Fire Moon

Chapter 2

    It was Saturday morning.  I was glad it was the weekend, finally.  I already ate breakfast with the grandparents and went upstairs to grab my phone that I left on my nightstand.  My grandparents were old school and did not like me having my phone out while eating at the dining table.

    My bedroom was large.  It was located in the Alpha’s wing of the hallway on the third floor, the top floor, of the pack house.  I had a queen size bed, a large tv mounted on the wall, a vanity for the makeup I never wore, and I had a couch in there too.  Connected to my bedroom was my own bathroom and walk-in closet.  The pack house was the largest home on our land.  It was used for many things and the first floor was open to all of the pack members if they wanted to visit.  There were offices, conference rooms, and more sprawled out over the first floor.  The second floor would normally house the Beta and his family but the current Beta chose to raise his family in his own house down the street.  My grandfather used the second floor as guest rooms when needed.

    I sent Nicky a text asking him if he wanted to hangout today.  We usually spent Saturdays at my house playing video games, watching tv, and eating.  Unless there was official business going on, in that case we would go over to Nicky’s house. 

    Nicky would have shown up by now.  Odd. 

    I stayed up in my room and started to watch something on netflix.  I finished a movie and then I realized Nicky never texted me back.  So, I sent him another text that just said ‘hey’.

    Nothing.

    I called him.  Surprise, Surprise, it went to voicemail.  Typically, I don’t leave him voicemails but this time I did because it wasn’t like him to check in even if it was just a text or snap chat or something.

“Hey!  Uh, happy early birthday! I was just calling to see if you’re okay and if you wanted to hang.  Call me back when you can,” I hung up and walked out of my room.  I heard ladies talking outside when I got downstairs.

     My grandmother had some pack members over for lunch out back on the patio.  I went down to say hello.  Psssh, yeah right.  I was after some of that food.  Normally I would steer clear of any social gatherings that were not mandatory but it was only a few of my grandmother’s friends and I was hungry. 

“There’s Jordan,” one lady chirped as soon as I slid the patio door open.

“Did you come to join us, dear?” said Linda, the retired Beta’s wife.  She was always around but I don’t think my grandmother really liked her that much to be honest.

“Uh, just for a minute,” I said shyly.  Great, now I was stuck here.

    It was the usually chit chat and gossip.  I didn’t pay attention all that much as I was more focused on the sandwiches and salads I piled on my plate.  One thing about living in the pack house was we had cooks to make all kinds of delicious food for every meal.  It was normal for pack members to eat with us.  Mostly it was the Beta, Gamma, and the people they were working with at the time and some of their families.  My grandparents would invite others throughout the week too.  But for little get togethers like this ladies’ brunch my grandmother would have told the staff beforehand so they would have time to prepare this meal.

    I stayed until a few people started leaving.  Linda was still hanging around.  She was trying to have a conversation with me but she wasn’t found of my vague answers.  She was asking me if I was excited for the solstice and if I was nervous to find a mate.  I didn’t want to talk about to anyone about that let alone this lady.  She was just being nosy.  As soon as I got chance, I excused myself and went back to my room.

    As it got dark I decided to call Nicky's mom.  If he was home and just ignoring me all day then at least I would know he is alright.  His mom answered and  I asked her what he was up to nonchalantly.  We spoke for a few minutes.

“Ok, sorry for bothering you,” I said

“Honey, you’re not bothering me, don’t worry.  Thanks for calling. I will make sure Nicky calls you when I see him,” that was Nicky’s mom.

     It was nine o’clock at night and he still hadn’t texted or called me back.  What the hell was he doing all day?  His mom said he went with a friend to Hartford City for the day.  I didn’t comment on the fact that I was HIS ONLY FRIEND and he didn’t say anything to me about going to Hartford City. I was really confused.  She never said if this so called ‘friend’ was a he or a she.  Did it matter to me?  Not really, I guess because I was not attracted to Nicky like that but still if he did go with a girl then who was she?  I tried calling him one more time.  Voicemail.  I just hung up this time.  I wondered if he was still upset about what happened yesterday at school.

*

Nicky’s POV

“Are you going over to the pack house today?  My word!  Nicky!  What happened to your face?” my mom gasped.  s**t.  She didn’t know about what happened yesterday.  Hence her shock when she saw me as I walked into the room.

The school called my dad instead of her after the fight yesterday, luckily.  I begged him not to tell mom and he agreed but he had one stipulation.  I had to tell him what happened.  I told him the truth and then said we would tell her that some of the seniors were brawling in P.E. getting ready for the Summer Solstice.  Yeah, she’d buy it.  Even if she didn’t, I was getting out of the house today.

“I’m not going there today, remember, I am going with my friend to Hartford,” I said as I was trying to get ready to leave.

“Nicky, your face!?” mom asked.

“We were brawling in P.E. yesterday, Mom.”

“Oh my, it looks like you should still be icing it, sweetie,”

“Its fine, Mom.”

“I can’t imagine why they would let you spar around so close to graduation.  Well, alright, but hey, wait a minute.  You need to be home before ten tonight.”

“I will be eighteen tomorrow, Mom, really?” I questioned.

“But you’re still my little boy today.  Ten o’clock,” she said as I went leave.

            My phone buzzed.  It was a text from Jordan asking if I wanted to hang out today.  We almost always hung out together on Saturdays.  I didn’t respond.  It was better than trying to come up with an excuse and she probably wouldn’t buy it anyway.

            I started walking to the main gate of the reservation.  I didn’t have my driver’s license yet.  Most parents in the pack did not let their kids drive until they were eighteen.  It had to do with the us becoming wolves.  Once we were mature wolves our bodies became tougher and were able to heal faster than a human. 

I was at the gate and one of the guards just waved as I walked out. We weren’t locked in or anything.  The gates stayed open unless there was an attack.  I wondered if they would remember me leaving if they were asked later.  Hopefully not.  I turned and kept walking on the road now off of the reservation.  Then a truck drove up next to me and stopped.  The driver rolled down their window and grinned.

“Hey Nikolai.”

*

Jordan’s POV

    I woke up on Sunday morning and immediately reached for my phone. Nothing.  Nicky didn’t call or text me back all night.  I was kind of getting worried. I called him again and nothing so I left another voicemail.

“Hey, Nicky, Happy Birthday… Uh, call me back, okay?  I hope everything is alright.  See you tonight. Bye,” I said in the voicemail.  The plan was for me to go over to his house for cake and ice cream later since it was his birthday.  He must still be upset with me over what happened on Friday.  I feel terrible about what happened but I was determined to go to his house tonight and apologize.

    Flashback

    Two days ago, Friday, at school during lunch something happened.  Like the day before, I found Nicky sitting in the courtyard.  As I walked over to sit down by him Luke Osbourne walked up to me.  Luke was your classic bullying jock.  Big, tall, muscular and he hung out with a gang of people just like him.  Luke was the son of our pack’s current Beta.  The Beta is next in command after the Alpha and the Luna.  Luke’s dad, Lee, grew up with my dad and they were best friends even though Lee was a few years younger than him.  Which is why he wasn’t ready to step into the Alpha role temporarily for my dad when he was sick.  In turn it didn’t matter anyway since my dad passed away and we would have needed an Alpha with Alpha blood.  Now, Lee is my grandfather’s Beta and unfortunately his jerk-of-a-son will be the next Beta.  Ugh.

“Hey, Jordan, why don’t you come over and sit with us today, doll,” Luke said as he put his arm on my shoulder.

“Uh…” I felt myself turning red but I’m not sure if it was out of anger or embarrassment.

“What are you looking at, pinhead?” he was looking at Nicky as he leaned in closer and started bringing is arm around my shoulder.

“Uh, No.  I’m going to sit here,” I said trying to slip out from under his arm.

    Then Luke started sliding his hand a little lower towards my chest.  He was such a jerk and a creep.  He always acts like this, like he has to show off all of the time.  I tried to say something else but I was too mortified to form words. 

“Luke, let go of her, NOW!” Nicky stood up and was looking at Luke.  

    Nicky was maybe a hair taller than him but he was just a twig compared to Luke when it came to body mass.

“Aw simmer down, boy.  She can tell me herself,” Luke looked down at me.  

“You like the attention though, don’t ya, dollface?” and then he smiled.

“No, let me go!” I tried to elbow him in the side so he would let me go.  I was trying to get free of his hold on me and get away from his hand that was resting at the top of my left breast.

“I’m warning you, let her go,” Nicky was trying his best to seem intimidating but it wasn’t working.

“Oh, you’re warning me? Warning ME?” Luke laughed.  “What, do you like her or something?  Ha, oh man… Well listen.  I’m the closest thing to an Alpha that she’s ever going to get,”

    Luke then used his other hand to grab ahold of Nicky’s shirt collar.

“You’re pathetic.  I mean do you really think she would be into you?  She’s the daughter of an Alpha and you probably still suck your mom’s tit,”

    Oh s**t.

    Nicky took a swing at Luke.  Luke finally let me go so he could dodge Nicky’s punch.  Then Luke’s fist met Nicky’s face and he flew backwards landing on the grass.

    Do something! Help him!

    I couldn’t move I was frozen.  I could just watch.

    Surprisingly, Nicky was back on his feet.  His nose was broken and bleeding. Then he bent down and charged at Luke.  Oh God.  Luke caught him and then punched him in the stomach a few times.

“What a sorry excuse for a wolf.  You know what?  Come here.  If you really like her then just tell her, go ahead and tell her right now and I will leave you two alone,” Luke said.

    Nicky looked over at me.  He had blood, and snot, and tears on his face.  He didn’t speak.  He just looked at me and I looked at him.  Luke was such an asshole.

“Okay, that’s what I thought. f*****g p***y,” Luke then looked at me as he grabbed ahold of Nicky’s shirt again.

“Is this the kind of guy you want?  You want a little b***h as your mate?  He can’t even fight.” Luke shouted.

    Boom.  He punched Nicky in the stomach again and again.

“Just give it up already.  I’m doing you a favor.  She needs someone that’s not a p***y like you,” Luke just wouldn’t stop hitting him.

“Luke, man, come on, let’s go,” one of the members of his gang yelled.

“I’m done anyways,” Luke said as Nicky fell to the ground.

    I ran over to Nicky immediately and everyone else left the courtyard because the bell must’ve rung.  Poor Nicky.  This was all my fault. I should’ve done something to stop Luke but I was in shock.  He looked terrible. His face started to puff up and there was blood.  He was crying and holding his stomach.

“I’m so sorry, Nicky!  I am going to get some help.  I will be right back!”

    I took off as fast as I could running to the office and yelled that there was a fight and I needed help.  I turned and ran back to the courtyard.  Nicky was still laying down grabbing his stomach.  Wolves healed quick but not that quick and he wasn’t fully a wolf yet.  Who knows how badly Luke hurt him?  Nicky didn’t have any muscle or fat to protect him from the blows that Luke was giving him.

“Nicky! I’m sorry, they are coming, you’re gonna be okay,”

“Go away,” he grunted.

“What?”

“Get away from me,” he said.

    There were a bunch of people from the office and some teachers starting to hover over us.  I backed away a little. I heard a lady say that he needed to go to the pack hospital.  I just stood there and watched him as people tried talking to him and tending to his wounds while we were all waiting for the ambulance.  A couple people asked him what happened and he didn’t say anything.  The ambulance arrived and a paramedic got a gurney out.

     Once he was on the gurney and being rolled to the back of the ambulance, I walked beside him.

“Nicky, I’m sorry, do you want me to…”

“NO! Just get away from me!” he yelled.

    Now I was crying.

    The paramedics shut the ambulance doors and drove off.  One of my teachers, who was in the courtyard helping out, tried to console me.  Then she asked me what happened.

“I-I-I ugh, there was a fight,” I bawled.  

    That’s all I said.  I wanted to say more but I couldn’t.  Nicky obviously did not want to tell anyone that Luke beat him up.  Probably did not want to add fuel to the fire by snitching on Luke.

“I’m going to call the Luna to come pick you up,” she said.

“No, I’m fine,” I tried my best to wipe the tears away and I walked back inside.  

    I finished the school day and went home.  I wanted to call Nicky but I figured he was still mad at me.  I thought about the fight all night long.  I was so mad at Luke for doing what he did and I was mad at myself for not stopping him.  I could’ve said or done something but I just watched, scared to move.

    End of Flashback