Wolfsbane, A Love Story

Happy Birthday!

Warning:
This book contains mentions of self harm, sexual situations, rape, violence, suicide, depression, and profanity. If any of these situations bother you, stop reading here. Otherwise please enjoy! And let me know what you guys think! I'd love to hear from you. :)

Octavia:
    
     My eyes flutter open as the wafting scent of breakfast fills my nose. The sizzle of the pan and the clanking of cutlery moves me from the luring embrace of my bed. I quickly change clothes, grabbing my boots off the floor on my way out. When I'm finished, I skip down the stairs, taking two at a time. Lara stands in front of the stove. She turns to me and grins.

     "Happy Birthday, baby girl!" She opens her arms for a hug.

     "Thanks mom." I murmur.

     I'm adopted, but after everything the Gales have done for me, I at least owe them the occasional mom and dad.

     "Eighteen!" She says after breaking our embrace.

     "I can't believe it, it seems like just yesterday you were running around this place in diapers, and now you're-" She gestures at me with her hand.
    
      Just then, Dan entered the room, dressed sharp in his typical navy dress shirt and black dress pants. His black hair flecked with grey, smile lines ran across his face.
    
     "All grown up." He finishes, bending down to kiss the crown of  Lara's head. She scoffs.

     "Oh, hardly." She chuckles, and leans into Dan's chest. I aspire to have a love like theirs one day. The kind of unhalting love that tilts your whole world on its axis and just stops time.

     "Happy Birthday, O." Dan says.

     I cringe at the nick name.

     "Thanks you guys," I glance at my watch, "I gotta go."

     I grab a pancake and savagely wolf it down before sauntering out the door.

     "Love you." The Gales shout as I haul up my Harley, and swing one leg gracefully over the seat.  The engine roars to life beneath me, and I can't help but grin.

     "I love you too." I reply.

     I tear down the road, and I feel content atop the rapid barks of my bike.

     When I arrive at school, I hurriedly strode through the front doors. I sweep a lock of my vibrant purple hair from my eyes and head to art class. Today we're working with chalk pastels, and I've grown pretty proud of mine. It's a snarling black wolf. Her eyes bore into the viewers, paws lifted in the snow, ready to pounce. I suddenly feel a burning sensation in my gut. I gasp, clutching my ribs.

     "Uhm..." I grimace in pain, "Can I go to the bathroom?"

     I rush down the hallway. I could've sworn I just heard my bones crack. I'm running now. Once I reach the door of the empty bathroom, I turn and lock it. I double over in pain. My back arches, and suddenly both of my shoulders dislocate. I groan, trying not to to cry out as I fall to my knees, supporting myself with two shakey hands. My gums ache painfully and my head begins to throb. What the fuck is going on?! I look down, and my stomach does a somersault. My fingers have grown claws, and before my very eyes, they're shortening into paw-like stubs.

     No. Not paw-like. I have PAWS.

     I hear myself whine. What? I feel overwhelmed by all of the sudden smells and sounds. IT'S SO LOUD. I growl deeply. I turn to the full body mirror. What I see next is mortifying. In the reflection of the mirror stands and enormous black wolf. Her eyes glare piercingly into mine. My eyes. I easily stand five feet tall on all fours, my paws the size of dinner plates. I snarl, and I snap my four, long canines.

     Bad.
     Ass.

     I hear footsteps approaching, and a sudden rattle at the door handle.

     "Ummm... Octavia?... Mrs. G sent me to make sure you were okay."

     It's Rayna. She's my best and only friend. I love her to death, but I have to get out of here before she sees me and thinks I got eaten or something. I don't know what this is, or if I can even control myself. I could hurt someone. I glance around, terrified.

     There.

      A perfect push window is perched above a vent by the sink. I saunter over, careful not to let my claws scrape against the cold tile, and push the window open with my muzzle. I leap through it, only to catch and get stuck. A wave if panic washed over me. I'm too big! I hear another knock at the door.

     "Octavia, please, I'm worried about you."

      I hear her muffled voice break a little, and I freeze. But shake my head, and with eminse strength, push my body out of the window. I land on the ground with a soft thud, but I'm still on my feet. I glance back. The windowsill is bent, and the brick around it is crumbling. I didn't even realize I was on the third floor until I landed.

     I scamper off to cover and suddenly freeze in my tracks.

     What now?