The Wanted Werewolf

Chapter 7

Elena

"Ellie, you have a visitor!" Evangeline announced early on the following Monday morning.

I peered out the window, a smile overcoming me. Alexei. I all but ran outside, thanking Evangeline on my way. Alexei and I didn't hug, but for a moment I thought about it, relieved to finally see him again.

Last week had been hell, this one didn't look any better. High school sucked. The girls were catty, the guys were gross and immature, and the teachers... don't even get me started with them.

"Alex. You look good," I said.

"Here is that iced tea I promised," Evangeline interrupted, handing him a tall glass. He thanked her as she went back inside, then helped himself to Warren's rocking chair.

"I feel good." He smirked. "How are you?"

"Fine." I shrugged.

"That bad?" He sucked on a tooth. "It'll get better, just give it a chance — Ellie."

"Easy for you to say, you have your own place and a job and can go places without being watched under a microscope." I scoffed. "Do you even know what high school is like? The torment I am being forced to endure?"

"I do," He chuckled. "I was given those responsibilities and opportunities because I am a grown man. You are not even shifted yet, but you will be soon, and things will change. It's only a few months."

Months. As if I would even be here that long.

"Why are you here?" I asked. "Have you heard anything?" He knew exactly what I meant.

"Nothing." Alexei shook his head. He sat back in the rocker, sipping on his iced tea.

"Do you think that's good or bad?"

He shrugged. "We know they are searching."

"They won't stop until they find us."

"Precisely why I plan to enjoy my life until then," he said. "In fact, I have a date tonight."

"You have a date? With who?" I bristled.

"A lovely woman named Alice. She is going to show me the town tonight. Tells me there is an excellent view of the sunset at a hidden beach."

"You trust her? So soon?"

"Trust? No, and she shouldn't trust me either. But I'd like to get to know people. Preferably ones that might want to eventually share more with me."

"More? Like what?"

"A home... a bed... a life, maybe."

"You want a mate." My jaw fell as if I had been hit. Something like betrayal stirred inside me. He was going to leave me behind. Or maybe I would leave him. All for some woman named Alice. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Don't act like that's the worst thing to ever happen," he scolded. "I devoted my life to your father. I never even let myself think of the possibility of more. But this pack... they want you to do more, be more. And as long as I'm here, I want to see what more is out there." He stood up, setting the tea down on a handrail. "You should too."

"So what? Thats it? You just plan on staying here the rest of your life? Fall in love, start a family?" I began to yell, storming after him. "What happens when he finds us?! What will you do when he destroys everything you care about?!"

"We can cross that bridge when we get there."

"We? There is no we. Not anymore," I sneered.

Alexei stopped walking, his face falling as he looked back at me. "I'm sorry he ruined you, truly I am. But I won't let him win. I won't let him take over what is left of my life."

I let out a slew of expletives in our native tongue as he walked away — only to catch Jayla staring from afar with two of her friends. I was inside before they could say anything, brooding before I had to leave for class. Wouldn't want to upset Alpha Keith.

- - - - - - - -

"Ellie, would you like to try reading the next segment?" Mrs. Castillio — our spanish teacher, asked.

She was the most annoying of all my teachers. She was too happy — every single day. I don't think I ever saw the woman frown. Not even if a student made a mistake or interrupted her class. Some might call her gifted. I called her something else entirely.

"I don't know it." I shrugged. What a lie that was. I could speak several languages fluently, spanish included. It was part of my finishing school. Not only did I need to know the languages, but I had to give the proper accent. Otherwise, there would be trouble.

People snickered behind my back. As if I couldn't hear them.

"Why don't you try anyway?" Mrs. Castillio pressed. "There are no wrong answers, we are all here to learn."

I looked at the clock. Only ten minutes until the bell rang, signaling us to change classes. History was next. I clicked my tongue and sat up straighter.

"If I try and get it right, can I leave class early?"

Mrs. Castillio paused, staring at me for a moment before glancing at her watch. "Just this once." She agreed.

I cleared my throat, ready to give it a half-hearted attempt. And then I heard her. Melody.

"It's so sad, isn't it? She is a lost cause," she whispered.

A huff of air escaped me. And then I read the entire page. In spanish. Then in German. Finally, in French. The room grew quieter and quieter with each language I pulled out. When I was finished, I shut my book — Mrs. Castillio and the rest of the class were staring at me wide-eyed. Some looked impressed, others envious. Melody looked pissed. That gave me some gratification at least. I let my chair scrap loudly against the floor as I exited the room.

History was no better than spanish. People were giving me looks again, worse than this morning anyhow. And this time the discussion was hitting close to home, literally.

"... All that to say, there was a war, years ago, that uprooted many of the Russian packs, causing an increase in immigrants. Many struggled to find a pack that would take them in, so they began forming smaller packs across the states. This caused a shift in our territories. Some say for the better, others would disagree. All that really matters is what happened after this influx.

"What about those who didn't leave? What happened to them?" Someone asked.

"The remaining Russian packs were overtaken by several drug lords and mafia members. The largest is currently being ruled by Vadim Sokolov and the second largest by Yaroslav Morozov."

I stilled - held my breath. My father and my betrothed. No one here knew, but if they did... gods help me. I'd be public enemy number one, but maybe I already was. Nausea churned within me. They didn't know. They couldn't possibly know. I looked nothing like him.

The conversation continued, but I spaced out, thinking back to this morning with Alexei. He was so gung-ho on living this new life. I wanted him to be happy... but I knew I could never move on. Which meant I would be alone from here on out.

- - - - - - - -

By the time the final bell rang, I was a train wreck. I found myself at the track on the back lawn of the school, running as fast as I could for as long as I could, fighting through the heat and humidity. My mind was racing, so out of control I couldn't think straight. Running helped. It kept some of the demons at bay for a few minutes at least. Until one caught up to me.

"Behind you!" A familiar voice called.

The alpha pup.

"No hello?" he chided as he matched my pace. I ignored him.

"I heard you were a bit of a show-off today." He chuckled. "You know four languages?"

"Five, actually." I huffed.

"That's really cool." Jeremy smiled. It stirred something inside me. I needed to shut it down.

"Where is your keeper?"

"My keeper?" His face scrunched up.

"Melody."

"She is with her mom, party planning I guess," he shrugged. "They are having a big to-do for her eighteenth birthday. I think everyone at school is invited."

"I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun," I said sarcastically.

"You should come."

"Pass." I rolled my eyes.

"Just think about it, okay?"

His voice was different. Softer. More tentative. As if my answer would affect him for better or worse.

"Why do you want me to go so badly?" I frowned.

"You just seem like you could use a friend."

The look in his eyes seemed genuine. It was hard to look away. I had to shut it down.

"You act as if you know me." I laughed. "Perhaps if you did, you'd know it was better to stay far, far away from me."

"I'm not one to back down from a challenge." He smiled coyly. "You don't scare me, Ellie."

I shook my head and began to slow - heading back to the bleachers for my bag.

"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked, quickly changing direction to catch up with me.

"Home."

"Can I walk with you?"

"Maybe another time." I grabbed my bag, pulling out a bottle of water. "When you can speak five languages."

"Can we settle for two?"

A smile overcame me. Unchecked, unexpected. I didn't know I knew how to smile anymore. Jeremy lit up like he had just won the lottery.

"I'll see you around," I said, quickly retreating home. I fought the urge to look behind.

I never had any feelings like that before. Either Alexei was wearing off on me, or I was becoming soft. It didn't matter which — both meant I was losing focus. And that would be the thing to kill me.