What was one meant to do when the truth happened to be in everyone’s faces, but no one seemed to acknowledge it? Jace, for what seemed to be the millionth time, pushed the thought far from his mind and attempted to concentrate on the material Ms. Dooley was teaching. He wasn’t foreign to these thoughts. Unfortunately for him, he was greeted with the same question every single day since he was able to have a coherent thought strand in his mind. When all the arrows seemed to point one way, but everyone was looking the other way – was something he had battled with more so now than ever.
He had turned 19 a while back and was not the type of guy that would stray from the rules. Which puzzled most as he was very liked by his peers. And generally, those who were as popular as Jace weren’t the normal strait-laced kind of people. He would not classify himself as popular because he believed that to be childish. Who still went prancing around saying they were popular? It just wasn’t his style. If Jace spoke with you, that was because he genuinely liked you or he needed to speak with you. Simply put and that’s how he liked it. Whereas his best-friend, Carter, was a whole different ball game. Loud and obnoxious would be how some would put it. Jace however would shake his head and smile, Carter was his best friend. You either loved him or hated him and Jace loved Carter like a brother.
Two sides of the same coin, Jace and Carter were. And for that reason alone, he sure as hell wasn’t going to entertain thoughts that could potentially ruffle feathers in their friendship… or brotherhood. A loud groan from the class pulled Jace out of his thoughts.
“Okay, before you all go and moan, how do you expect to learn if we don’t do weekly tests?” Ms. Dooley smiled.
“But-” A student at the back of the class said.
“No buts,” Her small frame moving behind her desk. “We’ll have a test next Friday, so study hard.” Just as she finished speaking, the bell rang dismissing the class. As the hallway emerged with students rushing to get some food in their stomach’s, Jace found himself walking against the crowd. He just needed a few minutes to collect himself. His thoughts were louder today, which meant that it was harder to shake off what he truly felt internally. If he couldn’t collect himself and his thoughts, Carter would pick it up instantly and he didn’t have the energy to feign his emotions or lie.
He found an area near the back of the field, where most of the outcast students would sit and either listen to their alternative music or call on spirits or simply, just hang. No one paid attention to him as he walked past circles of friends sitting on the grass and found a spot by a tree trunk. He threw his bag beside the trunk and rested his back against the earthy wood behind him. He closed his eyes, allowing the sun to wash over him as he attempted to still his thoughts. Something seemed to be off today. Usually he’d get these thoughts, dust them off and proceed with his day. But today, something was different. Internally his chest burnt with a mixture of annoyance and anger.
“Stop.” He whispered to himself. It was quiet, so he was sure no one around him could hear him speak to himself, but had anyone managed to, they would have noticed the authoritative undertone which his voice carried. His chest felt as though he was experiencing the most severe heartburn, as the flames which seemed to be at bay, flared into what he could only imagine was like hell.
“Okay!” He mumbled in pain. “I know, I know.” The fire eased slightly, as a familiar voice spoke in his mind.
We do not bow to anybody. The voice spoke angrily, with a slight growl.
“But we do.” He replied mentally. Feeling exhausted that yet again, he was having the same conversation that he had, only just yesterday with himself.
I. AM. A. ALPHA!
His wolf roared, causing the hairs on his arms to stand. His eyes flew open as the words rung loudly in his head. His eyes scattered the field, to see if anyone had noticed the interaction that had clearly only happened in his head and was relived to see everyone immersed in their own conversations. Apart from one.
Her tight curls were enough to draw anyone’s attention to her, or so Jace thought. Yet, he had no recollection of her being there when he arrived. Of course, she could have taken her place as his eyes were closed, but that wasn’t what he felt had happened. She sat alone. A book nestled into her laps as they both sat watching each other. She was too far for him to notice her facial features, but something was pulling him towards her. Both in his human and wolf. She had clearly noticed something had happened, but how? Before he could spare another moment trying to understand what was happening, he felt Carter’s presence.
S.B Chapters 