The Feisty Mate

Freedom

Isla was so thankful that it was summertime ! She'd made it through her last week of high school without smacking Mr. Gulton, she'd graduated as salutatorian, she was gifted with a car from her family, and her birthday was in a couple of days. June 1st. She was so ready to be 18, so she could move in with Wes. He stayed in the Sülçaa house. In their pack, there were three main houses that the alphas family could live in, the Pack House, the residential house, or the Sülçaa was the 1 story traditional alpha house. The house had 3 bedrooms and 4 baths. She was too ready to get a little bit of freedom.

Ring ring

Isla rolled over on her bed and grabbed her phone.

"Yes, Holly Holly?" Isla answered the phone for her best friend.

"Isla! So guess who I just saw!" Holly squealed in the phone.

"Mmmmhhh Chris Helmsworth?" Isla replied rolling unto her back.

"Izzie!! No! I just saw assistant principal Gulton!"

Isla rolled her eyes. She was done with school! Principal Joshua Gulton could fall off a cliff and be eaten by a волк for all she cared!

"Holly....I couldn't careless about that jerk!"

"But izzie he is so fine outside of school! Check your phone!" Holly whispered.

Ding

Isla opened the message sent from Holly.

"Holly!! This is not assistant principal Gulton! Omg! Wtf! He is fine af!" Isla looked at the image of a man in a sleeveless shirt with the word 'Zaddy' across the front, with cargo shorts, and fresh Air Jordan 11s. The muscles that ripped from the shirt had her drooling. His hair and beard were always nice during the school year so that wasn't a surprise but this summer Gulton was hot!

"Izzie! I almost fainted when I saw him! I was too afraid to speak!!"

"Hols! You should've said hey! Where are you?" Isla asked, saving the picture.

"I'm leaving the mall now. You home?"
"Yeppers. I was so bored today! Never thought I'd miss school,"
"Right! Can I come over for a bit?" Holly asked
"Let's me ask my parents," Isla replied, "hold on."

—Mom, Dad? Can Holly come over!—
—yes—
—fine by me—

"They said it was ok Hols," Isla replied excited about having girl-time with her BFF.

"Amaze! I'm outside!" Holly replied then ended the call.

Isla wasn't surprised! Just like Holly do first then ask.

Isla and Holly had been friend since they were babies. Holly's parents were the packs doctors. Even though, werewolves hadn't been able to shift, their bodies were still different that the average human. Doctors that specialized in werewolf care were still important.

"Iz!"
"Hols"

The two young ladies screamed as they saw each other at the front door.

"So...have you heard anything from University of Georgia?" Holly questioned as she plopped on isla's bean bag chair in her room.

Isla shook her head. By now she didn't think she got accepted into her dream school. She did get accepted into Vanderbilt, West Virginia Community College, and Georgetown. Even though Isla desires to leave this small town and go to Athens, Ga, something was keeping her in her hometown. She had a weird sense that she wasn't suppose to leave, even though her desires said otherwise.

"Not yet. I'm just keeping my options open," Isla replied, "what is Randy going to do?"

Randy was Holly's boyfriend of 2 years, he unfortunately wasn't her mate.

"He's staying here. He's accepted a job as a Diplomat 1," Holly smiled towards her best friend.

"Really? Well that makes sense but he doesn't want to go to school? Leave the grounds and experience life?" Isla never understood how members of the pack where born, raised, and died on these lands, never venturing out to see the world.

"Iz, not everyone is tired of pack life." Holly replied as she turned on the tv by twirling her finger.

"What's that suppose to mean? And the remote is right there Hols! Last time you used your powers in here you blew up the tv," Isla tossed the remote.

"that time was an accident and you know it! And Isla, every since we were in middle school, all you've talked about is traveling the world, leaving SN and exploring."

"Hols, that doesn't mean I'm tired of pack life. I just want to see how our ways fit within the global community. I love our history and culture but it's not all there is to know," Isla hated that people thought she disliked pack life. What she disliked was being stifled. She wanted to soar and see the world, she loved her home but she loved the thrill of exploration more.

Holly shrugged her shoulders, "whatevs!"
Isla glanced at the clock, "I have to go pick up Caleb and Maddy, ride with?"

The two youngest Gunvoys were enrolled in the summer camp at Swift Water packs. The regional packs rotated the tasks of running the summer camps for the children ages 5-16.

"Sure! Plus I get to ride in that smooth car of yours," Holly teased.

As the girls, walked down the steps, Mary rounded the corner and smiled at them, "where are you beauties headed off to?"

"Luna...." Holly said as she respectfully put her right hand over her heart and bowed her head.

"To pick up Caleb and Maddy," Isla replied.

"Ah that's right. My babies. Be careful driving Isla," Mary warned.

"Yes mom," Isla replied, because her back was to her mother she rolled her eyes.

— I would hate to take that pretty car away from you, Isla Marie Gunvoy. Roll them again and you will be walking to get your brother and sister.

Isla turned towards her mother who was now conversing with Holly.

"Well, I'm sure you'll decide where to go Holly. You're a bright girl," Mary smiled.

Mary turned towards Isla, "Be safe, my fiery one. Love you," Mary patted Isla's cheek and walked off toward her room.

Isla nodded towards the door so Holly knew it was time to go.
___________________________________

"So how was Camp squares?" Isla asked as her siblings climbed into the car.

"It was cool Izzie. I met a dud named Rhett today, he part of Red Wood pack. I feel like I've never seen him around. Really cool dude Iz," Caleb replied.

"That's awesome Caleb! And what's about you Maddy?" Isla asked her baby sister.

"It was fine," Madison mumbled. Out of all the Gunvoy children, Madison was the most reserved. She rarely spoke around people that weren't in her immediate family. At home amongst family, Madison was a hoot, a complete different character.

" just fine Maddy? Come on! Did you meet any cute boys? Made any new friends? Did you learn anything new" Holly fires off question after question.

Maddy leaned up between the driver and passenger seat, placed her hand on Hollys shoulder, "sleep,"

Holly head dropped to the side, lightly hitting the window. Asleep.

"Maddy! Whyyy?!" Isla's head moved back and forward, looking between, Madison, Holly, and the road.

Caleb was too busy laughing at how quickly Madison tired of Holly.

"Maddy you know you're not suppose to use your powers like that!"

Madison simply shrugged, " she was talking too much Izzie. I apologize."

Isla looked at her sister in the rear view mirror. Madison looked back. They both started laughing joining Caleb.

Isla was laughing so hard that she didn't see the silver Jetta stop in front of her. By the time she realized the car had stopped she slammed on brakes, still hitting the car in front of her, and causing the car behind her to rear end them.

"Ohhh no!" Isla exclaimed.