"At least now I know you really can get a black eye running into a pole." Calvin chuckled lightly as Bella held the ice pack on his now bruised eye.
"You are such a clutch, Calvin!"
Calvin had slept in and was in too big of a rush to get to class that he wasn't looking where he was going and ran face first into a stop sign.
…30 minutes ago…
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!
Now on campus Calvin was running at full speed to get to his first class on time, he managed but…
"Sorry I'm Late!" Calvin burst through the door huffing trying to catch his breath.
"Sigh Again, Calvin you really need to- Jesus!" his professor jumped when he noticed Calvin's eye to where the latter immediately slapped a hand over it.
"Calvin what happened?!" The professor went to inspect it but Calvin stopped him
"It was nothing Prof. Lawrence…I..ehehe…" Calvin's face turned bright red
"I was in a bit of a rush and wasn't looking where I was going."
And as expected all his classmates started laughing at him causing the blush to grow brighter. Prof. Lawrence took a deep breath pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Bella Please take Calvin to the nurse's office, as for the rest of you, quiet down and get back to work."
…
"Sorry Bell." Calvin chuckled nervously before glancing up and noticed Jasmine walk by, she noticed as well and ran in.
"Woah! Calvin! What happened?!" She ran up and sat next to him to get a good look at his eye.
"Mister Clumsy here doesn't know how to look where he's going." Bella answered with a puffed cheek to where Jasmine sighed in reply.
"Seriously Calvin." She got up ready to leave before Calvin grabbed her arm.
"Wait! Jas can we talk later? Maybe during lunch break?"
"..." Damnit! I was really hoping he wouldn't find out! "Y-Yeah sure." Then snatched her hand away before quickly rushing out.
"You really think you can get her to talk?" Bella asked worriedly
"I've known Jas and Blythe longer than any of us have…trust me Bell."
…During their lunch break…
"I already know what you're going to ask and 'no' I won't talk to them."
Jasmine and Calvin were seated in the grass behind one of the campus buildings. It was one of few private places where students can talk alone. Jasmine had pretty much curled into a ball hugging herself as tightly as possible while Calvin sat next to her with an arm on her shoulder.
"Jas-"
"I said no!"
"Jasmine look I know you're-"
"Calvin stop! You saw what they did to dad! He's still in a coma! I can't tell anyone! What part of that don't you understand!" Jasmine nearly shouted, causing Calvin to jump back a little.
"Alright Jas I'm sorry please calm down." Calvin rubbed her back as he tried to get her to stop crying.
If I'm gonna convince her to tell me anything I have to calm her down first!…Wait, that's it!
As if on instinct Calvin thought of something that always cheered her up when they were kids.
"Well I know just what'll cheer you right up, Jassy." Calvin perked up
Jasmine's head shot right up at the nickname as she knew exactly what it meant.
"Calvin don't you f'cking dare!" Jasmine glared at him leaning back a little.
"Here it comes Jassy!" Calvin inches closer a mischievous grin on his face.
"You better f'cking not Calvin I swear to God!" Jasmine was ready to make a run for it when Calvin jumped.
"Tickle! Tickle! Tickle! Tickle! Tickle! Tickle!" And starting tickling her like she was a toddler as Jasmine tried and failed to hold in her laughter!
"Oh you ass! Haha! No stop! Haha! No you ass! Ahahaha!"
"Gotcha! There's that smile I was waiting for!"
"Ahahaha! I hate you! Ahahaha! Alright! Alright! I give, I give! Uncle! Ahahaha!"
At this Calvin ceased his tickle attack allowing Jasmine to catch her breath as she wiped away her tears of laughter.
"Jasmine…" Calvin whispered softly before pulling her into a tight hug.
"Please, I want to help but I can't do that if you won't talk to me."
Jasmine's laughter slowly died down and switched to soft whimpers as she leaned in more to Calvin's embrace.
"…they'll kill him…" she choked out
"They said if I told the police they were going to kill daddy!" She sobbed into his shirt
"Jas…" He was trying to find the right words
I'm not mom, what am I supposed to say?!
"Sigh…Look Jas I…Sigh…listen Jasmine you and I both know they're just going to do the same to someone else…and what if the next victim isn't so lucky?"
"…"
"…Listen Jas you can't trust that people like them will keep their promises-"
"But-" she tried to speak but Calvin interrupted her
"Jasmine listen…they-they didn't have to rape you and Blythe. They didn't have to beat your father so badly they put him in a coma for almost 3 weeks."
Jasmine tensed up and Calvin held her tighter.
"They did that because they wanted to! Because to them it was fun, because they know people would be too scared to fight back or speak up! They did that because they know you'll keep quiet and they think they can get away with doing it over and over again because everyone will be too afraid to tell anyone."
"B-But they promised they wouldn't hurt us if we kept quiet."
"You can't trust that people like them. They don't care about promises they do what they want because they can…Because they think they can control people with fear."
"…whimper…" Jasmine was shaking hard and trying to hold in her tears she was pushing closer to Calvin almost like she was trying to hide herself from everyone else but him.
Calvin, Jasmine and Blythe had been friends since he was forced to move in with his grandparents. Jasmine was the very first one he had confided in about his mother and just like now Jasmine was there to comfort him when he missed living with Olivia. She even talked him out of running away back to New York, the two became like brother and sister after that. Their sibling bond grew over time as Calvin was always there to protect them as they were the target of constant bullying as their mom was a single mother before meeting Darell. Kids and even teachers would tell them that it was their fault their birth father left and for a time they believed it. Another reason why the two are so close as Jasmine has always felt like the older one even though they're twins she always took most of the baggage. The two didn't have the best childhood, both could always count on each other to confide in. They even help each other find something that they really enjoyed doing and could make a good career out of, Jasmine saw what an amazing artist Calvin is and encouraged him to take art as his elective, while Calvin noticed Jasmine has a real passion for fashion. And when the time came both gained a scholarship for Pratt, and of course Calvin was excited to be going back to New York eager to see his 'real' mother again and Jasmine was so happy for him.
So to say the two are close is an understatement…
"Jas, you're like a little sister to me and I hate seeing you like this…so please at least tell me."
Calvin held her tighter as Jasmine whimpered and sobbed for some time before finally giving in.
"Ok…you win. I'll tell you…"
…Adirondack Forest…
"Alpha? Alpha wake up, the hunters are almost back with breakfast." A small head peaked into the large den where the alpha of the pack began to stir awake.
"Yawn! Thank you Ylva I'll be right out."
The Alpha stretched before exiting the den shaking the bit of dirt off of his shiny white coat. He was immediately greeted by one of his young wolf pups.
"Alpha Hunter! Alpha Hunter!" The pup cheered
"Calm down Lowella." Hunter leaned down, giving her a quick lick.
"Why are you so excited little one?"
"Can we go see Miss Olivia and Noah again?!"
"Eheh, Sure thing pup, but let's eat first ok."
"Ok!"
Yep that's right Hunter is alpha of the Crescent Guardian wolf pack, one of very few werewolf packs dedicated to protecting humans from other creatures who think humans are inferior and not worth living. They work with various other groups of creatures who feel that humans and non humans should all be treated equally. But more of that will be explained later on…
As for now the hunters have just arrived with several deer and all had gathered in the middle awaiting their alpha to start the feast. Out of respect the alpha always takes the first bite before the others can join in…
"Papa, can you bring me a rabbit next time? I don't like deer."
"Isn't that what you said last week about ducks?"
"But ducks are too feathery!"
"And what's wrong with deer?"
"Um…well…I just don't like them anymore!"
"Geez Lobo how many times is your little one gonna keep changing her mind like that?!"
"Tala's a pup, they can never make up their minds."
"Otsana, how are things with your human mate? Have you told him yet?"
"I did actually-"
"And no joke the poor guy peed his pants!"
"Well Lyall at least he took it better than your mate who fainted."
"Haha, very funny."
Hunter kept quiet as his pack mates conversed with each other, thinking hard as he ate.
It's been long enough I have to tell her, I took the risk and got lucky she thought my mid form was a costume. But she's going to find out sooner or later, she's a detective for crying out loud! I won't be able to keep my secret for long. It's better that I tell her than her finding out for herself. I keep letting what happened with… 'her' stop me from telling Liv…she's different. I know she is. No more hiding, no more being afraid once her case is over I'll tell her.
…
"Yay! Let's go see Miss Olivia!-Yip!"
"Mof so fhfs fiffol fuf!" (Not so fast little pup!) Hunter picked up little Lowella by the scruff of her neck.
"You need a bath first before you can go anywhere." Hunter plopped her on his front paws as he started bathing her along with much much whining from the little pup.
…
"I said stand down Brutus."
Hunter growled he was at yet another standoff with one of his pack mates. Brutus is one of the most loyal members of the pack but also the most prone to anger…especially if you hurt someone he cares about. Unfortunately Hunter just recently found out that Brutus is the childhood friend of…Darrell Wilson! And ever since hearing about what happened to not just Darrell but Jasmine and Blythe who he sees as his nieces. Brutus has been dead set on tracking down the men responsible and ripping them to shreds.
"Don't try and act like you don't want the same thing!" Brutus growled
Hunter has had to spend more time with the pack than usual just to keep Brutus from going on a literal manhunt and risk revealing their existence to the humans.
"I will tell you. One. More. Time." Hunter raised himself up high so he was towering above Brutus.
"You are not to leave this territory under any circumstances! Do I make myself clear!"
Brutus shook a little under his alpha's voice as he gave in once again, mumbling through gritted fangs.
"Yes alpha." Bowing his head in defeat.
…hours later at the precinct…
"Hey Liv, Calvin's back says he has something to tell you." Fin poked his head inside to where Olivia's head shot up, worry in her eyes.
"Bring him in."
"Hey mom…"
…
"Three asian men and possible loan sharks…" Olivia wrote everything down in her notes
"Sorry mom, that was all I could get her to tell me." Calvin held his head down in shame
"Don't be sweetie, this is good at least now we know the ethnicity to look for." As they were literally focused on everyone the family came in contact with, now they know to focus only the asain part.
"You said you didn't want to believe that Mr. Wilson would ever go to a loan shark, why is that?" She asked as Calvin took a deep breath.
"Darrell is always a very careful and smart man, he knows better than to do something like that without asking questions. I mean he watches the news and knows exactly what people like them will do. And…he would never risk doing anything that would put his girls in danger…But then he started having money problems…and…" Calvin paused, wiping away his tears, that's when Olivia moved in, wrapping an arm around him.
"Calvin…listen baby…" She gave him a quick kiss on the forehead.
"When people are desperate they sometimes do things they don't normally do."
