*Celina’s POV*
You know, being in school isn’t usually a bad thing. Except for now when the wolves look at me oddly and sniff the air, trying to figure out if I’m still human or who knows what the hell I am. I groaned internally as Mel was walking with me, heading to our lockers to get our books ready for the day. In a matter of seconds my locker was slammed, catching my fingers in between. I let out a yelp as I pulled my hand, grabbing my throbbing fingers as the door swung back open.
“Oh I’m so sorry” I turned my attention, my eye stinging from the pain to see a red head standing near my locker. I instantly recognized her as Lexi, one of the she-wolves that lead a clique here in school. What the hell was her problem now? I always ignored her and she steered clear from me. “You see…there is such a disgusting smell around here that I got dizzy and collapsed against the locker” she continued, her groupies snickering at her jab. I felt my eye twitch and unexplainable rage consume me. ‘Celina…we gotta keep a low profile’ Calypso warned, though I could feel her anger as well. ‘Kill this b***h…she needs to learn her place’ the lycan spoke. ‘You can’t just go around killing everyone that bothers you…that’s why there’s so much prejudice against you’ snapped Calypso. I felt the two pushing each other for control, as if I was just a vessel with no say.
Lexi looked at me perplexed for a moment as I growled angrily, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against the locker. “The only thing that smells disgusting is you…you disgusting mutt” I hissed as I squeezed her throat tighter. A small whimper escaped her lips and I knew she was having trouble breathing. I continued to squeeze tighter, barely hearing what Mel was saying. I felt hands grabbing my arm, trying to pull me away from Lexi, but it felt weak. ‘End her’ the lycan snarled, and I realized she was taking over my body. I felt my vision tunneling as I was being forced back into my mind slowly, and panic began to set in.
Is this how it will always be? Will my lycan side always take over and kill against my wishes? Why isn’t anyone stopping me? Goddess where’s Victor! I felt a warmth suddenly spread from my wrist towards my arms, and I started feeling numb and exhausted. I blinked a few times, and I was back forward, with the lycan receding deeper into my soul. I stared at my hand, being pulled back as I looked at who managed to pry me away from Lexi, to see Victor looking at me worried.
“Your eyes” he whispered. I blinked as I looked back at Lexi, who had collapsed to the ground wheezing for air. Victor engulfed me into his arms and I felt more relaxed as the anger began to subside. “They’re golden…” he continued as he gently pulled me from the lockers, leading me towards the outside field and sat me on one of the lunch benches outside. Everything felt surreal, as if I wasn’t in control of my body or my feelings. I looked at Vic and Mel, both crouching down in front of me with a look of concern.
“I…” I started, suddenly my throat feeling dry. Victor looked at my hand, checking my fingers that were caught in the locker. They were dark and blue, but I watched as the bruising began to lighten and disappear as the injury healed. “You almost killed her” Mel finally spoke, rubbing my knee gently.
“I couldn’t stop it” I began, feeling my eyes burning. “They were fighting in my head, and before I knew it the Lycan was forcing me into my own mind. I couldn’t control my movements, or what was going on…” I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to look at them. “She got so angry…she wanted to kill her to set an example, but Calypso was trying to push her away for control. My head feels like it’s being split in two” Mel shifted herself to sit on the bench next to me, pulling me into a hug.
“So we know anger triggers the lycan, but your wolf is more level headed” she began. “But Calypso isn’t strong enough to subdue the lycan” Victor continued deep in thought. “We will need to train to control your temper, so that the lycan doesn’t come out and accidently hurt someone, and we also need you to learn how to coexist with your wolf” he continued.
“How…when she can overpower both Calypso and myself?” I questioned defeated. Victor looked at me, his expression showing how torn he was as well with my current predicament. “For now…let’s try to avoid these kinds of scenarios while in school. Either Mel or I will be with you throughout the day, just in case another episode occurs. Until you learn how to control both of your animalistic sides, I think it’s best to avoid being around others that don’t know your current condition.” Victor suggested. I frowned at the suggestion.
I know it’s the safest course, but it’s almost as if I need to be hidden away…an abomination. I clenched my jaw, trying to reign in my temper again. Maybe it is time to speak with Tommy about that tattoo after all. If it’s only going to get worse, then I’ll have to block her out, otherwise I may end up potentially killing someone, innocent or not.
I started feeling resentment towards everyone, including my parents. They should’ve told me this ages ago! Hell, we should’ve left the pack grounds and moved to a human only town! What was the point of being here and being potentially in danger? And now look at what happened to me! I stood up from the bench, not wanting to be around anyone at that point.
“Lina…” Mel started but I glared at her. “Just…don’t Mel. I didn’t ask for any of this. I was perfectly fine until you showed up” I said, pointing my finger to Victor. I saw the hurt on his face, but I didn’t care. The anger was building inside me, and it felt so foreign. “Celina” Victor started but I growled in annoyance. My head was starting to hurt as I felt the lycan getting anxious. Something was wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Please…leave me alone…both of you” I managed to whisper before walking past them towards the field. I couldn’t understand this rage. It was consuming me and it felt so dark and twisted. Calypso was nervous and agitated while the Lycan was getting restless and worried? ‘Close’ was all the lycan mumbled in my head. ‘Danger Cel…it’s dangerous’ Calypso whined as both began to pace, making my headache even worse.
I could feel my heartbeat quickening, as well as my breathing. It was suffocating me! I started feeling hot and so angry…was this my own feelings? My own emotions? I suddenly jumped and stumbled to the ground as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Tommy was looking at me concerned as he crouched down, helping me stand back up. “Sorry I didn’t mean to startle you. You weren’t answering me when I called out to you” he said, his face full of worry.
“I’ll do it” I managed to tell him. My throat was suddenly feeling dry again. “You mean…” I cut him off, grabbing his shoulder to steady myself. “I can’t control them both…at this rate I’ll kill someone. When can we do it?” I asked, my skin had a light sheen of sweat covering it and Tommy looked around before grabbing my arm, helping into the woods.
“Cel...you have to take slow deep breaths. The more your lycan counterpart comes out, the harder it’ll be to keep him out” he whispered. I looked at him confused, wondering who he meant by him. He looked at me through the corner of his eye before allowing me to sit against a tree under the shade. “Slow your breathing” he continued as I took slow deep breaths. I felt the heat of my skin starting to fade, and my heart rate started to calm down.
“Thank You.” I managed to whisper to him. He nodded, looking around again as if on alert. “What do you mean by him?” I questioned. He sighed, rubbing his shoulder nervously. “Lycans are all connected” Tommy began as he sat down across from me, picking on the grass. “Lycans only follow one, the original one” I looked at him even more confused.
“You mean William?” I asked. He nodded, pulling the blades of the grass. “He’s been dead to centuries” I reminded him. He snorted, looking at me seriously. “His mate sacrificed herself to kill him, but the bastard managed to survive” I blinked a few times, not sure what I was hearing.
“It’s been centuries…there’s no way” His eyes narrowed at me and I lost my voice. He was being serious? “Our lycan counterparts will forever bow to him…he’ll mindlink us as soon as we have changed…and we can’t help but obey him. That’s another reason for this” he said, pointing to his tattoo. “It prevents him from finding me and puts my lycan dormant so he can’t sense him. While it makes me seem human, at least he won’t control me”
“But how do you know all of this?” I asked him incredulously. He swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving my own. “Because he found me during the summer” my breath caught as my eyes widen. “William is alive and in the states Celina…and he’s looking for anyone with a lycan gene and forcibly turning them” I felt my heart rate quicken as my lycan growled, as if agreeing with him.
“How did you escape?” he looked at me, pain in his eyes before looking away. “The witch, along with my parents, managed to break me out of one of his warehouses. She managed to tattoo this when we were far but…” I furrowed my brows, placing my hand on his knee worried. He turned to look at me and I saw his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “He took them Cel…my parents…they sacrificed their humanity to allow me to escape…” I gasped, covering my mouth.
“You mean… he turned them?” I couldn’t help but ask in surprise. He slowly nodded, blinking his eyes furiously to push back his tears. “Once they turned, they obeyed only him. The witch couldn’t help me place the tattoos on them. My parents are strong as lycans Cel…we managed to escape unharmed, but I’ve been worried my parents will come here and bring William. Their humanity was consumed by their lycan counterpart. They don’t see me as their son anymore…only as a traitor” I stood up, pacing in front of him. If William has an automatic link to any lycan in existence, was that the voice I had been hearing a randomly?
The voice was dark, masculine, and scary. I stopped and looked at him. “Then we better get that tattoo on me before he finds this pack because of me” I told him, clenching my fists. Tommy stood up as well, dusting off his clothes. “I’ll text her to meet us somewhere unknown to both sides. I’ll have to lose my trackers though” he chuckled slightly. “You knew they were following you huh?” I managed to ask him.
“It wasn’t hard to figure out. Just because I smell human doesn’t mean my senses are dulled as one” he smirked and I couldn’t help but chuckle at him. “If we can do it tonight I would appreciate it Tommy. Thank you for helping me” I added, giving him a hug before pulling away quickly. “Anytime” he smiled slightly before getting serious.
“Besides, I have a feeling he’s interested in you the most considering you have both a wolf and a lycan” Tommy told me. I nodded in understanding. If his mate was like me, it wouldn’t surprise me if he decided to come after me in order to make me pay for his mate’s mistakes.