Instinct

Chapter 1

Amber's POV

17 years, I've been alive for 17 years now, almost 18, been told the same thing for 17 years. Act normal. Act normal but remember you aren't normal so you can't do everything everyone else is doing. Act normal but remember you aren't normal so don't do anything that might attract attention. For 17 years I've been told no.

"No Amber you can't join Girl Scouts because they go camping and you might lose control in the woods" "No Amber you can't go to Mary's sleepover what if you lose control during the night?" " No Amber you can't join the Soccer team you'll get too competitive and lose control."

I know my parents are only trying to keep me safe but I've known the rules, I know how to control myself, and they still treat me like a pup, sorry, was that not normal enough? Let me rephrase that, they still treat me like a child.

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     "Amber" I felt myself  being shaken awake. "Amber wake up!" I peaked my eyes open to see Sophia, my best friend, urgently trying to wake me. I looked around, Crap! I hadn't fallen asleep in my bedroom, no I had fallen asleep in my 3rd period classroom, AP U.S. History with Mr. Randle, one of the meanest teachers in the school.

I sat up quickly and looked around. I turned to thank Sophia just as the tardy bell rang and Mr. Randle walked in. I shut my mouth quickly not wanting to get in trouble for talking.

      " Good Morning Class" Mr. Randle stated.
"Good morning sir" We all grumbled in response. "Take out your essays on the Industrial Revolution and pass them to the front, if you have a pitiful excuse in its place, yes I am talking to you Nick, see me after class."

     I groaned and pulled out the barely completed essay from my backpack. "I finished this at 2 a.m. last night" I whispered to Sophia, she scoffed "At least yours is finished , half of mine is just me writing random crap down.!"

I spent the rest of class trying to stay awake and absorb at least some of the information being thrown at me. Unfourtonatly there's only so much interest you can force upon yourself. So that plan basically useless.

****
"So what's up?" Sophia asked me as we walking home after school. "I mean since when have you started sleeping in class?"

I sighed. "Honestly?" I asked. " I think it's just nerves, I've just been lying in bed staring out the window at night. I just can't sleep."

We shared a look. "Do you think it's you know what?" She questioned. " You are almost 18, it's in what? 3 weeks? It's that time of the month in about 4." Sophia's talking about the full moon. You see, we're werewolves and wolves first shift happens sometime between their 17th and their 18th birthday on a full moon.

" I don't know, seems like it could be that." I sighed. " I mean she has been more aggressive lately."

Sophia stopped walking and looked at me. "You haven't talked to her right? Amber do you know how dangerous that could be? I mea-"

"Relax." I snapped. " Trust me a little won't you? I'm not stupid enough to let her forward, You sound just like my parents. All I'm saying is I can feel her pushing more than usual."

"Sorry, it's just you know how both of our parents can be, if you did talk to her they'd have both our heads" Sophia said, she paused for second before continuing " Do you ever..." she glanced up at me "Do you ever just want to know what it's like?" My eyes snapped up to meet hers "I mean if there was a way to connect without injuring anyone?" She quickly explained. "Wouldn't it be cool to just, just run free?" She looked curiously at me waiting for my response.

" Are you crazy?!" I whispered-yelled "you and I both know that side of us is dangerous we can't let it out, they'd take control!"

"I know, I know! I'm sorry I'm just curious that's all" Sophia apologized looking guilty.
" I know you are, to be honest I kinda am too... But if my parents ever heard us talk like this..."

I looked at Sophia and we shared a silent message. We both knew connecting wasn't a option ever, we could dream all we wanted but it was far too dangerous, full moons would be the closest we'd ever get to freedom.

We walked in silence for a while until Sophia spoke up. " You should tell your parents you can't sleep, they might be able to help." I looked up at her. "Maybe I should, I just don't want them to start fussing and put me on complete lock down if it turns out to be nothing." I said.

"Well tell them or not your grades better not drop, remember the lecture we got last year when I failed geometry?" We both shuttered. "I don't ever want to go through that again. "

Last year Sophia had failed a term of geometry and my parents and hers sat us, Jake (Sophia's older brother) both of my younger twin siblings (Emma and Ethan) My older brother Dawson and Nick (another kid in our "pack") down and gave a 2 hour long lecture about how we can't draw attention to ourselves and failing classes was drawing attention.... Blah blah blah .... Safety.... Blah blah blah... Being exposed.... And after all that we were put on full lockdown until we could " get our act together"

     Full lockdown meant we were only allowed to leave our rooms to eat, go to the bathroom, or to go to school. It's torture. The idea is we'll be safe or learn a lesson, but as far as we were concerned it made us despise telling them anything.

   We reached Sophia's house first. "Help me study for the Calculus test?" She pleaded. "Only if you promise to help me with this History project " I said. Being werewolves we are extremely intelligent but without connection we're only good at certain things. I happen to rock at mathematics while Sophia is a total history nerd.

     We entered Sophia's house and went straight to the kitchen. I opened up the fridge while Sophia went straight for the pantry. I scanned the selection of drinks and snacks settling on Canada Dry and some dill pickles. I shut the fridge door and turned to a hands full of food Sophia.

     "Ready?" I asked "Yup" she mumbled from the bag of Cheetos in her mouth. We headed upstairs into Sophia's room and dropped everything onto her bed. I reached for the peanut butter first and went to grab my Cal. Notes when Jake burst through the door.

     " Your Dad found sent marks on the border!"

I rolled my eyes. 'Here we go'

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A/N
Soooo here's chapter one! I know not a lot of people are reading this but if you are and you like I would really appreciate it if you'd vote and spread the word about my book!!❤️ Also if anybody has any constructive criticism I'm always open for improvement so don't be shy!!

Thank you so much for reading!