High Moon Academy

Chapter 3 - POV Charlie - Damon

As Patty and I ran towards our sanctuary, I suddenly had all kinds of things running through my mind, and a bundle of nerves going on in my stomach. I knew that I had to talk to Damon. Racing towards him, I could feel an uneasiness coming from him. Being twins, we have always been able to feel each other's emotions on some level. I'm pretty sure that's the reason Damon is so protective, he has always been able to feel how I'm feeling and then act accordingly. As I approached our sanctuary and saw him sitting on the makeshift tree branch chairs we built 3 summers back, his body shifted slightly as I came into view.

Flashback

I sensed he was near before I saw him. We don't have our wolves yet, but being twins, I can always feel it when Damon is near. I know he must have heard that Marissa and her friends in our grade are planning an end-of-year party down on Silver beach. Damon knows I have tried multiple times to try and befriend Marissa again. We used to be friends when we were little, but as we got older, I got into video games and she got into boys. Needless to say, we drifted, but a part of me always wished we would be friends again, but something always got in the way. Her new friend group was not exactly my biggest fans. They thought girls should do everything possible to be the best mate, like make-up and endless shopping sprees. How that makes a good mate I'll never understand. I was more into bad dubbed anime, video games, and training. Marissa liked that about me, it didn't matter to her that I wasn't like her, we always had fun just goofing off, but we never lasted long thanks to her toxic friends. Marissa is basically everything you would want in a mate. She's beautiful, smart, funny, kind, and from a good Gamma family. Everyone loves her.

On this particular day, Marissa had come up and asked me if I was going to come to the end-of-year beach bash. I smiled brightly at her and just as I went to answer one of her friends, Piper, whom I loathe more than anyone else, stated "Oh Charles, Oops I mean Charlie, wouldn't be caught dead at the beach, she would actually have to show some skin". I could see in Marissa's eyes she was taken aback by what Piper had said and, with a look of fury on her face, she turned to say something to Piper, but before I could hear what she said, I ran. I could hear Marissa call my name but I didn't stop. I ran as fast as my human legs would take me all the way to the sanctuary. That's when Damon showed up, thanks to his twintuition (twin intuition).

"Hey Charlie, what's up? I didn't see you in the last period today". I know he knows what happened. He's the future Alpha. Nothing happens without him finding out, especially when it has to do with me. Of course, he tries to play it off like he just happened to be coming to sanctuary too.

"As if you don't already know, she's horrible. Why does she hate me so much?" I looked up from my spot on the ground in front of our cabin and with my red eyes and tear-stained face. It didn’t matter that I knew I could take Piper down in a fight. Or that I knew on some level she was just jealous. I’m still a teenage girl with feelings, and Piper loved to cause me harm.

"Piper is just jealous that you are everything she isn't. You're strong, smart, fun, get to be the sister of only the hottest guy on campus (*cough cough*)" I laughed out loud, of course, he would take this moment to praise himself while simultaneously cheering me up.

"I just wish Marissa wasn't friends with her. Piper’s awful. I don't understand how Marissa can stand her." It's true because Marissa is so awesome. You'd think she would have better company, though not many choices in our high school I will admit, Piper really is dumb as turds on a stick, and just rude. I feel sorry for whoever her mate ends up being, because he's going to be stuck with a mate who can do nothing but shop and make people avoid any area she enters.

I can see that Damon is staring at me just biding his time before he continues talking, letting me have my internal dialogue moment. I know I'm not the most social person, but an end-of-year bash at the beach would have been fun. I knew Patty and Damon were going. I had overheard them discussing who they were going to try and hook up with before the bell rang and Marissa came over to ask me. Though after the whole display today I definitely don't want to go. It’s not like Piper was wrong either. I may have a great body, but I definitely would have worn a beach dress and a one-piece suit, no way was I going to be in some itty bitty yellow bikini like I'm sure she would be. Finally, Damon speaks.

"You know Piper is going to end up being that sad girl that never really thrives past high school, right, she will probably end up working at the pack mall that she spends way too much time at." I know he's right, but that doesn’t help with how she makes me feel now.

"Besides, I'm glad you're not going to the beach party. I need a break from future Alpha and I was hoping for my little sister." He smiled. This is why I know Damon would make a great Alpha. The pack always comes first beyond his own wants. I know Damon’s been looking forward to this party, yet here he is forfeiting his own happiness for the good of a pack member.

"I'm two minutes younger than you!" I all but growled at him, and he smiled.

"I'm still older. As I was saying, I'm glad you're not going. I want to spend some time with you, and judging by how I found you, I know just what I want to do." he had a mischievous grin on his face as he said those words, which had me slightly concerned.

The next thing I knew, we were cutting off branches from the surrounding trees, and Damon and I spent the night building three makeshift chairs for the front porch of our cabin. I knew he wanted to go to that party. He had his eyes on some girls for a while. Really, what guy would really give up a beach party with half-naked girls? It's a memory I'll be forever grateful for.

End of Flashback

Weird how something as simple as your brother leaning against a chair can bring back so many memories. I never did get to find out what Marissa had said back to Piper but I never saw them speak again and a week later, Marissa had to visit her aunt in another pack with her mom and dad. Her aunt wasn't doing well due to the loss of her mate to a rogue attack on their pack. When a wolf loses their mate they run the risk of going insane or becoming so consumed with the loss that they perish themselves. It’s important to be surrounded by those who love you when you lose a mate to help with the loss. Marissa never came back, she's still part of our pack but her parents said she, was going to stay out at her aunt's house to finish off high school and keep her aunt company, since she didn't have children of her own. I miss her sometimes, even though we weren't close when she left. Guess I'm just not meant to have girlfriends.

I can see by the look on Damon's face that he must have discussed my whole attending the academy with dad first, I can only guess he's the one who truly swayed dad into giving me a shot. I quickly ran behind our tree, transformed, and got into my clothes, as I came out from behind the tree. I knew what to say, I ran up to him and hugged him, and gave a whimper. I knew he must think I was upset by the news and needed comfort. As much as, on some level, I was upset I'd be leaving him for some time, I was grateful for the opportunity. So, after tugging on his heartstrings for a bit, I finally pulled back and had a big smile on my face.

"THANK YOU!" At first, he looked at me with confusion, then happiness.

"You're a jerk. I thought you were upset with me!" he stared at me with that knowing look. He knew he figured out my hug and whimper were more of a ruse than me being actually upset. He's still my brother. I have to mess with him a little bit, and it's true my feelings towards the academy could have gone either way.

"I'm assuming you're the one who put the word in dad's ear to give your future Beta a chance. It was you who suggested the academy as a way to train me, wasn't it?" I looked at him questioningly as Patty grabbed us each a soda and joined us on our chairs, as we now sat on the chairs beginning to fall into our normal comfort.

"Actually no, that was all mom's doing. I suggested you stay here and shadow Beta James. Mom said that you need to learn to find your own way without me if you're going to have to hold your own as the pack Beta someday. She even reminded dad that that was how they met, and reminded him of how different they were before the academy apparently. I think once she reminded him of that, he suddenly saw a way to find you a mate too." I had totally forgotten mom and dad had met at the academy. I actually don't know much about mom's family. We haven’t gone and visited them since I was like three years old and mom never talks about them. I believe they are called Shadow Moon pack. That reminds me I need to talk to mom.

"Well, I'm glad mom suggested it, as much as I don't want to leave you two bozos." There it was again, the ping in my heart that I'd be leaving all my comforts behind in pursuit of my dream. I know it's what I need, but I’m going to miss these two so much.

"Hey!" they said in unison, at the mention of me calling them Bozos.

"You know I love you guys, but you also know what you two are. I think mom is right. I do need to branch out and, hey, with all that ranked training maybe I'll even come back and battle you for Alpha." I'm joking, of course, and the way the boys broke out laughing I know they know it too.

"Well, boys, how about we end the night on a high note and we go inside and I kick both your buts at COD already."

"Oh, you're on". I knew Damon would take the bait. Alpha-born twins right? We were bound to be competitive.

"Of course, she wants to play COD, it's always COD, 'cause she's a violent little mighty mouse!" Ah yes my sweet little innocent Patty, he is always a good choice for me to sacrifice in order to get a good shot at the other team. I mean, if we win in the end, isn't that all that matters? Hm. Maybe I do need a bit more Beta training. I can’t be sacrificing pack members to win battles. But in COD Patty is the sacrificial lamb.

This is how I want to spend my last few nights in Silver Moon.