Hidden tides
1061 Words
It was finally the weekend. No alarms. No hallways full of gossip. No pretending to be something she wasn’t.
Olivia curled her legs beneath her on the worn-out couch, still dressed in pajamas, her dark hair tied in a lazy bun. The comforting scent of her mother’s herbal tea lingered in the air as the sun peeked shyly through the living room curtains.
Her mother, Maria, stood by the kitchen counter, stirring something into a clay pot something that definitely didn’t smell human.
“You’ve been awfully quiet lately,” her mother said, not looking up. “How’s school this week?”
Olivia blinked. Her gaze drifted toward the window, eyes unfocused as memories tugged at her mind. The laughter in the halls, the stares, the strange pull when he walked in.
She took a breath. “Mum…” she said softly. “There’s… another wolf at school.”
Maria froze mid-stir. Her head turned slowly. “What did you say?”
Olivia nodded. “I can feel it. He walked past me and it hit me like a punch to the chest. The scent, the power—it was unmistakable.”
Maria’s brows pulled together. “What’s his name?”
“Raine,” Olivia whispered. “Raine Thorn.”
“That doesn’t sound like any of the old families. Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. He doesn’t smell like a pack wolf. Or a rogue. Just… different.”
Maria's jaw tightened. “You need to stay away from him.”
Olivia looked away. “He hasn’t done anything. Yet.”
“Promise me, Olivia. No matter how curious you are, no matter what you feel stay hidden. No one can know what you are.”
“I know,” she murmured.
Maria relaxed slightly. “Anyone else?”
Olivia smiled faintly. “I made a new friend. Her name’s Lila. She’s human.”
Her mother raised a brow. “You’re trusting a human?”
“She’s funny. And honest. And… I don’t know. I like her.”
“Just be careful. The more you care, the more it hurts when they find out the truth.”
Monday Morning
The sun hadn’t even risen fully when Olivia stood in front of her mirror. She had a strange craving to feel normal today. Human, even.
She let her hair down, long and soft, curling slightly at the ends. She picked a short plaid skirt and paired it with a black crop top that hugged her figure in all the right ways. It was bold—for her. Then she reached for mascara.
Half-wolf girls didn’t wear makeup. Or care about high school fashion trends.
But she wasn’t just half-wolf.
She was Olivia. And today, she felt like proving it.
“Are you really putting on eyeliner?” her wolf whispered from within.
“Shut up,” she muttered with a smirk. “Let me live.”
Downstairs, Maria handed her a packed lunch with a knowing smile.
“What’s in it?” Olivia asked warily.
“Steamed liver, moonroot rice, and dried heart slices.”
Olivia winced. “Mum. I can’t eat that in public. That’s not even remotely normal.”
“Then eat fast and hide the box,” Maria said cheerfully.
“I’m not a magician.”
Maria kissed her cheek. “You’re worse. You’re a teenage girl with a secret.”
****
Platform High school
The halls buzzed with gossip and perfume as Olivia stepped into school. Heads turned. Whispers rippled. Even Blair queen of the campus, hesitated mid-sentence.
“Did she always have that hair?”Jenna whispered.
“She’s totally trying too hard,”Blair and Maddy snapped, folding her arms. “It’s pathetic.”
Olivia kept walking.
She didn’t have to speak. Her confidence said everything.
She spotted Lila by the lockers and waved.
“Girl!” Lila gasped. “You look so hot. I mean, I already liked you, but now I might really like you.”
Olivia laughed. “You’re ridiculous.”
“No, you’re the mysterious main character in every high school romance. All you need is a violin theme song when you walk.”
They made their way outside and sat beneath the same wide oak tree.
“I swear the cafeteria food is trying to kill me,” Lila said, unwrapping her sad-looking sandwich. “What did you bring?”
Olivia hesitated, unzipping her lunch bag just slightly.
The smell was immediate.
Rich. Earthy. Very much not peanut butter.
She tried to turn away discreetly, but Lila peeked over.
“Uh… is that liver?”
Olivia froze. “Family tradition. My mom’s into ancestral cooking.”
Lila blinked. “Huh. That’s… kind of cool? Gross. But cool.”
“I don’t eat it around people usually.”
“Don’t worry,” Lila said. “I once had a cousin who ate dried bugs for protein. You’re officially not the weirdest person I know.”
Olivia smiled in relief. Crisis averted.
But then… she felt it again.
That presence.
She turned slightly and saw him—Raine—leaning against a far wall, one hand in his pocket, earbuds in, watching the field like he was bored of Earth.
His eyes lifted—and met hers.
Again.
The breath in Olivia’s lungs hitched. There was no smile. No nod. Just a silent understanding.
He knew.
And somehow, he knew she knew too.
Afternoon
Gym class was torture.Blair kept throwing her little passive-aggressive barbs.
“Some of us don’t need to try so hard to be noticed,” she said loudly, tossing her ponytail.
“Some of us don’t need to wear designer perfume to hide insecurity,” Olivia replied with a sugar-sweet smile.
Even the gym teacher snorted.
Later, as Olivia washed her hands in the bathroom, she stared at her reflection. Her hair clung to her forehead with sweat. Her heart beat too fast.
Why was Raine in this school?
Why now?
And what if… he wasn’t the only one watching?
That night, Olivia stood by her bedroom window, staring into the forest beyond.
Leaves rustled.
The night air shifted.
And somewhere deep between the trees, a howl rang out.
Not loud.
But familiar.
And close.
Olivia’s hands tightened on the window ledge.
Whatever peace she had found was temporary.
Something was coming.
And her secret?
Wouldn’t stay hidden forever.
- Writer
