I screamed out in pain as I felt a cold blade drag through my left shoulder, the pain was unbearable. Trying with all my might I pushed my attacker away, hoping they would be thrown off from my force. They stayed latched on, no matter what I did they did not budge.

"Help!" I yelled. My throat was dry and burning, not to mention hot tears were pouring out of the corners of my eyes and into my snow-covered hair. There was also a lump forming on the back of my head from impact with the ice beneath me. I was in so much pain that I couldn't muster the strength needed. "Someone, please help!"

I heard a door open and then a shout, they sounded so far away, my arms were getting tired from pushing my attacker away. I jerked my arms a bit hoping to throw the person or creature off balance. With a few tries I knocked them onto their side and then got up onto my knees in a crouch.

"Why you little..." I recognized that voice, it was that vampire chick from the night I was out with Taylor.

Before she could tackle me again I lunged at her and slammed her into the ice covered road. I'm pretty sure I heard the ice crack underneath her. She hissed in pain before swinging at my face with her nails.

The sound of running could be heard along with a bunch of flashlights pointing at me. I could now see what the girl looked like, wavy blonde hair, ice blue eyes, and light pink skin. Her cheeks were rosey and her lips a soft pink, her eyelashes were long and blonde as well. She seemed to look like one of those drama queens fit to be a vampire.

Someone now hovered above me while two other people helped me pin the vampire down. She kept struggling, sometimes biting at our hands if necessary.

"Keep her down," the man above me ordered the three of us. I could now feel the presence of two more people, there were five people aiding me. "Codi, hand me it right now!"

I repinned her arms and kept them pressed against the ground as the man now knelt down beside me with a long object in his hand.

"Nic, move away from her a little," he spoke.

I listened and slid away from her but still keeping a tight grip on her wrists. I glanced up at the man to recognize him as Beau. His shaggy auburn hair looked brown from the flashlight and his skin seemed white. In his hand was a jagged piece of wood, at one end it had been sharpened. Was he going to do it?

"Don't you dare kill me," the girl hissed. Her eyes were filled with hatred.

"I won't if you give us the information we need, Caroline."

"I won't, I would never tell you mutts anything!" She spat at him. Beau wiped the spit off his face as if it had no effect.

"Then it looks like there's no other way. Taylor, you have the honor."

One of the hands holding onto her lifted off her right shoulder and went to the crook of her arm. Taylor pressed the tip of the nail on his forefinger on her skin and dragged it. A trail of ash appeared on her skin where his nail had scratched her, the girl, Caroline, screamed in pain.

"If you don't tell us, then we will continue. Or you can just end your life." Beau seemed so calm and orderly.

"I won't say it--" She clenched her teeth as she was scratched again.

Some of the ash fluttered away with the snow in the wind. It was strange how a werewolf could cause this much damage to a vampire. I wondered how mine looked like cooling lava though.

I drowned out for a moment and entered a dazed state if mind. Everything around me had turned blurry and sounds merged together as one. I didn't need to listen, it wasn't important for me to hear right?

"Nic!" Beau shouted and reached out for me. He looked panicked and worried.

"Wha--" Before I could finish I felt cold fingers rest on my neck and start to crush my breathing tube. A blazing fire started to burn in the area as the bones started to fracture from the pressure. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't call for help either. Why were they attacking me only? It seemed stupid, kill the runt of the group?

"Let her go, Kirov. You know you're not allowed to harm a pup, it's against the code." Beau spoke dangerously low, if it was a full moon I'm pretty sure his eyes would be a burning yellow of hatred.

"You can't tell me what to do, you dirty piece of filth!" The man behind me spat. His grip tightened.

I was going to die then and there, I would never see my friends or family ever again.

He suddenly let go of me and the thin air filled back into my lungs. I leaned forward in a heap, two people rushing over to help me. I hacked and coughed, there was damage done and it was possible it would not heal due to how much pressure was applied to it.

"There, there, you'll be okay," one voice cooed as they patted my back.

A growl was heard from behind me along with the snapping of a dog's muzzle on bone. A yell was heard from the tall man being attacked. I turned around at 180 degrees to see a large silver wolf and a lean and tall man in a blood bath. The wolf bit the man in the throat and threw him off to the side, his body limp like a rag doll. The wolf stared at me with glowing gold eyes, a look of worry appeared in their golden depths.

That was my dad.

"Dad," I spoke with a cough. Blood splattered everywhere and I tumbled over again. The two behind me grabbed my forearms as the others now surrounded me, all of them trying to talk to me. I couldn't hear them at all, my mind was set on just trying not to cough up anymore blood. That girl Caroline must have gotten away again, too. She was nowhere to be seen.

The calm soothing voice of my father's soon came. "Nic, are you alright?" He appeared in front of me and rested his hands on both of my shoulders.

I looked up at him in the eye, he was worried for real, I could see it in them.

"I'm fine, dad. My throat just hurts." It was partially true; my throat still burned and the fractured bones still stung every time I took in a breath of air, but it also felt like it was already healing. "I do have a question for you though."

He looked confused as if I wasn't suppose to ask him anything. "What? Is something bothering you?"

"No, maybe. I don't know. It's just that you transformed with no moonlight to help with the shape-shifting." I took in deeper breaths, my throat was starting to clear up and I could feel the hairline fractures disappear back into their former shape.

"That's an ability you can learn later on. It's a gift only Nobles have." Someone coughed as if the statement were untrue. I just nodded my head and let him continue on. He did not say anymore, he straightened up and then pushed himself off the ground and onto his feet. "It's best if we get to the house quickly. There might be more of those blood sucking beasts out here."

I nodded in agreement and reached for his outstretched hand, he pulled me up without any effort and put my left arm on his shoulders. The others started to leave us as we headed down the road a bit more to our house. I couldn't remember how many times I told my dad I was fine, but he would not let me walk without him holding me. Maybe it was because of the ice, I don't know.

He opened the front door for me as we walked up the cement stairs to the house. I felt a blast of warm air hit my rosy face, it felt good to be home. I could smell cocoa in the kitchen along with freshly baked cookies, she must have made a batch already for the Christmas party we were hosting.

I slipped off my brown fur-covered boots along with my black ski cap and black mittens. I unraveled the long blue and gray scarf from my neck and hanged it on one of the hooks. I then took off my heavy coat and also placed on the same hook. I then rolled my shoulders and walked over to the living room couch. I was tired and exhausted, I needed to relax.

There was the soft click of a door closing. I looked over at the kitchen door and saw that it was shut. My dad must have went in there, I could hear his voice from the other side of the door. After a few minutes he came back out with my mother next to him. She looked worried and tired, her dark brown hair was messy and the bags under her eyes were darker than usual. Has she been sleeping?

"Nic," she croaked before running towards me and trapping me in one of her bear hugs. "Oh, sweetheart, you're safe." She sounded like she was crying, I couldn't tell since she had rested her head in the crook of my neck.

"Yeah, I am. Why do you ask?" I ask, a bit curious of why she was worried. I forgot, did she know about the curse or no?

My mother pulled away from me and looked me in the eyes, tears stained her copper brown cheeks. "I was worried, when I heard you were in trouble I didn't know what to do. I wanted to help, but I can't. A mere human cannot do a thing in a battle between vampires and werewolves. We only get killed in all the bloodshed."

She wanted to protect me? I didn't know my mum loved me that much. She usually pushed me to find my goals and dreams in life and to do good in school. I didn't know she wanted to be more than just a helpful mother.

"Mum, I know you want to help, but it's a job only a supernatural can do," I reassured her.

"Creature of the night," my dad mumbled irritably.

I ignored him and continued on, "It's dangerous out there. I don't want you hurt, I will learn to fend for myself. Right now I'm considered a pup due to my inexperience and age, but I will become stronger. Just watch, I will become the best werewolf you have seen, mother." I gave her hands a light squeeze and threw her a smile, she smiled back as a tear escaped her eye.

"You're such a brave little girl, you know that? I love you so much," she said quietly as another tear leaked out of her eye. She sniffled and pulled me into another hug, her arms shook against my back. I patted her back trying to calm her down.

"Mum, I have to get to bed, okay? I have school tomorrow and I need as much rest as possible."

She nodded her head in response and let me go. I stood up and glanced at my dad, he looked tired as he looked back at me. He must be very tired, who wouldn't be after battling against a vampire?

He took my place on the couch and started talking to my mother as I went up the dark wooden stairs to my room. The violet and white room was only lit by the motion light outside, which didn't help much at all, while the rest of the room was almost pitch black. I felt for the light switch on the wall and turned it on before changing out of my clothes into my pajamas. They consisted of a pair of plaid blue pants and a white t-shirt, nothing swanky, just comfy.

I could feel the toll my body had taken tonight from goofing off with Aster. My bones were aching while my muscles burned as if they had been set on fire. Every step I took was also torture, my ankles and knees seemed to pop and crack along with my back whenever a foot went down on the carpeted ground. The best thing I could do was sleep, the bed was right there, all I needed to do was lie down in it and close my eyes.

And that's exactly what I did. I closed my eyes and relaxed my aching muscles so I could drift off to sleep.

~~~

"Hey, Nic, watch me!" Molly shouted as she jumped out of her chair and ran around the desks in the room. She had eaten sugar for breakfast, I knew she did.

"Molly, sit down before you hurt yourself." I said lazily.

She kept running until her foot caught on one of the chair's legs and flopped onto the floor. I sighed, she didn't hear me.

"Ow! My knee hurts!" she wailed. Now she sat up on the floor cradling her left kneecap.

"I told you not to, right?"

"Yeah," she sniffed, "I'm just being a child again."

"Correct," I pointed the end of my pencil in her direction. "And now you have had your karma. Next time listen if someone tells you to do something."

"Alright," she said. She seemed fine now, no pouty face or tears were apparent in her expression anymore.

Even though we had a substitute for second hour did not mean the class could do whatever they wanted. The rules were simple:

1. Be quiet.

2. Be productive.

3. Stay in a seat. No standing or sitting in the corners of the room.

4. No horseplay whatsoever.

I listened, I had my mp3 playing with an ear bud in one ear while finishing up my astronomy homework with a book to read afterwards. Molly had brought nothing but her pencil and a monster drink, maybe that set her off with the silliness.

A piece of crumpled paper hit me in the head, right in the temple actually. It didn't hurt, but it pissed me off enough to chuck it back at the culprit. He dodged it and then stuck his tongue out at me, a carbon copy of Noah was the best way to describe him personality wise. It seemed everyone was just being idiots today, they wouldn't do anything productive.

All I wished for was to get out of the room as soon as possible, these kids were driving me insane.

The bell rang. Oh how I loved that the school could read my mind.

I put the piece of paper in my folder and grabbed my water bottle with my free hand and headed out the classroom door. The hallways filled up as I went down them to my next class. The stairs were pretty empty though, that was like a blessing to have for us students who had to get all the way to the fifth floor.

I entered the classroom and sat in the middle of the second row to see the board perfectly. I would have sat in the front row, but those were given to the kids who didn't have that good of vision. I pulled out my note book and started to file my assignments that were due for this class period.

After this class was lunch, it was important I got it or else I would starve! I have been eating more food than a regular teenage girl would eat. Most girls are suppose to eat 2200 calories a day, I am eating double that. It's not becoming fat though, it's helping my bones grow along with my organs and muscles. It is annoying though that my hair is growing at a rapid pace, I now have to shave three times a week and also say that I now wear hair extensions.

It went by quick and smoothly, once that bell rang I did bolt, maybe too fast considering Mr. Cleveland glanced at me as I ran out. I had to get in line for food, today they had actual turkey legs that weren't cheap. Possibly leftovers from the thanksgiving lunch we had.

I threw my stuff into my locker and went to the west wing of the school into the gray cafeteria. The metal tables were lined up neatly with all the black plastic chairs pushed in, save the few occupied by students already eating. Out the window there was a foot of snow resting on top of the picnic tables, the trees were also weighed down by the fluffy material.

I filed into the double row line and followed the girl in front of me to the first buffet table filled with the main dishes. Apparently today it was a chicken sandwich, pepperoni pizza or a crummy taco, they weren't that good. I picked up a tray and grabbed a slice of pizza, at the end of the table there was a choice of milk, I just got the first thing since it really didn't matter.

After that I went over to the fruit and vegetable table to grab some grapes and an orange. I skipped the vegetables since I had some in my bag for a snack in my last class. I then went to the usual hang out with my friends during the winter months. It was at the end of the table nearest to the windows next to the wall. I sat down with my back to the glass and started to eat. I glanced around for my friends.

Where were they?

Molly should be here at the table by now, her fourth hour was next to her locker. Austin and Gwen were standing off in a corner chatting, apparently they wanted some alone time. Aster said he was sick so he didn't come today. He had gotten the stomach flu, everyone had been getting that lately, hopefully he recovers quickly. Was Molly possibly sick now and went home? Possibly.

It was going to be lonely today then, forty-five minutes with no friends to talk to or goof off with. All I could do was play on my phone and listen to the conversations going on around me. One person did sit across from me but I didn't bother to look up at them, I just kept eating.

Even though the large room had so much energy and excitement it seemed to dim around me. The boys two chairs over still acted silly and loud, but it felt like ice had surrounded me and made me drowsy. I glanced up at the person across from me to see a girl with snow white hair that didn't match her eyebrows and bright neon blue tips. Her eyes were a cold gray with a intense stare at me, they seemed to trap mine in them.

"Um, who are you?" I asked after swallowing a grape.

"I'm Danielle, Taylor told me about you, right?"

It took me a moment to remember that he had mentioned her about a month ago. I didn't expect her to look so... Bold.

Usually when I hear werewolf I think of what they look like in Twilight since Taylor, Codi and I look like them. But Danielle was way different, her skin was one of those spray on tans for sure so she had to be pale. She also had features a Native American wouldn't have, her eyebrows were blonde along with her eyelashes. Her face was also mostly European features, maybe a few from Asia as well.

"Well, even if he didn't tell you about me, I am Danielle Foster. I'm his friend from Springvale, the northern part of the city."

"I know where that is," I grumbled. She wast treating me like I didn't know anything.

"You live in the suburbs, I was just clarifying that. We need to get you out of here right now, you are in grave danger. The Kirovs are becoming more aggravated, after last night's attack they've been trying to find a way to get you." Her voice did not falter at all, it stayed at a steady pace and did not change pitch.

"Why me? I did nothing to that dude last night," I snapped. I felt the back of my right hand hit the wall, apparently I was moving it.

"Even so, you're the easiest target. Even though Joshua only attacked the third brother of the family, Erik and Erika's uncle, they will still want revenge. You attacked their other uncle on Halloween as well which has added to their fury."

I sighed, this would end in an argument if denied. It would be best if I just went with her, what would my parents say though about me skipping school though?

"Don't worry, I notified your parents." Seriously, how could she read my mind? "Just act as if you got the stomach flu and call your dad to pick you up. He will come and we will head to the headquarters."

"And that's where?"

"In Budapest, Hungary."

I was shocked, so far away? "What? Why there?" I asked a little shocked, it was enough for me to jump out of my seat.

"It's where the werewolves started. Don't worry about learning the language, our groups over there know fluent English. Now, lets get going," she stood up from the table, "We can't waste time."

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