The Queen of the Wolves

PART I: Pain!

Theidta never ever felt this much pain before. Except that time when her father passed away while he was far away from them. So no goodbyes, no apologies, and no regrets that they shared while he was on his death bed.That was much more painful than this, but this, this was hurting her more than any of her physical injuries could, it was hurting so much that she could crawl and beg the person to stop inflicting this pain on her. She bit her lip, her eyebrows scrunched, her eyes squeezed tight, but she didn't utter a word. " Do you feel enough pain now, Miss. I'm so strong?" She heard the boy with cobalt blue eyes , who was seated on the chair, watching, if everything was done accordingly. She looked at him with deadpan eyes, and said, " You cannot do anything that could hurt me enough." "Oh really? You look like you are ready to beg him to stop, Theidta Anvil. " The boy smirked, his eyes glittering as the sun rays peeked through the curtains, and shamefully touched his face. " When I'll be let out, I'll wipe that smirk from your pretty face. " Theidta gritted out as she felt the pressure of the needle again. The boy's brows touched his hairline as he heard her. "So you think I am pretty?" He asked. Theidta rolled her eyes, and said, " Dream on, Beta boy." She huffed when she heard him letting out a breathy chuckle. The boy suddenly stood up, and as he walked closer, Theidta tried to move backwards but she couldn't move far away as she was tied down to the black chair. He brought his face close to hers, there were mere inches left between them, his breath fanned over her face. When he was sure she felt uncomfortable, he smirked again. " Nothing you say can hide the truth, Theidta Anvil. Your fast heartbeat when I come close to you, says enough about what you really feel. " He said in a hushed tone, his caramel breath wafting close to her lips and nose. When she didn't say anything, he straightened up, and said, "Come on. You're done." Theidta was let loose. The belts that were tying her to the chair slid down from her skin as the person behind her, opened the knots and the clips. She looked at the person, who nodded and didn't utter another word. Then, the chair was turned around to allow her to have a look at herself. She gasped at the burning red mark that was on her upper arm. A small dandelion enclosed in a hollow star. " This is what he chose? That dumb beta." She seethed at her reflection. " Come on!" She heard his shout. She stood up from the chair, and smiled at the girl who drew the mark. " Thanks for the tattoo. Is there any way to remove it?" As she asked the question, the smile on the girl's face fell, and she asked, " Why? Isn't it good enough?" Theidta tried to explain what she meant before unshed tears in the girl's eyes can pour down. " No. It's been drawn beautifully. But my best friend didn't choose a nice enough tattoo. That's the reason I need to change it. So, is there any way to remove this one and get another one?" She asked with enough hope. The girl thankfully blinked away her tears, and shook her head. " I'm sorry there is no solution made to remove it from your arm. It is there forever." The girl tried to apologize but Theidta was already cussing about her best friend. She hurried outside the tattoo shop, and planted a slap on her best friend's back, to which he didn't react. He turned to face her with his adoring goofy smile, and said, "Ouch." Theidta's nostrils flared as she glared at him. " When I took the dare, I thought you would suggest something daring. Tattoo was a good idea. But this? This? You didn't have anything better to give to the tattoo artist to draw on my arm that would stay for eternity?" She slowly raised her voice at the end of the question. Her best friend couldn't hold himself, and burst into laughter. He pointed at the tattoo, and laughed hard. A girl came beside Theidta, and commented, "Ooh, that's cute." Which started lava to boil in Theidta's mind. "See? She thinks it's cute. It's cute! I don't do cute. I'm not Lyla." Theidta shouted at his face, which didn't do anything for him except he laughed even harder. Theidta kept glaring at her best friend,who slowly controlled his laugh, and said, “ It’s not that bad. It looks good on you.” “Couldn’t you have suggested something like a wolf or a hat maybe? But a flower? Really? I don’t like flowers.” She said, heaving a sigh. “ I do.” Her best friend said, tapping on her nose with his forefinger. Theidta pouted, and stared at her arm. The girl placed her hand over her shoulders, and said, “ Come on. We’ll be late for school. I don’t want to miss classes. Again.” Theidta nodded, and placed a hand over the girl’s shoulders, and said, “ I miss old days, Era. When, instead of us, our parents used to get scolded.” Era sighed, and agreed with her. “ Me too, Thi. Me too.” The girls started into a walk as the boy shook his head. “ Their parents will surely be called today.” He muttered under his breath.

“ Ms. Anvil, Ms. Delgado.” The teacher stared at the girls through his rectangular glasses. “ Traffic, Mr. Pennyworth. Traffic. " Theidta said, shaking her head slowly. " We live in a forest, may I remind you, Ms. Anvil. And your house is beside mine. I know when you wake up, I know when you eat, I know when you get out with your friends, and I also know when you and your friends play truth and dare in the morning,and then you have to go out to complete the dare. " Mr. Pennyworth stood up from the chair, and walked to the girls. Theidta scrunched her face, and said, " Mr. Pennyworth, do you stalk me? How do you know everything about me? " She shook her head slowly. " Ms. Anvil, you and your friends are very loud, and may I remind you that I'm your father's best friend. " The teacher stated as he glared through the glasses. Theidta and Era scratched their heads, and then knelt before their teacher. " Please, please. Don't call our parents, Sir. We won't be late again. " They shut their eyes,joined their hands and begged. Mr. Pennyworth shook his head to the left and to the right as slowly as he could and then commented, " You two will never learn. I will not call your parents to harass them again. You two will go on a run, and both of you will also be grounded. You can only come to school and go to your house. That's it. I'll talk to your parents. Now, take a seat. The class is almost going to end. " The teacher ignored their pleas, and walked back to his chair. The girls walked to their seats, their heads lowered, and their shoulders slumped. Theidta took her seat, and only then did the teacher started to speak. " So, as I was saying, the wolves started hiding themselves from humans so that the humans feel safe. " " So, the humans don't know anything about werewolves, right? " One of the kid asked, raising his hand. " Correct. They think we are a myth. I know we have been teaching you this since you were kids. But there is no harm in learning about this again. So, never wolf out in front of humans. " Mr. Pennyworth announced to the class. " Sir, then you don't have to worry about Theidta. Because she didn't even wolf out on her birthday when she was supposed to. " A chirpy girl said to the teacher, raising her hand, snickering. Some of the students joined her until Era, and Theidta shouted, " Shut up, Lyla! " Lyla pouted, and said, "Awwee. For How long do you think your psychotic friend, and Beta best friend can save you from the truth, Theidta? " " As long as we are alive, you hypocrite!" Era shouted, standing up from her chair. " Silence! " The teacher's voice boomed in the classroom. No matter how much Era shouts or Mr. Pennyworth tries to silence them down, Theidta had already absorbed the words. And they were mixing with her blood. She never turned. Not even on her sixteenth birthday, when she was supposed to. And Lyla was right. How long will her friends hide her from the truth? Everyone knows what happened on her birthday. When she didn't turn, she tore down all the decorations,and ran away into the woods. And while she ran, she tore her clothes too, as they were supposed tear when she turned. She ran out of their border, and was about to enter the border of other pack. If her best friend wouldn't have followed her, other wolves would have taken advantage of her or killed her for entering their land. Theidta took her bag, and hurriedly walked out of the classroom. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't hear Mr. Pennyworth

announce, " Detention for Lyla. " She also didn't hear Lyla groaning, and begging their teacher for another chance.

She just walked out of school, and she only stopped when she was out in the woods. Stopping before the Tree House, her safe haven, she inhaled through her nose, and exhaled through her mouth.Throwing the bag aside, Theidta climbed up the tree,and entered into the tree house. She didn't expect him to wait. But how could he not? He was always there for her. Always has been.