Chapter Two: The Meeting

The rising sun sent a golden glow into the windows of Riker Gandillion's room. Riker rolled over, shading his eyes from the sunlight's bright glare and moaned. A knock at his door made him stifle another groan.
"Riker! Riker, it's time to get up for school." Vivian's voice rang through the room, stirring Riker slowly.
Groggily he reached over to his alarm clock, to find it was 7:49. Riker was awake instantly. "MOM!" He bellowed, falling out of bed and racing over to the pile of clothes that he'd put there the night before, "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" Riker grabbed a pair of shabby jeans from the pile, and hoping they were at least somewhat clean. He scrabbled into them, then began to rummage around for a decent shirt he could wear.
"Because you're tired," A voice said, though it wasn't Vivian's. Riker whirled around to find a sixteen-year-old girl watching him, amused at his race to get dressed. She was tall with golden skin tones that brought out her sparkling green eyes and had shoulder length auburn hair that was almost always shining like sunshine.
"Lark, get out!" Riker commanded his twin sister. Lark smiled coyly though and made herself comfortable on his rumpled bed. 'Great Moon, she always has to defy me.' Riker thought angrily as he glared at his sister.
"What do you want anyways?" Lark looked mocking shocked at her brother's tone, and replied in a high pitched girly voice, "Now now Rikie, no need to get your boxers in a twist." Lark smirked as Riker let out a low growl. "Just thought you'd like to know Dad's taking us to school, as we missed the bus. And he's leaving in oh, about…..five minutes."
Riker snarled in frustration. Why did Gabriel have to make everything so rushed? He glanced out his window and saw the old blue Chevy parked in the driveway, it's exhaust pipe letting out puffs of smoke every few seconds. He also said his father's muscular figure in the driver's seat, tapping his hands impatiently on the wheel. Gabriel wasn't in a good mood.
Ignoring Lark, Riker dashed to his closet and began scuffling through the hangers, still trying to find something to wear. Lark observed her brother for a moment before suggesting dryly, "Just wear your white tank and that studded black jacket. You're gonna need it; supposed to drop pretty low today." Riker followed Lark's instructions, yanking the tank over his head and shoulders then clumsily putting on his leather biker jacket.
Lark studied him as she walked to the doorway, casting a glance at him as if to say, 'Not bad'
Then wordlessly she left. Riker heard her footsteps echo down the stairs. Shortly Riker was downstairs in the rather large and homely kitchen getting some type of breakfast so he wouldn't starve to death during the long hours of school. 'School,' Riker thought grimly as he ran outside and swung the truck door open. 'What's the use? I mean, if it was filled with more wolf-kind, then it'd be somewhat bare able.

But being with meat-people all day? Great Moon, just looking at them makes me want to make the change.' Since the pack had moved to the River Valley rural real sixteen years ago, a year before Riker was born, Gabriel had forced all the pack kids to attend a homo-sapiens school; no wolf-kind beside the pack members. Even though there was a home-schooled pack member that had offered to teach the kids. But after the pack's terrible year in the suburbs, Gabriel insisted that the only way to fend the blood-thirst off was too be around the humans more often so the pack could get used to them.
'That just plain stupid. I would think it'd drive people up the wall.' Riker looked at his father's strong face, realizing he'd been too swept away in his thoughts to feel the truck moving. Gabriel noticed his son's glance, and he let out a throaty question.
"Where did you get to last night? Kall and Den said they didn't know where you were." Riker's face flushed. Silently he reminded himself to do something painful to the twins later. He muttered, "I went running with Sorcha last night." Gabriel lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing. Riker knew what he thought about Sorcha.
'But he really doesn't know. Not like I do.' Riker's eyes glazed over as he thought about her. Sorcha was an exceptionally beautiful loup-garou; everyone knew. She had short hair with sassy black streaks that made it look like tiger strips and enchanting gray eyes that were enhanced by long dark eyelashes. Sorcha's face was round and tanned from being out in the sun all the time; she was tall and leggy like her father, Gregory, and had his sense of fun as well. Sometimes that got her in trouble with the pack, and with Gabriel and Vivian.

From the backseat Lark snorted.
"I don't understand why all you guys like her so much," She said as she applied mascara on, "Sure she's pretty, but she's a brat."
"What? Would you rather have Den and Kall chasing after your tail?" Riker asked. Lark didn't say anything but let out a small growl of annoyance. "Stop you two." Gabriel commanded as the truck slowed to a stop in front of the gray-bricked building that was River Valley High. "Now's not the time for your bickering. Now get out before you're later then you already are." Sluggishly, brother and sister tumbled out of the Chevy then grabbed their backpacks out of the back. With a black puff of smoke, Gabriel drove off not even bothering to say goodbye.
"Such a loving Father we've got." Lark said dryly. Riker nodded in agreement. Lark slung her backpack over her shoulder then started walking off to a side building used for Home Ec, her first-period class.
"See you at Kimbly's." She cried as she reached the door. Kimbly's was the place to be; a hangout that the pack went to often. Riker waved in acknowledgement then went over to the main building, hoping dearly it wasn't locked. But unfortunately, it was. Riker cursed at his bad luck then settled himself on the steps. There'd be no way to get in now; he'd have to wait for someone to come by and see him.
"Bloody Moon, why couldn't Mom get me up at the right time?" Riker asked himself angrily. Though grudging he did admit to himself that she was considering him. But even so, any more tardies and he'd have detention. Riker shook his head; but then a shadow appeared before him blocking the sunlight making him look up. Standing before him was a pretty girl he'd never seen before. She had silky blonde hair that only reached to the tip of her ears, framing her round brown face and setting off her icy blue eyes. She was tall, mostly from her legs, and was skinny. Not unhealthily skinny, just enough to be fit.

"Get shut out?" She asked with a musical voice. Riker blinked and stood up, slicking his shaggy black hair back. "Yeah. I was a couple minutes late." The girl raised her perfectly slanted eyebrows in disbelief.
"They lock the doors thirty minutes after the first bell rings." Riker shrugged. "Okay, maybe I was really late. But who are you? I've never seen you around here before." 'I'd have remembered if I had met you before.' He thought. The girl smiled. "'Course you haven't seen me before; I'm a new sophomore, Khloe Rickwell. And you are..?"

"Riker Gandillion." Riker imagined that he saw Khloe's eyes flash at his name; but he was sure he was just imagining things…wasn't he?
But she was the look was gone in seconds. "Well, let me help you get in, then I got to get to class. My first day and I'm already late." From her jean pocket Khloe produced a student card and slid it into the scanning lock. With a small click it swung open.
"Ladies first." Riker said as he stepped aside to let Khloe passed. She snorted. "A gentleman, hmm?"
Riker felt his face flush. Why weren't his charms working? They worked on every other girl that caught his eye. Especially the pack-girls. They all swooned after the Pack Prince, with his shaggy black curly locks and green eyes. He was built exactly like his father; tall with muscular arms and a broad torso that made the girls watch him with eyes burning with desire. It was the same way with humans; why should this one be any different?
Khloe gave him a quizzical glance before walking into the halls, footsteps echoing. "Well, see you around then Riker."
Riker grinned to himself. Khloe had captivated him and intrigued him. 'She'll see me sooner then she thinks.' He thought, his claws unsheathing with delight.

Khloe's mind was in a whirl since meeting Riker. She couldn't stop thinking about his handsome looks; but most of all, his name was etched into her mind. Gandillion. 'Is he kin to that Vivian Father has been hunting all these long years?' Khloe thought as she spun the combination to her locker. 'He must be. How many people's last name can be Gandillion'
She shook her head. That meant he was a werewolf; a creature waiting to be killed. After only being in this hick town for two weeks, they'd found their prey. Thank goodness Khloe had given her fake name to him; if his pack recognized her father's surname, they'd be out of River Valley fast as they could. 'Father will be very interested indeed. But until I talk to him, I'll have to keep an eye on his Riker guy'
She laughed softly to herself, eyes flashing with an evil purpose.

A/N: Thanks to the two people that reviewed! It really gave me encouragement. Sorry this chappie is so long, but I wanted to put some details in. I'll try and get the next one out soon!

Maddy