Ashley' POV
Staring at my own reflection as I brush my hair gently, humming some of my favorite songs in the morning.
It's a school day.
I know I should be more excited but nothing new ever happens in this town, it's just the same old routine.
My life is pretty normal I guess, it isn't screwed up which I can be thankful for. I mean I have a mom, a dad, twin sisters, a brother. What more could you possibly ask for?
Something out of the ordinary, that's what I ask for.
I'm interrupted from my thoughts by the sound of my door.
"Good morning sweetie, are you ready for school, your siblings are downstairs waiting for you, at least be a little more excited", my mother greets,
"Morning mom, sorry I'll be right there", I reply trying to hurry up.
Claire goes out of the room and goes back downstairs. I go back to thinking to myself, mentally preparing as I got up from my bed and off to school.
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We arrived at the high school 15 minutes later. The sound of teenagers and teachers echoed through the building as people got off their vehicles, while others just walked in.
"You know you could just buy me a car so I could drop off Henry and the twins, that way you can go to work faster", I tell my mom with the most adorable puppy dog eyes as I come down from my her SUV,
"Aww, how cute she's trying to negotiate. Face it Ashley, you're not getting one until your eighteen", disagrees Claire as she laughs inwardly at her daughter's fatal attempt at negotiation,
"I am eighteen!",
Claire giggles at her daughter's words as she replies with a smile, "Love you too dear and don't come home late".
And with that Claire drives away, but she stops to say one last thing,
"It doesn't really hurt to try honey, you might just get it sooner or later", she says with a sly smile which seems almost too suspicious.
She drives off in the opposite direction while I make my way into the old routine.
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Ashley's POV
I put in my books into my locker while also carrying out books for first period. I lean against my locker waving at my best friends as they stride towards me.
"Hey Ash", McKenna, one of the smartest girl I know, she greets as she begrudgingly opens her locker,
"Sup Ash", Kat, she majors in self-defense strategies and battle tactics, reason being her dad is a US Marshall. She's probably still a bit sour from weekend trainings, you can tell from the under eye bags,
"Oh c'mon guys, school is not that miserable, right Nathan?" Kaleb, the mother-hen says to his male friend who seemed a little less miserable than his female ones.
"Yeah totally, besides we're finally doing that blood test practical in chemistry class.", adds Nathan, class president and future politician,
"We can finally get it done and have an automatic 50% to our total grade. If you ask me, that's good news for 'people' not really good at academic work", he finishes off while glancing at Kat who rolls her eyes and reluctantly turns from her locker,
"Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that", she chimes in sarcastically, obviously less interested in the conversation,
"Wait when's the deadline?", I question while glancing at the guy who started the conversation,
"Don't look at me, I'm empty. McKenna?", asks Kaleb,
"Uhh I think we just need to submit the samples a week before the mid-terms", McKenna accurately answers,
"Classic Kenna" comments Nathan,
I notice people whispering at the end of the halls when I see a familiar face and a brunette right beside it.
"Whoa, guys hold on a sec".
Two siblings, a guy and a girl walk side by side down the hallway. Both have matching tattoos that only few have seen during one occasion or the other. If you're new at the school, that's how you tell it's them from the rumors.
Everyone stops what they were doing and stares at them as they both make their way down the halls with whispers following their every move.
"It's been 2 months since their dad died", says Kat,
"Yeahhh, rumors say that the cause of his father's death was cause Luke wanted to commit suicide", added McKenna,
"I wonder why", I say hoping McKenna would have more info,
"I don't even wanna know", says Kaleb with his hands up dramatically,
"So, does that mean his father was put in a difficult position in trying to stop him?", Nathan reasons,
"I guess, however his father's death made him want to live more than die. His sister used to be warm and open, now she's just cold.", McKenna adds with a sad expression on her face.
"Somehow I still feel for them after all this time, look at how their suffering. I mean, Luke and I used to be best buddies in elementary school. Now, I feel I don't even know him anymore.", I say to my friends,
The Martins, Luke and Tessa strolled along the hallway, ignoring the stares and whispers like the only thing that existed was the direction they were headed in. They walked passed us as they made their way to their classes. The bell soon rings and soon it's time for the morning assembly.
"C'mon, let's get to class", Nathan says knocking all of us out of our trance.
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Our homeroom teacher and science teacher, Dr. Conners with a Ph.D. in education and medicine had already started taking attendance when I look around my classroom and notice how we've all grown up. I start thinking about the future, a house, kids, but most of all…my car.
That's not going to happen until I turn eighteen in a few weeks, at least the car aspect by the way.
"Ashley!!! That's the third time he's called your name", says McKenna in whispers a bit too loud for my eardrums,
"Oh sorry, PRESENT!!!", I yell from my seat as everyone giggles at my carelessness,
"And what's got you so distracted today", asks the teacher,
"Probably thinking about her birthday that's coming up soon, her 18th birthday", Kat replies while looking at me giggling,
"Really, you know there's a lot of responsibility about that age. There's rights, licenses but what about the books, the fairytales, who can tell me something about it?", asks the teacher,
"Umm I can sir", Tessa replies from the back where her seat was beside Luke,
"It has several meanings in various books and cultures, though they tend to be fictional", she replies as the whole class stares,
"Do you believe it's fictional miss Shades?", the teacher says his attention peaked too,
"I believe in the impossibilities", she says with a face void of emotions as the teacher halts from his parade at the front of the class and stares at her with curiosity,
"There's the Lycanthrope belief, mythical creatures and all their species, the one in the mystical arts and all their variables, the elementals, the undead, and finally in the legends about mixed creatures on the land, sea, air, legendary curses, prophecies, and tales all tied to being 18", she adds,
"Very good", the teacher says with a smile, "I can even remember a story my mother used to tell me about Lycanthropes and how they would roam the woods at night fall. Also about fated mates made for each other. Wherever they were, whatever they would do, they would always meet. Some thought of them as old souls almost always missing each other, longing for each other like partners reconnecting again. Recognition being materialized, well unless you're being cursed by the moon goddess herself, part of the Lycaon folklore." The arts teacher fantasizes leaving the whole class behind,
The bell rings as a sign of the end of the assembly and start of the first period.
"Alright that's enough history lesson, you may get on with your usual day as planned, thank you".
We all walked out of the class and into halls as McKenna destroys my second eardrum,
"Best history lesson ever!!", squeals McKenna,
"Alright, so what's the plan? A party, a get-together?", Kat chimes,
"What do you mean", I ask out of confusion,
"Your birthday party, silly, don't tell me you haven't started planning?", McKenna says,
"Wait, you're not planning a party", asks Kaleb,
"Whoa, I didn't say…"
"Seriously, you can finally get your car and you're not even having a party?!", Nathan obviously interested too,
"Guys, guys yes, I'm definitely having a party. Well, get-together", I say as everyone celebrates the fact on how I'm not a total social outcast,
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's get to planning", says Kat with excitement laced in her tone as we got ready to depart for our next class.
Just then, we all sight the Martins arguing about something. Kenna then brings something up.
"Yeah, what's with Tessa being all nerdy back there?", McKenna says, her suspicion getting the best of her,
"Maybe, she actually knows a thing or two about fairytales and folklore", Kaleb replies sarcastically,
"Just because they're a little bit distant doesn't mean they aren't smart, Kenna", I add as McKenna briefly shoots me a glare,
"Too bad the real juicy stuff of that Lycanthrope story is passed down through oral literature. Most of the real deal aren't written down", says Nathan factually,
"Huh, you don't say", Kat says sarcastically to Nate not interested in 'nerdy' stuff as Kenna put it,
"I don't know about you guys, I'm really digging this fairytale stuff. Nathan's with me, Kenna's an all-round genius, Kat's probably not interested in this kind of thing so? Ash?", Kaleb says as he glances at Kat, who nods in approval and then at me who's still staring at the Martins argue.
Tessa breaks off the argument with her brother and stares right at me. She then turns and says one final thing before walking away.
"Though I'm not interested in this kind of thing but I am down for a good story time", Kat actually agreeing with Kaleb which shocks him, he then glances at me for my answer,
"Yeah, I mean it's like Tessa said, I believe in the impossibilities"
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Tessa's POV
Class dismisses as Luke drags me out of the class room and into a corner of the hallway,
"What's wrong with you Tessa?! You know revealing too much can put our lives at risk yet you just had to go all Einstein on them", he talks in whispers but says the last part a bit too loud for me to hear,
"Will you chill! It was just an answer, give it a break", I yelled back but paused as eyes started trailing on us, "Besides, we didn't interfere with the Shades, we promised not to and as far as we keep our end of the deal, we're in the clear", I say explaining the obvious fact to Luke and he soon resonates with me and starts walking towards his next class.
I keep thinking about everything, maybe I did go too far with it. We can't risk exposing our identities, we're pretty much the only ones left. After Luke left for his class, I head on to mine but caught a glimpse of the devil in question. Standing in the rowdy hallway as I make eye contact with the one and only…Ashley Shades.
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Jacob's POV
Today is the day.
Today is the day I watch my father die.
It was only a week ago that we found out that Eric had betrayed the pack by slipping information, supplying weapons and resources from the pack to outsiders because our numbers were dwindling. He was doing in hope that they would offer us their support and alliance when we need it. He felt that the council wasn't doing anything reasonable about the situation. My father had always suspected something was off from the report his beta gave to him, but no one ever expected their own beta to betray them. It was like a scar that bruised everyone in the pack, but it bruised my father even more.
When he confronted him, he wasn't ashamed neither was fear in his eyes. Rather, it was pride and a tainted feel of self-righteousness. When asked for an explanation, he was simply unsure, if at all the alpha, my father was fit to be our leader and even added that the council conceded to his better judgment. He thought he knew a better way, but he did admit that he risked the pack reputation and image.
During his judgment, the council knew what he was leading to, that it would lead to this day.
I see Richard, one of my closest friends from a distance approaching with a solemn look in his eyes,
"It's time".