Blood Moon Howlers

Part 3| Social Pariah!!

Head up, shoulders back.

Skyler took a deep breath before stepping into school. Almost on cue, people looked at her.

She was almost infamous.

Everyone had heard rumors about her but no one really knew her, so all they could do was stare.

It never made sense why people would act that childish even after they left high school.

When she first started school she tried to be nice, she was polite and quiet but then the rumors started to float.

People thought she slept around, had plastic surgery and got pregnant.

Skyler had no idea where these rumors started from or why they were about her but she knew there was nothing she could do by the time she heard them.

Denying them would only make her look more 'guilty' and she wasn't going to claim she did something she didn't just to make them happy.

So she just kept her mouth shut and learned to block it out. It was like drinking alcohol, soon, she'd become so numb that nothing hurts but then she'd wake up the next morning with a hangover that left her feeling shitter.

Things have admittedly gotten better.

Not by a lot but she noticed that people didn't stare at her as blatantly as they first did. But that didn't mean that unsolicited gazes wouldn't land on her when she walked the halls.

"Skye!"

She cringed at the voice then she heard footsteps speeding towards her.

Kelsy McKenning

Were we friends? No.

Were we enemies? No.

We were... well, we were nothing.

We were two people who knew nothing about each other, other than what we've heard. Kelsy was the only person that speaks to me but that didn't mean our conversations were friendly or pleasant.

Skyler didn't respond and continued her journey to class.

"Skyler!" Kelsy attracted attention with her loud exclamations as she caught up with Skyler. She didn't acknowledge her, she never did. She just kept her stride.

"I was calling you. Didn't you hear me?" Kelsy whined in a voice an octave too high in a shirt that was a few inches too short. No. It was barely covering her bra and her shorts barely covering her underwear which is a strange choice of attire for the end of October.

Nonetheless, our 'friendship' only better fuelled the rumors about my fidelity. People thought that sluts stick together not that Kelsy was one, she just wasn't the most... wholesome girl.

"No" Skyler mumbled quietly, her eyes unwavering. She learned that tunnel vision was the only way to make it through university.

After becoming infamous for the most untrue things, she had no choice but to blur everything out except her destination. Whether it be class or home, she just had to block everything out.

Kelsy scoffed softly with a roll of her eyes "I wanted to know if you were going to Connor's Halloween party tonight."

Connor White

He was someone that always annoyed her, he was the biggest prick that she'd ever met in her life. Besides the fact that he makes sure everyone knows that has a trust fund bigger than his d**k, Connor never tossed up the chance to come onto her.

He thrived off of the rumors, he'd try to egg her on to kiss another girl or have a quickie in a closet. He tries to grope her or lean in for a kiss that she didn't want, he thought she was some sort of s****l deviant.

Which was hilarious because she's never had a boyfriend, much less a first kiss each time the conversation would end with her flipping him off, walking away without a word.

Some girls thought that guys like Connor were the best, they loved his rich, playboy attitude and the countless girls that he claimed he 'f****d'.

Maybe by f****d, he meant there was more d**k in his personality than there was in his pants but to her, he just came off as a pathetic, horny tool that wanted to come off as a bigger man than he actually was.

"I'd rather die," She said breathily.

Kelsy scoffed. Skyler knew that Kelsy thought she was stuck up and condescending, as if she was above it all but she couldn't help it.

Kelsy sneered at her, "Well everyone's going to be there, if you want to stop being a social pariah, you should probably go. Connor's been talking about you for some weird reason which means so have a lot of first year skanks. If it wasn't for me, you'd be disintegrated by now." She placed a cigarette between her lips but didn't light it.

"Honestly, I have no idea why he's so into you, but you should be glad. No one would know your name if he didn't. Everyone here thinks you're either a psycho, a slut or a plastic doll. Maybe if you actually hung out with these people instead of acting like an entitled brat, they might be nicer. Considering your status here, you don't really have the right to act like such a b***h unless the rumors are true."

Skyler never got tired of being called that but she hated it.

Skyler stopped walking and spun to face Kelsy "Look, I didn't ask you to follow me around and talk to me. In fact, if I could, I'd rather have you leave me alone altogether. I'd rather be a social pariah than have you associated with me. So I'm sorry if you've wasted your time with me because honestly, I couldn't care less about you or Connor or the skanks spreading rumors about me. I can bet money that you feel the same way. So how about we drop this 'friend' bullshit and just go our own ways, hating each other. Just leave me alone and do us both a favor and don't talk to me."

Skyler turned on her heel and stalked away, ignoring the shocked expression on her face with her cigarette hanging off her lips but she caught Kelsy's mumble before she walked away.

"b***h"

Of course, I am.

I'm an unlovable b***h.

That's what I'll always be.

▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫

Caleb's body slammed into the side of the cabin with a loud thump that shook the foundation of the building. He shook the shock off before jumping back onto his feet, speeding towards Jaxon's crouched body.

You're going to have to move faster you little mutt.

Caleb growled at his taunt and pounced into the air. Jaxon's body reacted quicker and grabbed him by the neck before whipping him to the side.

Caleb whined.

This isn't fair. He's already the prince, why do I have to spar with him when it's the full moon too? He's like ten times as strong and he never f*****g tires out.

The rest of the pack just stood to the side in human form watching the battle in amusement.

Chase was still recovering from his sparring session but the rest were itching to shift and take a shot at burning some extra energy.

Chase groaned as he placed an ice bag on his sore muscles. "This is his fault, you know if he found his mate, he'd be wasting his energy mating with her instead of taking it out on us."

"You're just bitching because you tagged out 5 minutes into the session and you haven't found your mate yet," Xander said as he leaned against the patio table.

Aiden chuckled and watched Caleb get thrown around the backyard. He could feel the uncomfortable stiffness in his muscles too, the effects of the full moon, but he was better at managing it.

But once the moon actually came out, it would make things twice as painful.

This is stupid, just go find your mate and leave the rest of us alone. Caleb barked angrily.

Aiden could only imagine the sharp comments the smartass was making, only further angering their prince.

Ethan watched the two with sparkling eyes even though he often butt heads with Jaxon he always admired his fighting skill. He was always calculating and sharp with his movements, he never rushed himself.

He'd wait until his opponent was already attacking before he fought back, he'd wait until he'd see the plan forming in Caleb's head before countering it.

They might have differing views on mates, but Ethan hoped that one day he'd be just as good a fighter as Jaxon, even without having the royal blood.

Caleb rolled over onto his stomach, a sign of forfeit, causing both guys to shift back into human form.

"f**k a duck!" Caleb moaned and buried his face in his hands "Ugh, why did you have to be so violent? It's the full moon all our bodies are in so much pain as it is."

Jaxon glance at everyone "Who's next? Mason?" he voiced as his eyes zeroed in on the small boy. Mason's eyes widened and glanced between a bruised up Caleb and back to him who didn't even break a sweat.

"Umm... you know what? I think I'll pass this round" he said.

"I'll do it" Ethan spoke up.

Ethan had forgiven Jaxon for their heated conversation and he had done the same, but in the wolf world, nothing is settled before fighting it out.

He watched the small brownish wolf trot up to him and felt his purple eyes flash.

He's so small.

You sure, pup?

Bring it, prince.

Jaxon grunted and they were off. What Ethan lacked in strength and size, he made up for in agility and speed.

What's wrong? Miss your mate? Oh wait, you don't have one. I forgot.

Everyone watched in anticipation when his eyes glowed an angry purple. He snarled and pounced on Ethan, grabbing his little neck and flung him up in the air.

Chase gasped when he saw the height that Ethan was sent. There was no doubt that the pup would break his neck when he landed.

He stood up, ready to catch the falling wolf when Xander stopped him.

"Just wait for it"

Jaxon watched Ethan fly, a terrified yelp escaping his muzzle. He crouched down and counted to 10 then raced under the falling pup.

Jaxon barked a laugh when he felt Ethan's small body landing on his wide back, he could hear him whimpering.

That's what you get for mouthing off, pup.

Aiden clamped his hand down on Chase's shoulder, "Have a little faith in your prince next time, will ya?"

Ethan opened his eyes and exhaled when he realized that he was alive, he hopped down and they transformed back.

"That wasn't cool!" Ethan whined.

Jaxon smirked and ruffled Ethan's hair then clapping his hands, "Aiden? Xander? Who's the next challenger?"

"We should be heading back, it's getting late," Xander said while shaking his head.

"Today's October 31st. It's not just any night," Chase said.

"It's Halloween in the human world, isn't it?" Caleb said in annoyance.

Jaxon scowled, "f*****g humans ruin everything, they think that just because of this stupid holiday, they have an excuse to run around dressed like idiots trying to scare each other. We have to deal with humans sticking hair on their faces and calling themselves 'werewolves'. Just another reason why humans should just go extinct."

Aiden smirked and glanced at all of them "Who wants to party with the humans?"

▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫▪▫

"You are going to that party"

Skyler grimaced and tossed her bag on the kitchen table "Ava, this isn't a normal Halloween party with a couple of close friends. This is 90% of the school crammed in an expensive house wearing slutty animal costumes, grinding their drunk bodies on guys they would otherwise not even look at."

Ava snorted "You need to start making friends since I'm not around just go and stand in the corner and watch with a beer and listen to the music."

Skyler felt herself caving at Ava's words, she let out a defeated sound which had Ava dancing in victory.

"What would I even go as?" She said as she fell on the couch.

"I have a red hooded cape in my closet. Just wear a white dress and go as Little Red Riding Hood."

"Why do you have a red cape?" She said as she walked into Ava's room and peered into her closet.

"Long story. Just go have fun and meet that cute guy I've been telling you about."

"Oh, you mean the cute, funny, normal, not-horny, not-creepy, sweet, good looking guy that I'm supposed to just run into?"

"Yup!" Ava said cheerfully.

"Did I mention that he also doesn't exist?"

Ava tsked her "Look I don't have time to deal with your pessimism, I have to go to a work dinner. Have fun and call me tomorrow and tell me all about it."

"Oh, and I need a picture proof or I won't believe it. Love you! Bye!"

Crap

She returned the 'Love you' before grabbing the cape and a plain white dress and went to her room.

The rational part of her brain was telling her to just stay home and keep a low profile, but she was kind of pissed.

Why should she stay at home because some people didn't know how to mind their own business? She should be able to have fun too.

Screw everyone else.

Maybe one day, she could just run away. Leave all the crappy people behind and move to a different country with a bright future like Ava.

There was nothing tethering her to this town, she had nothing that made her want to stay or maybe she'll find something that'll make her never want to leave. Something that would make enduring all the s**t taking worth it.

She lifted the dress and stared at it before getting dressed.

I hope this isn't a mistake.