Broken Half

IX. The Nightwalkers Pack

After my embarrassment, I rushed towards the restroom. My heels somehow stumble on one another, and I continue to crash onto other party-goers. Finally, I reached my destination. I close the door, lock it, and expel the rest of the contents inside the toilet.

I made a decision that night. I wouldn't drink anymore for the rest of the year. That decision will probably last until the end of the year where the big see yah party happens.

After I flush the toilet, I rest my body against the wall. I feel like I lost ten pounds. With intense relief, I forgot about the person on the other side of the door.

A knock captures me.

"Are you okay?" Because of the loud music, scream-over-scream conversation, and my fixation for the toilet earlier, I didn't hear his words. Now that I do, it's appealing.

"Yeah!" I responded. "Give me a second. I need to wash up, and you can use it next!" I force myself off of the ground and towards the sink. When the water turns on, the warmth consumes me whole. I should take a warm shower when I get home. I don't care if it'll be midnight by that time. I don't care if I'll get sick because I didn't blow dry my hair. It will be worth it.

"Hey!" I scream.

"Yes?" His voice still sounds sweeter than ever. I'm a sucker for a deep voice.

"Did I accidentally puke on you?"

I waited for a response. "Yes, you did."

I quickly washed my hands so he could use the bathroom to wash up. I should apologize while avoiding eye contact.

Out of the blue, a word catches my attention.

"Mat-" I mumbled underneath my breath, "Mat...Mat...Mate?" Then, it dawns on me. Did he say mate earlier? I turn my head towards the white door. I could be wrong since I wasn't in the right mind earlier.

"Do you need help?"

"N-No!" I look at the window next to me. "I'm sorry for taking so long! I have to fix myself! So, give me a few more minutes, and I'll be out!" I take off my heels and quietly walk towards the window. The sink water and loud music will block my sounds. I broke the blinds and jumped through the window.

I may have misheard things earlier, and my actions indicate that I'm losing my mind, but I'm not taking any chances. Once I was outside, I ran towards the other side of the house to get Eric. He's still on the chair. I yanked Eric off the chair, hung him over my shoulder, and ran towards the car. I've never been more grateful to become a hunter.

My eyes flicker in the environment to ensure no one is following me.

When I spotted the other werewolves from our school, my heart raced even faster. Jenny smiles at me. I force a smile in return while my speed slows down. I don't want to look too suspicious. When you're filled with anxiety, for some unknown reason, others tend to stop you and ask you: "What's wrong?"

After we pass by them, and their attentions bounce back to the massive crowd, I speed up. I open the back door, throw Eric inside, and rush to the driver's side.

"Ow. It hurts," Eric grumbles in the back seat before curling himself into a ball.

I notice a large group of guys walking out to the front. It's not difficult to spot werewolves. Most of the time, they're larger than average guys and better looking—stupid genetic favor. I turn on the car engine and reverse. I didn't bother turning on the lights because I thought it might catch too much attention. Once I'm out of the main street with the party, I release a deep breath.

"That was way too close," I said to myself.

Eric's head pops up out of nowhere, "What's close?"

I push his face back, "Go back to sleep." Surely enough, he fell asleep.

On Saturday, as I predicted, I had my sunglasses on. Unfortunately, my head was not in the clouds. With each movement, my eyes can't stop searching for any indication of trouble.

The longer I'm out in the open, the more anxious I feel.

"Hey-"

I screamed, and the water fell out of my cup.

It was Brenda. Her face scrunches up in what seems to be pain. She probably has a minor headache from the night before. "Chill, girl. It's me." She sat on the blanket beside me. I've been hiding on the blanket, near my parents, behind a large tree.

"How was last night?" I notice Brian at the adult picnic table with his head in his hands.

"Suck."

"Huh?"

"He sucks!" Brenda fake cries. "He's so hot, but he sucks in bed."

"Dang."

"We didn't even get to screw," she says. "He c*m all over my t**s then fell asleep." She shoves her face into her hands. "I'm done. I'm so...so...done!"

"With s*x?"

"With high school guys." Brenda throws herself down, "Call me when I'm in college." She fell asleep.

The rest of the day was as unsettling as the next. I cover my face with the hoodie as I walk through the parking lot with my parents.

"What's going on with you?" Mom asks.

"You always tell me to be aware of my surroundings. Now that I'm more aware, you think there is something wrong with me?" When dad presses the unlock button, I leap inside. I'm safe for another day. I hope I won't live like this for the rest of the school year.

When I notice Jenny with a group of guys, my heartbeat rages.

I count the unfamiliar heads.

Well, half of them are familiar since they go to my school. Who doesn't know the faces of werewolves that go to their school?

Then, there were five unfamiliar faces.

Five males.

I missed the guy's face last night, but he should be one of them.

Unless everything is inside my head and I'm worrying for absolutely no reason.

I chew on my fingernails as my eyes scan the group that walks through the parking lot. I would revisit my memories, but I was wasted, and it was dark. The flashy light and loud music didn't help either.

The guy in a dark jacket stops.

He doesn't seem like it when he stands with a group of tall males, but he is a bit taller than them - just a tiny bit.

I don't even know how I could tell.

I wanted to see his face, but his back was turned towards me.

Without warning, he turns in my direction.

Instinctively, I lower myself. I did it so quickly. I missed his face. To be honest, I don't want to.

"Dad. I want to go home. My favorite show is on," I said it so fast, I almost fainted.

Dad's eyebrows furrowed together, but he didn't question my strange behavior. Or maybe, it's because I act this way so often that it seems like it's my normal behavior.

The relief was only temporary.

When Monday came back, the anxiety returned. I stuff my hands into my jacket as my eyes roam around the hallway. Either these students are new, or I don't pay enough attention to my surroundings.

"Julia. Julia. Julia!" Brenda crashed into me.

"What? What? What?" My anxiety level was so high; I didn't sleep well over the weekend. So, when Monday morning came, I overslept. Dad had to take me to school before work.

Somehow, I got here before everyone else.

She grabs my arm, "You would not believe what I heard."

"I don't think I've ever believed what you told me."

She grabs my arm and pulls me towards the front of the school. "Come! Come! Come! Or else we'll miss it!"

When we arrived at the front, it was filled with students. Somehow, there were more students than on the first day of school.

"Alright. You're about to see something that will blow you away."

"A king found out I'm his long-lost daughter?" I ask.

"Not before me."

A few fancy-looking cars pull up. Of course, Bluecester has fancy vehicles too. But, these are the ones you never see around. We all know who the rich kids are, and we would always know when their parents make a new purchase.

When the doors opened, the usual werewolves kids came out. There's also Rosario, who rides with them. As usual, she is with Dylan.

Then, to my surprise, Lana came out.

I look at Brenda and mouth: "What?"

"I know," Brenda responds. "You're about to find out."

"Did we miss it?" Brian asks. Eric is right beside him. "We didn't miss it, right?"

"Nope. Right on time," Brenda responds.

I went on my toes to see past the crowd. Behind Lana was an unknown guy. He grabs a backpack, then hangs an arm around Lana.

I look at Brenda again. "What happened?" While I was terrified for my future.

"You remember Nolan's Halloween Party?"

I smile, "How could I ever forget?" I wish I could forget.

"Well, it turns out Lana is a mate to one of the werewolves from the other school. Get this. She is mated to an alpha. Boy, oh boy, is Rosario pissed. The most popular girl in school is mated to a beta, while the girl she hates is mated to an alpha. It's like what happens to Lucio all over again!" Finally, Brenda breathes.

"What?" That would explain what I briefly saw that night.

"And get this."

"There's more?"

"Wait. Wait." Brian intervenes. "I wanna say it."

"No. Me!" Brenda states.

"Someone just says it," I intruded before their twin bickering sessions.

"They say one of three alphas from the other school also has a mate here!" Eric happily yelps out.

During these situations, I would also get giddy if it isn't potentially about me.

"So?" My soul is on the verge of leaving my body.

"I mean, what are the chances that three werewolves' soulmates are in one town. Scratch that. One school!" Brenda said. "And-"

"And?" I squeak out.

"One of the alphas is from the Nightwalkers Pack!" Eric laughs with the other two.

The Nightwalkers Pack is one of the most violent packs in the world. No words can describe them.

No, there is one word.

Insane.

"Sucks for the person mated to him!"