Royal Academy: The Red Wolf Clan

Chapter 4

Rosalie's POV

Flashback

"Dad! Hurry up!"

I tap my feet impatiently while waiting for my dad to take me to the lake to see the birds as they fly south to prepare for the winter ahead. The sound of footsteps descending the stairs has me craning my neck to look down the hallway. My dad chuckles when he sees me, boots haphazardly strapped to my feet, scarf hanging loosely around my neck and my jacket hanging in my hands.

"You do know today isn't the last day for the birds to fly south right Rosie?"

I let out a huff and he laughs at me while putting on his own boots. His hands pause and his body stills. I watch as he straightens his body, a glazed expression on his face. When his eyes are focused again he looks down at me with a hesitant expression.

"Something came up Rosie, I'll have to take you to the lake another day. Sorry kiddo" my dad crouches down to my level to flick a finger on my nose before standing and walking back down the hall to his office. The sounds of distant birds catch my attention and I rush out the door and onto the porch. I gaze back towards the door and then up again in the sky.

"I know the way, I'll be back before he realizes I'm gone"

I leap off the porch and dart towards the attached path leading out the pack grounds and into the thicket of the forest. I keep peering above me and a smile spreads across my face as the birds in their V-shaped flocks fly above me. I almost hit a low branch of a shrub when I look ahead again and I crouch my stance to dodge it as I continue rushing forward. The sound of the water flowing along the lake tells me I'm almost there and I increase my speed a bit.

I stop at the opening of the clearing and take a deep breath and sigh as the scents of the fresh flowers and the water rushing down the wide lake greet me. Another flock of birds flying overhead catch my attention again and I wave at them as they continue on their way. A slight chill in the air has me hugging my jacket closer to my body and I jump when I hear a noise behind me.

I turn around and my hand instinctively goes to my waist for the small blade my dad and mom gave me for my tenth birthday. I groan softly when I realize I don't have it on me.

Damn, I didn't take it since dad was supposed to come with me.

The bushes ahead shake again and I look down at the ground infront of me. I spot a jagged rock and quickly reach forward to grab it when a figure steps out of the shade of the tall trees behind it. The figure takes slow steps towards me and I tighten my grip on the stone shard.

"I'd stop right there, I'm not afraid of you!"

The figure stops for a second and then walks again into the light and I couldn't help the quiet gasp that escapes me as eyes blue like the morning sky look back at me.

"Your death grip on that rock tells me otherwise" a voice laced with amusement says back to me before the boy drops himself down onto the earthen floor and leans back on both hands while watching the birds flying overhead. I tilt my head up to look as well when I suddenly feel my body being pushed down hard. A hand holds my head before it hits the ground and I'm looking up at those piercing blue eyes again but this time, they remind me of a raging blue flame, not the sky.

"Didn't daddy ever teach you to always keep your eyes on your target?"

I felt my face heat up and my ears began to ring from the rage that was building up within me. I swung the hand holding the rock but it felt heavy. Turning my head, I look down to see that my arm was being pinned down by his other hand while the other gently removed itself from behind my head, just in time to stop my other arm from connecting with his face.

"Get. Off. Me!" I say between clenched teeth eliciting another chuckle from my handsome stranger. He was pissing me off yes, but he was a looker. As if he read my thoughts, he leaned in close and I held my breath.

"Careful pup, what are you? Twelve?" he asked while a raised eyebrow lost itself in waves of thick, black hair falling forward along his forehead.

"I'm thirteen!" I huff out and he chuckles again before shifting to grab the rock from my hand and pushing himself back in a crouched position infront of me. I push myself up into a sitting position and then look up to see the boy now standing, offering me a hand. I hesitate briefly before accepting it and standing up to dust off my clothing. Looking toward the boy properly now, I take in his slim build in washed off jeans and a black t shirt. Around his neck hung a necklace with a crescent moon and a star, a diamond shining bright at the star's center. The sound of him clearing his throat has my gaze raising to his eyes again. His gaze is narrowed as he continues to look at me without saying anything further.

"You got a name pup?"

"I'm not a pup, I'm thirteen!"

I clench my fists at my sides as he tilts his head to look at me sheepishly.

"My apologies. Your name?" he asks again and I shake my head before answering.

"Rosalie Royal" I reply tersely and I could have sworn I saw him draw back a little. He recovers quickly and then steps forward with an arm outstretched.

"Orion Kade"

"Is your home nearby?"

"I don't recall asking your address"

"Why does the name Kade sound so familiar"

"It's a common name"

"That's a pretty necklace" His hand shoots up to cover the pendant and then tuck it into his t-shirt.

"Are all girls so fascinated by jewelry?" he snarks and I growl low before taking a few steps towards him.

"That sounded sexist!"

"As if you even know what that word means. Go back home and play house with your Barbies pup"

He turns and starts walking away. I take that opportunity to rush up to him and plant my foot at the center of his back. He loses his footing a bit but doesn't fall, turning to look at me incredulously.

"You got a death wish kid?"

"Will you stop speaking to me like you're an old man!! You're obviously not that much older than me!"

Orion glares at me for a bit before taking a steadying breath. He shakes his head and then turns to walk away again. He suddenly stops to turn his head slightly to look at me again.

"I am your age, but life made me grow up faster than I would've liked to. The necklace is my mother's and I was named after the Orion's belt constellation because my mother was a sucker for the night sky. Do you want to know my horoscope and my favorite food too?" he turns and continues to walk away, never looking back until he disappeared into the path he arrived in.

"Nobody asked you for a share session." I cross my arms across my chest just as the sound of someone clearing their throat has me turning slowly to see my dad looking at me with a scowl on his face.

"Dad, I uhhhhh"

"Grounded. No training for a month"

"Dad! I have to train!"

"You can brush up on your household skills. Now start making tracks before I make up my mind to tell your mother about this stunt"

I dart past my dad and start up the path, pausing to look back and see him watching in the direction Orion left a few minutes ago. He lifts his face to the air as if sniffing it for something and I hold my breath, releasing it only when he turns towards me to follow me back.

We make it back to the pack house just as my mom and aunt Lexi come up the driveway. I give them both a quick wave before rushing into the house. I hear my mom ask my dad what that was but I don't stick around to hear my dad's reply. I take the stairs two at a time and open my bedroom door. I lean back on the door as it closes shut as my body slides down to the carpet floor. My mind flashes again to those blue eyes and then the necklace around his neck. I look up at my bedroom ceiling as an idea suddenly pops into my head, a smile fanning across my face.

Two hours later I lay on the floor and look up at my ceiling, a beautiful new pastel painting of Orion's belt splashed across it in all it's glory. I smile broadly as a knock on my door has me sitting up and telling the person to come in. My mom walks in and her eyes roam over me before pointing with her index finger.

"What have you been doing? Remodeling?" she asks as she walk up to me and runs her hand on the paint splattered t-shirt. I giggle softly before motioning with my head and she looks up.

"Oh wow! That is some skill you got there Rosa. I never knew you were interested in astrology. But then again, we did have one carved up on your ceiling at the old house" she says in an amazed voice as she continues to adore the ceiling.

"I was just a feeling mom. Nothing special" I shrug my shoulders and then scoop up my art supplies and walk over to my adjoining bath to soak the brushes in the sink.

"Everything you do is special Rosa. Never downplay anything your heart says yes to" I turn to look at my mother and she walks towards me to pull me into a tight hug.

"Thanks mom"

"I heard you're grounded. Your dad didn't share details though " I pull out of her embrace and she smiles back at me sheepishly.

"I guess you're not going to tell me either?" she lets out a sigh when I shake my head and she turns to open my bedroom door. She looks up at my ceiling one more time before looking to me again.

"Aim for the stars so you land on the clouds Rosa"

I smile at her as she nods and closes the door behind her. I look up at my ceiling and grin.

"Good night Orion"