Wild Flowers Trodding An Empty Path

I have never hated someone the way that I hate Liliana Bridge. She was perfect in every way. Long brown hair, a heart shaped face. Even her eyebrows were perfect. Who gets perfect eyebrows? Without a doubt Lili was the most attractive person who attended my school, she got everything I ever wanted, her boyfriend was the only crush I had ever had. All of my friends fell to the ground worshiping her. The feelings were reciprocated, I don't think Lili had ever treated anyone as poorly as she treated me. Multiple times a week I picked myself up from the ground because she shoved me as I walked past her. I hated Lili so much that I would wake from dreams angry that she had found her way there. I can't find peace even in my sleep. Tonight was one of those nights, I tossed and turned restlessly trying to shove her perfectly shaped green eyes out of my mind. During the day Lili was my worst nightmare, conniving, vindictive b***h. But at night when I closed my eyes it was worse, she was nice to me. Her mouth wasn't turned down in a sour expression, it wore a smile that reached her eyes. The thing I hate about Lili the most is how kind she is in my dreams. The feelings of resentment towards her were sewn deep into the threads of my being. Everyone who would listen knew just how much Liliana bothered me. It was one of life's great mysteries how someone so perfect and so popular could be such a f*****g d**k to me. As far as I know I had never done anything to render us enemies, but I could be wrong. Liliana had started her reign of torture over me in our last year of middle school. It was the year I got my braces removed, my teeth were finally straight and shiny, perfect. Lili and I had always been distant from one another, but that year something about her animosity towards me had shifted. That was the year she started dating the only boy I had ever had a crush on. Caleb was a quiet kid, his hair sandy brown and flopped in his eyes, he was painfully average, but my adolescent mind had run wild at the sight of his pop star hair. The boyfriend Lili had broken up with to date Caleb was far more handsome, but once Lili had her sights set on someone she would have them or die trying. Caleb didn't even make an attempt to resist her, and why should he have? I was just a wiry freckle spattered girl with blonde hair that stood straight as straw. Of course it was middle school, so Lili wasn't much for eyes yet, but she definitely was now. Luscious curves, soft mounds in all the right places. Over the summer my body had finally started to fill out. For the first time in my life I had enough breasts to fill out a bra. My mother said it was because I was coming into womanhood. My 18th birthday was a mere month away, so it made sense. The excitement over my 18th birthday had died down pretty quickly though, because as if our rivalry wasn't enough at school Lili and I shared a birthday. Every year if I had a party so had she, and Lili never liked my friends until it came time for invitations to parties. Last year was the first year I had given up on trying to host a party, this year would be the same. Who needs a party anyway, your wolf taking over your body should be more than enough. No matter how many times I tried to close my eyes and shake the thought of Lili from my mind I fell back into a dream where she was smiling instead of sneering. A small pink tint started to paint the sky. Finally it was an acceptable time to wake. I push myself out of bed and into my training gear. Training wasn't required until you turned 18, but I had started training around 16 when I learned that most other packs wouldn't accept you if you didn't have some form of training. My parents were great, and my pack was my home, but Liliana was the only child of our alpha which means that she will be here forever, her mate will be our new alpha. The idea of Liliana and her mate makes me sick to my stomach. They can have this pack all to themselves, I wouldn't stick around to be the alpha family's favorite punching bag. My older brother would be the Beta of this pack, so he and my parents would be here, but legally nothing would prevent me from coming back. Well nothing other than my own reservation about being here. I jog out towards the training fields, beating most people here. Today was my favorite day, on Monday's we would practice hand to hand combat drills. My strength had grown so much over the summer that the training director, Margo Williams, had started pairing me with actual warriors instead of kids my age. Margo was a magnificent woman, she was 42 years old with salt and pepper hair, her face was always pinched tight, concentrating. People in the locker rooms had told me that Margo was the head warrior when she was a little younger. She had been injured during combat so badly that she could no longer shift. Margo was fierce and didn't tolerate any amount of slack, which is something I admired about her. Just being around her has inspired me to push harder, train harder. My body was still slim, a little wiry, but the muscles in my body had started to become sharp, toned. Men had started to notice me. I had within the last month moved from the co-ed locker rooms to the more private female ones because the stared had become uncomfortable. Our pack was strict, a little by the books so no one had ever done more than stare. I was off limits to everyone who trained with me. Most of our pack waited until they were forced into training to start. I was strange in my willingness to train, but I didn't mind being strange. I quickly pull the mouth shield from my locker, shoving it into my mouth. My mother had insisted, they paid a pretty penny for my perfect teeth so I had to protect them. I didn't mind, it gave me the excuse I needed not to talk to anyone. Once on the field I drop to the ground and begin to stretch, warming up my body. My muscles are stiff from taking the weekend off, but with a few warming movements they melt like better, ready to do whatever I need them too. Margo is on the pitch waiting for more people to arrive, she gives me a quick nod, which is the only acknowledgement I ever get from her. I know that Margo at least approves of me being here, she had told my father I reminded her of a younger version of herself. I didn't bring this up, I would never bring this up, no matter how much it made my chest swell with pride. Marcus Carter catches my eye, and waves me over to him. Marcus is twenty, a little too old for me to consider him a friend, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend out here on the field. The first time Margo had paired us with one another he objected heavily. Telling her he wasn't willing to fight a little girl. It hurt my feelings at the time, but it had also fueled my fury towards him. We both left that training session with bloodied noses. The next day Marcus had requested to run weapon drills with me and we had paired off together since. "Stera! Where were you this weekend for training?" Marcus asks me as soon as I am in earshot. The shortened version of my name caused me to groan. I had always loved my name, Wisteria Iris Whitlock. It was whimsical, but a mouthful so no one ever called me it. I spit the mouth guard into my hand, "It was my brothers beta ceremony this weekend" "Ah yes Miles took over for your old man." Marcus says, I put my mouth guard back in unwilling to keep conversation going, "Your 18th is coming up?" I nod at this, I don't want to talk about it. I don't feel a rush of excitement over it as most people would. "You must be thrilled, am I invited to your party?" He asked me. I shake my head no. "Oh? We aren't close enough for that?" I roll my eyes at him, Marcus is one of the few people I would invite if I did have a party. "No party then. I see." Marcus replies, we have gotten good at wordless-communication. I am not one for idle chatter during training, and Marcus feels the need to fill every silence. "Well probably for the best, the alpha's daughter is turning 18 too, they are throwing a huge party at the pack house." I rolled my eyes again, I wasn't even invited. I didn't expect an invite, but confirming that I didn't have one irritated me. A sharp whistle pierces the air, immediately I drop into my training stance, feet wide, hands up and ready. Marcus matches my stance, ready to spar. The whistle blows twice more and we begin. Marcus is predictable, he leaves his left side open, I lunge at him towards his right side, he is ready for it and deflects my punch, but I quickly pivot, slamming my fist into his left cheek. His eyes snap to me, a mixture of anger and pride in them, he kicks his leg out and sweeps my feet from under me. I hit the ground hard, it takes me a moment to regain the air in my lungs. Marcus seems to feel bad, his hand reaches out towards me, but again he is too predictable, I reach for his hand. His hand grips mine, and instead of pulling myself up I use his leaning to my advantage, I swipe his legs out, and twist my arm around his. As he falls I roll so my legs pin both of his arms, my bottom planted firmly on his chest, both my hands come up and catch either side of his throat. I have won. Marcus is caught off guard, he didn't expect me to take him down at all much less so quickly. A huge smile breaks across his face, he knows his underestimating me has lost our spar again. His hand taps against my leg twice, signaling his giving up. I stand up, offering him my hand, and he pulls himself up. "You are a dangerous little thing." Marcus tells me, I can't hide the smirk from my face. Marcus looks like he is struggling with something, "Uhm. Stera, would you.. maybe want to go to dinner with me? Tonight?" My eyebrows raise, in confusion, or disbelief maybe. I don't even know how to respond to something like that. Marcus has never asked to hang out with me outside of training before. Part of me is desperate for human interaction and wants to say yes, but another part of me thinks he is too old, too much of a man. Would it be like a date? My father would never let me go on a date with someone that had already shifted. "It can just be as friends." Marcus quickly adds. "I know you haven't shifted and you are too young to date." I don't know what I am doing, but I nod my head yes. Relief washes over his face, and his body visibly relaxes. "I can pick you up at 6!" Marcus says. I immediately shake my head no. I am going to have to lie to my parents for this. "Or we could meet somewhere? At 6:30?" I nod to this. I spit the mouth guard into my hand again, "We can grab pizza at the mall food court." "Yes! Perfect!" Marcus says, his excitement is visible. The whistle blows again, signaling the end of training. I turn to leave, and I am surprised to see Liliana, I have never seen her at training. She is covered in a sheen of sweat, her breasts nearly spilling over the top of her sports bra as she take's gasping breaths. She seems to be out of shape, she has been sparring against Margo herself. The turns to grab a bottle of water, and I notice a perfect bead of sweat is glistening, rolling perfectly down her spine. My eyes follow it until it reaches the top of her pants. How is it possible for someone to look so f*****g flawless drenched in sweat. She spins around as if she can feel my eyes on her, she meets my gaze, her eyes quickly scan my body, lingering near the abdomen that has grown tight with muscle over the summer. By the time her eyes land in my face her token sneer is pressed onto her mouth. I can't help, but notice the blood trickling from her nose. The dribble mixes with her sweat and runs down her face landing on her breasts. "This stupid f*****g training is all your fault." Liliana shouts at me, her voice cutting through her labored breathing, "Be more like Wisteria, my father said, take an interest in training. Yes, let this old bat beat me up for an hour before school." I don't care to hear her continue, so I just walk past. In the locker room I strip my sweat soaked clothes and head to the communal shower. The warm water running over my back replacing the cool sweat. I don't have much time before school starts so I run through my routine as quickly as I am able to. When I leave the shower I nearly run directly into Lili. She is still sweat soaked and smelling of grass, but is no longer clothed. Completely naked in front of me, I realize just how much I hate her. She is so f*****g perfect, not one stray freckle, her skin is soft and glowy, her n*****s the same shade of blush pink and pouty lips. Tears streaked down her cheeks, a stark difference from the anger outside. "Are you alright?" I ask her, against my better judgment. "No! I don't want to do this, I don't like training! I don't like you! I don't like Margo or anyone else out on that field!" Lili bursts out, the tears streaming harder now. "And I don't even have any f*****g soap because I didn't realize I would have to shower here!" "You can use mine." I offer, again going against my better judgment. "It is in the third shower stall. It always is, use it whenever you need." "Why are you being nice to me? I don't need you to be nice to me." Liliana sneers at me, her voice like acid. "Just because you let me use your cheap soap doesn't mean we are friends." "I hate you Liliana Bridge." I shout at her, letting the anger burst from me, "Don't use my soap or do, I don't care if you smell like s**t all day." I leave her there, quickly returning to my locker to put clothes on. I apply minimal makeup in the small square mirror. By the time I have finished up Lili is returning from her shower, she smells of my soap so she must have caved and used it. She doesn't look at me, but I know she knows I am here. She mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like a 'thank you', but I ignore her slamming the locker closed. The sound echoes loudly through the nearly empty room. Most of the women who train use the co-ed locker area, it is closer to the pitch and has more shower space, and honestly werewolves have no sense of modesty. More than once I had walked into the shower area and was met with a woman pressed against the wall screaming. I could understand, really, I had felt the stirring in me, the desperation for some sort of release, but I like to think I would have the decency to hold back until I was in my home or at the very least close the curtain. The idea of completing a mating bond, of having s*x was intriguing, but I had never looked at any of the boys in my school and felt that hungry stir. Most of the time I awoke from dreams I couldn't remember and found myself caressing myself under the blankets for some semblance of relief. I had never told anyone about my complete disinterest in the boys at school because other girls seemed to be struggling to keep their pants on, and I think I would fight to keep them on my body. The only explanation I could come up with is that I am only interested in waiting for my mate. Even that idea doesn't set sparks in my pants, so maybe something was wrong with me. My mother worried that I had never brought a boyfriend home, but my father seemed pleased that his little girl had yet to be deflowered. Maybe when I lied tonight I would say I was going out with a boy from school, that way my mother would at least stop throwing worried glances at me anytime the word mate was mentioned. My brother had just met his mate, and my mother was over the moon, already talking about grandchildren. Miles was working on grandchildren and I had never even kissed a boy. Caleb with his floppy hair had been the closest thing I had to interest in a boy. The walk to school was much shorter than I had hoped for, I lost myself in thought and didn't even give myself time to mentally prepare for the day ahead of me. If I could get through this last year of school I would be fine, but getting through would be the difficult part. A copy of my class schedule was taped to the front of the locker I had occupied for the last three years of school. I glanced over the list, nothing extraordinary, I had taken all the classes that interested me, and what was left over were things that would border on putting me to sleep. The only thing I could hope for is that at least some of my classes would be shared with the only person I liked here. Wyatt Merrick was the only friend I had anymore, the only person who could see what Liliana had always done to me. Wyatt was a quiet boy, his black hair was always cropped short to the scalp, and his blue eyes were bright and inquisitive. He was the closest thing to a genius that we had in our school. He was a bit of a know-it-all with a tendency of interrupting you to correct you, but I would take what I can get in the department of friends. Befriending Wyatt was not my intention, but the amount of people who disliked Lili was significantly smaller than the number of people who did like her. I spot Wilder from across the open quad area, he sits a book splayed in his lap, his mouth moving along the words as he reads. "Good book?" I ask, dropping into the chair next to him, he looks up startled. "Wisteria! Hi, you scared me!" Wyatt says, his tone exceptionally flat for someone who was just startled "Just reading about the mating bond, and how it is formed." "Still haven't found her yet?" I ask cautiously. Wyatt had turned 18 over the summer, and was disappointed when his wolf didn't immediately sense its mate. It is comical that he is so impatient, some people didn't find theirs until they had searched for years, Marcus for example was 20 and never found his. Usually by 23 people have given up, and leave it to fate, but by 23 they are willing to start seeking bonds elsewhere, with other people who aren't mated. There are hundreds of packs out there, Wyatt was a little ridiculous for expecting her to be here. "Precisely, I am thinking that I am going to have to leave pack lands to find her." Wyatt says, his voice holding irritation. "But my wolf doesn't like that idea, he just doesn't know why. My working theory is that our mate is here, just hasn't turned 18 yet." "You know who turns 18 soon, don't you Wyatt?" I say, pausing for dramatic effect, his eyes are trained on me, "Liliana Bridge." His face sours, "I would rather jump off a bridge." We both laugh, it is relieving to me to have company in my harsh thoughts. Some time a long time ago Liliana started a silent war between the two of us, and while I may not have understood it at first, a petty part of me was willing to take part now. Lili was a force of nature, and I didn’t think I was capable of stopping her, but I would at least outlast her storm. Speak of the devil, Lili barrels across the quad towards us, anger painting on her face. She looks considerably better than she did this morning after training, her face is bare of all the makeup she usually sports, but still smooth, f*****g flawless. I clench my teeth at the sight of her, I feel Wyatt stiffen next to me, whatever she wants means hell for both of us. “You left this morning too quickly Stera, I was going to invite you and your boyfriend to my birthday party.” Lili says, her voice holding false sweetness. “Whaddya say Wy?” “I don’t think so.” Wyatt says, his voice resuming the monotone of before. “Thanks for the invitation though.” “Aw, I was hoping you would agree, most of the girls our age will be there from all over the pack lands, and a few from outside our pack. I heard you were still looking for a mate.” Liliana says, her voice has to strike a nerve judging by the look on Wyatt’s face. “Wisteria and I have plans for her birthday, but thanks.” Wyatt says, keeping his stony expression. “How do you even know? I didn’t tell you which day it was?” Lili says, faking a pout across her lips. She knows we share a birthday, she knows that I know this too. She smacks her forehead with fake realization, “That’s right, Stera has the same birthday as me. I completely spaced it. Well Stera you can come too, wouldn’t want to ruin your boyfriend's chance at finding his true mate would you?” “Wyatt is not my boyfriend,” I responded, rolling my eyes at her, “But if he wants to attend your party that is fine, I have plans with my real boyfriend.” This is a complete lie, but it has the desired effect. Lili stiffens slightly before she can regain her composure. Her face resumes its token sneer, “You don’t have a boyfriend, you don’t have to lie.” “Ah, I have no interest in lying to you Liliana, but I am not surprised you don’t know about my relationships, you never pull your head out of your ass long enough to notice anyone else.” I lie again, this one coming out a little smoother, Wyatt even seems to believe this one, I feel his eyes search my face. “What is your f*****g problem with me?” Lili squares her shoulders, looking down on me. “I was trying to be nice to you.” “I don’t need fake niceties Liliana, I need you to leave me alone.” I reply, looking her square in the eyes. “Who is your boyfriend?” Lili demands, still not totally convinced. “I think you are lying.” “Marcus, you would have seen us sparring this morning right?” I throw a question back at her. This catches her off-guard, she looks a little disarmed. “Prove it!” Lili demands, her face turning a shade of red. “I won’t believe it until I see it.” “Fine.” I say, my palms are sweating, but I am in too deep. “Marcus and I will be on a date tonight, getting pizza and some shopping at the mall.” “If you are lying you better stop now.” Lili warns me. This part of the lie I can back up, I just can’t go too much deeper. “Caleb and I were planning on shopping for my birthday some time this week, why don’t we do it tonight, just to prove you are such a little liar.” “Okay, great, guess we will see each other tonight Lili, I’d shower first though, don’t want your boyfriend getting used to you smelling like me.” I say back, my false confidence coming back, I even dare a wink at her. “Or maybe he would like that better.” Lilianna stomps away, I sag back into the chair, my false sense of confidence leaving me. Wyatt is staring at me, unasked questions in his eyes. I pull my bottom lip into my mouth with my teeth, trying to decide just how I am going to pull this off. The only thing I do know is that I am in way over my head, I don’t even know how someone with a boyfriend acts, much less a boyfriend that has already shifted and is so much older than me. “Are you really dating that guy?” Wyatt asks me, his voice holding something I don’t recognize, “Isn’t he a little old for you?” “Ehm, not really, he asked me out this morning, as friends, and I agreed to it.” I admit, I don’t have it in me to lie to Wyatt. “And you think going out as a friend is enough to show Liliana that you weren’t lying?” Wyatt asks me, his face releasing the unspoken emotion. “Won’t she get suspicious when you aren’t holding hands? Or shoving your tongues down each other's throats?” “I don’t know, maybe she will believe I am just modest or something.” I say, still chewing on my bottom lip. “Or maybe I can just throw myself at him when I see her, really drive the point home.” “You’re willing to give your first kiss to some guy just to prove a point?” Wyatt asks, this time I recognize the emotion as anger in his voice. “That seems a little ridiculous to me.” “Listen, I panicked. I will think it through more tonight.” I tell him, I don’t know if I am trying to convince myself or him anymore. My mind spirals a little, I don’t know what I am going to do, I don’t exactly want to give any of my firsts to someone I feel nothing for, but I also don’t want to let Lili win this one. The bell rings signally time for everyone to head to class, Wyatt is not in my first class so we exchange an awkward goodbye before heading in opposite directions. I find the classroom easily, the school has not changed in any of the three years I have been here. I step into the classroom, scanning the room, nobody stands out to me, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I fall into a chair near the back, and pull some of the supplies out of my backpack. The day goes by very quickly. I don’t have any classes with Wyatt, probably because he is in all advanced courses, but we do have the same lunch. Liliana makes an appearance in two of my classes, but our conversation this morning seems to have thrown her off a little because she doesn’t speak to me. When the final bell rings for everyone to leave, my mind is still empty, I don’t know how I am going to be able to pull this lie off. The entire way home my mind is reeling, nothing seems to bring itself forward as a way to get out of this, or a way to confirm my lie is the truth. When I get home both my parents are there, which is unsurprising since my father retired this weekend. They are carrying on light conversation when I step into the kitchen, the way they speak to one another so softly makes a pit in my stomach, I don’t know if anyone will ever talk to me that way. They don’t stop speaking when I enter the room, so I clear my throat drawing attention to myself. Both of them look up at me curiously. “Would it be okay if I went out tonight?” I ask cautiously, my mothers eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Sure hon, with who?” My mother asks. “A boy at school asked me to dinner.” I reply, trying to keep things short. “WHAT!” Both of my parents shout, my mother in excitement, and my father in blatant horror. “Erm,so can I?” I ask, my voice shaking. My mother's ecstatic, my father looks as if he is going to burst a vein in his forehead. I am going on a date, and all I can think is I hate Liliana Bridge.