The Reason

Chapter One

I remember playing in the backyard of the park house. Those days have flown by. I looked in my mirror, brushing my amber-wavy hair. Thinking about how I'm almost seventeen and my best friend, Ember, is turning seventeen this weekend. Time goes by fast, it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. I stood up from my desk and stretched. Ember should be here to pick me up by now. I grabbed my bag and began to head down the stairs to grab some breakfast before class.

"Hey Winter, sweetie Ember isn't going in today, do you want dad to drive you?" my mom said, walking in and kissing my forehead. She has always been so sweet. Being mated to a beta never changed her, though she always helps where she can.

"Why isn't he going? Why didn't he text me? Can I stay home and make sure he's alright?'' I spit out questions, finally finding my voice instead of thinking about the love my mom puts into the world.

"Alpha messaged me because he knows y'all are close, and I would let you skip if it wasn't so close to finals now finish up you have to get going or you're gonna be late" she spoke softly. I sighed and grabbed my bookbag and phone before hugging my mom. " I can walk, it's not that far, I love to tell dad I love him too.'' I waved bye and began the short walk to my school.

With music playing in my ears, I texted Ember. " YOOO you good?" sent, read, no response. After a few minutes, I decided to call. ring.. ring.. "you have reached my voicemail box, Ember Flox, please leave a message". I sighed and just put The Nights by Avicii, which became our song. I sighed for the millionth time today as I approached the school building.

I walked into the building heading for my locker. I quickly grabbed my books for math and put my bag up, only keeping my phone and headphones with me. I turned to start walking to my class when suddenly I was approached by none other than Jewel, some she-wolf wanna-be.

“There you are. Where is my Ember? I miss him” she, wine pounded. Damn, she hurt my head. “He's not here bimbo,” I said, starting to walk away before she slammed me back into the lockers. “What the f**k did you call me your slut?!” she screamed, grabbing my hair. Digging my nails into her arm, “I called you a bimbo, and why are you calling me a slut when your w***e ass has a new boyfriend every week.” I started making her mad. Before I knew it, she was over me kicking at my stomach. I swiftly grabbed her ankle, making her fall before I punched her in the face. Blood started gushing from her nose. I wasn't done with her yet though. I stood up and started kicking her. Anywhere that was exposed, head, ribs, anywhere I could get a hit.

A teacher pulled me away and I watched her lay there whimpering. Maybe now she will leave me alone. I knew they were going to call my dad, so I sat in the office waiting. I heard an ambulance and police sirens, so I know I did some damage to her. That made me smile. I sent a text to Ember. “ hey I got in a fight with Jewel…”. Sent, delivered. I put my phone in my lap as I heard my father walk in.

“ Hi Dad,” I said, trying to act innocent knowing I wasn't fooling him. “Winter, we have talked about this,” he sighed. The principal walked out and they walked into his office. I knew it was going to be a minute. I picked back up my phone to check the messages. Ember read the message but still no response. I did the only thing I could think of while sitting in this office. I texted his mom. “ Hey sorry to be a bother but Em hasn't responded to my messages in a while. Is everything alright? I can see he's reading them. I'm just worried.” I read through the message, changed the lines to make it perfect, and sent it. Just as I pressed send, both dad and the principal walked out and looked at me, “time for all of us to talk” Mr. Ronan said and I stood up, taking a deep breath.