High Moon Academy

Chapter 9 - POV Marissa - My Journey

I’m sitting down for dinner with Aunt Adelle in her cottage. I’ve been here three years now. I miss home sometimes. I just felt I needed to be here for Aunty Adelle and honestly, I wasn’t really sure if going back home was right for me anymore. After I blew up at Piper for how she treated Charlie, I realized that I needed to do more in life than the shops and hang out with really awful people. It killed me seeing Charlie's face drop when Piper insinuated she was a boy. Charlie and I hadn’t been best friends in a long time, due to differing interests, but she was still someone I cared about. Seeing someone I considered a friend being berated by someone I thought I was also friends with hurt. Well, it really made me reevaluate my life and who I was surrounding myself with. Then Uncle Jim was attacked and fatally wounded. My family went to visit Aunt Adelle to help and I knew living with my aunt and supporting her was my way out of my current situation back home.

It’s been three years since I left home. Adelle is doing much better this past year. She was even granted a second chance mate, Jesse. He’s kind and strong and just adores my aunt, and me. Needless to say, my presence wasn’t really needed here anymore. I didn’t know what to do, I still didn’t want to go home just yet. I missed my family, but I just felt I needed to be somewhere else right now. I turned 18 a few months back. I didn’t find my mate in my aunt's pack. I’m assuming that means maybe they are in the Silver Moon pack. I want my mate more than anything, but my wolf, Bella, keeps telling me we have more to do first. This always surprised me, because usually, our wolf counterparts want their mate more than the human side. It seems reversed with us.

My aunt pulled me aside and told me how much she loved that I'd helped her on her recovery journey after uncle Jim. Even now, I see a slight frown as his name touches her lips, I know she still misses him deeply. She went on to tell me that she thinks I need to go home now. There is that feeling again though. Home is not where I need to go.

‘We aren’t meant to go home yet, Marissa. You need to tell her that.’ my all-knowing wolf who never cares to elaborate. I give my wolf a look in my mind and I hear her chuckle. She knows I hate that she can’t elaborate. It’s all just a feeling she has. I trust her implicitly though, so I tell my aunt I’m not ready.

That's when Jesse interjects.

“Well, Hunny, if you’re not ready to go home yet. Well, maybe you should join High Moon academy.” I looked at him with wide eyes. Yes, I’m a ranked member in my pack, therefore allowed to go, but it's never something I’ve considered before. I do feel Bella perks up at the mention though, which intrigues me. They train hard there, and while academically I’d be fine, I don’t see how I’d ever manage the warrior training. I only do some light training with Jesse daily, since he’s the head warrior here. I can tell my aunt and uncle see what's going on inside my head and they smile.

“The academy will train you, Marissa. You’re stronger than you think. It’s not like they’ll throw you to the wolves, pun intended, on your first day. It will, however, get you two more years before returning to Silver Moon.” He’s right, that's exactly what I need. I felt Bella perk up at the mention of the academy too and having two more years to figure stuff out. I knew she would be on board. The uneasy feeling in my stomach at the prospect of learning how to fight at an elite level, however, is not so encouraging.

“Okay, I agree, Bella and I both think the academy is where we need to be.” We all smiled at each other. Aunt Adelle gave me a hug and we phoned Alpha Rick to get his permission for me to enter the academy. He was happy to make the call on my behalf. He even set it up so I would be staying in a room with another Silver moon pack member. Not that I've ever had trouble making friends but it is nice to know a friendly face will be joining me.

As I sit on the couch in my new dorm room, settling in to watch One Tree Hill for the millionth time. While sipping my hot chocolate with marshmallows out of my favorite mug, I heard the door open and looked over to see who my new roommate would be. I can definitely say I wasn’t expecting who I saw. It did make sense now why Alpha Rick was so happy to coordinate a roommate for me though. There in the doorway looking slightly shocked herself, was Charlie. I got up, smiled, greeted her at the doorway with a friendly hug, and offered to help her with her bags. I could see a million things running through her head, so I showed her her room and left her alone for a bit to process. I’m sure the memories of our last encounter are plaguing her mind, stupid Piper.