His Stray

Chapter 12

Ten Years Prior

Lucas kicked a pebble along the edge of the playground, only half-listening to the other boys bragging about how fast they could run or how many pushups they could do. The sky was bright and sharp above them, sunlight pulling warm on his shoulders, but all he felt was tight.

It was always like this when Celia was around.

She was by the swing with two other girls, braiding bits of grass together, her honey hair falling over her shoulder in a glossy sheet. He watched her without meaning to. It was like his eyes couldn’t help it.

And that was the problem.

His father’s words echoed in his head: “Stop sniffing about that little stray. You’ll only make things harder for yourself and for me.”

Lucas scowled at the ground, shoulders hunching. He didn’t want to make things harder. Didn’t want to be the reason his father’s temper boiled over again.

He snuck away when he had free moments, going to a small lake in the woods not far from Celia’s house. He was always so happy when he found her there waiting for him. They would play tag and splash in the water or sometimes just lay in the grass and talk. Occasionally he convinced Landon to come with him. Celia was as sweet and kind to his older brother as she was with Lucas, and Landon smiled with her more than Lucas had ever seen.

But at school, Lucas and Celia knew they had to stay apart. The teachers would tell his dad that he was hanging out with Celia. The one time he’d try to tell his dad that he was still going to be her friend, he’d ended up with a black eye. So the two learned to stay apart when others were looking.

A sudden shout jerked his attention up.

Jared had stomped over to Celia, looming over her. Even from here, Lucas could see her stiffen. One of the other girls bolted. The second hesitated, then slipped away too, leaving Celia alone.

Lucas’s chest went tight. He started forward a step, then stopped himself. His stomach twisted.

Jared’s voice carried across the playground. “Hey, stray. What’s that? Some kind of spell? Gonna curse me with your freak magic?”

Celia glared up at him, her hands balling into fists. “It’s just grass, Jared. Leave me alone.”

“Make me,” Jared laughed, then suddenly snatched the braid out of her hands and threw it behind him. Celia scrambled after it, cheeks red, grabbing at the grass.

“Hey, give it back!”

“What are you gonna do? Tell your mom? Oh wait…” Jared’s grin turned cruel. “Guess she didn’t want you either.”

Lucas’s vision went red for a second. He took another step forward, then stopped. His father’s warning pounded in his skull, ugly and cold.

Stay out of it.

Celia stood frozen, staring at Jared, her eyes wide and glossy. “Shut up,” she whispered.

“What’s that? Didn’t catch it.” Jared leaned in, cupping a hand around his ear. “Say it again.”

“I said shut up!” Celia’s voice cracked. She took a step back, hands raised like she was bracing for a blow.

Then something weird happened.

Lucas saw the air ripple around her, like heat rolling off the pavement. It was there and gone in a blink. Jared jerked back, yelping. Smoke curled up from under his sleeve.

He shrieked, slapping at his arm. “Ow! What the hell? You burned me!”

Celia shook her head wildly. “No! I didn’t… I didn’t even touch you!”

Jared tore up his sleeve, revealing an ugly red mark already swelling on his forearm. “Freak!” he screamed, eyes wide. “Witch freak!”

Other kids started crowding around. Some were laughing, some staring with wide eyes. Celia backed up until she bumped into the swing set, clutching her hands to her chest.

Lucas felt sick. Every instinct in him screamed to go to her, to pull her behind him and snarl at them to back off. But he stood there, rooted to the spot. Because he knew what would happen if he did.

Your father will hear about it. He’ll take it out on you, or her. His mother’s warning rang in his ears.

Teachers burst through the knot of children. “What happened here?”

Jared was crying, showing off his arm. “She did it! She burned me! She didn’t even touch me! She’s a witch!”

A teacher turned sharp eyes on Celia. “Is that true? Celia, what did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Her voice broke. “I swear I didn’t!”

Hands settled on her shoulders, steering her away from the swings. Celia twisted around, eyes frantic, searching the crowd. Searching for him.

Lucas dropped his gaze to the dirt.

**

The principal was a slight woman named Mrs. Harrison. Celia barely registered how she ended up in the office. Her hands shook as she twisted the hem of her shirt, trying to keep them still.

Mrs. Harrison listened carefully while the teacher explained what happened, then leaned over to inspect Jared’s arm. The angry welt seemed to darken and swell by the second.

Jared whimpered, launching into his version of the story, how Celia burned him, leaving out every cruel word he had spat before. Celia didn’t bother arguing. No one ever listened anyway.

So she waited, her hands knotting tighter in the fabric. She couldn’t explain what had happened. Only that her anger had turned white-hot, until it felt like it erupted out of her, alive and hungry.

“Celia,” Mrs. Harrison said at last. Celia looked up to see her shutting the door behind Jared and the teacher. The office seemed to shrink around her. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“He was making fun of me,” Celia blurted. “I got angry.”

“Did you touch him?”

She shook her head fiercely. “I didn’t do anything.” Tears stung her eyes, blurring the office.

“Then how did Jared get that burn on his arm?” Mrs. Harrison’s voice stayed gentle, but there was a crease of worry in her forehead.

Celia stared at the floor. Her shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug.

The principal studied her for a long moment. “Did you feel anything right before it happened?”

“I was angry,” Celia whispered, hugging herself tighter.

“Not just angry. Did you feel anything else? Heat? A pull? Anything strange inside you?”

Celia swallowed hard and shook her head, even though it wasn’t true. She had felt the heat, coiling and rising up her throat, but she was too afraid to admit it.

Mrs. Harrison sighed, her mouth pulling into a thin line. She stepped out of the office, leaving Celia alone for what felt like forever. Celia pulled her legs up into the chair, hugging her knees to her chest as she buried her face against them and cried.

When Mrs. Harrison returned, she carried Celia’s backpack.

“We’re going to the pack house,” Mrs. Harrison said gently, handing her the bag. “The alpha has asked to see you.”

Celia didn’t understand. She didn’t want to see the alpha, the man who was so cruel to Lucas. Her stomach twisted until she thought she might be sick. Still, she followed Mrs. Harrison out of the building to a waiting car.

Mrs. Harrison ushered her into the back seat, then climbed into the front beside a man Celia didn’t recognize. The two spoke in low voices as the car wound its way through town, but Celia couldn’t focus on their words over the roar of her pulse in her ears.

Was the alpha going to kick her out of the pack? Decide she was too dangerous to stay?

She wished desperately for Rusty. She had given the stuffed wolf back to Lucas a few weeks ago, when he’d crawled through her window after his father yelled at him. Now she wished she hadn’t.

By the time they reached the pack house, her hands were slick with sweat. Mrs. Harrison motioned her out of the car and led her inside, up the grand staircase, stopping outside a heavy oak door. She knocked once, and a deep voice called for them to enter.

Alpha Marcus sat behind a massive desk, his hands folded neatly. His dark eyes lifted to her, calm in a way that surprised her. Beside him stood another man, taller and broader, with closely cropped dark blond hair and sharp gray eyes. Celia thought he must be the beta, Peter.

Sitting in one of the chairs was Luna Ophelia. Her eyes, so like Lucas’s, were large in her pale, tired face.

Much to Celia’s relief, her mother and father were also there. Celia ran straight for her father’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He pulled her close in a hug that made her feel safe.

“It’s okay, sunflower,” he whispered into her hair.

“Hello, Celia,” the alpha said, his tone surprisingly gentle. Harold shifted her so she was standing between her parents’ chairs, facing the desk.

“Hello, Alpha,” she replied, her voice trembling.

Marcus studied her for a long moment. “Can you tell me what happened with the boy at school today?”

Celia’s hands shook. She clenched them tight. “He was making fun of me. I got angry.”

He nodded. “And then?”

She glanced at her mother, who gave her an encouraging nod.

“I don’t know,” Celia whispered. Tears filled her eyes again. “He got hurt. His arm was burned, but I don’t know how. I didn’t touch him. I swear.”

The alpha’s eyes slid to Mrs. Harrison.

“The boy also said she didn’t touch him,” Mrs. Harrison confirmed.

“Did you do something?” Beta Peter asked. “Maybe think about wanting to hurt him?”

Celia shook her head. “I didn’t think anything like that. I was just angry because he was being mean.”

Marcus leaned back in his chair. “Celia, do you remember anything about your birth parents?”

The question startled her. Slowly, she shook her head.

“I doubt she would,” Peter said. “She was two when Ophelia found her.”

Marcus turned to his Luna. “And you don’t remember anything else? How you found her?”

Ophelia let out a weary sigh. “I’ve told you everything, Marcus. She was tiny, filthy, half-starved. Just wandering the woods alone. You sent patrols out for days looking for her parents.”

Marcus frowned but nodded. “Yes, I remember.” He turned his gaze back to Celia. “She smells like a wolf.”

“I agree,” Peter said. “But there’s always been something else. We thought it was just how young she was, or her circumstances. Maybe it’s time to consider she might be something else. At least, partially.”

Celia had no idea what they meant. She only knew none of it sounded good.

“And nothing like this has ever happened before?” Marcus asked, this time directing the question to her mother.

“No, sir,” Lenore replied quickly. “She’s always been a normal little girl. We noticed the scent too, but honestly, we just got used to it.”

Marcus nodded slowly. “I’ll be interested to see if she manifests a wolf at sixteen.”

“What should we do for now?” Peter asked.

Celia’s chest tightened painfully. Was this when they told her to leave?

“I’m sorry,” she rushed out. “I didn’t mean to hurt Jared. I don’t know what happened, but I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone.”

“I believe you,” Marcus said, his voice still kind. “I don’t think you meant to hurt that boy. But something happened, Celia, and we need to be careful.”

A hot tear slipped down her cheek. Marcus watched her for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.

“We’ll wait and see,” he finally said, glancing at Peter. “She’s just a child. I doubt she poses much threat right now.”

Peter nodded. “I agree. We’ll keep an eye on things.”

“Can I stay?” Celia whispered.

Marcus’s eyebrows lifted, clearly surprised. “Of course you’re staying.” He gave her a sad smile. “We’ll figure this out. If you notice anything else, anything unusual inside you, promise me you’ll tell your parents right away.”

She nodded quickly. “I can do that.”

He seemed satisfied. “Good. I think it would be best for you not to return to school for the rest of the week. Let things calm down. I’m sure your mother could use the extra help in the kitchen.”

Celia managed a small smile. “I can do that.”

As her parents guided her out of the pack house, relief tangled with fear in her chest. She would stay. But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something inside her was very, very wrong.