Blue Moon Luna

Chapter 4

Friday June 6

BLUE POV

It’s the last day of term. Usually I wouldn’t be this excited, but now that I can shift, and have the opportunity to develop my new stronger senses, I have lots to occupy myself with.

I showered last night, so give it a miss this morning and instead put some effort into my appearance for my birthday. I use my straighteners to loosely curl the ends of my hair. I spritz it with a shine spray that makes it look more silver than it already is, and it appears to almost sparkle in the sun's light.

I have seen girls with blonde hair, very light blonde hair, but no one as light as me. My hair is almost white, and paired with my pale blue eyes, I look like I belong in Narnia as some sort of ice queen.

I’m not the most make-up savvy person, but I watch online tutorials in my spare time. My skin is fair, but I caught the sun over the past month or so, and have a nice healthy glow. I add a bit of bronzer to enhance it and try to attempt a contour. Some mascara to bring out my eyes, some blush on my cheeks, a spot of highlighter on the tip of my button nose, and a soft pink gloss on my puffy lips completes the look. I’m happy with my reflection. I’m no Cara Huxley, but I no longer look homeless. I have very few clean clothes, and totally forgot to do my laundry. I find a plain black, strappy crop top, that shows my midriff slightly and a high-waisted, black pleated skirt that grazes my mid thigh. I check myself out in the mirror and decide I’m giving off gothic tennis chick vibes, if that’s even a thing? I don’t own any nice shoes so I throw on some ankle socks and plain white hitop trainers, grab my bag and head downstairs.

My aunt is nowhere to be seen, but there's a note left on the table.

‘Happy birthday my beautiful girl! I hope your first shift wasn’t too painful. I’m so sorry I’m not here to see you this morning, but I have to deliver some dresses to the boutique in town and won’t be back until later. I will see you tonight for cake and your presents. I have a big surprise for you. Have a wonderful day. I love you! Aunt Flora xoxox’.

Damn, she’s so cute! I wonder what my present is? I grab an apple and head to school.

It’s another warm, sunny day with barely a cloud in the sky. There probably won’t be many lessons today, if any. So the plan of action will be to hide out in the library as much as possible. During the last period, we usually have a small farewell ‘party’ in our classes. I use the term ‘party’ loosely, because it’s usually just some music, soda, and people hanging out until the final bell rings.

The year above me however, the final year, usually finishes with a party and continues it into the night at someone's summer house or their parents' mansion. I doubt I’ll ever be invited to something like that. I’m half way to school when I started thinking about that incredible scent I smelled last night. I bet all the people going to the leavers party tonight smell like that. Maybe I’ll pick up the scent and where they are partying tonight when I go to practice my shift after the sun goes down.

I really can’t get enough of that smell, it’s like a drug.

I finally arrive at school and bump into Ezri, who snaps me out of my daydream.

“Girl, you look hot today” she exclaims. I can feel my cheeks burn red and I nervously tuck my hair behind my ear. “Thanks” I murmur. “It’s my birthday so I thought I’d make an effort”.

She smiles and pulls me in for a big hug. “Happy birthday, I hope you have a nice day”, she says “First and second periods have been made into study periods, so you can literally go chill for the morning”.

“Thanks again” I replied, “I think I’m going to hit the art studio and do some sketching. See you last period?”

“Sure, have fun, I’ll see you later” she chirps, and skips off towards the lake.

I head to the art studio on the far side of the school. I decide to walk the long way round so I avoid as many people as possible. I make it there unscathed and pull out my sketch book.

The art studio is a mix media studio. There are sculptures, photography adorning every wall, as well as paintings, textiles and pottery. Other than the library, this is my favourite place to be inside the school.

I’m out of ideas of what to draw, the only thing consuming my mind right now it the smell of rain and honeysuckle. My eyes scan the room and I am drawn to a photo on the far wall. I’ve never really noticed it before, despite spending copious hours here. My stomach does a somersault and my wolf seems anxious. I walk over the the wall and pull the photo down.

It’s a muted and moody portrait shot of a dark-haired male. I instantly recognised him as one of the Alpha twins. Cara’s brothers. They are a bit older than Cara and I, and left school a couple of years ago. I don’t know which twin is in the photo, but he has a penetrating stare with gleaming green eyes. It momentarily reminds me of the Mona Lisa. Is he smirking? Smiling? Impartial? I’m not sure. All I do know is that I have the insatiable urge to draw his face.

I sit down at a desk with the photo and my pencil, and begin to work.

His eyes are gentle but at the same time serious. His hair is short at the sides, giving an air of professionalism, but quite long and messy on top giving him a youthful vibe. His jawline is sharp and he has perfectly formed cheekbones. His nose matches his features perfectly, not overly sharp but not quaint and button-like, like mine. He oozes masculinity and authority, it’s like it’s wafting from the photo into my nose. I bet he smells like rain too.

I can feel myself getting slightly aroused as I outline his perfect pouty lips, wondering how they would feel on mine.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME? Is this what happens when you turn 18? I have never bothered with guys before, and now I’m drawing a pompous, snooty rich boy alpha?

I finish my drawing, and am tempted to throw it in the bin in principle. This isn’t me. Guys are not my thing. Books and art are my thing. My wolf growls at me, so I just replace the photo back on the wall, put my book back in my bag and head to the lunch hall.

Lunch came and went, I visit the library and take a walk around the lake before last period. I head towards the classroom and take a seat at the back of the class as usual. Students are pouring in and Ezri waves at me as she enters, before talking to a group of guys I usually see lurking in the library with me. Our teacher, Mrs Maine, comes in with a stereo, and puts on some music that really isn’t my kinda thing. She leaves before returning with a tray of soda’s and and finger food, and tells us to enjoy ourselves, and that she will see us all again in the new year. She then scoots off in the direction of the teachers' room.

Just like I predicted. I’m bored.

I pull out my sketch book and open it to a fresh page. I’m absent-mindedly sketching a landscape of the lake and don’t even notice Cara enter the room, walk over to my desk and snatch my book from my hands.

“Give it back” I growl, my eyes momentarily turning black for a flicker of a second.

“OOOOOOOOO” she mocks. “Someone is unsociable and grumpy today aren’t they?” She sniggered.

I try to reach my book but she’s far too tall and holds if from my reach. Before I can stop her, she turns the page, and right there, for everyone to see, is the portrait I had done mere hours ago.

“WHAT THE FU*K?” She snarls. “Why are you drawing my brother? You absolute freak! Do you like him? HA! Like he would ever give someone like Pink Poverty so much as a second glance, he wouldn’t even give you a first” she shouted, as the whole class erupted into laughter.

“You’re a freak Poverty, even your mum thought so, that’s why she shipped you off to live with your aunt. No one wants you.” She continued.

I could feel the tears start to stream down my cheeks as they passed my book around the class, laughing and mocking me.

I picked up my bag and as my book was passed to Ezri, I ran towards her. Cara tried to trip me as I began to flee, but I managed to avoid her sparkly stiletto.

Ezri handed it to me, and mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ as I ran from the classroom and out of the main doors into the large courtyard.

I tried to take a breath. I was sobbing and couldn’t breathe properly. I didn’t have a tissue to blow my nose or wipe my eyes, so just sniffed and used the back of my hand instead.

That’s when it hit me and stopped me in my tracks. The scent. That intoxicating scent. It was here. Right in front of me. Coming from a parked car a few yards away.

The door opened. And out stepped one of the alpha twins. I had no idea which one.

He stared at me with those same intense eyes. ‘Get in’ he said via mind link. What the hell? How was he in my head? He nodded towards the car.

I couldn’t outrun an alpha. I would be punished if I disobeyed. Though I didn’t feel like I needed to obey, rather that I wanted to. Like I was being pulled towards him.

My wolf demanded I do as I was told. I got in the car.