The Curse

I so do not want to move all the way to Canada, Riley thought as she shoved her passport back in her bag. She dragged her suitcase behind her through the dark, snowy streets of the small town called Lykos. It was one of those towns where everybody knew everybody and it looked like it had been around a century. Riley honestly didn't know how Olivia, her sister, could stand it. She was just walking down the street and at least five people had smiled and waved asking, "You're the other Aker sister, aren't you?", and all she could do was smile and nod. Though she was pretty sure they couldn't see her because it was at least midnight by now. Honestly, Riley didn't know anyone and didn't want to know anyone. What she wanted was to go home.

No use crying about it though, she supposed. She hadn't seen Olivia in forever, so that was the one upside to this ordeal. He older-by-three-years sister had abandoned everything at home, including a collage scholarship, and had moved to some tiny ass town in the middle of nowhere as soon as she graduated. If she was being truthful, Riley had resented her sister for a long time because of it. Back in Florida, Olivia had everything; friends, amazing grades, a boyfriend. Then she had some crisis and hopped on a plane to Canada.

Now Riley was being forced by her parents to follow in her sisters' footsteps. Actually she could have decided not to go, being officially nineteen as of last March and a new high school graduate, but then she would have gotten 'The Look' from not only her mother, but her father too! She adored and respected her parents and would really do anything for them shy of jumping off a bridge. Growing up all her friends had gone through their parents getting a divorce and remarrying, but Riley couldn't even remember her parents fighting. They always had that dopy look on their faces when they were around each other and they were so in love you could practically see mini hearts floating around them. She was sure they would be that lovey-dovey old couple sitting on the bench at the park, kissing and totally disgusting any and all children around them.

Besides that, Riley would admit she was excited to see Olivia again. Growing up her sister had been a role model, someone she tried to emulate and be exactly like. Eventually, though, she had grown out of that and become her own person. Still, she wasn't able to stop herself from feeling disappointed when Olivia left. It was like Florida wasn't as bright or some cliché crap like that.

Huffing in annoyance as her suitcase got caught on a rock again, Riley pushed a piece of curly, dishwater brown hair back in her beanie as she attempted to dust the light covering of snowflakes off her gloves. The cold was nipping at her nose as she trudged along, getting deeper and deeper in to the town. As she continued Riley saw, to her great relief, that more and more of the stores were open. Spotting one of those all night cafés, she put a hand on top of her head to keep her beanie from being blown away by the wind. Beginning to walk in a brisk pace, the brunette headed for the neon, flickering OPEN sign.

As soon as she entered the café and was engulfed by the warm air, she couldn't have been more grateful. Riley could smell the different scents of food, she had always had a good nose, and her mouth started to water when she smelt the apple pie. Walking forward and placing her suitcase beside her on the right side of her stool at the bar, Riley ripped off her slightly soggy coat and placed it on top of her suitcase. The waitress smiled at her as she poured some mans coffee and gave her the 'hold on just a minute' gesture.

"Are you new to town?"

Turning her head slightly, she saw a young man about her age sit down to her left. She smiled and nodded slightly, she would make one exception with her no-meeting-the-townspeople rule. This guy didn't have god-like Adonis looks, true, but he was pretty damn hot. Even if she would only be here for a few weeks, who said she couldn't flirt a little?

"Yeah, I'm Riley Aker. What's your name?"

"Hallows, Mason Hallows." He grabbed her hand with a charming smile and kissed it

"Really? Nice to meet you Mister Bonds!" Riley rolled her eyes and laughed

As the waitress came around with a paper pad and pencil, she nodded at them both and smiled while she asked them for their orders. Riley got apple pie and hot chocolate while Mason ordered apple pie and apple cider.

"What can I say? I'm a fan of apples!"

They ate and talked but, sadly, the fun couldn't last forever. Riley needed to get directions to her sisters house before she left because, while she was sure Olivia would hate her for knocking on the door at one in the morning, Riley was not sleeping in a hotel. Before she left, though, Mason grabbed her wrist and flashed her a big smile.

"I'm sure we'll see each other pretty soon."

As she walked out the café, she didn't know just how soon she would end up seeing Mason Hallows. After all, he was the soon-to-be Beta of her sisters pack.