Chapter Text
It pushed against the glass desperately trying to find a way of escape. It was useless it seemed. The walls barely budged under their weight. They pushed themselves against the cool metal behind them, before they took a deep breath launching themselves at the glass once more. It was a lie they knew.
Then it saw it, the shadowy creature; its ferocious teeth clearly evident. A group of boys raced in front of it, their faces drenched with sweat. It bashed against the glass desperate to save them. It even tried to let out a howl but not one of them looked their way. They slumped on the floor feeling useless. Then they saw their reflection in the mirror and the reality dawned on them of what they had become.
********
I tapped my fingers on the window sill as my eyes lead out over the trees sprawling behind us. A small part of me longed to be out there once more, but I didn't have that choice today. My gaze fell to the back garden and the small group congregating there. Music from the speakers and the flurry of conversation from below sifted through the rafters to my ears. I knew that this was for all of us, a welcome back party of sorts even though we had been back for over a month now. Yet, I wasn't interested. There wasn't much for me to celebrate. I turned away from the window, burying my face in my hands. I hoped that it would be all over once I'd opened them again.
I'd moved here with my family to Rosetta Park, and my life had changed drastically as a result. One day in, and I had already landed myself in trouble. I was attacked by a werewolf who gave me a bite that should've killed me. But it didn't, thanks to Calum and his friends Michael and Ashton. They didn't just save my life though, as it turns out the three of them were also werewolves. Even though he barely knew me, Calum gave me a second chance by making me like them. In a short space of time and through a series of events they've become my closest friends.
Calum is the Alpha and leader, and the three of us; Michael, Ashton and myself make up the rest of the pack. This wasn't a choice for any of us, but we've been through so much that none of that seems to matter anymore.
Just as I was getting used to it all, I discovered that my parents were werewolf hunters and in turn found out the real reason we had moved around so much. So naturally they weren't too impressed when they found out what had happened. Without battering an eyelid, they kicked me out of our house. We're still not sure on why they came here, but although we have a treaty with them we're determined to find out.
"Come on Luke, you have to at least come down to the party." Calum sighs as he stands at the doorway of our room.
"I don't feel like it." I mumble, hugging my knees up to my chest. "You're good at making stuff up. Just tell them I'm not feeling well or something."
Calum stares at me for a moment before he sighs, he crosses his arms, "Is this just because everyone else's parents are here?"
He'd got me. I turn and look away. He should have already known the answer to that.
"I'm right aren't I?" Calum asked in a sympathetic tone.
I nod.
When everything had flared up with my parents and the hunters we'd left town for a few weeks, until Calum's mum managed to negotiate a truce with the hunters for our pack and a few of Calum's friends. After making the truce with the hunters, my parents still wouldn't talk to me. Since we'd returned it was hard for me; watching everyone else have relatives care about them still, despite knowing what they were. Whenever I stayed at Ashton's place it was the worst, as I'd been there when he'd finally told his mum and watched her accept him just like that.... or right now when there was a whole garden full of parents and other friends.
Everyone was happy to be back home again. Except me.
I hear Calum sit beside me, he sighs, his tone serious but light-hearted, "You can't let it keep haunting you forever Luke or you'll miss out on things. Like the party for example."
"I know but-" I sigh, looking up at him. I pause, no noise seems to come out, I couldn't find what I wanted to say. Calum looks at me expectantly.
"But?" Calum prompted.
"You're not really going to force me to go down, there are you?" I raise an eyebrow. He better not try to use that Alpha control thing on me. He barely used it, but it was annoying when he did. I'd managed to challenge it once, but I figured that was probably the only time I'd be able to do it.
"If you don't go soon, I might or I'll get Michael to do it for me." Calum replies, when I don't move he nudges my shoulder, "Come on, it'll be fun. Besides Michael and Ashton are down there as well as me, so you won't be alone."
"I don't know Cal...." I frown.
"Come on, you seriously don't want me to call Michael up here, do you?" Calum grins.
I sigh. Michael would carry on silly, and I didn't want to cause a fuss.
"Enough you win," I sigh, "but if I've had enough then I'm coming straight back up here."
"Alright, deal." Calum grins back.
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I was done from the moment I reached the bottom step and I was suddenly immersed in the crowd of people. I covered my ears, as the noise blasted in them. I tugged back, but Calum pulled me along his eyes searching the crowd. Why was he making me do this?
"Luke! Finally!" I hear someone call, I could hear fast footsteps racing up behind us. I turned to see Michael, with his now bright red hair standing there. He grinned at us as Calum pulled to a stop. "Cal, how'd you make him come? I thought you said he wasn't coming down?" Michael asked.
"The normal way." Calum rolled his eyes.
"Well actually he told me that if I didn't come he'd call you up there." I added with a huff.
"Good move." Michael cheekily grins. "I wouldn't want to deal with me either."
"Luke, you're here!" A voice yelled, and Ashton soon appeared from another direction to join us.
"Why is everyone so surprised, that I'm here?" I asked.
Ashton sighed, "Calum might have mentioned that you were up moping about in your room, I wasn't sure he'd get you down here."
I frowned, shooting a glare in Calum's direction. Did he really have to tell everyone that I'd been moping? I sighed, the bond probably would've told them everything they needed to know anyway.
"I told you guys I'd get him to come." Calum patted me on the shoulder.
"I'm glad you did." Ashton smiled, "It wouldn't be right without Luke here."
After that Ashton started up conversation with just me, he started asking me about my thoughts on a new album that had just come out by a band that we both liked. It had just come on over the speakers. However, I started to tune out when I noticed Michael pull Calum over to the side of the crowd. I could faintly hear them still though.
"Just so you know, Finn tried to come by earlier." I heard Michael whisper to Calum
I froze, the name alone bringing up a flurry of memories. Like Calum, Finn was an Alpha as well. Whilst we'd been on the run, he'd attacked Calum and forced him over a safe border and into the aim of the hunters. He'd wanted to hurt Calum so that he could talk the three of us into joining his pack. We'd suspected that something was going on between them, but had just put it down to them both being Alphas.
Looking back, it was hard to believe that Finn and I had been friends once, back in Year Seven. He now held a deep grudge against me because my hunter parents murdered his brother and father by setting fire to their house, his mother had been badly injured as well. The only reason Finn had survived the fire was that he had been coming to see me, not realising that we'd moved on.
He'd been quiet these past few weeks, just watching us and giving the odd menacing smile. I couldn't help but think that he was up to something. I remembered him telling me, he'd come back here because of what we were? It didn't make sense, we were all werewolves. He hadn’t made any big moves yet, but we were all being careful.
"Luke, you okay?" Ashton asked, his eyes searching mine. "Did I say the wrong thing?"
I quickly shook my head, only half listening to what he was saying. Instead, I was trying to focus my hearing onto what Calum and Michael were saying though they were speaking softer now.
"Do you want me to get you a drink then?" Ashton asked, biting down on his lip.
I nodded, deciding that it would give him something to do and he raced off quickly. I knew he'd be a little while. So, I turned to look behind at them, but I saw a boy approaching Michael and Calum with dark brown hair with a massive grin on his face.
"Calum!" The guy yelled.
Calum spun around, his eyes lighting up in surprise. "Jayden! I haven't seen you in ages! Mum didn't say you guys were coming."
"Well surprise." He grinned, the two boys hugged. Michael stood by awkwardly, until the guy hugged him as well. "Mikey, you're here too. It's so good to see you."
The boys' eyes searched around them, he sniffed the air for a moment, before his eyes fell on me.
"You one of Calum's too?" The newcomer asked, with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, this is Luke." Calum said, when I didn't respond.
I nodded, suddenly nervous, "Hi, it's uh, nice to meet you...uh..."
"Jayden." Calum prompted.
"Jayden." I added quickly.
"Oh yeah, so you're the one with the hunter parents. Rough luck really." Jayden nodded, "You're lucky you have this guy as you're alpha though." He wrapped his arm around Calum.
We ended up talking for a little while after that, there pack lived about an hour away from us. He seemed like a nice guy, and it didn't take long for me to realise that he'd known Calum for quite some time.
"Calum, I have someone to introduce you to as well. Come and meet them." Jayden finally said before he started to drag Calum away. He sent Michael and I back a hopeless look.
I felt a little bad, should we be doing something? I sent a worried look in Michael's direction.
"They've known each other a while." Michael laughed. "Jayden's always been like that. Calum's like a little brother to him."
"So, is he a natural born too then?" I questioned judging by the familiarity and the fact that he was also a werewolf.
"Yeah he is." Michael nodded, "I think Calum's known him since they were little though. Jayden knew Cal was going to be a werewolf before he did, I think."
I nodded.
"I'll be back." Michael said, "I'm heading by the drinks table. Do you want me to get you anything?"
I frowned, "Well Ashton's already gone to get me a glass of water..."
Michael nods, "Got it."
As Michael, winded his way into the crowd. I realised that I'd gone from being surrounded by the entire pack to being on my own again. I sighed, looking through the crowd of people for Ashton. This was why I hadn't wanted to come down here yet. I'd known this would happen. I let out a loud sigh.
"So, you're Luke, huh?" I hear a voice ask.
I turned to see a guy around my age standing behind me. He had blonde hair and deep green eyes.
"Uh, yeah I am."
He smiled, "I was just curious about Calum's new wolves. I didn't mean to freak you out. Sorry."
"Who might you be?" I asked, unsure about someone knowing I was werewolf. I wondered if he was one of Jayden's pack. I'm sure, he did have one considering Michael had said he was a natural born and dragged Calum off to meet someone.
"I'm Sam." He said.
"So, you're a..."
"Werewolf? Yeah." He nods.
"Do you have a pack then?" I ask him.
"Nah, I'm quite happy being a lone Wolf. " Sam smiles, "I don't need anyone else."
It was so different from talking to Jayden, he was a little bit shorter, probably a year or two youngers than us when I looked at him. He didn't seem shy or anything, there was something mature yet, charismatic about him. I remembered that Sam had been the other wolf that Calum had gotten the treaty for. Along with Jayden and his pack. Yeah, I remembered them both now.
"Though if I was going to choose a pack it would totally be Calum's, Jayden and I don't get on that well." The boy added.
I was tempted to ask why that was. The boy had frozen his eyes on something behind me. I felt a tap on my shoulder, a few seconds later.
"Luke." Ashton spoke, as he passed me over the drink. His eyes fell on Sam, "Oh, hey. You must be Sam."
"You're the other new one, Ashton, right?" Sam queried, with a wary look at Ashton.
Ashton nodded, and the boy seemed to relax.
"Anyway, it's lovely to meet you Sam, but Cal's mum wants the four of us over at the back gate." Ashton said, with a glance at me, "Bonds down so I had to come and tell you myself."
I nodded, "It was nice to meet you Sam."
"Yeah, see you guys around," He nodded, already disappearing into the crowd.
I followed Ashton through the people and to the back gate, where Calum and Michael were already waiting. All their parents were here too, I gave a querying look at Calum who shrugged.
"Okay, we have a surprise for you boys." Calum's mother started smiling at the four of us. "Close your eyes."
We exchanged glances but did as we were told. I felt somebody take my hand and, we were lead forward. I was unsure where they were taking us. I sniffed the air, picking up the familiar scent of the forest. It was a shame the bond was down, or I could've asked the others what they thought this all was.
"Open your eyes." A voice spoke.
I opened my eyes. We were standing in front of a small granny flat style place. It kind of reminded me of the cubby houses I'd had as a kid but reasonably bigger. We were in the trees now, but I could still hear the music, so we weren't far from the house. I glanced at the others, unsure what was happening.
"We all thought that now there are the four of you and with Luke moving around so much, that you four might need your own space." Calum's mother explains, "We've had this old shed out here for years, so we thought we could convert it."
"Can we go in?" Ashton asks in stunned amazement.
They nod at us, Michael goes in first. The rest of us follow him. I gasped, there was enough room for all of us. A group of mattresses, and a couch with a television. I noticed the controllers sitting there. It was the rare red one like my own. I guess someone must've brought mine over from Ashton's, where I'd left it.
"Ha, maybe we could call this the wolves den." Michael mused. I nodded, but Calum shook his head. Ashton smiled. I think it might have been three against one on the name.
“Fine.” Calum rolled his eyes, as we walked around the small flat. I was so impressed that they’d done this for us.
"Thank you, all of you." Ashton said, turning back to the parents that were waiting outside.
"We'll leave you boys to it then." Calum's mum smiled warmly. With that the parents dispersed, all of them heading back up to the house.
"Luke's been wanting to leave the party since he arrived. We may as we take a break." Michael spoke, once the parents had gone, "Will we play some FIFA?"
"Alright sounds like a plan." Calum nods.
After we finally got the game to work the four of us started to play. The time flew quickly, I hadn't played the game for a while so it was great to be back playing it.
Suddenly, there was a noise like a distorted howl. It echoed through my head, making my skull hurt. I let out a small whimper, as I dropped the controller in front of me. Allowing Calum to score. Calum let out a cheer, but I noticed his gaze immediately fall back to me.
"Luke, what's wrong?" Calum asked in a concerned tone.
"Can't you guys hear it?" I mumbled, as I covered my ears hoping that it would help.
Calum and Ashton glanced at me. "No..."
Both Calum and Ashton were giving me concerned looks, their gaze flickered over to Michael. I followed it to see him having almost the same reaction as myself. A moment later the noise stopped, fading to an eerie silence.
"I heard it too." Michael said, his brow furrowed as he removed his hands from his ears as I did. "Outside, wasn't it?"
Those words were all I needed. Dumping the controller on the floor, I raced out the den. I felt my feet pulling me outside, an unknown force dragging me further.
"Luke what the heck?" I heard Calum call after me. I could sense the three of them racing behind me. I turned to see Michael on my heels, which was surprise. He made no move to stop me though.
I froze as I pushed through the greenery, my feet landed on the dirt. My eyes fell on the blonde-haired boy lying there. I stepped back slowly. Crashing into the other three who were standing their eyes wide, having only stopped a few meters away from me.
"Sam!" Calum yelled, as he broke out from behind me. He kneeled beside him and frowned when the boy didn't respond. He started checking for a pulse. "Sam! Wake up!"
I was frozen solid, as Calum tried desperately to find out what was wrong, he turned back to us, "Guys, I think he's dead."
"Oh my god." Michael muttered, his face paling.
Ashton already had his phone out. "No way, we can't." Michael said quickly, holding his hand over the screen, "The doctors might work out he isn't human."
Ashton nodded, putting the phone back in his pocket, "Human instincts took over, sorry."
"It's okay. I wish we could call them too." Michael nodded.
Something drew me forward, the same force that had brought me out here to start off with. I could see a symbol traced out in a darker colour of dirt. It was lengthways with a triangle like shape on the bottom, from the triangle a circular shape with a line through the middle jutted from it. It leads to another section where there was a line with a filled in circle. With a plant like design jutting out from it. My hand hovered over it, somehow knowing it was connected to whatever had done this to Sam. I bit my lip, wishing I could understand what this all meant.
I glanced up at the others, "What does this mean?"
Calum frowned, looking over, his eyes slightly marred with tears, "I'm not sure but it means we're in a lot of danger."
"And this isn't the last one." Michael frowned at the words that were written underneath the symbol.
This isn't the last one.