The Human in the Wolf Pack

Autumn Moon Festival-3

A familiar, tall, broad shouldered figure was waiting inside the house when Rose and I returned from the mall. Immediately, a warm, fuzzy feeling poured out of my chest, seeing the man.

"Ripley!" I screamed happily, dropping my bags and tackling my older brother in a hug. 

He chuckled, lifting me up and spinning me around. Ripley was probably my favorite person on this planet. He was quick to laugh, caring and always stuck up for me. Whenever I was with Ripley, it felt like nothing in the world could hurt me.

"Hey little sister," he smiled, placing me back on the ground.

"What're you doing here? How's college?" I asked, bouncing with excitement.

Rose finally came in the house from the garage, carrying my two bags with an amused look. I bounded over to her, taking them with an apologetic look. She waved it off and greeted my family.

"I came for the festival of course," my brother responded with a grin. "And it's good. How's high school?"

"It's ok. I have good grades," I shrugged, not really wanting to talk about school. Afterall, I was completely isolated whenever Rose wasn't there.

"That's good. You messing with any boys?" He asked, giving me a playfully stern look.

I laughed at his "protective" older brother act.

"Of course not. I don't want any lives at stake," I teased, bumping him gently with my elbow.

"That's right cuz I will personally castrate any boy who tries to touch my baby sister," Ripley said confidently, placing an earnest hand on his chest.

"Ripley!" Mom said sternly.

"Honey, we both know we would," dad said, putting an arm around her shoulder.

" 'We'"? She asked, her eyes bugging in their sockets.

The guys laughed while I rolled my eyes. Rose said bye, promising to be back tomorrow for the festival. I walked her out, and waved as she got back into her own car, then went back to see my brother.

"So... Don't be upset ok?" He said, wincing slightly at how bad that sounded.

"Ok..." I trailed off, nervous.

"Rider will be at the party," he warned.

I tensed. The guy who hates me more than anyone else? Who made my life living hell whenever he could?

That was years ago. A part of me said. Forget about it. But a much larger part was worried. Rider seemed to be the instigator as a child. He seemed to start the I-hate-Vera Club, then as soon as it was up and running, he left town. Even when he was gone, there were plenty of other members to take his place. 

"That's fine," I said anyway. Rider and Ripley were best friends, and I didn't want to cause any issues. I would just avoid him. He gave me a relieved smile.

"Awesome. If you're not sure I can take him out to do something else."

"No it's fine, really!"

"Cool, so I have big news."

"Ooh what?" I asked excitedly, being easily swept up by his cheerful disposition.

"I found my mate!"

My stomach dropped, fast and hard. Suddenly, that happy mood that had built up so easily had left quickly without a trace.

"O-Oh," I said with a shaky smile.

My own brother now. What did I think? That he never would? Ripley was a werewolf, and I... wasn't. Why did I feel so sad then? As the reason clicked into place, a sadness that was almost nauseating washed over me. It just reminded me that I was an outsider. Even if Ripley treated me nicely, I was not his sister, and even if his parents called me their daughter, I could never be apart of them.

"Hey, are you ok?" Ripley asked, concerned.

No.

"Yeah. I'm just tired, Rose wore me out. Did you tell mom and dad yet?" I asked.

"Yep, that's what we were talking about before you came in. Mom is so excited to meet her! She lives in the Crescent pack, an hour from my college," he explained, grinning.

I gave him a smile, the same I would paste on for Rose whenever she mentioned Jeremy.

"That's great, Rip. I'm going to go take a nap. I'll see you later," I said, turning and bolting up the stairs

"Ok, night, Ver." He called after me, his tone a bit reluctant.

I walked up the stairs to my room, feeling the dark heaviness of depression closing in. Now my brother too. I really am not like any of them. I closed the door to my room and threw myself on to my bed.

I'm not like them. They're all werewolves, and I am human. I'm alone. All the kids at school don't want me here. I mean Rose is my only friend, and even she doesn't really understand me. Now Ripley... No. I should be happy for him. But I don't belong here. I belong with my own kind. I finally decided.

My eyes closed and a few unshed tears slipped. Tomorrow, before the party, I will tell my family and Rose that in three days, after my 18th birthday, I'll be living in the human world. 

....

People buzzed around frantically the next day, hurrying to prepare for the festival. I felt a little sad, an after effect of yesterday, and anxious. How would I tell my parents that I decided to leave? My brother? Rose? I felt a heavy weight upon my shoulders. I was doing the right thing, right? Being with my own kind? I must be. The majority of the werewolves didn't want me here anyway.

"Ver! Let's get ready!" Rose called from upstairs.

"Coming!" I called back.

I stomped up the stairs, hurrying to my room to see Rose surrounded by torture devices. Curling wands, hair spray, perfumes and more make up than my small vanity could hold. I gasped, backing towards the door.

"I don't think so. Sit your sorry ass down before I give you something to be scared about," she threatened, waving a contour brush at me darkly.

I whimpered but slowly walked over to the chair. She instantly started primping. I stayed silent as she worked on my hair and makeup, knowing that if I made her angry, she could make me blind with one fatal sweep of the mascara wand.

After, she told me not to look in the mirror as I did her. That's right, just because I didn't want Rose getting a hold of me with her cosmetics, doesn't mean I'm not good at applying my own makeup. After all, Rose has gone on tangent after tangent on how to properly apply makeup. I had to learn a thing or two by now.

I straightened her hair to give her a more edgy look, then gave her dark, smokey eyeshadow along with a fierce wing and deep red lipstick. While I had my sweet, blue toned dress, she had a sexy black one. We checked the time. By now, it was 6:22, and the party started at 6:30. We slipped on our shoes and eyed ourselves in my full body mirror.

Rose's naturally dark red hair looked great cascading down her shoulders, along with her bright hazel eyes and tan skin. She smiled at me.

"Damn girl, we look good. I don't know if Jeremy will let me passed the entrance to the living room," Rose tsked.

I laughed, fully agreeing with her. Even I could say I looked great. My brown hair was curled gently, and my bright blue eyes popped with the light grey smokey eye Rose gave me. My plump lips smiled underneath their nude pink lipstick.

"Well, let's get this party started," Rose said, a devilish smile lighting up her face.

I grinned a long with her. Breaking my decision to my parents could wait at least one more night. Right?