitchen I think to myself. It's cozy. The walls are pale yellow, the counters and cabinets are white, and they are covered in pastry dishes. The table I'm seated at is light wood and there's a blue and white plaid tablecloth over it and a bouquet of wildflowers in a vase at the center. The room smells of cinnamon and vanilla and her. Rini. "Where you been dude? We came to your room like an hour ago and you weren't there." Mike asks me. I turn my attention towards him, "I went for a run this morning." I reply. "Over achiever. You're the alpha man. You don't have to go out of your way to make us look bad." Bash teases. I smirk, better they think that, than know that their big bad alpha was kept up all night by two girls. Serena comes to my side and places a plate in front of me. "Enjoy." She tells me, taking a few steps back and then bringing her hands to her cheeks. She watches me excitedly. Picking up my food, I bend my head down to take a bite. Oh my gosh. This is...wow. "This is...really good...like...REALLY good." I declare in between bites. "I know right?!" Bash shouts. "It's the best thing I've ever ate. Hands down." Mike states, taking another bite. He groans. "So good." "I'm so happy you all like it!" Rini exclaims. She's beaming. She made this? Jeez. She's beautiful, nice, and can cook. "Alright, well I'm going to head upstairs. I'm so glad you are all enjoying your breakfast. See you at training!" She shouts as she heads out of the room. I'm a little bummed she left. I guess I was hoping she'd sit down and eat with us. Partly to ask her how she made these tacos and partly so I could talk to her about literally anything. What is wrong with me? I've seen this girl twice for a total of five minutes in my whole life. "Get a grip." I think to myself. Sebastian starts talking to me and I try to give him my attention. The three of us talk back and forth while we eat and then stand up and stretch, so full. I lean down to clean up my plate but before I can my plate lifts itself and floats to the sink with bash's and Michael's. "Cool!" Bash says. "See? I'd rather be a witch. No chores. You just snap your fingers and boom. Done." Mike mutters. "Come on, gather the pack and other wolves and meet me at the training field in twenty." I tell them and we head out of the kitchen. We all go change, Bash and Mike out of their pjs and me out of the clothes I spent all night running through the woods in. I'm halfway to the field when an idea hits me. Normally, we would focus on fitness in our human forms the first few weeks, but if I have everyone shift then I can find my mystery wolf from last night. When everyone arrives, Bash has them line up in front of me before he and Mike take their places at my left and right sides. "Good morning, everyone." I greet them. "Good morning, Alpha." They all call out in return. "Today we are going to do things a bit differently. We will do our usual strength and agility test in our human forms, but we will also be testing these in our wolf forms as well. Let's begin with our wolves. Everyone shift and we will begin." I announce. They start shifting one by one until there isn't a human body in sight. But, to my disappointment, the wolf from last night is nowhere in sight either. I sigh. I'm disappointed, but now I am also concerned. Who was that wolf and why was she on the grounds if she's not a student?