Bloodlines and Betrayal

3.🐺

 The morning sun filtered through the open glass doors of my bedroom, casting warm rays across the room. The air was still, suspended in that perfect moment between dawn's cool embrace and the midday warmth that would soon follow. The peaceful chirping of birds outside was a gentle reminder that the day had begun, and though I wanted to linger in bed a little longer, I forced myself to get up.

I was already thinking of Hazel. We had a special morning routine—making breakfast together, something we both cherished. I padded softly across my room, my feet light on the floor as I went to check on her. But when I glanced over at her bed, it was empty. My eyes shifted to Colton's bed, where she often ended up. Sure enough, there she was—sprawled out in the most relaxed, carefree position, her arms and legs flung wide as if she were soaking up the morning air.

The sight was so endearing that I couldn't resist grabbing my phone to capture the moment. Just as the flash lit up the room, Colton shot up with a groan. His messy hair obscured his eyes, and for a split second, he looked like something out of a horror movie—zombie-like and rising from his coffin. My heart jumped at the sight, and I quickly recovered from my shock.

As my breath steadied, Hazel stirred. At first, she was confused, but then it clicked, and the sound of her laughter filled the room—loud, joyous, and infectious. The kind of laughter that could only belong to her. Her giggles were so intense she nearly tumbled off the bed, tears of laughter streaming down her cheeks.

The raucous sound filled the room, and for a moment, all of us were lost in the absurdity of the morning. After several minutes of laughter, we finally got ourselves together. My stomach grumbled in protest—food was definitely a priority now.

We worked together, cleaning up the mess in Colton's room. It wasn't unusual for him to make a mess—his height and energy often caused him to knock things over. As we cleaned, I followed him down the tall spiral staircase, but, in my distracted state, I misstepped. Before I could even process what was happening, I took a tumble. The fall was quick and sharp, and before I knew it, everything went dark.

When I came to, I was at the bottom of the stairs, a wave of dizziness and pain hitting me all at once. My right wrist screamed in agony, and I couldn't ignore the growing ache in my bones. I had to admit it—gravity wasn't my friend today.

The pack doctor, who was also an ER specialist, confirmed that my wrist wasn't just bruised—it was fractured. The news wasn't surprising, but it wasn't welcome either. The thought of a cast and the possibility of healing slower in wolf form filled me with frustration. Still, I managed a small distraction in the form of choosing a white cast. I planned to decorate it with wolf designs and celestial symbols—a little touch of creativity to make the best out of a painful situation.

With the cast on, I took the necessary painkillers and rushed to school, though I knew I was going to be late. Sure enough, my wrist drew curious glances as I entered the office to turn in my late note. I could already feel the inevitable questions coming my way.

I headed straight to art class, hoping the free period would give me a chance to focus on decorating my cast. The moment I walked into the classroom, the curious stares were immediate, and I could practically hear the whispers. I smiled, mentally bracing myself.

I asked Ms. Knightly, our art teacher and Alex's mother, if I could use some special markers. She agreed, and I set up at my seat, headphones on, as I began drawing a small wolf pup surrounded by sun, moon, and star symbols. It was a piece of me—something that felt right as I focused on the rhythm of my hand.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted my concentration.

"What happened?" Alex's voice was filled with concern as he approached. His face was flushed, and his eyes darted to my cheek, then to my face. "Are you okay? Are you in pain? How did this happen? I didn't see you this morning in your parking spot."

I gave him a reassuring smile, though I winced slightly at the pain in my wrist. "It's just an accident," I said. "I was at the ER getting this cast. It'll be off in about a month—hopefully before Halloween." I glanced up at him. "Were you looking for me this morning?"

Alex seemed flustered for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Uh, no. I just thought we could maybe walk to class or grab some breakfast together."

I smiled at the thought. "How about a rain check for tomorrow?"

Alex looked relieved, though embarrassed. "Sure. Also, my mom's been telling me about this art project. Want to be my partner?"

I blinked in surprise, intrigued. "You mean Ms. Knightly? Your mom? Did you have a hand in this?"

Alex shifted nervously. "Yeah. I asked her if we could be partners. She said okay."

We exchanged phone numbers to coordinate for the project before the bell rang. I appreciated his offer to carry my books to history class, even though it felt a little strange.

In history, Colton was already seated, deep in thought. After a few minutes, he finally spoke up.

"I'm paired with Emily," he said, sounding frustrated. "She's cute, but I have no idea how to approach her with... everything."

I chuckled. "Emily? I remember her from cheerleading tryouts. Don't stress. She'll be fine. Focus on your project. It'll work out."

Colton nodded, a look of relief washing over him. "Thanks for the advice, Char."

The final bell rang, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The day had been full of surprises, and I was excited to begin working on the art project with Alex. The year was shaping up to be full of unexpected twists, and I was eager to see where this would lead.

When I got home, I wasted no time grabbing my sketchbook. My wrist might be broken, but my mind was racing with ideas. The day had been full of new connections, and something told me that it was only the beginning.