"JACKSON". I called out. I got no answer. Everything was dark and quiet. "Jackson". I called again. Still no answer. I kept walking and I stepped on a piece of glass. "OWW". I said. I peeled the glass out of my foot and blood was coming out fast. I looked at the glass and it was a long piece. I tried to walk on my foot but I couldn't put pressure on it or walk fast. I heard a noise from my right and then my left. "JACKSON". I yelled again. "Yes my dear". He popped up behind me scaring the crap out of me. "Jackson". I said as I put my hand over my fast beating heart. "You scared me". "I'm sorry my dear". He said. "Where have you been?". "Everywhere my love. Everywhere you have been". "What do you mean?". "Don't worry my love just wake up". "Before I go can you help me to the door? I hurt my foot pretty bad". He looked down at the pool of foot blood and just stared at it. I saw these long black veins grow along his face, his eyes turned red and sharp teeth grew out of his gums. "Jackson" I whimpered. He looked at me and just stared. "Wake up my dear". "Jackson?". "WAKE UP ATHENA". I popped out my sleep and head butted my brother Adonis. "What the fuck Nis". "Sorry you wouldn't wake up. Mom said let's go it's time for school". "Ughhh". I said as I laid back down. "ADONIS AND ATHENA HURRY UP". "COMING". We said in unison. I got up and got dressed. I'm your average teenage girl. Looks pretty, dressed nicely and yet I still have only one friend in the entire school. Today I put on a nice white body suit top, a chocolate brown skirt and a pair of tan heels to blend. Curled my hair and put in accessories. "ATHENA LAST CALL". My mom yelled. "I'M COMING MOM". I yelled back. "Last first day Athena and your done. You can leave and go to college and live your own life". I told myself. After my pep talk to myself I head down stairs and mom and Adonis is eye balling me hard. "What is it?". "HAPPY BIRTHDAY PUMPKIN". My dad said from behind me. I forgot to mention today my 18th birthday. "Thanks mom and dad and Nis". "Your welcome my pumpkin. Finally 18. A lot of things are gonna change for you now. They already changed for your brother already since his birthday was last week.". My dad said. "A lot can happen in a week". My brother said as he stared at me hotly. "Things like what exactly?". I asked. "You'll see tonight sweetie. Now let's a go. Last first day can't be late". My mom said. We hugged dad and walked out the door towards the car. "Mom can I ride with Nis?". "Actually you can drive yourself". She said as she tossed me a set keys. I opened the garage and there it was a new, all black, 2022 Jeep Compass. "OH MY GOD. NO WAY". I screamed. "Yes way. It's all yours sweet pea. Don't be out all night either come home". "She might be out longer than you think now". Nis said. Mom glared at him hard and he just threw his hands up in surrender. "Everyone is acting weird". I said lowly to myself. "It only gets weirder little one". "What?". How did he....nevermind. Like I said weird. I got in the car and drove away. I stopped at my one friend house, Minthe. Our mothers were close friends In college and enjoyed Greek Mythology so they gave us greek names. I blew my horn to let her know someone's outside. She came out in her pink mini skirt and black body suit top and hot pink heels. She wore a bright smile on her face, then it was followed by a loud squeal. "ATHENA HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Nice ride". "Thank you. mom and dad got it for me". "Must be nice, mom just told me to stop being a whore". "Did you listen?". "Not at all". We both shared a laugh as I pulled off. We pulled up to the school and everyone wouldn't stop staring at me. "All eyes on you now that your freshly 18". Said Minthe. "Why does freshly 18 matters?". "Fresh meat". She said and nudged me. "But it's just 18. Just a number". "For normal humans yes but for us, no". "What do you mean, Us? Everyone has been acting weird this morning. What's going on?". "You'll see soon enough". She said with a wink and left my side to go to her new boyfriend of the week. I went to my locker to grab some books but instead when I opened it cards, balloons and confetti came falling out. "Oh no". I tried to stuff it back in, but it was too much stuff. "Happy birthday Thee". Adonis said next to me. He smelled so good. Like pine and woods. "New cologne". I asked. "No why?". "You just smell so good". The look in his eyes turned dark. Full of lust and passion. "Nis why are you looking at me like that?". His look quickly changed. "No reason". He said as he scratched the back of his head. "Hmmm". "Athena". I looked over and it was Sloan. He's the all-around popular guy. He's the football star, the hot model type, he's just that guy also he's an asshole. "Sloan?". 'The one and only". "What do you want?". Sloan was once my closest friend, next to Minthe, of course. That was until he grew into his looks and body and became popular and kicked me to the curve. I had a crush on him until he became a jock and grade A asshole. "Happy birthday. I never forgot". "Yeah, I'm sure you didn't". "Thee listen, what happened between us was sad and I didn't mean to turn into asshole especially to you. I wish I could take it back, but I can't. But I can make it up to you, if you let me". He grabbed my hand and came close to my face. Then a loud menacing growl came from Nis, and he was fuming. Sloan was shaking and so was other people around us and some were even cowering or just walking faster to classes. "I..ummm..will see you around Thee. Text me". Sloan stuttered. "Okay sure". I said confused. "Nis what's going on?". "Don't worry about it. You'll see later tonight". "Why can't I know now?". "Because I said so". He said rudely. "Okay then". I said. "Thee I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you". He said as his feature soften. "It's okay. It's cool". "Thee I'm really sorry". "Yeah no... it's okay. I have to go to class. I'll see you later". I said. I walked off and left him standing there. I heard a loud bang against the lockers, and they flew open, and papers came flying everywhere. "ADONIS". I yelled. "Tonight, little one". He said as he walked the opposite direction of me. I finally made it to class and took my seat. "Nice of you to finally join us Miss Mixon". My English teacher Mrs. Ellis said. "Sorry. I had a situation". I said. "Oh, I heard. Your brother seemed pretty angry, didn't he?". "How did you...". "Moving on class". She cuts me off and continues on with the lesson. How could she hear that? We were on the other side of the school. Today is just too much for me. School was over in a snap of a finger. I met up with Minthe after Schol for training. Me, Minthe, Sloan, Adonis and more, trained together for survival Skills according to our parents, it was necessary. Our teacher, Kain, was the best around, track record was clean, and every delivery and blow were precise. He's tall, Olive colored Skin, dark brown eyes and the sexist build and lips. He was dreamy. "Stop drooling". Said Nis. "I'm not drooling". I said back. "Could've fooled me" he said as he got on the mat. "You are all 18 now". Kain started. "Happy Birthday sweet Athena". He said as he kissed my hand and winked at me. "Back off, Cain," said Nis. Cain threw his hands up in surrender and backed off of me. "Adonis". I Whispered, "Don't". he said rudely. He has been acting funny lately. Everyone has been acting funny lately too be honest. I Just shook it off. "Everything is going to change for you now. You are Protectors, watchers, Warriors most importantly you're a pack. You work together, you move together, you think as one. You are a team. You don't let your team down and you don't leave them behind. You Protect your family". Everyone keeps saying things are going to Change and yet no one can tell me how. What is this so-called Change. "You'll see tonight". A Women voice said in my head. "Hello?". I said in my head. "Hello Athena". "Who are you?". "I am Artemis, I'm your new wolf". "Excuse me?".
