Wolfsbane: The Wolf Within

by Bethany Shay Porteous

  There was something off…

  I looked down at the ground and my heart stopped at the sight of two big white feet, with giant black claws curled into the soft dirt beneath me. Curving my neck even more I followed those feet up to the start of a white, fluffy chest before I couldn’t look any further without making myself a contortionist.

  That wasn’t me… it couldn’t be.

  “Evelyn,” a voice ghosted, and I whipped my head in its direction, trying to locate it.

  “Evelyn,” another said.

  I tried to answer it but all I could let out was a growl and I stumbled on my feet in surprise at the sound of it. How did I get out of this body? I thought in alarm. How did I defend myself as a wolf? Panic seeped into my skin and the only comfort I had was that Aiden was out running a patrol this evening, so he’d surely scent me and find me soon.

  I decided to keep running, I wasn’t going to stand here and wait for whatever was out here to grab me. I kept running in the direction I’d been going, trying not to feel too giddy about being on four paws instead of two feet… I had shifted… I had my wolf… but that only meant one thing…

  “EVELYN!” a female wailed, and the sound grated so loudly on my ears I yelped and desperately tried to cover them with my paws.

  “We’re here Evelyn,” it said quietly. “We’re waiting.”

  “For you,” the other murmured. “But you can’t have this helping you.”

  I found myself slowly peeking up, swallowing hard at the sight of feminine looking feet… two sets and I dreaded anything from this moment on as my eyes slowly grazed up their bodies to land on the faces of my current nightmare.

  Danyeela and Tatiana.

  “You won’t defeat us Evelyn,” one sister promised. “We won’t let it happen. You’ll die, or the people you love will die. But we will live on, immortal as we desired, and you’ll become a pile of nothing in the Earth, forgotten with no legacy.”

  I felt my wolf growling viciously and the sounds trembled through her body, vibrating through my mind.

  “We can’t have this Tatiana,” Danyeela simpered. “It has to go.”

  “I know,” Tatiana crooned. “That’s why we’re here.”

  Unease rested in my stomach and I took a few steps back, unsure of their next move. What did that mean? What were they planning?

  Suddenly pain laced through my body, as if someone had grabbed a knife and carved it down from my neck to my stomach. I was near delirious from it as the sisters chanted and I felt as if my mind were suddenly split into two and something was being tugged out of me, forcibly removed.

  I realized it was me—I was being removed from my wolf!

  It was as if I were in my wolf and then I wasn’t, because I was suddenly on two feet, doubled over in agony while my wolf lay lifelessly by my side. It was now I got a proper look at her, completely white—but massive. Bigger than any wolf I had ever seen before!

  And she was dead.

  “What have you done!” I cried out. “Why did you do this?”

  “Evelyn,” Tatiana soothed, her hand reaching out to touch my shoulder. “It’s okay, you can wake up now.”

  “Wake up Evelyn,” Danyeela encouraged gently. “It’s just the fever messing with you.”

  “Evelyn.”

  “Evelyn, wake up!”

  Clutching at my chest I shot up in the bed, startling The Luna and Grace who flung themselves backwards as dry sobs heaved from me.

  “Evie?” Grace panicked. “Are you okay?”

  “Bad dream,” I gasped. “Oh Morgana.”

  “You were sprouting fur,” The Luna said gently. “And screaming a little… so we thought we should wake you.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry!” I groaned and put my face in my hands.

  “Don’t be sorry,” The Luna admonished. “Your body is under a lot of pressure right now Evelyn, you can’t stop how it reacts to everything you’re going through.” She pat my knee and gave me a firm smile. “Dinner is ready, meet us downstairs?”

  I nodded softly and watched as the two left the room before I let out the strained breath I had been holding. The towel I had been laying on was soaked in blood and I bundled it up and put it down the laundry shoot in the bathroom, hurriedly washing my face.

  Could they really take me from my wolf if I got her? Is that something they can do or was it my mind that was trying to toy with me?

  I’d need to talk to my father about this. It was something we hadn’t even considered and the last thing I needed in the middle of a fight, was to be taken by surprise like that and lose the one thing I needed to get me through the most.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “So, what are you going to do when dad goes home?” I questioned Sienna. “Are you going to stay here with Lucas… go back to Ohio?”

  “I want to stay with Lucas,” she said assuredly. “But, I need to see mom first and explain the situation. She’s going to flip her lid that’s for sure, but what can I do? Morgana oversees my fate, and this is where it has led me. I’m not going to go against her or the mate bond. I like this pack, I could happily live in it.”

  “It would be nice to have you here,” I said warmly.

  “Well you’ll be away at college for a while,” she shrugged. “But after that, yes it’ll be awesome!”

  “How’s Phoenix now?” I asked.

  “He’s getting over himself a little bit,” she said. “He has to, it’s not like he can do anything about it. He doesn’t have the right or the place to question Morgana and dad made him see that.”

  “Well I’m glad for you,” I told her. “Having a mate is unlike anything… it’s the strangest yet most amazing feeling. He will always be by your side Sienna, no matter what happens. It’s permanent, and the fact you guys marked each other so early, those feelings will just multiply to the point where you might even forget to breathe.”

  “Sometimes I do,” she gushed. “Seriously. I used to be so jealous of the way a wolf had a soulmate. I remember when I met you and I saw you and Aiden… it was all I wanted.”

  “Well now you have it,” I told her. “It’s amazing.”

  “It never fades?” Sienna whispered.

  “No,” I promised. “It only grows stronger.”

  “Good morning!” Grace chirped as she pranced into the kitchen. “Who’s ready for a day at school?”

  “Well you are clearly,” I grinned. “Why so happy?”

  “Prom is this weekend kiddo,” she beamed. “Which means Trey has to ask me today. If he doesn’t and asks me later, I’ll say no to his ass.”

  “Why?” Sienna spluttered.

  “Monday is the day when most of the kids at school are actually there,” Grace said matter-of-factly. “Which means if Trey does his Promposal today, everyone will see it.”

  “He’s not doing that shit Grace,” Aiden said as he came into the kitchen. “Trey isn’t into that stuff.”

  “I told him it’s what I wanted,” she said calmly. “You are saying you’re not going to ask Evie to Prom in a nice way?”

  “A nice way to me is simply asking her and not acting like an idiot,” Aiden said as he came over to give me a kiss. “Morning beautiful,” he murmured against my lips.

  “Morning,” I said feeling giddy. “You left early.”

  “Morning patrol,” he explained. “One of the guys meant to be on it broke his leg last night. Wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings.”

  “We have to get going!” Grace announced. “I’ll need to be at school on time today, you never know when he’s going to do it.” She scooped up her bag and skipped from the room and I looked back at Aiden who rolled his eyes tiredly.

  “Is he?” I mouthed, and Aiden nodded with another eyeroll. Excitement for Grace flowed through me and I got up from my chair and scooped up my bag. “I’ll see you after school Sienna,” I told her.

  “Learn something,” she encouraged over her cup of coffee.

  ∞

  �
�So, what has he got planned?” I asked Aiden as Grace practically ran from the truck to our group by the tree. “Is it totally over the top?”

  “Yes,” Aiden sighed.

  “Grace will love that.”

  “That’s why it’s over the top,” Aiden sniggered. “Like big time.”

  I turned to face him in the cab, a grin dancing on my lips. “So, when are you going to ask me to prom then? I have a dress and everything.”

  “Really? A dress hey?” he teased.

  “Mhm.”

  “Evie,” Aiden grinned. “Will you go to prom with me?”

  “How underwhelming,” I gasped as I acted offended. “Yes Aiden, I’ll go to prom with you.”

  He gave me a quick kiss, the smirk still on his face. “Goddess, I am so lucky.”

  “I know,” I winked.

  We made our way from the truck to our tree and the mood amongst everyone was vibrant and energized. The entire Senior quad seemed to feel the same way and I guess with the idea that graduation and prom were so close, it was enough to make even me feel a little giddy. I pushed all worries and doubts from my mind as I tried to focus on my friends.

  “We’ll have a rehearsal today,” Hannah said.

  “Where’s Lucy?” Grace asked with a pout. “She’s usually here by now.”

  “Sick day,” Hannah shrugged.

  “Not like she’s missing much,” Josh snorted. “It seems pointless to even be here at this point.”

  “I know right,” Trey said. “I don’t even think I’ll come back after today. Lucy’s got the right idea pulling a sick day. I should have done that.”

  “Did you get your prom dress Evie?” Hannah asked me with a grin.

  “I did,” I laughed. “That was a real surprise, I forgot how beautiful that dress was.”

  “You’re going to look amazing,” Hannah said. “It was like it was made for you.”

  “Have we organized the limousine yet?” Josh asked. “Are we all getting collected at your place Aiden?”

  “We’re doing photos at our house,” Grace said. “Mom’s finalized the limo as well.”

  “What about the graduation after party?” Trey asked with a grin. “Because I’m really looking forward to that. Got the basement Aiden?”

  “All signed off,” Aiden grinned. “Should be a good night.”

  “Can’t wait!” Hannah clapped her hands together. “It’s nice that your dad will be here for your graduation as well Evelyn. I mean, obviously it would be nicer under better circumstances but still… at least he’s already here.”

  “I’m glad he is,” I laughed. “And Sienna and Phoenix. It would be great if the others could come but I can understand it’s been a lot of flying lately.”

  “All Senior students are required to go to the auditorium first period for graduation rehearsal,” the PA blared and we all winced at the scratchy voice.

  “Starting early,” Trey commented.

  We all hustled as the siren signaled the start of the day and walked along the route to the auditorium following other bored looking Seniors who looked as we did, like they wanted to be anywhere but here today. Most hadn’t even bothered much with their appearance today, everyone seemed way more casual and relaxed than they normally did.

  My breath caught in my throat and I gasped in combined fear and shock when I saw Tatiana and Danyeela leaning up against the auditorium wall, staring right at me with their looks of hatred.

  “Evelyn?” Aiden asked me, and I looked at him hurriedly. “You okay?”

  With my mouth dry and unable to form words I looked back and frowned in confusion at two random girls in their place, holding their book bags and laughing loudly before being moved on by a teacher.

  I was losing it.

  “Evelyn?” Aiden pressed.

  “I’m fine,” I said airily. “Sorry, I stumbled before.”

  “Okay Seniors!” a voice shouted by the door. “Take a seat in the auditorium and Principal Hill will address you all. Phones away, anything distracting away. Miss Gomez, gum in the bin before you go inside!”

  “Can’t wait for this shit to be over!” a human hissed in front of me. “Can’t wait to chew gum wherever the hell I want.”

  “It’s like being released from prison,” the other said.

  “One prison to another,” a dark-haired girl said beside them. “Life in general is a prison.”

  “Oh, not this shit again…”

  I zoned out of the human’s conversation and came back to my own group where Trey was snorting with laughter, punching Josh in the arm while Hannah rolled her eyes. Grace was frantically typing away at her phone as always and Aiden looked far off and distant.

  The auditorium was already packed and trying to find seats together was impossible. Aiden and I settled in the back row while Hannah and Josh had to go further down. Trey led Grace a few rows up in front of us and sat on the outside, before turning around and discreetly winking at Aiden and I frowned at the exchange, looking at him in question.

  Aiden raised his brows at me, before gently pecking me on the lips and looking forward.

  “Alright everyone!” Principal Hill called from the stand, his voice booming through the microphone. “If I could have your attention please.” The last few stragglers found seats and all eyes turned toward the front of the room. “Thank you. As you’re all aware you’re graduating in the next week and we need to run a test through of how the night is going to go.”

  “As if we weren’t aware,” Aiden muttered at me. “I wonder why I have an ugly robe in my wardrobe.”

  A smirk broke out on my lips and I squeezed his leg.

  “This is a big time for all of you,” he announced. “A lot of you have already received your acceptance letters and are planning your futures. The world is your oyster, each of you have a role to play in the shaping this world…”

  “Want to know something morbid?” a boy in front of me nudged his friend. “Statistically, like, a lot of us will be dead by the time we’re in our twenties. I read that online.”

  “Bullshit,” his friend scoffed.

  “Nah it’s true!”

  “Won’t be me,” his friend said.

  “Could be anyone.”

  Could be me, I found myself thinking. It very well could be… who knows if I’d even live to see the days of college. My life had taken a dark turn these recent months and it was going to get worse before it got better. If I even lived to see it get better.

  I zoned back in and found the Principal was still droning on. “Is he still going?” I asked Aiden. “Is he still talking?”

  “Yep,” Aiden snickered. “If you think today is bad, wait for all the talking you hear at Graduation. Every staff member has something to say.”

  “Morgana,” I groaned.

  “You okay?” he asked with concern.

  “I’m fine, it’s just such a waste of time… I could be training with my father right now, not sitting here pretending to care.”

  “Well… that’s true,” he conceded. “But then you’d miss out.”

  “Miss what?” I asked.

  “On this,” Aiden snorted and at that moment the room went pitch black as the auditorium lights were cut and everyone yelled in protest. I grabbed Aiden’s hand in fright and he squeezed it. “It’s fine, trust me.”

  “Who killed the damn lights?” Principal Hill demanded. “Didn’t this room get booked out?”

  “Morgana what a tyrant,” I gasped at Aiden.

  “Wait for it,” he told me.

  Suddenly a second set of lights lit up the room, dimmed and mellow, casting an orange/yellow glow across the auditorium and up on the projector wall a message reading “Don’t go breakin’ my heart” lit up in gold font and underneath “Grace, Prom?”

  The room chorused into cheers as a bold spotlight cast onto Grace and Trey was conveniently knelt in front of her with a bouquet of white roses and a huge grin on his face while Grace flushed with excited delight, from both
the attention of the room and the fact Trey had arranged something big to ask her.

  “She’ll be loving this,” Aiden commented as he watched his sister bask in the spotlight.

  Everyone cheered louder as Grace said yes and Principal Hill was in a fluster as he tried to calm the room and regain control.

  I relished in the happiness of my friend and truly felt it spreading through me and I realized it was moments like these that I had to fight for. That I had to remain positive for. I needed to live past all this, so I could be a part of the future with my friends and my mate, and if that didn’t motivate me to try harder then what would?

  ∞

  “The world is your oyster!” Grace declared grandly as she stood poised in front of her mirror, filling Lucy in on the graduation rehearsal. “His words, not mine. And then after that, that’s when Trey pulled off his big plan! The faculty were so mad, they probably thought it was the senior prank!”

  “What did they end up arranging for senior prank anyway?” Hannah asked.

  “A bunch of the seniors put flour in the air-conditioning vents,” Grace snorted. “And one of the stoners put a bag of mixed herbs on Principal Hill’s desk, filmed his reaction and uploaded it online.”

  “They copied what last years did,” Lucy sighed. “Lame.”

  “No originality,” Grace sighed. “I didn’t have time to handle it, I had to sort out prom and everything else, so I fobbed it off.”

  “This is what happens when you’re not in charge,” Hannah feigned horror.

  “I know,” Grace agreed.

  “So,” Lucy started. “Grace, I have something I need to tell you.”

  “Oh?” Grace preened. “Just me?”

  “No,” Lucy murmured. “They know already.”

  “Know what?” Grace asked suspiciously.

  “Well…” Lucy started hesitantly. “I’m pregnant Grace.”

  The room went silent as Grace absorbed that information, confusion crossed her features before she frowned and sniffed deeply, her frown deepening.

  “Hannah blocked the scent,” Lucy explained. “Evelyn found out because she saw through the magic Hannah used.”