Raven Hood

Chapter eight

He's my brother. I can't believe I found him. And he's living on the streets! I am taking him into my... Oh, wait I don't have a home anymore.

I still can't believe it. I'm now sitting across from him. I ask him tons of questions including how he knew it was me.

He said he knew that Emma Watts couldn't be dead, he says he just put the pieces together.

Well, at least he's smart.

We chat for a bit before my wolf gets anxious.

What? I whisper harshly to her.

- it's Aiden he knows something's up. And he's bringing out my weakness.-

What? Silver, snakes venom, a gun?

- no. Meat-

She goes silent after that.

My wolf is afraid of meat? That's weak. Real weak. Or maybe she's scared of being revealed by the meat. That would make more sense.

Sure enough. A few moments later. Aiden excuses himself and comes back with roast lamb. It was huge. But it felt like not enough.

I could see Jackson licking his lips and slightly drooling. I wipe my mouth with my sleeve. Just in case.

Aiden sees me. I turn away instantly.

"Lamb for you Em? Us wolves love it"!

"Uh I'm not a wolf", I say.

"Oh okay then", he says puzzled.

He even has the decency to put the lamb basically right under my nose.

I close my eyes and block my nose trying not to get overwhelmed by the scent.

I'm practically screaming on the inside.

Aiden doesn't look away from me the whole dinner.

"Hey Em"? He says.

"Uh yeah", I say not opening my eyes.

"Could you come with me"?

"Yeah sure", I say eagerly wanting to get away from the meat.

He leads me down a dusty hallway and into a room. He starts to talk to me. About me. About my life. I'll skip all the boring details. But then he asks me why I won't tell anyone that I'm a wolf. I freeze. I deny that I am a wolf. But Aiden, he didn't believe me. He kept using evidence against me.

I still deny it. My wolf did tell me too and I trust her with my life because it's hers also.

We eventually have to go back to Jackson's house.

"Goodbye Aiden", I say with a hidden coldness to it.

I hug him but I don't mean it. It's not a loving hug.

As I walk out I notice a dark hooded figure just down the street. I don't think much of it though. I just keep walking Jackson by my side.

The next morning I am forced into a training session by Jackson. He says I need to know how to fight. I try to complain. I say I already know how but he's not having any of it.

I make my way into a field outside where the rest of the pack is training. Jackson leads me there.

"Teach her to fight. Okay? Make sure she knows the basics by the end of today", Jackson orders.

"Yes Beta", I'm guessing the one in charge says bowing slightly.

Jackson nods and walks away leaving me alone. How nice is he? Note the sarcasm there.

"Alright, class today we are doing sparring. We will rotate around with different partners. Please go easy on the Misses", he announces referring to me.

"No need to go easy on me", I pipe up.

"Please miss I just"...

I leap up onto his stand.

"I personally have about 1 million dollars. It's yours if you can pin me in wolf form. One on one. If you all can't do it. Which is most likely. Let's just say you won't go easy on me anymore and you won't underestimate me at all", I announce smirking.

Immediately everyone there wanted to fight me. I took on the weakest first.

His name was Mike he was only about 14. He was strong and determined though. I beat him easy. I bet everyone. The last 20 people were a real challenge. Then the instructor decided to take me on.

We slowly circle each other. I snarl for good measure.

He pounces. I duck and scratch the underside of his belly. I hear a short whimper. A smile of satisfaction spreads across my face. I turn around and clash with him. We roll in the dust clawing and snarling at each other.

He takes me by surprise from behind and pulls me to the ground. I was nearly pinned when I spit in his face. He loosens his grip and shakes his head. I take this chance to scramble to my feet. We roll more. About ten minutes later we are still both going strong. I finally realise this isn't going to work.

I'm not going to win by force. Okay time for plan B. I let him take a blow at me. I go flying onto the ground. I lay still as a statue. I slowed my breathing so I was barely breathing at all. The whole class came around me. Crowding around. The instructor came right up and nudged my side.

Then I strike. I leap up and growl. Leaping at the instructor. I pin him easy. I growl harshly then howl loudly at my victory. The other students all start clapping. I get off the instructor smirking at him. Or though I bet it looked funny. I mean I was a wolf.

I change back. Still in my clothes. They all stare at me like I'm some sort of freak. The instructor runs into the woods then disappears moments later wearing basket ball shorts. He comes up to me grabbing me by the collar.

"What the hell are"...

"PUT HER DOWN"!!! Jackson shouts across the field using his high ranked tone.

They all cower away. Including the instructor. He lets me go. I stumble and then fall on my butt. Very smooth Em, very smooth. I get up and dust the dust off my shorts.

"Beta please listen. She's crazy and a threat to our kind. When she shifts her clothes don't shred. She"...

"She can't shift. She isn't a wolf"!

"But sir she did. She challenged us all to spar. In wolf form and she bet everyone. Even our instructor", a guy says from the crowd. All the others nod along with him.

"Em"... Jackson starts.

Shoot! Run!

I sprint to the tree line. Jackson shifts and chases after me. I shift in mid-air. My light purple wolf stands out in the woods. That's going to come back to haunt me someday. I look behind me. Jackson is gaining on me. The class following a while behind. He is going to be so pissed.

I look at the path in front of me. Who am I kidding? I know this forest better than anyone! I can do this.

I look behind me again. Crap! He's catching up!