MO'S POV
The crisp night air gave me shivers as we trudged through the dark woodland, and the crunching of our feet on the grass was all that I could hear. Scott led the way in front of Olivia and I, and I could tell she was just as anxious as I was about meeting the other members of the pack.
From the way the trees started to become more brunched and close together, I assumed we were heading deeper into the forest. That didn't exactly cure the feeling of unease spreading through my body.
I couldn't wrap my mind around any of this. My boyfriend and my best friend were werewolves! How am I supposed to feel about that? What am I going to tell my parents? Am I even going to tell them?
"How much farther are we going Scott?" Olivia asked breaking the silence. Scott stopped for a second, looking around. "Only a few more minutes." He responded continuing to trudge through the forest.
I sighed and continued to follow him. I wanted Stella to be hear. I felt so alone, like I didn't belong in this adventure. How will this effect my everyday life? Would I even be able to go to school knowing that lurking around any corner could be Ray or his minions?
I wondered if Olivia felt the same way. Oh crap… What are we going to say to Charlie and Wen? Olivia is going to die without Wen to help her through this. They don't deserve to be left out on this. Do they?
Scott stopped dead in his tracks. "We're here." I looked around for a sign of life. In front of us was a hill about 15ft high and 20ft across. We were still secluded by trees and undergrowth, which made it difficult to see.
Around the hill were dozens of over hanging branches and bushes shrouding us in even more darkness. Nothing was here. I glanced over at Olivia who was looking around for a clue as well.
"Where exactly is 'here'?" I asked. Scott walked over to the base of the hill a pulled aside some of the bushes and held up the swooping branches, revealing a tunnel. "Of course." Olivia muttered. Scott looked over at us. "After you." He said motioning for us to enter.
I took a deep breath and made my way into the darkness of the tunnel. Olivia followed behind me and Scott trailed in the back. "Just don't stop walking." Instructed Scott. I couldn't see anything and the only comfort I had was Olivia holding onto my arm for assurance. The shuffling of our feet on the dirt echoed through the enclosed space.
It felt like an eternity before I saw a glowing light in the distance. The closer we got the brighter it became until eventually, I walked into a chamber. Candlelight flickered across the walls, which looked similar to the ones back at Stella's house: covered with claw marks and papers.
I was surprised to find myself standing on a carpet. I looked forward and saw chairs and desks scattered around the round chamber in a semi-circle, their backs facing us. In the center was a long sofa and in front of it was a plasma screen TV. Even though it was underground, the place was decked out!
As Olivia and Scott emerged from the tunnel, Olivia let out a whistle. "Whoa…" She said awestruck. I silently nodded. I felt a chill from behind and realized that the air from the outside could be trapped and circulated in here, causing a pleasant room-temperature feeling.
The light from the TV sent flashing colors drifting from wall to wall. Scott gazed a both of us, reading our expressions. "They're asleep." He whispered pointing to the chairs and sofa. Scott stayed where he was as Olivia and I walked silently to the center of the room. We looked over the back of the sofa. I recognized the two pack members instantly. Relief crept through me with the knowledge of knowing who our protectors were.
Sprawled out on the couch, with the same bushy hair as ever, was Lyle. He had his arms crossed over his chest, with his feet resting on the arm of the sofa. I looked to my right to see Victoria passed out in the chair with her arm holding her head up for balance. Both seemed to have fallen asleep by accident rather than on purpose.
Olivia grabbed onto me excited. "Can you believe this? All of our friends are werewolves!" She muttered happily. Scott came over and joined us. "I hate to say it, but we need to get you two home. It's almost 11." He whispered.
Just the thought of being home made me yawn. Olivia did the same. Scott smiled amused. "Come on," he urged, walking back towards the tunnel. "it's way past your bed time."
OLIVIA'S POV
I watched Scott and Mo walk back down the street from my bedroom window as I sighed with content. Home… It felt like I hadn't slept in months. I laid down on my bed and tried to relax myself. My muscles were cramped from so much walking, but my mind was still reeling.
How was Stella? I really wanted to see her before we came to my house, but Scott had insisted that getting Mo and I home safe is what Stella would've wanted. I knew as well as he did that Stella hated being fussed over like a little kid, but that didn't stop the worry from clenching at my stomach.
School is going to be difficult tomorrow now that I know Ray is after us. Never be someplace alone. As long as there are witnesses, Ray can't do anything. Scott had warned me. That didn't really help. After all, he could actually defend himself. What does that make me and Mo, Dead-weight?
And what would happen if Ray did get us? That was what I was afraid of most. The thought of being forced to do something made my stomach twirl. One should always have the freedom to do what they believe in. What Ray was doing sickened me…and yet it terrified me.
He would twist my mind to see my closest friends as the enemy, make me fight or even kill them. Or worse, make them kill me. I know they would do it out of self-defense and I would forgive them, but they would never forgive themselves.
And yet through all of these thoughts, one stood out the most. What do I tell Wen? I couldn't lie to him, but do I have permission to tell him the truth? No. I can't tell him for the same reason Stella and Scott couldn't tell us. To protect him. I'm not dragging him into this unless he needs to be.
I closed my eyes and tried to settle my thoughts to focus on happy things. And before I knew it, I fell into an uneasy sleep…
STELLA'S POV
My eyes jerked open as I woke up panting. With each large breath, my rib cage screamed in agony, from stretching my torn muscles. Sweat drenched my face and neck, making me feel hot and sticky. I was surprised for a moment, realizing that I was in my room. Dad must've brought me in here.
The thought gave me little comfort as the vivid images from my nightmare reran through my head. Dreaming about your closest friends dying wasn't exactly relaxing. As my breathing evened out, I closed my eyes to clear my mind.
I sat up slowly, bearing the searing pain emanating from my side. I clutched my right arm to my stomach, putting pressure on the throbbing scratch running down my forearm. With my good arm, I reached over for the glass of water my Dad had generously put out for me on my nightstand.
My mouth felt dry and sore as I brought the cool glass to my lips. I drank the entire glass in a series of large gulps, causing my side to throb more vigorously. I ignored it, placing the empty cup back and cautiously standing up. I hobbled my way over to my window and lifted it open, allowing the cool wind to drift inside.
I sat on the windowsill, debating whether I should try climbing onto my roof were I normally let the breeze calm me down. It wasn't real. It wasn't real. I kept repeating in my mind. But it was so clear…so descriptive…
I hated being enclosed in my stuffy room, especially with a lot on my mind. I sighed, the urge of looking up at the night sky too tempting. I pulled myself out of the window and onto the roof, walking carefully on the slanted surface. I laid down once again, with my good arm behind my head and looked up at the shimmering stars.
Soon enough the rustling of the trees in the wind made the thoughts of pain and worry ebb away. A small smile escaped my lips as I remembered the first time I scanned the sky like this. The night after the Halloween Bash, with Scott, had been the moment I realized the stars really do sooth you.
"I thought you might be up here." Rang a voice from the silence. I turned to see Scott climbing out the window to join me. "Hey." I replied smiling. He laid down beside me, and even though I was enjoying the cool breeze, his warmth was a million times better.
"How are you feeling?" He asked gently. I snorted. "Don't worry about me, Pickett, I'll be fine in a few days." I reminded him. He turned on his side to look at me. "That doesn't stop me from being concerned." He stated as a matter-of-factly. I rolled my eyes. "You should be worrying about Mo and Olivia." I scoffed. He sighed. "Believe me, I am." He assured me uneasily.
I could tell he was thinking about something. And if his words didn't show it, his emotions betrayed everything. "What happened?" I questioned, reading him like a book. He glanced back at the sky before meeting my curious gaze.
"Mo." Was all he said. It was all he needed to say for me to understand that he was hurt and confused. "Why, what did she do?" I persisted. He pursed his lips, thinking for a moment. "It's not what she did, it's what she didn't do." He paused as I waited patiently.
"It seemed as though…she was afraid of me. I tried to kiss her goodnight, but she wouldn't let me. Instead she basically slammed the door in my face and went to bed." He admitted sadly. That doesn't sound like Mo. "Well this is a lot to take in I mean…she just found out that two of her best friends-"
"Four." Scott interjected. I turned to him and furrowed my eyebrows. "I showed them the lair." He declared. I nodded, understanding. "Okay then, four of her best friends are werewolves." I continued. I gazed at him hoping he would get my point. "Maybe she's just confused or mad at us for lying." I suggested.
He shook his head stubbornly. "No if she was mad, she would've come out and said so. I think something was bothering her." He wondered aloud. I looked back up at the stars. "You can talk to her tomorrow." I hinted. Scott gazed at me nervously. "Could you?" I opened my mouth to respond before he interrupted.
"Please, Stell? She's your best friend and would tell you anything over me, and besides if I ask her then she might not even talk to me, or worse she could-"
"OKAY! Okay! I'll talk to her! Now stop rambling before I push you off my roof!" I threatened. He laughed before scooting closer and wrapping his arm around me. "Thank you." He said relieved. I snorted. "Coward." I insulted amused, snuggling closer to him.
We sat like that, just enjoying each others company. And from everything we've been through together, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
