Jealousy Can Be Flattering

Chapter Eight [In Editing]

By the time it was all over, night had passed and it was well into Tuesday. I hadn't thought about my parents - sorry, adoptive parents - and what they might think. There was no point going to school at this stage, but my injury was enough to give me a credible alibi for when I returned. It was obviously going to be a boring day at the Hunter's Residence. Peter refused to give me any Hunter training. It would be too obvious for when I met Alpha Grey. So I spent the rest of the day getting to know the Hunters and familiarising myself with their individual scents. 

I went to bed early that night and fell asleep instantly, still recouperating somewhat from my injuries. The next morning I found a pair of comfy jeans, black hoodie, turquoise converse and a plain white t-shirt lying on the low couch at the end of the bed. I quickly showered and changed into my new clothes, making a mental note to thank Desmond for having them sent up. I made my way from the room and downstairs into the large foyer. By the door there was a small table holding a vase of lillies and an envelope addressed to me. I opened it:

Jessica,

The bag is for you. It holds instructions as to how you will contact me with information as well as some other items of importance. Your main task now is to gain access to the pack, then to the Alpha meetings. Remember, forcefully stake your claim if you aren't soon given Alpha rights. Everything after that will be relatively easy. Your alibi to the pack is that you were upset as to how they addressed the delicate topic of your parentage and that is why you ran. You tired yourself from running and your injuries and only woke up last night. It is important you stay alive.

Desmond.

I bent and retrieved the fashion backpack from beneath the table. It was of a canvas material with pleather straps and buckles, decorated with colourful stars and moons. Rummaging through I found pens, pencils, an exercise book, a phone and a bottle of what appeared to be body spray. I pulled the canister out finding a secondary note attached.

Use this, it will mask the scent of hunters around you

Iquickly sprayed the sweet-smelling gas around my body and dumped the can back in the bag. I pulled my arms through the straps and set off out the front door. I did some research last night and found a school bus that stopped only a few streets away - just out of the forest -  so I began to jog to the bus stop and eventually made it to school.

As I entered the quadrangle I searched the area for someone from my new pack to talk to. Leaning on one of the pillars I spotted my now-brother, Joel Grey. I took a deep breath to calm myself. The entire plan revolved around this moment. If I screwed this up, I may as well just go all-out rogue and start a fight. At least it would force them to kill me. I slowly trudged my way over to him, keeping my eyes downcast in an act of shame. As I neared, I immediately felt his burning gaze sear through the top of my head and search right into my brain. It was nothing like Peter's mind. Joel's mind was bright and hard and full of life. It stabbed sharply into every orifice, like having the worst migraine you can imagine. I immediately stopped and paniced, throwing up mental barriers and forcing him out. Though I had been told not to. Placing my palms to my temples, I grasped my forehead in pain and sunk to my knees under the weight of the onslaught. Squinting my eyes, I attempted to banish the lingering pain when a rough hand grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

"Where the hell have you been?" Joel hissed, a hint of worry in his voice.