The Wolf Girl

Chapter Eight

Molly's POV
Six years.
  I stagger backwards, my heart hammering in my chest. I can't see my family for another six years?
  "Why do I have to go through training?" I whisper hoarsely.
  "Because you have to know how to control your powers and abilities," Penny replies in a hollow voice.
"I don't want to," I snap. "I don't want to perfect my abilities!"
"You stop it!" Penny exclaims angrily. "We are trying to help you! These powers may seem new and strange to you, but they are real. You have to accept that! We are trying to help. What do we get in return? This!" She points at me, angry tears filling her eyes. "You may be homesick, and I'm sorry about that. But you can't go around, taking your anger out on the people who are trying to get you into the swing of things."

I take another step away from her, clutching my bow tightly in my firm grip. I choke out a soft, quick sob and turn, preparing to run into the trees. But I am on the ground in moments; two white horses block my path, and I slam right into them.
Snow-white horses. Zack and Gavin are back.

"Any luck?" Penny asks them hopefully. "You weren't gone long at all."
"We need some help from Featherface," Zack's voice says.
"Cerulean," Penny corrects him, annoyed.
Zack hops off of his horse and rolls his eyes. "Whatever floats your boat," he sighs. "Where is he?"
"I'll get him," Penny offers, and she has disappeared into the trees within moments. Zack turns to me. A stream of tears flows from my eyes.

"What happened?" he asks, genuine concern mixed into his voice.
"I can't go home until I finish training," I whisper shakily. He sighs and looks past me, at Xavier. I resist the urge to turn and look at him when Zack looks back at me.
  "Maybe we can make a deal with Penny," he suggests. A spark of hope flares in my chest.
  "Am I like the rest of your 'initiates?'" I ask shakily. He smirks a little.
  "Some of them are even worse than you, because that's possible," he replies. I roll my tear-filled eyes.
  "If you're trying to make me feel any better, it's not working," I grumble.
  "I never said I was," he says, the smirk stretching to a grin. "Was it that obvious?"
  I roll my eyes again, a smile threatening to creep onto my face. I won't let them make me smile for a long while. They don't deserve to see me satisfied.

  I turn to Alex, who gestures down towards Starlight. I drop my gaze to her white fur, and then her expression. She seems to have a knowing look on her face. But what does she-

  Heat spreads through my cheeks as she glances back to Zack, then to me. Is she suggesting that I have feelings for him?
  "Starlight, what are you implying?" I ask. She giggles. I lift my eyes to Alex, who is smirking carelessly. My face grows warmer.
  "Guys, now's not the time!" I exclaim. Alex bursts out laughing, and Starlight giggles more. I sigh and look back at Zack. "May I head to my cabin?" I ask. He nods, and I rush into the trees, making my way to the cabin. When I arrive, I walk in and shut the door before running to the table. I take a seat and stare at my hands, heat still lingering on my cheeks.

  I most certainly do not have feelings for Zack. First off, I just met him. Not to mention the fact that the only reason I know him in the first place is because he kidnapped me. Second, he is the most unattractive being in the world.
  Then why can't I get his jet-black hair or his soft green eyes out of my mind?

  I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts. Stop it. You need to stop thinking about him.
  Why am I doing it in the first place?

  Alex's POV
  I run after Molly, my pulse beating loudly in my ears. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings or embarrass her as much as I did. Thunder and Starlight's steady footsteps pound after mine with the same intention; to apologize to her.

  When I reach her cabin, I knock on the door hesitantly. Starlight and Thunder are panting lightly next to me, sitting down. Each of them are leaning slightly on one of my legs. I smile a little and shake my head.

  Molly comes to the door, her eyes somewhat hollow, yet still holding the hopeful flare they always do. I take a deep breath and let it out. "I'm sorry for teasing," I say. She closes her eyes briefly before looking at the trees past me. Her gaze settles back on mine after a moment and she nods.
"It's fine," she replies. "I overreacted, anyways." She sighs. "I just don't have feelings for him, and I won't under any circumstances."
"I know," I chuckle. "These guys are sorry, too." I gesture down to Thunder and Starlight, who gaze up at Molly with intent eyes. Starlights's are gentle, while Thunder's are filled with impatience. He didn't see why he had to come- he didn't tease- and I just told him to come along anyways. I'm surprised he did. From what I've learned so far, he's stubborn.

Molly picks Starlight up gently and scratches her chin gently. "You're okay, guys," she whispers.
"Hey," I murmur, looking at her sad expression. "Cheer up. You haven't smiled in a while. It's weird."
She gives me a tiny smile, and though it's small, it's genuine. I smile back.

"Oh!" I exclaim. "I forgot! This isn't mine. " I fish the extra pendant from my pocket and hold it out. She takes it and looks at it with confusion.
"I could've sworn there was only one emerald gem in that container," she mutters. Then she shrugs it off and pockets the jewel.

"Maybe we should head back to the training center," I suggest. She looks at me with a smirk.
"Training center?" she asks.
"I couldn't come up with anything better," I whine. A soft laugh escapes her lips and I grin.
"Now you're happier," I laugh.
"I am," she chuckles.

She steps out of the cabin and closes the door behind her. We walk through the trees, the wolf pups close behind us and growling playfully as they chase each other around. Molly giggles lightly and I smile.
  She's happy, so I'm happy.
 
  She begins humming, and though the frown has come back to her face, it seems like a happy, calming tune. I glance at her facial expression and grin. She must not realize she's making the noise. I listen to her melodic voice for a moment more before speaking up.
  "Hey," I laugh, "you're humming."
  "I am?" she asks, the words accompanied by a soft pink rising to her face. I nod, and she clears her throat, blushing darker.
  "It was probably the lullaby my mom and dad used to sing to me before bed," she says.
  "You never sing," I point out. "You should."
  She frowns slightly more. "Singing was something I would do all the time when Dad was around," she explains. "I would constantly be singing." A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "And then Caleb would start singing along, and soon Mom and Dad would join in..." She sighs and shakes her head, smiling softly. "I'd give anything to get those days back."
  "Maybe you can get them back now," I tell her encouragingly. "We could find your dad."
  "Yeah," she whispers.
  And I tell her this because it's true; we could get her father back.
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A/N: Sorry for the slow updates and shorter chapters. I've been kinda busy (as usual), so... Yeah.
  I think I'm going to start a new book, Immortal High. It's basically the high school version of this story, but a summary will be provided for the book. It will include most of the characters from this book- okay, it's basically going to be a modern version of this book. There we go. Anyways! Thanks for taking the time to read this, and sorry for the slow updates...
  ~Mabel