MAGNOLIA ❀ P. LAHOTE

4. Nathan Fucking Yellowhair

❀

"Maggie, you cannot go to school!" Sam explodes, slamming the front door open and almost ripping off its hinges, "You're not ready yet!"

"Who are you? My fucking dad?" Magnolia rolls her eyes, which only makes the vein on Sam's neck pop out even more, and plops down on the sofa.

Sam closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, "Magnolia, I'm responsible if you kill someone and I'm not kidding. You saw what I did to Emily and there's potential for worse, so no school until you've learned to control yourself."

"I don't wanna be stuck here all week!" Magnolia groans, digging her face into the couch cushions. "We've been practicing all weekend, I can somewhat control my anger, plus I'll have you and Jared there and I'm pretty sure I have a Chem test today and it's only for today then we have the week to ourselves. Please let me go, please," she sits up and gives him the puppy dog eyes.

"Magnolia..." Sam sighs before rubbing his face in defeat, "Fine, but text me if anything happens and Jared, we can't let her get angry."

"Sir, yes sir!" Jared jokes, saluting his alpha.

"I'm serious, Jared. Maggie's like a firecracker, once she starts up, it's hard to put her off," Sam warns him.

"Um, she is right here, thank you very much," Magnolia sasses, placing her hands on her hips.

"Am I lying?" Sam asks.

"No," Magnolia grumbles.

"Alright, if you're ready then let's go," Sam huffs and Magnolia runs to her room to get her phone, hoodie, and backpack before yelling goodbye to Emily as she runs outside.

"I call back with Jared!" Magnolia yells and hops on the bed of the truck, joining Jared who was already sitting back there. "So, Jared, are we the only wolves here?"

"Well actually, when you phased last night, someone else did too," Jared tells her.

Magnolia looks at him surprised, "Really? Who?"

"I have no idea, I was watching you all night just in case you wolfed out in the house and Sam didn't mention it this morning either, but I don't think he found him," Jared shrugs as if it were no big deal.

"Him? What if she's a girl like me?" Magnolia crosses her arms, "Isn't it a bit sexist to assume that the next wolf is another guy."

"W-Wait," Jared holds his arms up in defense, "that's not what I meant!"

Magnolia busts out laughing at Jared's panic, "I'm just fucking with you. He probably is a guy."

Jared wipes away faux sweat, "Jeez, woman, you're terrifying."

"Thanks!" Magnolia beams, having the craziest look in her eye. "I still can't believe it, though," she says after a moment, "we're frickin' werewolves."

"Shapeshifters," Jared corrects.

"Same diff," Magnolia shrugs and quickly holds on to the truck as Sam turns into the school.

Jared chuckles, "So, what's your history with Sam?"

"He was engaged to my sister, but that was before he imprinted on Emily," Magnolia looks down, a sad expression on her face. "We used to be really close, he's the big brother I never had. I just wish everything with Leah happened differently, then maybe things would be better."