A Twist Of Mates

Running. My paws hit the ground beneath me, padding on the damp soil. My fur is wet now, the rain starting to slip through the trees that surround me—ancient redwoods towering over 200 feet tall. The scent of rain and earth fills the air, making me feel at home within the forest. I let out a huff, pushing myself to run faster, leaping over fallen logs and roots, heading toward the clearing just ahead. As I break through the trees, I glance around. A large meadow lies in front of me, surrounded on all sides by forest. In the center, a small lake shimmers in the rain. I approach the lake slowly, eager to quench my thirst. My eyes search the water’s surface, trying to catch a glimpse of my reflection. I can only make out the deep red of my fur—almost the color of blood. The rest is distorted by the rippling water. Snap. I lift my head, ears twitching. That was a twig breaking behind me. Snap. Closer this time. I lower myself, ready for an attack— A howl— The last sound I hear before... “CHLOE, GET UP ALREADY!” My grandmother Lyla’s voice calls from downstairs. I groan and bury my face in the pillow. Five more minutes, I tell myself. “YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE IF YOU DON’T GET UP!” There goes my power nap. I roll my eyes and sit up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Stretching my arms above my head, I leap to my feet and head into the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and tossing them into the laundry bin beside the sink. The winter air nips at my skin as I turn on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up. I throw my hair into a quick bun, grab my toothbrush and toothpaste, and hop in. Killing two birds with one stone, I brush my teeth as the hot water runs over me. I avoid getting my hair wet—I don’t have time to dry it this morning. Spitting out the toothpaste, I lather my skin with lemon lavender body wash, making sure to scrub every inch of my olive-toned skin. Satisfied I’m clean enough, I shut off the water and wrap myself in a towel. Standing in front of the mirror, I swipe on a bit of mascara and eyeliner to bring out my dark blue eyes. That’s all I really wear—my skin’s naturally clear, and my lips are already pink and plump. I throw on a beige sweater dress that hugs my curves, pair it with white leggings and beige boots, grab my bag from by the door, and head downstairs. The smell of bacon and eggs hits me instantly. I can hear my grandmother singing along to Christmas carols in the kitchen. I kiss her cheek on my way to the table, grab some toast, and dig in—only just realizing how hungry I am. “You know, Chloe,” Grandma says over her shoulder, “I can’t help but notice you’ve been waking up later every day.” Should I tell her about the dreams? I wonder. Probably not. Grandma always gets weird when wolves are brought up. Says they’re scary beasts, but she always seems... nervous. Like there’s more to it than that. “I’m sorry, Grandma,” I say sincerely. “I’ve just been having a tough time sleeping lately.” Not a total lie. Every time I have that dream, I wake up feeling like I’ve actually been running all night. She gives me a concerned look, but I stand and bring my plate to the sink. “I’ll see you later—I’m heading to school.” She nods. I give her a quick hug, then walk out the door and hop into my Jeep. I start the engine, blasting the heat, and sigh as the warmth wraps around me. I pull out of the driveway and head to Saint Greg’s Community College. I busted my ass to graduate high school early. Took summer classes just to make it happen. All so my best friend Trinity and I could start college together. Luckily, I only have one class today: astronomy. I needed an elective, and I’ve always loved the stars and the moon. Fifteen minutes later, I pull into the parking lot and spot Trinity’s car. I park next to her and walk over to the driver’s side window—only to see her making out with some guy I don’t recognize. I knock on the window. She pulls away from him, spots me, and hops out of the car. She adjusts her mini skirt and leans into the side mirror to fix her makeup, running her fingers through her messy brown hair. “How are you not freezing?” I ask, eyeing her outfit: a pink mini skirt and a white long-sleeve shirt that definitely “shows off her assets,” as she likes to say. “You know I’m too hot to ever get cold,” she giggles. The mystery guy finally climbs out of her car, realizing their make-out session is over. He tries to follow her, but she waves him off like a stray. He slumps his shoulders and walks away, shot down, never making it past second base. “I think you hurt his feelings, T,” I say, shaking my head. This isn’t new. Trinity gets a new guy every few weeks, but she never lets it go far. She smirks, linking her arm through mine and tugging me toward the school. “Oh, come on, C. You know I’m just having fun. They should know the deal by now—it’s not like any of them are my soulmate. They’re just dogs looking for a bone.” “Well, I think he was trying to give you his bone,” I laugh. Trinity scrunches her nose in disgust. “Ugh, as if.” We reach class just as the professor walks in.