The Torn She-wolf

Avoiding My Problems

I sat in my morning class trying to focus but my mind kept wandering back to Shane and his secret art. Why did he draw me? Was there a different side of him I didn't know about? I avoided him more than paying attention. If it was me, I would have been 12 or 13. I couldn't be older, he was sent away when I was 13 and he never visited. His parents always went to him. Maybe he was drawing something else and I just happened to be in the way.

NO! I heard Trix, my wolf, in my head. She very rarely spoke to me, only when she thought I was being stupid. Wolves usually start talking to us around 12 or 13 years old. Then we have our first shift between 16 to 18 years old. Trix started talking to me when I was 12 and I shifted at 16. Trix is like having an extra pair of eyes and ears. She sees and hears things that I don't and speaks up when it's important.

No, what? I asked her in my head.

NO! Him drawing you was not an accident. It's a close up drawing not far away and you're the only thing in it. She said back to me in a very annoyed tone.

So maybe you're right and he did mean to draw me but why? I asked her, knowing all too well that she's probably right and I just don't want to face it. She didn't respond for a moment but she does that. She’ll stay silent because she thinks I'm being an i***t and has a short fuse, like most wolves.

Why don't you ask him? He's suppose to be here tomorrow. She snapped back.

There's no way I'm asking him that. I'm avoiding him, remember? Let alone having a full on conversation about how I was snooping in his room. I signed.

Then don't ask about it and move on with our lives. Class is over.

I looked up and realized Trix was right about multiple things, especially class being over because now I'm sitting in my empty classroom with my eyes glazed over.

I made my way to the food court, payed for a sandwich, chips and water. I started over to my normal table were I saw Nick sitting along with Drew, who was a wolf from my pack, Lyric who was a human student, and a couple other friends who were human. I sat down next to Nick. He leaned in and gave me a kiss on my cheek. I blushed. He was so sweet and kind and most importantly he was completely innocent of werewolf business. I started on my food when I looked up across the table to see Drew glancing at me with worry in his eyes.

I've known Drew since I was a kid. We grew up in the pack together. He was Shane's best friend before Shane left. And despite everything their friend group did to me I forgave Drew a couple years after Shane left. We actually dated when I was a junior in high school and he was a freshman in college. I lost my virginity to him when I was 16. We broke up because I started getting distracted my senior year and we both agreed that it would be best if we broke up. Drews not in college anymore. He just comes by to hang out with our friends group and practice with his band. He plays the drums for a rock band.

"What's wrong?" Drew asked over mind link. Although we're all friends Nick has no idea about me and Drew being ex's or wolves.

I glanced over at him, "Nothing, I'm fine." I mind linked back.

"liar." Drew said back, he knew me so well.

"Yeah I lied but I'm not telling you here. Later." I linked back.

"No now! You look completely distracted." He linked back in an snappy tone. Drew had a pretty high rank, his uncle is Beta and with no kids so Drew was technically future Beta so his wolf could dominate some times.

I turned to Nick, "I have to go, I need to go get a book from the library. I'll see you at 330pm?" I said making up an excuse to leave. He nodded his head and leaned in for a kiss. He pressed his lips against mine and moved them slightly while resting a hand on my thigh. He pulled away "I'll see you at 3:30" he said before turning back to our friends.

"I'll see you Lyric." I said while standing up, flashing a smile.

"See you" Lyric said back.

I walked to the back of the library in the wolf fiction section where Drew and I usually met to talk freely. It's hard to see each other as much as we do and avoid what we have in common so we came up with a secret spot to be able to talk. I leaned up against the book shelf and waited for him. I looked down the hall and saw him round the corner.

"Hey," Drew said, walking towards her.

"Hi," I said in a low tone.

"I'm assuming you heard about Shane?" He said with a nervous face.

"Yeah, why did he draw me." I blurted out I didn't mean too, it just happened. I wasn't planning on talking to him about it at all. I know how close they were when we were kids but he said he hasn't talked to him since he left.

"What are you talking about?" Shane asked curiously.

"I cleaned his room this morning. I saw his drawings." I explained in a hushed tone.

"Who let you clean his room?" He said in an angry hushed tone.

"Lynette told me to. I don't understand why he has a drawing of me. He hated me. He's the one that gave me the nickname Rouge Rose. That name stuck, people still call me that." I exclaimed in a frustrated hushed tone.

"Rose, calm down. I don't know why he drew you. His drawing was pretty personal. If some asked him about them he'd pound them into the ground." He said in a calm whisper. "I know what drawing youre talking about. I saw it before he left and I asked him. He said to not worry about it. He brushed it off." He finished.

"Well I'm freaking out!" I said a little louder than a hushed tone." He's coming back tomorrow and I'm panicking. I need to stay away from him but how long can I avoid him? I'm not a child anymore, They'll make me clean the Alpha floor. That includes his room."

"Hey, stop worrying, it'll be fine. Shane and I might have been friends before but you're my friend Rose, Okay? And I care about you." Shane said, resting his hands on my shoulders to calm me down. He bent down a little to look into my eyes "Okay?" he asked. I nodded my head, he pulled me into his chest and I rested my head on his chest. I felt a little calmer but still washed with panic.

I went to the rest of my classes avoiding my mind racing and focusing on my school work. My last class of the day ended and I walked out of the building and saw Nick standing under a tree on his phone looking peaceful, without a worry in the world. I instantly felt calm.