Bark Or Bite

Chapter 4

My body rejects the sleep trying to sneak up on me, but Ian pulls me closer and all my troubles melt away. I am almost asleep when I realize what Ian said earlier. My eyes pop open and I sit up quickly.

"Did you say I'm a werewolf?" I stare down at Ian.
He opens one eye to squint at me.

"Oh, you caught that?"

"Duh, Ian!"

"Well back in 1943, I knew your grandfather. He tried to kill me. He was alpha of the moon clan, your wolf pack. And a couple years ago, when I heard about the birth of a new Hastings, I had to see for myself. You know your grandfather, John, is getting old. You'll take the spot of alpha when he resigns."

"What? I can't. I'm nothing like an alpha. It's not me." I can't be a werewolf, let alone an alpha. That sounds like a lot of running.

"It's okay. By tomorrow morning you will be. Your senses well be perfect. You'll be energetic, fast, lethal. And the worst, you'll hate me." He chokes a little at the end.

"Why?"

"We're sworn enemies Hannah. You won't even stand my presence." I hate seeing him emotional.

"But, you're around me."

"That's because I'm in love. It's different for me. Vampires can go off on their own, live our own lives, our own rules. You'll die without your pack. As long as vampires don't threaten to expose our existence or start a war with the wolves, no one says anything." He sighs. "You won't love me anymore Hannah."

I flop back down on my bed. Why haven't my parents said anything about this? I roll over to look at my bedside clock. 1:36 A.M.

"Do you think we'll be okay?" I ask him.

"Honest? No." He speaks glumly.

"We'll find a way Ian." I try to help, but there's nothing I can do.

"Can we just make the best of it while we can?" He looks at me with pleading eyes. I lay my head on his chest and fell asleep.

******************

I wake up to a foul stench. I try going back to sleep, but it gets too strong. It is like swimming in sewage. My eyes pop open and the first thing I see is Ian. A low growl escapes my throat before I can hold it back.

Ian's eyes pop open as soon as he hears my growl. His eyes widen with fear. He jumps off the bed and presses his back against the wall, putting as much space between us as possible.

"Hannah, listen to me. It'll be a couple of days before you're able to transform and go full wolf. Your mind is the strongest thing on you right now. Fight. Fight Hannah. Fight it away. I love you."

I knew what he was saying. I feel my heart drop. My Ian is afraid of me right now. My mind kept telling me to lunge at him. Rip him to shreds, but my heart was fighting. Fighting for us, for our love. I can't hurt him. Not Ian. I run and jump out of the window. As soon as my feet touch the ground, I sprint out of the yard, into the woods, away from Ian.

******************

I come home late that night. I walk through the door and look at the wall clock. 9:36 pm. I had been running all day. To clear my head from Ian, I went deep out of town. I actually found a cave behind the most beautiful waterfall I'd ever seen. To think that this old town would actually be so beautiful on the inside. Just sitting down and relaxing eased my pain, cleared my thoughts, and calmed down my heart.

The light flicks on as I walk towards my room.

"And where are you going Hannah?" Mom and Dad stand side by side at the bottom of the stairs.

"Not one text or phone call. You had us worried sick!" Dad has his arms around mom, calming her down.

"Mom it's okay. I just was out, alone, clearing my head."

"No." Dad whispers "Hannah."

"What is it Johnathan?" My mom asks, taking the confusion from my head to her voice.

"It happened. I told you it would! I just prayed it wouldn't." I've never seen my dad on the verge of tears like he is now.

"Dad, what?"

"Come here." He grabs me in his arms, holding me tight. "My daughter's the alpha."

Mom gasps. "Dad. How do you know?"

"When I was a boy, your grandfather use to come in the house with yellow eyes. Just like you. That's how I knew he had wolfed out while he was gone."

"But dad, I never wolfed out. Not yet at least."

"I know, but you will."

I was confused. Hurt. He knew so much, but never told me.

"Dad, why did you never tell me?

"Because Hannah, the gene skipped me. I was the one they thought was to be alpha, but when I never wolfed, I knew it was going to be you some day. I was hoping that the gene would skip you, but it didn't."

"Well what if I don't want to be alpha? What if I don't want to lead a pack or be a wolf? Where is my choice?"

"I'm sorry Hannah. You don't have a choice. This is your destiny."

I take in the words all at once. Mom just stands still, quiet, a look of shock on her face.

"First thing's first. You need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is the day the new alpha meets her pack."

Dad kisses me on my forehead and tells me goodnight. Mom follows behind him quietly. Why do I have the feeling this is just the beginning?

Thank you for reading!

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