The Bridge (Golden Lycans Sequel)

Walk on the Downs

My alarm wakes me abruptly, and I immediately sit up.

I actually have plans today and it's plans I'm looking forward to.

I get out of bed, ignoring Kate snoring away in hers. It's still warm out at this point in September, so I put on my comfy white denim shorts and boxy striped t-shirt that ties up a little at the bottom. Comfy and casual. I leave my hair as it is but wear a bit of mascara. I want to make a good impression on Christa's friends, and that's done best by looking good...but not too good...

Okay. You are really overthinking this. Just make sure you're wearing deodorant and you've shaved your pits, Hera comments.

These people could save my final year from being totally friendless. What if they don't like me and Christa stops talking to me? I ask.

It's been a week, but we know Christa isn't like that. Just relax and be you, because as Austin likes to say; that will always be enough.

I have a chuckle at Hera quoting my brother of all people.

I go down to breakfast feeling very nervous, but I'm not sure why. I was great at meeting new people...but...I just don't know how to make friends. I feel like I have a lot riding on today.

I spot Christa sat at the top of a table along with five other people. I take a deep breath as I head towards them. Christa spots me, getting up and intercepting me on my way over.

"Hey, you! I know this will sound a bit weird but...please be cool," Christa says, looking at me seriously.

"Ooh, I don't know if I can, but I'll give it a good try," I joke, finding her comment quite strange. She utters a short laugh and leads me to the table where her friends are sitting. They all turn to look at me as I stand next to Christa.

Talk about feeling like the new kid in school.

"Guys! This, is Serena Landry, who I told you about on friday," she says warmly, and I put on my best smile as I quickly and nervously take in each person at the table.

They all look friendly enough...

"Okay, so going around the table clockwise we have: Joel, Alice, Finn, Theo and Stacey," Christa says, and suddenly everyone pauses and looks at me...oddly.

I look around at all their faces and they're looking expectant, as though they're waiting for me to say something.

"Hey...umm...it's good to meet you all. Cheers for having me along today," I say, stiffly.

They still continue to look at me, then at each other, then back at me in a strange way.

My brow furrows as I stare back at Christa, a little anxious now. She looks puzzled too.

Shit, have I blown it already? What did I say? I ask Hera.

Chill for a sec, just...wait... she replies.

"Huh. Okaaay, well, after breakfast we will all meet on the sofas out front, at nine," Christa says.

"Ok, I'll grab the sandwiches and stuff from the kitchen before we go," I add quietly.

"Oh! You've sorted a picnic? What a gem!" Alice says, and they all look pretty chuffed about at the fact that I've sorted out lunch. Alice is blonde with green eyes and has a friendly face.

Christa and I grab our breakfast and take a seat. I start eating breakfast and I try not to feel like the interloper, but it is a little hard.

They're all talking about things they do and people they know, and I'm just a secretly supernatural being whose Dad runs the school.

I don't have much to add, because we quite literally have run in different circles all this time.

"So, Serena, what's it like having your family own and run this amazing school?" Joel asks, and I'm taken aback that someone has spoken to me. He has short, fine dark hair, a tonne of freckles, soft brown eyes and a big smile. It's a great smile.

He's cute.

...Really cute.

"Well, it's not always as great as it may seem on the surface, especially since my Dad took over this year," I say before a pause.

"Ooh, this is intriguing," Joel says, "do tell."

"Okay, so... a bunch of our year went out, partied and got drunk in a barn on Friday night, and because I went, I got punished for it...but no one else has. I had to clean the place up yesterday and I now have chores to do around the school until 'further notice'," I reply. Joel laughs at me lightly.

"Savage, you're too pretty to clean," Joel replies with a wink. Forward...but I'm cool with it.

"Dang, that's rough. Finn can relate, his old man is tough on him too," Theo says with a laugh. I look down the table at Finn. I realise after a few seconds that I recognise his thick sandy hair and light blue eyes...and my stomach promptly drops when I realise where I know him from; he is the guy Kate rudely booted off our table the day we came back.

Perfect.

I feel deflated all of a sudden. I bet he remembers, and my chances at making new friends are now going to go straight down the toilet. He regards me with his blue eyes and he clenches his jaw a little as he looks back at me. I try to soften my own expression a little in the hope he goes lightly on me. He definitely recognises me too and I'm praying he doesn't mention our first meeting. He narrows his eyes slightly before he speaks.

"They are only tough, because they care," he says simply in his strangely deep voice. I furrow my brow a little as I continue looking at him. Maybe he won't mention it, or maybe he doesn't recognise me?

"I'll try to remember that when I'm doing my chores," I reply and the corners of his mouth smile a little. Everyone else is staring at me again the same way they were earlier, as if expecting me to say something. I smile brightly and shake myself off internally.

"I mean I've got a great room out of it, though, not to brag or anything," I joke.

...

Kate once again ignores me as if I'm totally invisible as I go back to the room to pack my bag. I pull a backpack from the top of my wardrobe and add the items Kate mentioned. I put a swimsuit on under my clothes and ditch my bra and pants in my bag. I'm not sure why we need a swimsuit, but I'm sure Christa has good reason.

"I'll be out all day, in case you wonder. Have a good day," I decide to say politely to Kate before I go out the door. At this point I really couldn't care less what she does today.

I head down to the kitchen and go to one of the massive fridges where the baguettes and fruit I'd asked for yesterday are being kept. I put them all in my backpack along with some bottles of water. Luckily, the kitchen staff know who I am and they like me, because they don't bat an eyelid at me doing this. They were more than happy to help when I asked about the sandwiches last night.

I go to wait on one of the large navy sofas in the atrium and see that one of Christa's friends already there.

"Stacey, right?" I ask to confirm. She nods and smiles. She's got raven black hair and she's got braces at the moment. I feel her pain.

"So, you're in Christa's law class?" she asks.

"Yeah, she's definitely improved my law class experience this week," I reply.

"She said you've got quite a keen mind for law," Stacey says. I am a little surprised that Christa has said this, but it makes me feel warm inside.

"Oh, that's kind of her. She's been a great person to bounce ideas off. She's got a clear talent for law, that's for sure," I reply. Just as I finish talking, Joel takes a seat next to me on the sofa.

"Wow, you're even prettier up close," he says flirtatiously with his big smile, looking right at me.

"Don't mind Joel," Stacey says, "he's a bit of a man whore."

"Oh is that right?" I joke back, staring at Joel with my eyebrow c****d.

"Nah," he says, flicking up his eyebrows at me for a moment, "definitely all man, though"

"Oh please, you were the same to me when I joined the group, and now you fart in front of me. That well crafted illusion has long gone," Stacey teases Joel. He rolls his eyes at her.

"Cheers Stace, just because you prefer women, you don't need to be a c**k blocker to the rest of us," he replies lightheartedly. Theo and Alice now drop down onto one of the sofas, and despite not sitting together at breakfast, they're definitely an item with how tactile they're being. Theo is black, has several inch long locs and a well trimmed goatee. He has a London accent which reminds me a little of Ella. While I'm watching them interact, Finn arrives and sits down on the other side of me. His figure is a little intimidating as he is just so tall. I find myself shrinking back into the sofa a little.

My Dad and Austin are both six foot five, but this guy is even taller. I turn my head to look at him, his eyes already looking down at me.

"I'm so sorry about the other day," I blurt out suddenly with an apologetic expression. His blue eyes look momentarily surprised and everyone stops talking at once to listen to our exchange. Finn just stares back at me for a few seconds as if contemplating his response.

"You are not accountable for the actions of another," he finally says. It's my turn to look surprised. His expression is impassive as he continues to look down at me.

I turn to see everyone looking at us, looking expectant again, clearly wondering what I'm talking about.

"Umm...so my roommate kinda, rather rudely, asked Finn to vacate the table we used to sit on, on the day we came back. There were like fifty free tables so it was a bit...uh...yeah. I'm just sorry that happened," I explain to them all as I wrap my arms around my chest, feeling tremendously awkward, now.

Why didn't I just keep quiet?

I'm usually so good at socialising, but the fact they're all human has put me off kilter, I guess.

"I'm sure he rather enjoyed that, wish I could've been there," Theo laughs, and there are a few chuckles in response.

"Used to sit on?" Finn asks quietly.

"Yeah...uhh, I am pretty sure we aren't friends anymore," I reply, and he nods subtly in acknowledgement. I manage a small smile at him just as Christa arrives, carrying an actual map.

"Everyone ready?" she asks eagerly.

"Almost," Joel says with a grin, "do you need a walking stick too? I just feel like it'll complete the look you're going for, Dora."

"Shut up, Joel," she says with a smirk. Everyone stands up, and we soon leave the building.

We walk up the long driveway, and then we head down a footpath opposite the entrance to the school that I've never even seen before.

...The adventure begins.

...

Two hours later we have walked around seven miles and I'm enjoying it a lot. The sun is shining, the views from some of the hills are stunning and I am enjoying the periods of comfortable silence the group finds itself in, but also the random jokes and comments Christa's friends are making.

"So what do you think of them?" Christa asks me as we head down one of the hills toward an area of woodland.

"Yeah, they're all friendly and they've been welcoming so far," I say with a smile.

"Watch out for Joel, he flirts with everyone, Alice and Theo are an item, Finn is...well you'll get used to him if he ever opens up a bit. Stacey is the nicest person you'll ever meet," Christa says, pushing her sunglasses back up her nose.

We shortly reach the bottom of the hill by the woodland, and I gasp as we come to a clearing within the woodland where there is a river. The water looks clear and it looks like the perfect place for a picnic.

"You'll be glad you wore a swimsuit, this stream is superb," Christa says as she sees me eying up the stream, "it's also drinkable water as it's naturally filtered from all the way up the top of that hill."

"Amazing," I reply, wondering how I've never heard about this place or been here before. Except, when I think about it, we haven't really left campus much over the last few years. I've either been at school or at the pack. This is a new thing for me, and that's probably why I feel happy right now.

"Oh man, the old swing has snapped," I hear Theo call out in disappointment and I look to where he's pointing. There is a stump sticking out of the tree he's standing by, and a thick branch has clearly snapped off from there. On the stump is the remains of a rope swing. Theo grabs the end of the rope and gives it a wiggle and a tug, and it comes off the stump and falls to the ground.

"If we can find another good branch to tie it to, this rope is still good," he declares. I look up and around. This is exactly my kind of thing and I'm eager to help. I just need to be careful, and not to be too obvious with my strength and physical ability.

"Up there," I reply, pointing up to a thick branch that extends over the deeper part of the stream. I immediately go toward it and jump up to grab a lower branch that's around two feet above my head. I grab hold of it with both hands and then I start swinging backwards and forwards until I get enough momentum to bring my legs up and over the branch backwards. I used to do gymnastics, and coupled with my Lycan strength, it's a piece of cake.

"Whoa, look at her go!" I hear Alice exclaim from below. I stand up on the branch and proceed to climb up toward my goal now that there are plenty of branches around to help me navigate. Climbing trees was a staple part of my childhood, back home at the pack, and was something I still did from time to time, especially during training to avoid trackers.

I crouch down and shimmy along the branch until I get to the point where it's springy but still strong. I could've walked it and balanced myself perfectly, but that's not something a human could easily do.

"Throw me the rope," I call down, and Theo throws one end of the swing up toward me. He misses three times before he gets heckled by the others.

"Finn, get your tall butt over here and make yourself useful," Theo jokes. Finn strides over and takes the rope from Theo. He deftly knots one end to make it more weighty and throws it cleanly toward me. I catch it easily with one hand and I soon begin to tie a series of knots around the branch.

"Do you sail?" I hear Finn call down from below, clearly watching me as I tie several sailing knots.

"Since I was six," I reply with a smile, and he looks a little intrigued. I then hang off the branch and grab hold of the top of the rope.

"Is she going down it?" Stacey calls from below.

"Need to test it somehow," I call back, with a grin., I shimmy down the rope until I get to the end where the thick piece of smooth wood is tied on securely to act as a handle. I hang there for a moment, considering whether I should just drop into the water even though I'm still clothed. Instead, I start swinging backwards and forwards. After a minute or so, I begin to gain momentum, just enough to make a valiant effort at swinging toward the edge of the riverbank where I let go and make a somewhat graceful landing.

"What! How did you DO all that?" Christa asks.

"Gymnastics as a kid and there are a lot of tall trees where I grew up, so climbing them is something I've always enjoyed doing."

"At least we know it takes the weight of someone," Joel says stretching out on one of several blankets that are now on the ground.

"Hmm...dunno about Finn, though, he's gotta be at least twice her weight," Theo laughs.

"Well if you're worried about weight..." Joel says slyly, proceeding to stand up and swiftly removing his shorts, followed by his t-shirt.

Good goddess, he is in amazing shape for a human. He looks great, and probably has to put in at least eight times the effort a Lycan puts in, to look that good.

My interest is definitely piqued.

"My eyes are up here, Serena," Joel jokes in a sultry tone with a wink before he takes a running jump past me, flinging himself out toward the rope swing. He grabs it easily and swings back and forth for several seconds before he lets go, dropping down with a spectacular splash into the deep water below. The others cheer as he surfaces and he looks triumphant with a huge smile across his face.

"The water temperature is perfect!" he exclaims loudly to us, before he climbs out onto the bank, dripping water everywhere. I grab my backpack and unload the seven baguettes, handing them out.

"They're all the same. A BLT..C Bacon, lettuce tomato, plus cheese," I explain.

"Oh baby, you already had me at bacon," Joel says, taking his baguette with a wet hand. I hand one to Finn and he nods politely toward me in thanks. It's silent for a few minutes while everyone eats their sandwich. It's a comfortable silence, and it's peaceful here in this beautiful place. It reminds me of the pack in some ways. I feel very relaxed.

Once the baguettes are done we sit there having water and some general chit chat.

"What are you hoping to do after graduating, Serena?" Stacey asks. I chew my mouthful for a little longer while I contemplate my reply.

"I think I want to go into law, specifically on an international level, so I'm thinking of applying to LSE. My sister has recently got into it and it sounds really interesting, challenging and also pretty rewarding. She went to LSE herself. A few of our family have gone into similar fields and jobs so it's something that's always been on my mind," I reply.

"Not inheriting the family business then?" Theo pipes up. I grimace and shake my head emphatically.

"Lord no," I reply with a short laugh, "my older brother can take that up. I'd love to travel and see the world. I wouldn't want to just be stuck up in that office all the time. But who knows, I can't say for sure how I'll feel about it in forty years."

"Fair, it wouldn't be something I'd pick either," Christa says.

"What about everyone else?" I ask, looking around at everyone, wondering what their hopes were. There are some glances being exchanged and chuckles between them at my question.

"Hotshot Lawyer, as you know," Christa says.

"Doctor, hopefully in emergency medicine," Alice says.

"Inheriting the family business," Finn replies bluntly.

"Getting an Oscar," Joel replies with a dramatic gesture. I laugh at this, but I'm not shocked either as he certainly has the looks and the blinding confidence.

"Professor of Literature at Cambridge University. If I can swing it," Stacey says.

"Also teaching, preferably physics or chemistry," Theo finally says. I nod around at the group.

"What's the family business, Finn?" I ask while peeling a banana. He stares at me strangely for a moment and his eyes narrow just a bit.

"It is a big company...across several countries," he replies stiffly. I nod with a shrug and then turn to Joel.

"I sense you're perhaps already in showbusiness, Joel?" I ask with a tentative smile. He looks at me in shock.

"What! Are you for real?" he asks. I shrug and look apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I don't really watch television or movies. I'd rather be outdoors or playing music, so I'm more than a bit behind on TV shows and films and the people who are in them," I admit. Everyone looks at me and I feel like the odd one out again.

"That is...quite refreshing," Finn says, and I turn my head toward him. He's looking at me a little oddly right now.

"Uh...same goes for social media. I'm not on it. At all," I admit again. I'm hoping this all isn't too out of field for them.

"Well that explains a lot," Joel laughs, "so I've actually been in quite a few movies and several seasons of a major TV series since I began acting when I was just eight. But, the deal with my parents was always that I'd get my A levels, at the very least. Hollywood isn't an easy place and things can change very quickly, so they wanted me to have an education. I've mostly taken the next year off to concentrate on my final year. You should know that Exton has a great reputation for people just being quite chill about people like me. You guys are discreet and the security is somehow amazing despite the fact it's just a gate at the entrance. But we still come out to places like this that are off the beaten track to avoid crazy members of the public. Half the school really doesn't seem to give a damn about who I am in the media and like Finn said-it's pretty refreshing."

I consider his comment, and immediately assume that it's the supernatural students who don't care who he is- because he's human. Plus, TV and Cinema aren't big with us, being that we prefer being outside. Perhaps the enchantments protected our more prestigious human students? Something I had never considered before.

Over the next hour, most of us mess around in the water, using the rope swing in a variety of ways while Stacey and Finn watch in delight from the picnic blanket. It really is like being back home, with everyone relaxed and having a great time. We eventually climb out onto the bank and we all lay down on the ground together under the sunshine, the wet ones aiming to dry off. The chat soon turns to the winter formal that used to happen in November, but now happens just after the mock exams in January.

"It's a masquerade theme this year, it's being announced on Monday," I say enthusiastically.

"Oh, that's so cliché, but I'm also so down with that. I've got a mask that I got given that I can wear for that, actually!" Christa laughs.

"Are you going with anyone, Serena?" Joel asks.

"He's trying to find out if you're single, in like this really subtle way," Alice clarifies with a giggle. I let out a short laugh.

"Oh, er, no, I have nobody like that," I confirm. I feel sad about this fact for the first time, and I frown a little to myself as I stare up at a cloud shaped like a rabbit.

"How is that possible? You're an actual babe," Theo says, and Joel makes a sound of agreement. I feel myself blush again.

"Thanks...but it's...complicated. This year I'm also now the Headmaster's daughter, so there's that," I reply. I hear some snorts of laughter.

"To be fair, he's a big, scary lookin' dude, I'd avoid you, haha," Theo jokes.

"Well I don't care who your daddy is, I'll dance with you," Joel remarks. I smile up at the sky feeling thoroughly charmed.

"I may hold you to that!"

..

At four o'clock we pack up our things before we begin our long walk back to the school. I dash off to go for a wee behind a bush and when I come back, the group are whispering.

"...fine, okay, we'll do it," I hear Christa whisper to them, but it's just loud enough that I can hear. I wonder what it's about, but they've been kind and open with me, so I need to be optimistic about everything.

We soon set off back the way we came.

The light is different now and the colours are warmer. I had no idea how beautiful the area around the school really was.

"That was an impressive set of knots you did back there...in addition to the aerial acrobatics, of course," Finn says, catching up to me as we amble down a beaten track in the sunshine.

"Thanks, I have tied more than a few rope swings in my time, but as you correctly ascertained earlier, I learned the knots when I learned to sail. Now...I can't stop doing them," I tell him.

"Barrel knot in your shoes?" he offers.

"Yes, actually!" I exclaim with a laugh. He smiles.

"So, where did you grow up? I would assume around here, since the school is here, but you kind of act like you have never been around here," he asks. I nod.

"In a national park about forty minutes away," I reply, "so I've grown up around a lot of trees and open spaces. Where abouts are you from?" I ask.

"London, mainly. But we do have residences in various places across the country, so our base changes from time to time," Finn reveals. Clearly his father's business does pretty well.

"That sounds amazing. It must be nice to just take off somewhere when you're not at school," I say wistfully, wishing I had that ability sometimes. I had visited Dalston Lake quite a few times in the past five years, but that wasn't quite the same as having places you'd call a home.

"Well, you must have access to a boat at the very least; how else did you learn to tie those knots?" Finn asks.

"Yeah, you're right...we have a thirty-five foot sailboat at home and another larger one that is moored out in Marseille."

"Amazing. I miss sailing. It has been a couple of years since I have been able to go," Finn says with a tone of regret. It doesn't seem like he's holding Kate's actions against me, so I take a deep breath and make a suggestion.

"Well, I know we only just met, but you're welcome to come out on it sometime if you'd like? You don't seem like you'll end up murdering me out on the water, and it's often quite hard to find anyone who will come out with me, at times," I offer, timidly.

I did not want to seem too needy for friendship, even though with the state of things with Kate this past week, I probably was.

"Ha, do not tempt me," he replies.

"Well, if it's too tempting for you...maybe you should just say yes?" I suggest playfully.

Finn chuckles at me and looks pensieve for a moment.

"I will consider it," he says with a nod, sounding so formal, yet his tone makes me believe he actually will.

It'd be nice to have a new friend who enjoyed sailing. Kate was never up for it despite growing up on an island of all places. We walk along in silence for another minute before Finn speaks again.

"What happened between you and your roommate, may I ask?" he asks.

"Normal teenage stuff, I think. It's like we came back after summer as two very different people. If I'm honest though, things weren't great before the end of the last school year. Now, as we are growing up, it seems even more apparent. We see things too differently, now. I mean, the way she spoke to you, I was so uncomfortable and it bothered me for days after. You were so kind and polite about it as well."

Finn looks at me in a warm and friendly way for a moment, he seems to have thawed a little in comparison to the marginally frosty reception he'd given me this morning.

"It is fine. It was not you anyway, it was entirely her, so do not trouble yourself. Please, Serena, let it go," he says kindly.

"Thank you," I reply with a nod.

"Have you enjoyed today? Your shoulders are definitely more relaxed compared to this morning," he says.

I look sideways at him, puzzled.

"My shoulders?"

"You were clearly very nervous about meeting us, but...you did not need to be," he tells me.

"I did. Trying to make new friends is not easy," I reply.

"Well, you have made it look quite easy, today," he says with another smile.

..

When we get back it's just before dinner. As we enter the atrium, Christa looks back at me.

"Serena, are you going to join us for dinner?" she asks. I'm about to answer when Joel then interjects.

"...and then at breakfast...every morning, around half seven?"

I look between them all and I feel a warmth spreading through my chest.

Could it be?

Serena Landry, the alpha lycan, from the biggest pack in the country, feeling warm and fuzzy about making new friends...who all happen to be human?

"I'll be there," I reply.

....Yep, sure looked like it.