The Wolf Within

Chapter Fifteen: Family Comes First; But Friends Come And Go

Arden's POV

I walked through the woods feeling every tree, every breeze, and every bug fly past my ears. But most of all I heard silence and peace. Something I haven't heard in a while because of all the stress I've been going through. Thinking about my powers, my life, my family, my brother, and myself. I had no idea how I'd find my brother if he was even alive or how I'd get past my pack without them noticing me. But at this moment in time, I didn't care.

I just wanted my brother back.

"Hey there," I turned around and there was a fawn haired boy, smiling at me with his hands in his pocket.

"What do you want?" I said, holding my backpack and backing up a little.

"The names Ansel," he said walking two feet towards me with a smirk.

"And my name is Gretel," I remarked.

"Funny," he replied.

For some reason his sarcasm had interested me, he was the only voice or thing I'd heard in a while, I blocked everything out but him. And to me that was strange and somewhat intriguing.

"I'm so serious, what a coincidence right," I laughed.

"What's your real name?" He asked.

"Why?" I said, "is this an interview?" I sat down on a log but still guarded and he stood standing with that smirk that truly intimidated my sarcastic mind.

"Maybe," he said.

I smiled and touched my knees, "my name is Arden," I told him, "would you like my last name too?"

"No need," he said finally sitting down on a rock in front of me.

"Why are you in the middle of the woods for?" I asked him staring into his blue eyes.

"Just taking a walk away from my pack no big deal," he answered, "and you?"

"I'm walking back to my pack," I told him nervously, "I need to get my brother back and then I'm leaving."

"Is ur pack down that hill?" He asked.

"Yea actually," I answered slowly.

He stood up over me and I stood up to even though I was insanely scared of what was about to probably happen.

"Your brother isn't dead," he finally said after a long time of him staring at me.

"How'd you...what?" I said.

"Please, I remember you Arden, and I'm offended that you have no memory of me," he laughed, "we went to grade school together, I taught you how to properly change into your wolf form."

I thought about what he said. Ansel, my middle school crush, and may still have a spot in my heart. He was even better looking than he was before. His blue eyes and charming smile, it's hard to believe that he is a werewolf. I smiled and went in for a hug.

"I remember now," I said as he hugged me back, I quickly moved, "wait are you gonna turn me in or back stab me once you gain my trust?"

He smirked. "No."

"I want to believe you but I just can't trust anyone right now," I replied.

"Then use your spirit magic to I don't know, search into my soul and find out if I'm faithful enough," he said moving closer to me, "then you'll know."

How did he know about my powers and the fact that I'm a hybrid. Did my parents send him or tell him, everything happening right now was freaking me the hell out, I was just looking at him speechless and scared.

"Don't worry," he said, "I won't hurt you and I'm gonna help you get your brother back."

"Where is he?" I asked.

"In the alpha's basement, basically being held captive, it's a trap for you knowing you'll come back," he said.

"How'd you know I'd come?" I said walking to the river.

"I was just taking a walk and I just walked into you," he replied, "honest I swear, this wasn't planned Arden."

I know the saying of trust your gut feeling or whatever. But I didn't want to, all I was thinking about was to find and get my brother out of there. I didn't trust him fully, it's been a while since I've seen him, about 6 years actually, I'm in high school now. We may have been in the same pack but my pack is basically a whole town. The thing about me is, I trust people too easily and it backfires on me. But at this point, I didn't care about anything.

"Take me to him."

He looked at me, I was silent for almost a whole minute thinking and he let me do that. I looked at him and our eyes met, I could feel my eyes sparkling and he smiled at me. Walking over to me, he took my hand and I allowed him to without any hesitation. Feeling my heart pound and my barrier of trust for him sliding away. His words made me smile and want to believe what he said.

"As you wish, I promise nothing bad will happen to you, I'll protect you."