A sharp voice cut through the noise. "Well, look who's new." A stunner strutted over, heels clicking, her strawberry-blonde hair catching the light. A guy with a cocky smirk trailed her, arms crossed like he owned the hallway. Lydia's green eyes sized Kael up, sharp and curious. "You're the motorcycle guy, right? Kael?"
"You nailed it," Kael said, flashing a grin that came too easy. "And you're… what, the "It-Girl" around here?" a bit of banter to show he was friendly.
Lydia's lips twitched, like she was sizing up whether he was worth her time. "Lydia Martin. You're not wrong. This is Jackson, my boyfriend. Don't let the attitude scare you."
Jackson snorted, giving Kael a once-over. "What's your deal, man? You don't seem like you're from around here."
"Tanzania, originally," Kael said, keeping it light. He wasn't about to spill his past—the hunters, the screams, the blood. "Beacon Hills is a vibe."
Allison stepped up, her bag slung over her shoulder. "Kael's new, like me," she said, her voice cutting through the tension. "We're both figuring it out."
"Figuring it out?" Jackson said, his smirk sharpening. "You any good at Lacross?" Jackson turned to face him then.
"I'm just about familiar with the rules, looks like some fun," Kael spoke back, playful. Jackson's grin widened, and Kael felt the lion inside him growl. Sports made for good competition, and he loved winning.
Lydia laughed, bright and sharp. "Oh, this is gonna be good. You're trying out, right, Kael? Lacrosse starts in, like, ten minutes." She glanced at Allison. "You coming to watch?"
Allison nodded, smiling. "Wouldn't miss it."
Kael grabbed his backpack, the weight of it grounding him. "Guess I'm in, then." He followed the group toward the field, falling into step with Allison, who was chatting with Lydia about the school, and the jacket she was wearing. Jackson led the way, hands in his pockets, all swagger.
Two guys—the awkward one and his hyper friend who were both in his English class—were ahead, bickering about something. Kael didn't know their names yet, but the quiet one had a scent that wasn't quite human, setting his instincts on edge. He shook it off. He was here to blend in, not sniff out trouble. He didn't look particularly threatening either.
The awkward one, a kid with dark hair and an uneven jaw, looked back at their group, catching Allison's eye, and she sent out a soft smile and waved to him. The guy grinned back, all goofy, nearly tripping over a stray backpack.
"Who's that?" Kael couldn't help but be curious.
"I don't know actually, but he lent me a pen in English." The girl shrugged helplessly.
The lacrosse field was a mess of noise and motion—players warming up, sticks clacking, Coach Finstock yelling like he'd lost his mind. Kael changed into his gear, the pads feeling like armor for the lion inside. Jackson was already out there, glaring like someone had kicked his dog. The quiet guy was stretching nearby, stealing glances at Allison, who'd settled in the bleachers with Lydia, their heads bent together.
Tryouts kicked off with drills. Kael moved like he'd been doing this forever, dodging defenders with a smoothness that wasn't all skill. His lion strength gave him an edge, every sprint sharper, every hit heavier. The crowd—mostly kids avoiding homework—cheered as he powered through, earning a shout from Coach. "Not bad, new kid!"
The hyper guy on the sidelines was muttering to whoever would listen, flailing his arms. "Who is this dude? He's like a bulldozer with a stick!"
The quiet guy nodded, but his focus was off, eyes drifting to Allison. Kael caught it, smirking to himself. Distraction was a weakness, and he wasn't above using it.
The next drill started, and Kael lined up behind Jackson guy, him and the rest on the team facing the guy from earlier, who was in goal. Coach blew his whistle, and the Goalie curled in pain, grabbing at his helmeted ears, and was rewarded soon with a ball to the face. Kael raised an amused eyebrow.
The goalie managed to pull it together though, impressively saving every shot after that, including Jacksons, and soon enough, it was Kaels turn to show out.
Coach bellowed, "Let's see it, new kid!" Kael gripped his stick, his heart thumping—not nerves, but the lion clawing to break free. The whistle blew, and he charged, faced the goalie, who was tense, eyes never leaving his frame. Kael saw his shot. His muscles coiled, and he fired the ball, a blur too fast for anyone to track. The goalie dove, stick out, but the shot screamed past, ripping into the net.
The crowd went nuts, Lydia clapping sharply, Allison's eyes wide. The goalie shook his head, cursing under his breath, while his friend on the sidelines flailed. "What the hell was that?" he shouted, arms waving like he was directing traffic.
Kael jogged back, tossing out a grin. "Lucky shot," he said, but his pulse was racing. He'd let himself slip too far, the power humming too loud. The goalie was staring now, his brow furrowed like he'd caught something weird. Kael's gut twisted. He was supposed to stay under the radar, not show off like some rookie. His mother's voice echoed from his memories: even the trees have ears.
After practice, as the field cleared, the goalie jogged over, his friend trailing behind. "Hey, that was a hell of a shot," the goalie said, offering a hand. "I'm Scott. Scott McCall."
Kael shook it, forcing a grin. "Kael. Nice save attempt, man."
The hyper guy bounced up, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. "Stiles Stilinski. Dude, you're like… what, a pro or something? That was insane!"
"Just got lucky," Kael said, shrugging, but Scott's eyes lingered, like he was trying to figure him out. Kael felt that wild scent again, stronger now, and his senses prickled. Something was off about this guy.
Allison and Lydia walked over from the bleachers, Allison's smile catching Kael off guard. "Nice one, Kael," she said, her voice warm. "You're full of surprises."
He flashed a smirk, but it felt forced. "Gotta keep you guessing." Her eyes held his a second too long, and that pull was back, dangerous and raw. Something inside him growled, wanting more, but he shoved it down. Scott was watching, and Kael could feel the tension, like a thread about to snap.
Lydia raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Keep that up, and Jackson might actually have to try this season."
Jackson, nearby, scoffed but didn't bite back. Kael caught Allison's glance at Scott, her smile softer, and Scott's goofy grin returned. And Kael couldn't help but think of how fun this high school life is starting to seem, and suddenly his chest tightened, not from the game, but from that nightmare voice creeping back. I will return. A sense of foreboding suddenly took him, a sort of calm before that deafening boom of thunder.
He grabbed his gear, heading for his bike. Beacon Hills was supposed to be his fresh start, a place to bury the past. But as he walked off the field, the air felt heavy, like a storm was rolling in. And Kael, for all his strength, wasn't sure he could brave it.