At Dawn

Twelve.

٭ Twelve. Tense Air ٭

WHEN SCHOOL STARTED THE WOLF STILL HAUNTED my mind even as I sat in the car with Lex. Lex was quiet as he drove us to school. The only sound being the radio as I bit my lip before glancing at him.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "I'm fine, you were the one that was quiet, so I thought I'd let you appreciate it." Lex spoke turning to me with a quirk of his lips. I nodded and Lex smiled before turning his attention back to the road.

The wolf returned before I remembered Lex telling me he grew up here his entire life. Maybe he'd know if wolves are common around here. "Hey Lex, can I ask you a question?" I asked turning over to him as he glanced at me. "Go on." Lex spoke his eyes on the road.

"Are wolves common in these woods?" It was my mistake to be so blunt, but Lex barely even reacted with any red signs. No jerk and shocked eyes. No wariness of the question I asked. Instead he remained completely and utterly calm his eyes on the road ahead of him.

There was nothing but a calm exterior on him. It was a bit unnerving. "Wolves pass through every now and then, you are up north Ambrosia." Lex reminded me his eyes shifting over to me. "Okay." I spoke and Lex looked at the lines that painted the cement road in front of us.

"Did you see a wolf?" Lex asked. "Um. . . yeah. I went for a walk and fell. There was a very large wolf in front of me after that." I spoke feeling embarrassed at sharing this information with Lex. Lex nodded. "What color?" Lex asked.

"He had white fur and golden eyes." Lex glanced. "He?" Lex asked. I nodded. "Interesting. What trail were you walking?" Lex asked. "There was a trail behind my house. I was taking pictures for reference and tripped on a wet root." I responded and Lex nodded his eyes on the road.

"What time were you walking?" Lex asked. "Um. . . around dawn. The sun was beginning to rise." I told him. "I'd walk the trails in the afternoon or around nine. Once the sun goes down or comes up lots of wolves tend to walk the trails." Lex responded.

"Really?" I asked and he nodded. "Wolves come through here all the time." Lex explained and I nodded. "And they aren't very fearful of people, so they aren't scared off very easy." Lex spoke. He turned to me as we pulled up at the high school and he pulled into his parking space.

"I would advise just staying away from them. Don't even make eye contact with them, especially the dark furred ones. Or just avoid walking around dusk until dawn." Lex spoke and all I could do was nod. "But if you desire a walk so badly you can just call me." Lex spoke.

He turned to me until he was on eye level with me and I sucked in breath unsure of what to do as his lower lip pushed out into a pout. "I'm always down for a walk." All I could do was nod as he smiled and pulled away.

"Thank you for the ride Lex." I told him and he nodded as we stepped out and I collected my backpack. "You don't have to keep thanking me Ambrosia, you live right across from me, I literally just spare three minutes." Lex teased a crawling up his face.

"I know." I whispered and Lex smiled. "See you in class Ambrosia." Lex responded and I nodded as he turned around and left disappearing off to where Silas stood with some of his friends. Adjusting the bag on my shoulder I went inside the school building.

The lavish interior still had me surprised convincing me of the funds Moonbrooke's schools happened to have. Collecting myself I made my way to class. Lex preferred to leave early for he could go see his friends before class which left me in first period sitting in the back with a book.

As time ticked on, I glanced up to see Adrian walking in holding Lyra's hand reminding me I shared first period with the two of them. And they happened to sit next to me on top of that. Lyra looked at me and smiled as she took a seat next to me.