Crimson's Daughter

Chapter V: Adjustments

A month.

A month had passed by in a blur and the temperature had dropped considerably in short period of time. In that amount of time, I had caught up on my studies of werewolf history and some of the new found abilities I had possessed. We were able to retain a naturally warm body temperature so we hardly ever got cold, we healed remarkably fast, and we were basically Olympic athletes when it came to sports or anything that made our blood run cold. Lydia and Finley had explained to me that none of the facts in fairy tales were true about werewolves. We never shifted on a full moon only, it was whenever we wanted. We didn't eat people (thank goodness since I didn't want to be a cannibal), and we weren't two-legged creature but in fact, shifted like a full wolf just a little larger in size. The only real thing in fairy tales was that silver was a fatal wound to us, so of course, we strayed far from that.

Alpha Stone had enrolled me in school where Lydia and all the other werewolves in the pack went. While there were a few who went to my old school in town they were there temporarily until they found a permanent pack to stay in. 

When I had first started it was hard fitting in, mainly because everyone wanted to know where I came from. The other factor as to why fitting in was so difficult was because I had trouble hiding my aura from the other werewolves. No one wanted to be friends with someone more powerful than them without a price. Lydia had been nice enough to introduce me to her friends, but I didn't want them to seem like they had to. 

"Claire, are you ready?" Finley popped his head into my bedroom.

I whipped my head around to see him dressed for school. He had recently decided to transfer to schools as to not raise suspicions about him coming and going out of town. Once I had heard the news I felt myself relieved of anxiety. 

"Yea, I'm ready." I shrugged on my green parka before grabbing my backpack.

Lydia had already left for school early this morning because she's the senior class president. Apparently, there was a very important meeting she had to attend. 

"So are you excited about-"

"Don't mention it. The thought just makes my stomach want to roll over." I cut Finley off. 

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"You can't be that sick over the matter of meeting a mate right? It's just a silly meeting that hardly anyone meets theirs the first go around."

I gave him a look.

"The way that everyone makes it sound is like my life is over pretty much once I meet him. Shouldn't I have a say in who I want? I mean the shit of soulmates seems a bit far-fetched Finn."

We entered the school and made a beeline for my locker. The many different scents of girls over spraying their perfume wafted my nose. I tried not to gag.

"I know its a bit far-fetched given you didn't know that much of anything until now, but-"

"But nothing Finley. I am going to try and talk my way out of going to that meeting. Maybe playing the old  sympathy card will go in my favor." I grinned up at him as I grabbed my books.

The bell rang and Finley and I went our separate ways for the rest of the day.

....

"Alpha Stone,  I came to discuss some things with you." I bowed, my eyes stared at my dirtied up converse for a moment.

"What is it you wish to discuss Claire?" he smiled at me from his desk.

Even though he  was an intimidating Alpha to some he held no effect over me. I wasn't sure if this was because of my own powerful aura or what, but I felt safe talking with him.

"It's about the mate meeting that is coming up. I know that by law and all that I am supposed to go, but I simply can't. You see I'm not ready to be thrust into another part of this world when I'm still unsure of it all. Don't you think I should get a little better of a grasp on my new life before involving someone else?"

I clasped my hands together and my stomach was twisted in a nervous ball of knots. Would he agree and say I didn't have to go. Surely not. 

"I am not so sure that delaying this would help you Claire. In fact, I think that pushing you deeper is going to help you. I'm not sure if you are trying to hold onto the last things of your human life-"

"I'm not trying to sir...I just am having a hard time letting go. It wasn't like I wanted to be taken from my family." I felt my throat tighten.

I missed my family. There wasn't a day that went by that I wasn't reminded of them in some form or another. I knew there was no going back but it was a hard pill to swallow. 

Especially with Finley transferring to school here I felt my soul get crushed a little more. It wasn't that I wasn't excited to have a familiar face in my new found world, but he was my last connection to the world my family lived in.

Finley would constantly update me on my parents and sister. He would tell me every little detail and go out of his way to talk to my sister to relay anything going on in her life. And now that he was here I wasn't going to get that anymore.

You would think gaining supernatural abilities only had pros involved right?

"Maybe we should take a vacation from all of this. Would that help ease your mind? I know it must be hard for you to adapt and I understand Claire that  you are trying to the best of your ability to fit in. It must be taxing on you mentally. I will discuss with my mate and those who wish to go about it."

I didn't really know how to respond to Alpha Stone's reply.

Did it mean that I wouldn't have to go to the mate meeting? Or did it just mean I would have to go eventually?

I pursed my lips in thought.

The Stone's had been kind and it would be rude I feel like if I were to keep pushing this onto the Alpha. So all I did was nod and leave the office.

I could only hope that leaving on a vacation would mean missing the mate meeting.

...

"Hey aren't you excited to be taking a trip to Greece? It's going to be so much fun. I haven't been in two years." Lydia beemed with excitement.

"Exactly how am I traveling when I don't really exist? I am dead after all." 

"A lot of werewolves use different identities and passports throughout the years because we age much slower than humans. It didn't take much for us to get you a new identity. Now your name is Claire Augustina Sutton." Lydia handed me a passport.

Everything looked legit that it scared me just how easy it was to take on a new life. How many werewolves did this and how often? Would I always have to change my name and move around? It sure seemed like a lot of work.

"Quite interesting isn't it?" Finley came to wrap an arm around my shoulder.

"It truly is..."I mumbled.

The car was loaded not too long after and we were on our way towards the airport. 

The whole time I had an unsettling feeling in my stomach. I had this strange feeling that this vacation would not be what I was told. It wasn't that I questioned the Stone's and their intentions with me, I just needed time. 

I took a deep breath and decided to plug in my earbuds and drown out the feelings and thoughts that plagued my mind.

"This trip better help."

•••••

Hello all! SO sorry for the late update! I actually had gone to visit family with my laptop and then left my laptop back home with my family. It took awhile, but I finally got it back!