Hidden in the Shadows

Chapter 3

I take careful steps to the front door and grab my keys that lay right on the table next to my dad.

Before I can clasp onto the keys his hand reaches up and squeezes my arm painfully, but I swallow my whimper and wait for him to finish.

"Did you have fun last night sweetheart?" He sneers at me with beer drenched breath. I cringe but nod my head. "Good, now get out of here you piece of shit." I grab my keys and sprint out the door.

When I reach our small garage my mood is lifted slightly when I see my sleek black Harley and my school bag sitting next to it. I walk up to it and start the engine. Before riding off I check my phone to see it's already 8:45 and school started at 7:55. I've missed my first two classes. Three years ago I would have freaked out but today I honestly just don't care anymore.

I take my time riding to school.

Nate's POV
When I pull up to school at exactly 8:30 I see the parking lot completely empty. I guess I really was late. I sprint up to the door and follow the signs to the front office.

"You're late." A female voice sneers from behind the counter. I walk over to see a plump older woman typing away on her computer.

"I'm so sorry miss. I woke up late the morning. But I'm also the new student may I have my schedule?" I ask as politely as I can. She looks up and smiles.

"Oh! You must be Nate Blakely! Here let me print out your schedule right away and don't worry we can excuse your tardiness today."

"Okay great thank you so much!" I smile and head to the bench that sits against the wall opposite of the desk. While I'm waiting I take out my copy of Of Mice and Men and start reading.

"Alex get in here!" I hear the counter lady yell. I startle up and look out to see a gorgeous girl that looks somewhat familiar but I shake it off and continue to look at her.

Her brown hair is messed up but it somehow looks purposely messy. Her old t-shirt goes low and leaves nothing to the imagination; showing her black lace bra and everything. Her black pants are ripped in multiple places, and unlike her hair it doesn't look purposeful. And I think I see a bit of dried blood at the hem between her muddy black converse and her jeans. My eyes travel back up to her face. She has the most beautiful light blue eyes but hidden behind a circle of eye liner. Her rose lips are full and so kissable. But something strikes me hard in the gut when I see a large bruise on the side of her face.

Mate.

I gasp and get a loss for words.

"Yes miss Claney?" She says mockingly.

"Alex you can't keep showing up late everyday and dear what happened to your face! Alex I know this isn't the first time you've come to school with bruises all over you. What is going on?" Miss Claney asks.

"Sara you know that I'm good. So please leave me alone. I walked into a door. Can I please just have a note?" Her voice is strained and holds a slight bit of sadness. My heart breaks slightly in pain for her. "Who the hell are you?" She notices me sitting there and asks me accusingly.

"I'm Nate. I'm new here." I stutter and hold out my hand. She looks down at it in disgust and turns back to Miss Claney. I feel my wolf whimper at her rejection.

"Here you go Alex." Alex grabs the note from Miss Claney and sprints out of the room. "Now Nate. Here are all of your papers. I'm sorry about Alex. I think she has a hard time well of course she does. You should have seen her when she was a freshman, you wouldn't even recognize her. She'd always wear floral dresses and a ribbon in her hair, but even then you could tell something was wrong. And when sophomore year came, bam she was a new person." She pauses and realizes what she just told me. "Oh I'm so sorry Mr. Blakely. You shouldn't be burdened with such things."

"I'll look after her Miss Claney." I smile and she smiles back.

"Yes. It seems that Alex need a friend more than anything else right now," she smiles sadly and shoos me out of the office and I make my way to my first class.