Running From A Wolf

Chapter 10

"Hey..." Kristine ran to my side and panted softly.

"What's up?" I nodded with a weary smile.

"Not gonna join in on the festivities?"

"Nah," I shook my head. Lifting my face to the cool night sky, I took a deep breath. "I want to lay low. Especially after what happened at noon."

"Yes, I agree." Kristine sat beside me on the car's hood. "Its peaceful here."

"Mmm hmm."

The kids wanted to celebrate their successful selections, and so here we were, at Whitefish Lake. The music blazed loudly. I suppose it was a miracle that we weren't caught by the cops for being so unrestrained. Several stall and barbeque pits had been set up, and someone had dragged a massive freezer with beverages to one side, ensuring that most of us would make questionable decisions tonight.

We watched the others dancing on the shore of the lake, the bonfires casting flames across their faces. Most of them were the preppy groups, dressed in skimpy shorts and skirts, while those who didn't match their level of fun lounged on the moist grass in clusters.

"Want one?" Kristine held a grill rod to me. Chunks of scrumptious turkey were perfectly garnished and roasted with a layer of cheese. The sight made my mouth water.

"Did anyone see you bring it to me?" I raised my brows. "Next thing I'll know, I will probably end up with rat poisoning."

"Don't be rude!" Kristine laughed. I grinned and took a large bite.

"That's pretty good!" My eyes lit up. "Can you get some more for me?"

"Greedy cat!" She teased before she headed off to get me some more.

Blame the cook! I smiled with contentment.

After the selection, the rest of my day had gone pretty smoothly. Frayer showed me around the classrooms, the libraries, the sport fields and the laboratories. He would have dragged it on but Kristine found us before that could happen. Since Kristine joined me during the tour, Frayer let me return to the arena earlier.

And now here we were. I took up the role of Kristine's escort to accompany her. She was slightly drunk while I remained clear-headed to drive her back.

None of the others noticed me sitting on Kristine's car beside the trees, but that was fine. I preferred the solitude. Besides, with my baggy clothes, choppy wig and tanned makeup, I could blend in pretty well in the dark.

The moon was exceptionally bright tonight. In the clear skys, it's pale luminance shone brightly. The lake reflected it like a floating lamp, and some of the wolf shifters howled to portray their affection towards the moon.

A few crickets and grasshoppers buzzed behind me. We were parked right next to the lake with trees covering me from the view of the others. Relative safety, unless someone came looking for me.

Another bout of howls tore through the night. A large circle was gathered near where we parked our cars, sprawled on a matress sheet as they spun a bottle. Somewhere, a pair of voices sang an off-beat tune. There were many who chatted casually, while some made out, not caring about eye witnesses. I was pretty sure the car right behind Kristine's was shaking rhythmically, but I was too exhausted to investigate further.

I sighed.

My college years were finally about to begin. I'd be eighteen in a few weeks. On the night of my adulthood, my family would definitely start the hunt for me again. Which meant that I had to push myself to increase my strength and exceed my limits as soon as possible.

Life wasn't fair to me, but I didn't have anyone to blame.

I was once a naive spoilt brat, looking at the world through a pair of gold-framed lens. Everything I could ever want had been at the top of my fingers.

But as I grew up, the situation changed. I lost everything I had; my lifestyle, my pride, my innocence, my love. And the biggest loss of all, my family.

A strong feline shifter had nine lives. Nine 'power ups' as we call it. Each time we die, we wake up stronger. Our senses get stronger, increasing the intensity of every physical, mental, emotional and psychological interaction. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's very tragic. Due to my parents' powerful union, I was predicted to have a strong feline form someday. Until everything broke apart and I was revealed to be a flaw, a disappointment...

I blinked. Silence enveloped me. I could still see the others but I couldn't hear them. Dread crept up my spine.

Faint green misty wisps rose from the grass below the car. I watched them, hypnotized, as they slowly, delicately, reached to my boots. The neon wisps curled around my jeans, moving higher. And higher...

My fingers unlocked the phone and pushed through the contacts. Slowly they hovered over the dial button of a number I hadn't called since months.

Are you doing well...? Are you happy now...? Do you even remember me...

The green mist was curling towards me from all directions. Strands of green smoke covered the car, snaking towards me. I could almost touch them now, but my limbs refused to budge. Dazed, I just watched them move closer.

I clicked on his picture. It would be so easy to call him. Just one time.

I miss him... I miss him so much...

Maybe I should call-

"Kelsie?"

I jumped at the familiar voice, my trance broken. "Derek?"

So it was. My high school 'ex boyfriend' was here too. His blond mop of hair was combed, his light blue eyes appearing darker in the night. With his good looks, Derek Lynn was the most desired hunk in class. Added to his elegant and classy style of designer clothes, every single girl would have died to be his girlfriend.

And coincidentally, the girl who won that spot was...

"Kelsie! How nice to see you here!" Lina Hill, Danni's collagen lipped sister. If Danni was a b***h, Lina was the leader of all two-faced concubines.

With shaky fingers, I jammed the phone back into my bag. If I had slipped up, the consequences would have been unfixable.

As if my day wasn't already bad enough...

"Kelsie? What are you doing here? All alone in the dark?" Derek's hypocritical eyes scanned me from head to toe. Looking for the signs of a cigar or drugs, I suppose. Maybe even alcohol.

I just gave them the stink eye. "Am I not allowed to? Should I go join the gyrating bodies on the sandy dance floor then?"

"Kelsie!" Lina gave me a self righteous sneer, her hand tightening around Derek's. "Don't be so impolite."

"Well, you both are ruining the beautiful scenery." I shrugged. "Now I'm on the verge of puking."

Derek's brows furrowed. "You are not allowed to talk to Lina that way."

"Oh, Derek," Lina began her low budget water show. "I must have done something wrong for her to blame me this way! I have apologised too, but why is Kelsie so mean to me?"

"Baby, no," Derek gently wiped off Lina's pearly crocodile tears. "You are an angel; what crime could you ever commit?"

He abruptly turned to me with a condescending attitude. "Kelsie! Apologize to her right now!"

I rolled my eyes. "She should apologize to me! Her fake act has given me cataracts."

"Kelsie! How dare you!"

"And please stop saying my name over and over again!" I snapped. "You are giving me a bloody headache."

"Kelsie!" His damn voice yelled.

"What? Please shut up if you're just going to repeat my name like a parrot."

"You...!" Derek's face grew ugly as the veins on his forehead bulged.

"Want some more?" I goaded, my tone dripping with saccharine.

His face morphed to a scowl and his fists clenched. "Do you have to be this way? What happened back then was-"

"A trap to humiliate me because I was the best among my peers?" I sneered, leaning towards him. "You could have killed me that night, but you would rather stay with this deceitful mutt."

"It was an accident," sorted Lina.

"One I am grateful for," I smirked, glaring at Derek's raging eyes. "I got to dump a loser boyfriend. That's even better than the s**t you put me through right in front of my classmates. You make a nice pair of treacherous dogs."

"He dumped you! He was fed up with your ugliness and your horrible odour-"

"Good." I taunted. "Because I'm sure your cheap lipstick tastes like vanilla to him. I heard you had to suck a grandpa to afford that."

"Kelsie!" Lina screeched. "You little bitc-"

"Well, if this isn't quite the gathering high society," a hoarse voice cut in.

My eyes widened and I instinctively shrunk back. Was that voice...

My luck really couldn't be this bad, right?!

"Miss Kiara, why don't you continue with your little chit chat?" Ryan Stodon stood leaning against the bark of a tree, observing us.

A Jeep was parked a short distance away. I had heard it pull up, but hadn't given any attention to it, which was a mistake. Frayer stood next to the door of the jeep, stepping down right as our gazes collided. He gave me an exasperated glance and I winced.

He had told me not to leave campus tonight except to bring over my belongings. Seems like I was caught red handed.

"President Stodon?" Derek straightened.

I glanced at the douche, wondering at the title since everyone referred to Ryan as Professor or Coach Ryan. Then I recalled his introduction as the founder of a reputed security franchise.

"And you are?" Ryan glanced at him indifferently.

'Derek Lynn." Derek walked to Ryan and held out his hand. "We have met a few times at several business gatherings. I'm Kyle Lynn's son."

"We have met before?" Ryan narrowed his eyes at the Derek. "I didn't realize that Kyle had such a son."

"But sir, I have had the privilege of speaking with you-"

"You must be the second son," Ryan continued. "That explains why I don't remember you."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your brother is decent. You barely have a presence beside him."

"Uh...!" Derek struggled to respond. I almost laughed at his shock. "I... I don't ..."

"You've a speaking disability too?" Ryan clicked his tongue and shook his head. His dark curls waved mesmerisingly. "I pity your dad. Tell him to look for me if you can't get it cured. I can recommend some doctors."

"I... Uh...!" Derek's red face was about to burst. The poor guy couldn't come up with a retort, let alone speak against a man like Ryan.

"Derek seems to be running out of words today," Ryan finally looked at me. "You can continue this conversation later."

"Okay," I nodded, slightly dazed.

"Get in." He turned around and headed to the jeep.

"Okay." I followed him and stood at the door.

"I said, get in," Ryan repeated, irked.

"Wait!" I shook my head. "Why?"

Ryan rubbed his temples wearily. "Frayer."

"Yes, sir." Frayer walked to me.

"Woah, wait," I held out my hands and stepped back. "What are you- mmph!"

Frayer's palm covered my mouth with one hand, while the other hand somehow managed to grasp and restrain my hands.

What the f**k? Were they catnapping me? This is illegal, you brawny brutes!

Ignoring my useless struggle, Frayer pulled open the door to the backseat and shoved me in. Then it closed behind me and locked itself.