Chapter 5 The Beautiful Boy

Luca left me hanging with a, "Someone will reach out to you. You don't reach out to them. That is, if you're lucky and they don't leave you to die."

I snorted. If I'm lucky, huh? Nothing about my whole situation screamed luck.

I kicked an empty can as I rounded the corner where an old, run-down 'moel' was situated, according to the flashing sign. The T was broken out.

The desk clerk at the motel was a middle-aged woman dressed in a too-tight leopard skirt and a pink crop top.

"Room four." She chewed loudly on her gum, handing me a key. "Clean your mess before you leave."

The unfriendly woman resumed reading a beauty magazine, ignoring me as I struggled to reopen the glass door.

"Thanks for the help," I muttered irritably under my breath when I finally managed to get out.

Room number four was gross. The bed was unmade, the kitchen sink piled with dishes, and the toilet still had feces in it.

After I tidied up the place, I found out the TV was broken. Left with nothing else to do, I sunk onto the floor beside the bed, buried my face into my hands, and cried.

At some point, I just laid down on the floor, curled into a fetal position, wishing I could go back to this morning. Maybe if I hadn't gone to school, I wouldn't be here right now.

If only I had some way of knowing, I'd still have a warm bed and a place to call home.

Even if my parents weren't exactly a model example, I would have had hope.

I didn't stop crying until somewhere past midnight when my eyelids became heavy, and I drifted off.

***

Pressure on my shoulder was what tore me from a nightmare where I was a hideous beast, tearing into the flesh of the people I loved.

My eyes fluttered open to meet up with a pair of the most beautiful butterscotch eyes staring back at me.

For a moment, I was lost in them, completely transfixed, my brain lagging from sleep. Until I realized where I was, and there wasn't supposed to be anyone in this room with me.

"Hey, are you okay?" the gorgeous boy asked.

A scream exploded from my lips, and I repeatedly tried to kick him, but he was faster and stronger than me. He grabbed hold of both my legs and pinned them down.

"Relax. I'm not here to hurt you."

I didn't know why, but I believed him. Maybe it was something in his eyes or the fluttering sensation blossoming inside my belly. My tense body relaxed, and I became still.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And what are you doing inside my room?"

"If I let you go, would you promise not to kick me?" he tested.

"If you're not some psychopath, then no, I won't kick you."

His full lips quirked into a smile. "If I was, you'd probably be dead by now." He released my legs and sat down on the floor beside me. "Before we get to that, are you sure you're okay? Not having some weird side symptoms that needs to be checked? It's not everyday I have to pick up someone from the floor."

"Weird symptoms of what?" My brows furrowed. "And I'm fine. As fine as I can be, I guess. I was just, uh, not keen on sleeping on the bed."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Just last week we picked up another pup who died right after the change. Turns out he is allergic to his own wolf hair."

My eyes widened, and I sat up. "You're from the werewolf place?"

A dark brow cocked, and he smiled. "As ever, we live up to our reputation. And to answer your question, yes, I'm from the academy."

I eyed him. "You're not what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"Well, a shriveled up old woman with a moustache." I had no idea why I was trying to joke, but it seemed to lighten him up even more.

"Good to see you come packed with a sense of humor," he laughed. "But I'm part of the Moon Gaurdians. Let's just say it's the werewolf equivalent of a student council at the academy. It's our work to bring back new pups. You can see me as your recruitment officer, or whatever you humans call it."

"You mean 'you humans', as in past tense, right?"

He smiled. "Right, of course."

"So, what happens now?"

He held out a hand. "You come with me."