This is Just How I Am.

My Intro

“No don’t put that in your mouth.” “Don’t pull the dog’s ears.” “Don’t run in the street!”

These are often things told to little children. My parents told me the same thing but a little differently.

“No Raven, don’t put Mommy’s dress in your mouth.” “Don’t growl at the cat.” “Don’t run after bicyclists.”

That’s what happens when you are born into a werewolf family. All my life I’d known that I was different. That’s why I wasn’t allowed to go over to other girls’ houses. You know those leash things that they have for little kids? The ones that are cute and look like backpacks or that the kid has a stuffed animal wrapped around them? Yea, my parents wished that they’d had one of those for me. I wonder sometimes what my life would be like if I wasn’t this way. Would I be popular instead of a loner? Doubtful. My body size and looks take care of that.

I have light brown hair that is bipolar when it comes to color. Sometimes it has a red tint, others it has gold streaks, and the rest of the time it decides to be just a brown mess that I can’t really figure out what to do with. My eyes are pretty cool though I guess. If you didn’t really look all that closely, they’d just be blue. But I’ve stared into a mirror for hours and Kris has stared at them too. They have a dark blue ring around the inside with blue fading into yellow. Rosacea gives my face that pink blush that most think is makeup or that I have a like for someone. Well I never said some people were very bright. A hate for exercise and a Scandinavian/German heritage gives me a heavy set build. I’d call myself fat but the few friends that I do have would hit me. Especially Kris, he tells me that I should say that I’m just fluffy. Yea, ha ha. Very funny. I’ve tried that and it always comes out the same. I just sound like a dork.

 I am the oldest of 8 children (Thank you divorced then remarried parents). Being the oldest has its perks sometimes. And sometimes it makes you want to scream. But what really makes it even worse is that out of all the children that my parents had, I’m the only one to inherit the gene. They didn’t even have it. My nana had it. She was gorgeous. I think the reason I have it is because I look like her. Or at least people say I do. I’d be super lucky if I really did. I look more like her than I do my own parents apparently. But with her passing when I was in 5th grade, I was alone. Until I found out that there were others like me. Go figure though that I had to wait until high school to find out.

People have asked me, why don’t you come out with us? I say that I’m tired or busy. Truth is, I really don’t like the places that they want to go. Super sensitive hearing plus loud obnoxious music paired with a very well developed sense of smell and a room full of sweaty teenagers doesn’t sound fun to me. Fun to me is reading on a blanket in the yard when the sun is out and warm or beating another band at competition. But I have the most fun when I’m with my mate. Now my parents, and I hope that you don’t share this ideal, have told me that I’m too YOUNG to have found the person that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. Well I say that they’re wrong.

When my nana told me that someday I’d find the missing puzzle piece to my life, I just dreamed about it but never really had any hope of finding him. Then I did and he knocked me back on my tail, literally. I was out running one night in full wolf form, as only Alphas can, and another wolf barreled into me. A growl started but never found its way out once I saw him.

I am such a klutz. And I can’t even tell her sorry. Wow. She is beautiful. He thought.

I am not! And apology accepted. I paused, shook my head, and stared wide eyed at him.

We stood there staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity.

How can I hear you?

How can you hear me?

Both of these things ran through our minds at the same time. I remembered my nana telling me something about how when you found your other match, your wolf inside knows and acknowledges it differently with different people. Obviously, my wolf automatically melded its mind with his.

He’s the one! My inner wolf leapt for joy but I kept a distance. How could I be so sure when I had just met him? Instincts told me to go to him but I held back. What was it that made me instintaneously be like this towards him? He came forward slowly, creeping until just an inch was between our muzzles. My name is Kris. What is yours, chicki pup?

I snorted. I’m hardly a pup. And it’s Raven. What are you doing here? What were you doing and why did you crash into me? All these thoughts ran through my mind.

He sat and shook his head. Whoa. Whoa. One question at a time please. I was just minding my own business running like I like to do and didn’t see you until too late. By the way, I like your name. He grinned as only a wolf could.

I thought for a minute. How are you in full wolf form? Why aren’t you half, standing like most others?

He mentally shrugged. I don’t know. I’ve always been this way. What about you?

I’m the Alpha of my family. This form is often only reserved for types like me.

He raised an eyebrow. Oh yea? Well maybe I’m special. He nudged me.

Well this is all well and good but I feel slightly awkward talking to you while like this.

What do you mean? He tilted his head.

Well….. in this form and ……. I said the last little bit quietly and, if he could’ve seen it, blushed.

What was that? He seemed to think and then it dawned on him and he chuckled. You mean while we both have no clothes on. He waggled his eyebrows and started laughing. His laughter in my head grew steadily and it was infectious. Soon we were both laughing. I stopped and looked at him still warm with the sound of his laughter.

Where have you been? I’ve never seen you around before.

I’ve always been in Durant, have been since kindergarten. I used to go to the old elementary school that was closed then I went to the one on the south side of town. I’m a sophomore at the high school now. Where have you been? Kris nosed my ear.

I twitched my ear thoughtfully. Same here just a grade ahead of you I guess. This was weird. How had I never noticed him before?

Maybe you weren’t ready for me. He stared at me with the most heart melting brown eyes.

Dang it. I really needed to figure out how to block him sometimes. Hmm… Well I’m going home now. I’m not really sure what time it is and my parents will get mad if I stay out too long. See you around I guess. I bolted in the direction of home and away from the guy that would save me whether I liked it or not.

He tossed a Goodbye, chicki pup!! at me as he ran in the other direction. Boy was I in for something big.

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Laying in bed that night, I kept thinking about Kris. Why hadn't I ever noticed him? It was a little wierd that we hadn't bumped into each other at school. But then again, I hadn't noticed the other Hiddens at school either. I fell asleep with the sound of his laughter in my head and dreamed about his eyes.

That day is forever ingrained in my memory. That was the day that changed the course of my life.