“There.” Dad points his fingers at the school. I faintly see it until we approach it better and dad drives the car into the nearest park, not getting inside the school yet. I curiously look at another direction to study the school more as I collide with my head on the window.
“Get down and check the school out.” Dad suggests.
“What if I get lost?” I wonder, as I alight from the car.
“My eyes are watching you. You can’t.” He retorts. I slam the car door, and run to the north gate of the college. It is boldly written – EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL. I excitedly run back to Dad.
“Let’s have a look together.” I wink at him, imploring him to get down as well.
“No, Sophia. I have to be home already.” He coldly responds.
“Damn. You won’t even help me with my pieces of luggage, ensure I get to the hostel safely?” I quip.
He picks up his phone and dials a number. It starts to ring and dad presses his ears to it, turning off the speaker. He suspiciously looks at me while the call hasn’t gone through and I get the point – I don’t have to be here while he discusses with whoever he’s calling. But I remain adamant. I yank the car door open, and sit right beside him.
He rolls his eyes at me, sighing furiously as he hangs up on the person. He furrows his forehead and places his head on the steering wheel. He lifts his head and flings his phone to a box near the gear. Not long after now, a middle-aged man appears beside him, knocking at the window to earn Dad’s attention.
“You’re here.” Dad says as he clips, and winds down the window. He handles the key over to him to get the boot open. I sigh anxiously, wanting to know if he’s the one to lead me to my hostel. The man skedaddles to the back of the car and packs all the pieces of luggage out of the boot within a few seconds.
“Damn. A Vampire?” I silently ask.
“Keep your lips shut.” Dad rebukes.
The man returns to meet Dad as he flings a few bucks at him and he walks away. He pulls me in for a hug, reminding me to stay safe and maintain my calm in all situation. I’m unsure if his words mean he’s going to leave me but I’m hesitant to follow a stranger.
“Do you intend to leave me with a stranger?” I ask without patience.
“That’s not true, I’m only leaving you with the Alpha of a Junior Pack.” He states.
“I can’t be deceived that way. How can the Alpha of a pack be here to pack a student’s piece of luggage?” I inquire as I see him wave at Dad beside the car once more.
“He’s an Alpha.”
“No.”
“Yes.” Dad argues and I give up.
I pull his head closer to me as I peck his chin, “I’m gonna miss you. One last misdeed of yours – leaving your daughter with a stranger.”
“You are a Wolf, girl. You’ll survive.” He runs his hands through my hair as I free myself from him and alight.
The man leads me to a car opposite dad’s. I follow him behind as I wave my hands at Dad when he glides into the street. I watch the car move till it vanishes out of sight.
“You can get into the car, ma’am.” The man leads me inside his car and I sheepishly follow him. When we are both in the car, there’s total silence except for the horn blaring from the cars moving along the streets.
“Hi. Can I know your name?” He breaks the silence, as he turns the key.
“Sophia.” I clip, timid to look into his eyes.
“I’m Alpha Ben. You can call me Ben.” He adds, moving the car out of the park to the street.
“Okay. Where are we going to?” I ask him courageously.
“To your hostel.” He replies, and increases the car’s speed.
“You have to be in your hostel. So we are going there.” He responds and bring the car to motion.
“Careful!” I exclaim because of the acceleration of the car.
He reduces the speed and drives slower than earlier.
His cellphone starts to ring. He places his hands on it to take the call but I grab the phone from him.
“Don’t take calls while driving.” I instruct but he reduces the acceleration more and retrieves the phone from me, picking up the call.
“Alright.” He says after a few seconds on the call.
“I was informed that the hostel is full already. More students will leave when it’s evening or by tomorrow.” He tells me.
“That’s unexpected but how did you hear that?” I inquire though I’m certain he took the call.
“I took a call right in your presence.”
“It was so fast.” I clip.
“What did you expect?” He shrugs.
“Should we go over to my place?” He asks again.
“Of course. I’m a stranger here. I have no choice.” I assert as he lifts his feet from the brakes he’d slammed. He willfully drives into a certain park and stops the car. We stop beside a building that looks like what Dad showed me.
“A Pack… House?” I slowly ask, gazing at the building.
“Pardon?” He faces me and glares, wondering how I knew. Probably dad didn’t tell him I’m a curious young wolf.
“Isn’t here a pack house?” I courageously ask. He walks further to me, grabbing my ear and whispering into it, “who are you?”
“Sophia – I mentioned this while on voyage.” I claim. He sniffles, letting me go. I run to the back of the car to pack my pieces of luggage but he’s soon right behind me.
“Get up – I’ll do this better.” He tells me.
“Faster, you should say.” I correct, silently speaking.
I can hear different kinds of noise in the pack house but only limited to the spot where I am. Some help him with my pieces of luggage as he pats my shoulders, leading me inside the pack.
It starts to look like a set-up immediately he does that.
He leads me to his personal room as some people stop him halfway.
“I’ll attend to you, I have a visitor.” He mentions and they let us move. I sit on his bed once we are inside his room and he pulls a stool beside me after locking the door.
“Would you…” I rise to my feet when the silence becomes tiring. “…mind a glass of wine?” and I walk into his kitchen. As I grab a wine glass, it falls to the ground and shatters. I slightly scream and walk back to the room. I see smiles widened across his lips which looks creepy to me like though he’s responsible for that. Not until I see my feet oozing blood.
“Sophia.” He clips and flings an handkerchief at me. “Clean up.”
“But…” I have an excuse.
“Clean up!” He hollers angrily at me as he rushes to my feet, snarling. “If I help you with this…”
He controls himself but I see the face I saw in mum, in him – the face of a vampire. There’s a way you identify them and if you’re not convinced…
He laughs harshly at my fear as I sight his teeth. He quickly covers his mouth with his palms, suspiciously looking at me.
I gulp when he releases his palm from his lips.
“Can we talk about how to survive here?” I boldly confront him, being constantly reminded of dad telling me that I’ll survive, being a wolf.
“Official introduction comes first.” He mentions, pulling the stool closer to me.
“I am Ben, the Alpha of Eclipse Shadow Pack.” He offers an handshake after saying that. I accept the offer, clearing my throat perhaps to talk more about myself.
“Your dad asked me to tell you more about the school. It is full of werewolves and vampires with human beings as well. As a werewolf, you need an assistance of someone like me.” He adds.
“Werewolf, yes. Are you not one?”
“I am. And I’m certain you’re a vampire too.” I clarify.
“Maybe. Has the moon goddess revealed your mate to you?” He asks but I shake my head in disapproval.
“I can help you with it.”
“Please don’t.” I quip.
I sigh after I notice the shock on his face, “how old are you anyway?”
“I am just twenty years. The moon goddess promised me a mate and has fulfilled her promise already.” He mentions.
“I am seventeen years. I’m yet to activate my mind link and yet to earn a promise from the moon goddess but I’m able to shift.” I say.
“When you desire a mate, would you ever desire any aside a werewolf?” He carefully asks.
“That will never happen.” I boldly retort.
“Even if the moon goddess says so?”
“I don’t want it but I have to obey the moon goddess.” I roughly mutter.
He plasters a smirk on his chin as he waves his hands at the window while some guards walk in with their fierce look.