I'm Not Supposed to Fall for the Lycan

-Corrine-

"Let's break up."

The bass of the EDM music thumps through the speakers. Its voice was so booming I wasn't sure what Daniel Harris, my boyfriend, was saying.

I frowned while giving him an awkward grin. "What did you say, babe?!" I asked, half shouting.

Daniel didn't smile with me. His expression was so serious that I felt stupid with my attitude. His nostrils flared for a moment before he snorted. "Let's break up, Corrine Harmon!"

Daniel shouted so loudly, together with a pause of silence before the music changed.

Everyone at the prom tonight turned to glare at us and I felt heat radiate from my neck and spread to the veins in my face.

"What?" My voice was squeaky like I was choking. I was still trying to laugh and thought Daniel was just joking. I took his arm and wrapped mine around it, then laughed as I pulled him off the dance floor.

My friends were still following me and Daniel with their gaze until the music started again and they got distracted.

Now we're standing in a dark corner of the hall and Daniel jerks his hand away, begging me to let go.

He straightened his wrinkled sleeves as he stood with his back to me. That's when I realized he wasn't kidding.

"Babe?" call me carefully. "Did I do you wrong? I-I will do anything-"

He turned around. Our eyes met, and he stared at me. "Yes, you did," he hissed through gritted teeth.

"Wh-what did I do?" I clenched my hands beside my body. My heart was pounding waiting for his answer while remembering the time we spent together the past few weeks.

There's nothing wrong, I thought. I gladly gave up my virginity when he asked for it last month. And I was happy to pay for his car's modifications when he complained about the lack of money for it.

"You love me too much," Daniel said. "I'm sick of your attitude towards me."

Cheers rang from the center of the hall and I looked over my shoulder to see what was happening. One of the alumni was singing while undressing and showing off his six-pack abs.

When I looked back at Daniel, he was busy on his phone, and I was waiting.

"Daniel," I called when he still didn't put his phone in his shirt pocket and instead laughed while looking at the screen. "Daniel, look at me."

Daniel looked up, and the laugh disappeared from his face. "What?" he asked curtly. "Am I not clear enough?"

"B-but... we've been together for a year and I even chose the same major as you at the university-"

"I didn't ask for it," Daniel cut me off. "I'm not your husband. Why are you following me around? Your presence only bothers me."

I was stunned by his words.

All this time, he always said he loved me and he could not imagine his life without me. Daniel is the sweetest boyfriend I ever had and suddenly he changed, right on our graduation night.

Or maybe I just didn't notice all along. What is wrong with us?

"Now, get out of my sight. I'm sick of seeing you." After saying that, Daniel just walked away from my presence.

I froze in place for a moment until the laughter from a group of girls passing by made me flinch and I blinked. Unnoticed, tears streamed down my cheeks.

I rubbed it with the back of my hand while half running out of the hall. I don't want anyone to see me like this after we got the award as the most romantic senior year couple just half an hour ago.

I passed through a side door, choking on sobs that kept my chest tight. The passage at the side of the hall led me to a garden bordering the woods.

There was no one here, and I immediately spat out my tears, even though I didn't scream. I just sob. My lungs and throat ache, and my vision is blurry. I squatted down and buried my face into my turquoise mermaid dress. I've been preparing this dress since three months ago, imagining spending a beautiful and hot prom night with Daniel.

Tonight was hot for me, but it was all because of the tears and hurt, not because of what I hoped would happen.

The prom was still going on in there, but my spirits were completely gone. All I want now is to go home and let out my cry to my heart's content in my room.

I reached into my purse and grabbed my cell phone, dialed up my older brother, Trevor, and texted him.

Pick me up. Now.

The reply came shortly after.

What happened to Daniel? Is he drunk on Kool-aid?

I laughed in the middle of my tears when I read the reply message from Trevor. I typed quickly and sent a reply.

No. I'll tell you when we meet.

Looked like Trevor knew what was going on. He didn't reply to my message but called me right away.

"Hey," I greeted. My voice was hoarse from the rest of the crying, and I blew my nose to clear my breath.

"Are you crying?" he asked. "What happened? What did that bastard do to you?"

"He dumped me," I said. It's weird to say that and feel nothing. It was as if my heart had gone numb.

"I knew it. He's just toying with you." I could hear the anger in his voice and I felt happy knowing someone in my corner now. Trevor was the best brother in the world. "I'm not at home right now. I'll pick you up, but you have to wait at least five minutes. Can you?"

Five minutes didn't seem like a long time. "Kay," I replied. "I'll be waiting for you at the front gate."

"Don't," he forbade. "Wait around the hall, where there are lots of people. I don't want anything to happen to you."

I rolled my eyes. This was Trevor's shortcoming. He loved me too much to always worry about me in every situation. He had repeatedly imagined a scenario where I was in danger and he couldn't save me.

We're both werewolves, though.

Well, even though I haven't gone through my first shift yet, my nineteenth birthday is still a month away, but I'm sure I'll be just as tough a werewolf as Trevor.

"Fine," I said. It's useless to argue with him, so I'd act like I'm doing his bidding.

Trevor sighed and said, "Don't lie. Wait till I come."

"Yeah, yeah."

After that, I ended the call.

It seemed the music in the hall had changed to a slower tempo, which was usually used for pair dancing. My heart was tight again.

I stood up, put my phone in my party bag, and then wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

As I was deciding where to wait for Trevor, I heard something.

A rustling sound from the woods outside the school fence.

As a werewolf, I can hear it clearly. Footsteps run between the dry leaves and twigs piled on the ground. Even though my wolf hadn't appeared yet, I already had keen hearing and sight beyond an ordinary human.

I turned toward the woods and squinted.

Then I smelled something in the air. The scent was so strong that it made me freeze. And shortly after, I heard a howl of pain, just a moment, but enough to make me sure something was wrong.

I clutched my bag, ready to open it to grab my phone when something jumped over the fence between the school and the woods.

It landed right in front of me, and I thought I was seeing a werewolf.

But no. It was not a werewolf like I've always known.

He stood on his two feet. And blood was smeared on his snout and his silver-feathered, clawed hands.

I couldn't scream. I could only stand transfixed while my eyes locked on his which were as dark as the night sky.

Then there was cheering from inside the building and I jumped. I looked back and when I turned my head against him again; he was gone.

"Shit," I cursed. My legs trembled, and I fell to my knees while staring at the woods, waiting for the hideous figure to reappear and pounce on me. But there was nobody there. He had disappeared.

With my heart racing wildly, at that point I'm sure the thump could crack my ribs, I dragged my ass and get away from that place. After I regained my strength, I stood up and ran to the front hall.

"Ouch!"

I bumped into my best friend, Kasey. The drink she was holding spilled and stained her dress.

"Kasey!" I shrieked. "I'm so sorry!"

I thought Kasey would laugh and say it wasn't a big deal. But I didn't expect her to stare at me and splash the rest of the drink in her glass onto my dress. The sweet, sticky liquid stained the bust of my dress, leaving a trail of red and a fruity smell.

"Kasey?" I frowned at her, disbelieving the way she looked at me.

"You did it on purpose, did you?" Kasey hissed. Everyone around us fell silent.

"What?" I was shocked to hear her accusations against me. "What are you saying? I'm not-"

"I heard Daniel dumped you," she snapped. "Congratulations."

"Are you drunk?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her. "What is wrong with you?"

Our friendship has not been good enough lately and actually, I don't know what caused it. But I always thought that we would make up like we used to.

I never thought that Kasey intended to end her friendship like this.

"This is an expensive dress," Kasey scolded me. "You can't compare this with your cheap dress."

I could only gape at her.

Car headlights fell on the two of us and I heard the familiar roar of a car engine pull into the courtyard at the front of the hall. It was Trevor. I'm happy because he came sooner than he promised.

Waiting no longer, I ran up to him and jumped into the passenger seat, and slammed the door.

"Hey, slow down," Trevor said. "You're gonna wreck my car."

"C'mon," I said, holding back tears. "Quickly, get out of here."

I'm glad Trevor didn't ask any further and stepped on the gas pedal, taking me away from the most horrific prom night of my life.

"Actually, I was going to call you earlier," Trevor said as the car rolled out of the school.

"Huh? Why?" I asked, half lost in thought. I stared out the window, watching the dark woods flashing before my eyes. Maybe that figure will appear again....

"Something killed our pack's member."

My heart sank at Trevor's words. I widened my eyes and turned my gaze to him. "Something?" I asked, choking.

A figure flashed behind my eyes. Blood on the snout and claws.

"Yeah." Trevor drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. I just noticed that he looked nervous.

"Something like what?"

Trevor glanced at me. His lips pulled into a thin, pale line. "A Lycan."

-Corrine-

I really hoped last night was just a dream.

But when I woke up this morning, my eyes and throat ached, proof that I cried a lot last night.

"Corrine, wake up!" My mom knocked on my bedroom door and tried to open it, but I locked it last night in case someone came in and saw me cry.

"I heard it from your brother! He dumped you, that bastard!" This time it was my father who spoke, and I rolled my eyes, then pulled the pillow up to cover my face and I groaned.

One more lack of Trevor. He couldn't keep secrets from Mom and Dad.

"We won't stop pounding on this door until you answer our call, Miss!" my mother nagged. She always found a way to get me out of my room.

"Okay, okay! I'd wake up!" I shouted after throwing the pillow aside and sitting up.

A jolt of dizziness hit me as soon as I lifted my head. I massaged my temples with one hand while my other hand brushed away the blanket wrapped around my legs. When I opened the door, my parents stood behind it. Their arms folded over their chest.

If I didn't know them, I would have thought they would scold me. But I know I was born as one of the lucky kids who have the most amazing parents in the world.

While my other friends complain about their parents, I never run out of gratitude for the existence of my father and mother in my life.

Mom sighed with a smile, eyes full of pity. Dad went even more dramatic by stretching out his arms and hugging me so tightly that I worried he would crack my ribs.

"I will kill him," he whispered after he let go of his hug.

"You know, Dad. Your words just now really don't match your facial expressions." I arched one eyebrow and held back an amused smile. "And don't kill any human for me, please. I don't want you to go to jail."

Dad pinched my cheek and grinned. "I'm trying to cheer you up, my uni-"

"Stop calling me Unicorn," I protested. "Please, soon I will be nineteen."

"Ah... I hate being reminded that you've grown up," he muttered sadly. "And your wolf will soon appear."

"Let's continue the conversation downstairs," asked Mom.

The three of us took turns going down the stairs to the ground floor and then headed to the dining table. I turned to the living room and winced. "Where's Trevor?" He rarely skipped breakfast with us.

"Jerome called him early in the morning," Mom answered. The way she said our Alpha's name, Jerome, reflected her dislike for the Alpha.

Jerome had only been a year in his father's place as the alpha of our pack, Moon Dust. The previous Alpha had died in a fight against a group of rogues at the farthest frontier of Moon Dust.

That's why Trevor has become more protective of me lately and actually, he was strongly opposed to my decision to study outside our town, Wesgrove. But I convinced my parents to support my decision.

After all, no matter how much I love my family, I want to get out of here. And it's all because of Jerome.

"Last night's murder case?" I asked.

My parents looked at each other, wary eyes, before Dad asked, "How did you know that?"

"Trevor told me," I replied nonchalantly with a shrug. I pull the jar of jam from the center of the table, then remove the lid and take a large spoonful of peanut butter to spread on my toast.

"What did he say?" he asked again.

I blinked, looking at him, confused. "Why? Is there anything I shouldn't know?"

Dad glanced at Mom. It was a look for help. Mom took a deep breath and pursed her lips, then looked at me.

"Maybe you'll hear it soon," Mom said. "So we'll say it first, so you... so you won't be surprised."

I put the spoon of jam and bread on the plate and folded my arms in front of my chest. Looked like the conversation was going serious. "So, what is it?" I asked. I shook my head, waiting.

But Dad and Mom seem to shift responsibility for delivering bad news they don't want to say.

"It's about the murder-"

Dad was cut off when Trevor opened the front door and dashed into the dining room. He stopped in the doorway and took a deep breath as his gaze fell on me.

"Have you stopped crying?" he asked.

"For now, yes."

Trevor looked at Dad and Mom, then back at me. He frowned. "Did I miss something?"

I opened my mouth and took a deep breath from it. "Well, yeah," I said. "Dad was just about to say something important about the murder you told me last night."

Trevor pulled up the empty chair beside me and sat down in it. He was just as uptight as both of my parents. I felt more and more uneasy.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked, confused.

"It's a-" Trevor paused, then rubbed his thumb over his lips. When he looked at me again, I knew I wouldn't like what he had to say. "Jerome asked you to meet him."

"What?" My chair creaked as I moved backward in surprise. "What now? Didn't I firmly refuse his offer to become Luna-"

"Last night's murder... happened near your school," Dad interrupted.

I glanced at Dad, staring at him in disbelief. "What?" I whispered.

"That's what we wanted to tell you, sweetheart," Mom said. "Jerome must have taken this opportunity to call you."

"He thought maybe you saw something." Trevor reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "Relax. I will be with you there. So you don't have to worry."

After saying that, Trevor glanced at the breakfast lying in front of me and said, "We'll be leaving after you eat."

Reluctantly, I glanced at the toast and jam that had looked so delicious. I pushed the plate away from me. "I'm not in the mood," I muttered. Then I stood up and got up from the chair. "I'll get ready."

*

Visiting the Alpha's home was the last thing I would do in the Moon Dust territory. And meeting Jerome wasn't even on my list of things to do, even if I had to die for it.

It was all because Jerome wanted me.

Well, maybe being liked by the Alpha was a wonderful thing for most she-wolves, but not if the Alpha in question was Jerome.

I hated that boy so much. I always wished he was dead every time he and our warriors went to fight the rogues. But of course, that hope always ends in disappointment.

Jerome stood on the terrace with his legs spread apart and his arms folded across his bare chest. He thought girls would go crazy over his perfect abs, but no, I just cringed every time I saw them.

"Behave," Trevor whispered as he parked on the front porch and pulled on the handbrake.

I glanced at him lazily. "Can't promise."

We both jumped out of the car and walked almost simultaneously to the terrace.

"Welcome," greeted Jerome. He smiled down at me. His cocky, crooked smile always makes me nauseous.

"What is it, Jerome? Didn't I say emphatically that I don't want to see you again?"

"Oh, come on, Corrine! Are you still mad about how I treated you back then? Hmm? Haven't I already apologized?" Jerome slightly lowered his head and stared at me. He was teasing me, and he should know best that his way of seducing never worked on me.

"About the murder," Trevor interrupted. "That's what we'll talk about." He tried to change the subject, and I thanked him.

"Yeah, about the murder." Jerome lifted his chin. "Do you know anything, Corrine? The murder happened last night and when the warriors chased him, the culprit jumped into your school area."

"Nope," I answered quickly. Maybe it was too soon, so the two boys looked at me suspiciously.

"Are you sure?" Jerome demanded. "One of the warriors said he smelled your scent nearby."

"Duh, of course! I was at school last night. The prom?" I said in an annoyed tone as I raised both hands, confirming my words. "If anything had happened, or if I had seen anything last night, I would have told Trevor right away."

After saying that, I glanced at Trevor, asking him for help. Trevor, who responded to the code I gave, said, "Yeah. Like I told you, Alpha, she knows nothing."

Jerome observed me for a full five seconds. The intense look in his eyes made me uncomfortable. I averted my eyes while hugging my body, hoping it could protect me from him.

"Tell me if you remember anything," he said afterward. He still stuck to the idea that I knew something.

Yes, that's true. I saw it last night. That weird werewolf. But I wouldn't tell Jerome, or anyone else if it meant dragging me further into dealing with Jerome.

"Sure," I said nonchalantly. "Are we done? I must go home. I have a lot of things to prepare for my move."

Jerome nodded. "Starting life in the big city?"

"Yes, and I can't wait to get out of here."

"Corrine, let's go home," said Trevor. He knew I was starting to lose control of my words.

Trevor said goodbye to Jerome. When he walked first to the car and I was about to catch up with him, Jerome caught my arm and pulled me, making me turn around and my face almost collided with his. I yelped and was about to push him away, but his grip on my arm was so strong.

"You know, no matter how far you go, you cannot cut off your connection with the pack," he whispered in my ear. "And that means you'll never be able to cut yourself off from me, Corrine."