80

Jessy let me leave the classroom without any hassle. Her murderous and unhinged demeanor vanished as soon as I told her the truth. She even had the audacity to chat with me, asking about my plans once I left. What frightened me more than her bold threat against Kat was how easily she could switch personas. I gave rushed, one-word answers, eager to leave the room.
I had just enough time to mask the fear and disgust on my face before Kat found me in the halls. She had already grabbed what she needed from her locker and was wandering around in search of me. Her face contorted in confusion when she saw the heat fill my cheeks. Understanding flashed in her eyes as they traveled down my neck. Without a doubt, she was thinking of Ethan and Kieran.
I sat quietly as Kat drove us to the restaurant. We both ran in, grabbing our checks from the manager on duty.
“I’m still waiting for that explanation, you know,” Kat said, lifting an orange eyebrow and shooting me a stern look.
My stomach flipped and a chill spread over my skin. I had promised Kat explanations for a lot of things, explanations I couldn’t give. I had planned to leave her a note when I left, explaining what Jessy had done to me. Jessy’s threat against Kat made me question whether that was the right decision. While Kat could handle herself, Jessy was unpredictable and dangerous. It was just another thing I would need to think about.
While I wanted nothing to happen to Kat, it was eating me alive that Jessy would get away with this. She had successfully chased me out of town, not that I hadn’t been planning it regardless. I couldn’t see what telling Kat would hurt. I would explain everything to her, giving her ample warning of what Jessy was capable of. I could only hope she kept the information to herself, keeping her safe from Jessy.
“I’ll give it to you,” I coughed uncomfortably. “I’ll call you tonight.”
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to tell Kat what happened over the phone. My voice cracked and weakened any time I tried to speak about it. Bile would rise in my throat when I thought about my swollen and busted face.
“I’m holding you to that,” Kat said, her lips pressed together tightly. “I’ll call you around eight; Mom’s having a dinner party with our neighbors.”
“That sounds… fun.” I forced a lopsided grin, ignoring the pinpricks of guilt that settled under my skin.
“You’re more than welcome to join,” Kat chuckled, giving me a playful eye roll. “It’ll be more eventful than what you’re doing tonight.”
“You’re right about that,” I laughed hollowly.
“You’re going to hurt people when you leave, Sophia,” Silver murmured in my mind. “Kat’s one of those people.”
“People have done nothing but hurt me,” I grimaced. “I deserve more than this-than living in fear with people I hardly know.”
“You’ll come back to them, Sophia,” Silver murmured, her voice growing silent. “I know you will.”
I knew exactly who ‘them’ were. Ethan and Kieran’s faces flashed into my mind, the feel of their touch still lingering on my skin.
Kat and I stopped by one of the banks in town. We cashed our checks, and I placed my wad of money deep in my bookbag, eager to add it to what I had saved up. Taking money from Jessy had been an offer I had no qualms refusing. The thought of it filled me with a sick sense of disgust.
Kat dropped me off at Sebastian’s house before heading to her own. She shot me one last stern glance, concern flickering in her eyes. I mustered up my strength and gave her a bright smile. Kat hadn’t asked about our shift at work tomorrow, and I hadn’t mentioned whether I’d be there. Come tomorrow, everyone important would know the news.
***
Sebastian was there the minute I stepped into the house. His crisp suit irritated me, as did his dark slicked-back hair. His aura of poise and superiority grated on my nerves. If only everyone knew the insanity that was hidden beneath his glamorized facade.
“I would like for you to attend dinner with us,” Sebastian said, clearing his throat. His mismatched eyes stared down at me.
For a moment, I wondered if people thought the same thing when looking into my eyes. My eyes were an exact replica of Sebastian’s. One eye was a light blue, lighter than the sea or sky. The other eye was a rich brown, hints of honey and gold mixed in. The sight was hypnotizing, both eyes bright and unique in their own way.
“Dinner.” I wasn’t asking a question, yet the word fell from my lips regardless. The last thing I wanted to do was eat dinner with his family. His wife and daughter clearly hated me.
As if sensing the contempt in my eyes, Sebastian shifted uneasily. “They will learn to accept you, Sophia, but you must make an effort.”
“I need to make an effort?” I scoffed. I hadn’t tried because his wife and daughter clearly despised me. How could I make an effort when they refused to?
“I understand they can be difficult, but this is as new to them as it is to you,” Sebastian said, a hint of compassion in his eyes as he spoke of his wife. “After dinner, there’s something I would like to show you.”
I frowned, hoping it wouldn’t be another one of his fairytales. Sebastian clearly noticed the reluctance on my face but chose not to comment. I had no choice but to indulge him. Come the end of the night, I would be gone.
Sebastian told me to come down to the dining room in an hour, and that dinner would be ready soon after. I thundered up to the bedroom, wasting no time as I closed the door behind me.
I grabbed a medium-sized duffel bag from the closet and began packing some clothes. I rolled them tightly, saving as much room as possible. Apart from clothes, a picture or two, and all my money, there was nothing left to pack. I wanted to bring toiletries but decided they would take up too much room. I stuffed a couple of granola bars and water bottles into the bag. It had been a last-minute decision to raid the kitchen for snacks. I wasn’t sure when I’d be eating next.
I had thought of nearly everything for my escape. I would change into something I hardly wore, making it harder to be identified on cameras. I’d keep my hat and hood pulled up, blocking as much of my face as I could manage. The phone Kat had given me would have to be left behind, but I could manage without it. I emptied my bank account, planning to use cash for everything I needed.
I didn’t bother changing for dinner. If anyone reported me missing, they would remember the dress I wore today. I walked down the stairs quickly, wanting to get this entire afternoon over with.
Sebastian had already taken his place at the table, Olivia by his side. Krystal sat beside her mom, a permanent sneer on her slender face.
All eyes were on me as I walked into the dining room. My face heated under their stares. I couldn’t help but feel I had interrupted something. Sebastian’s face held anger as he looked at his wife. It was clear they had been having a heated conversation, and I could only guess it was about me.
“I’m glad you joined us, Sophia,” Sebastian smiled. While the emotion looked genuine, I couldn’t get past the irritated stares coming from Krystal and Olivia.
I felt like I was interrupting their family dinner, barging in on something I had no business with. Sebastian controlled the conversation, including me at every chance. He asked about my childhood, classes, and interests. I gave answers where needed, never once looking into Krystal or Olivia’s sharpened eyes. Sebastian seemed genuinely interested in my past, something I wasn’t keen on sharing. His eyes filled with guilt as I talked about my grandma, the woman who had raised me. He could hear the love and gratitude in my voice as I spoke of her, along with the contempt I held for Lauren.
I finished my dinner in a rush, ready to retreat upstairs. My stomach dropped when Sebastian stood from the table and motioned for me to follow. Tracy shot me a wide smile as she began gathering the empty plates. I had forgotten Sebastian wanted to show me something, only wasting what little time I had left.
I followed Sebastian silently as he led me out the backdoor. The garden in their backyard was beautiful, overflowing with brightly colored flowers. As we stepped into the yard, I could smell their sweet aromas.
“Krystal did all of this,” Sebastian smiled proudly at the flowers. His entire demeanor seemed to change when he spoke of his family. The thought sent a small wave of pain washing over me, one I pushed aside.
“Really?” I scoffed in disbelief. I couldn’t imagine prim and proper Krystal getting on her knees to garden. The image didn’t sit right in my mind. Wouldn’t she be afraid of chipping a nail?
Sebastian did something unexpected; he laughed. His entire face lit up as his chest rumbled.
“She really doesn’t look like the type, does she?” Sebastian chuckled, smoothing the material of his suit.
“Not at all.” I shook my head, unsure what to make of this entire situation. “Why are we out here? It can’t be to talk about gardening.”
Sebastian’s smile fell, replaced by a serious expression. I regretted my words as soon as they left my lips.
“It isn’t,” Sebastian shook his head. “I understand I may have chosen the wrong moment to explain your heritage. Instead of telling you, I should have shown you.”
The thought of entertaining this had anger bubbling in my veins. Sebastian could see the reluctant frustration forming on my face and jumped into action. Before I could turn my back on him, a sharp snapping sound rang out through the backyard.
My eyes widened, my mouth gaping as I stared at Sebastian. It sounded as though he snapped his own spine in half. His eyes were wide as he looked at me, a splotch of hair beginning to form on his neck.
“Watch him, Sophia,” Silver murmured, urging me to keep my eyes on Sebastian.
I wasn’t sure I could pull them away if I tried. The entire process was quick, but my body had long ago gone into shock. I could only stand and stare as Sebastian turned into a large, silver wolf. The wolf was bigger than any I’d ever seen, easily the size of a full-grown bear. The animal’s eyes were just like Sebastian’s, just like my own. One a bright and startling blue, the other a deep golden brown.
Anger, frustration, disbelief, horror, and fear collided within me like an aggressive mosh pit. My dinner sat heavily in my stomach, my blood turning cold at the sight.
Sebastian-the wolf-stalked forward slowly, sitting on its haunches just a few feet away. I wasn’t sure how long we stood like that. It could have been hours. My eyes were locked on him the entire time, those swirling emotions in turmoil within me. But then, something else began to form inside me: acceptance.
Some part of me, no matter how small, knew Sebastian was telling the truth. It was as though I had been missing a piece of myself, and now I was finally whole.
The thought should have filled me with joy, right? Wrong. I was terrified. Terrified of Sebastian, terrified of myself.
The truth rattled in my head, understanding forming in my mind. I refused to address those thoughts, knowing what they meant.
Silver wasn’t just a voice inside my head; she had been there all along.
There was something else that bubbled in my mind, something I had tried to forget.
I had met two wolves before, both equally similar to Sebastian. Two wolves, identical in color and size.