𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 

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╰┈˚ · ° .  DAYS PASSED, WEEKS STARTED AND ENDED, July turned to August. The morning sun was scalding, the rays reaching down warming the earth. The sea had its usual waves, the seagulls flying around and people relaxing on the shore enjoying the day of summer.

The most noteworthy thing that had changed in the span of a single month was Emily Young. With gorgeous black hair that fell to her waist and fringe to frame her sharp features. Curved eyebrows and pronounced cupid lips, Emily was definitely a stunning girl. But it was her personality that made her shine even more than her looks. The girl had warmth to her that I had never experienced before. She was kind and gentle but without lacking fierceness. Well mannered and with a protective instinct that reminded me of caring mothers. Like Sam, she was older than us. At nineteen years old, just months older than my brother, the imprint of the Alpha of the pack merged with our group so much better than any one of us could have hoped for.

During the previous weeks, Sam had gone to her home in the bordering Reservation where the girl lived, even at her hesitancy, the young alpha had continued to visit her, and as the days passed, a reluctant friendship bloomed.

Sam had never been the type of guy to have a serene smile— much more, it was way more common to have his lips into a tight line, seriousness showing on his features. But now, more than ever, he was smiling.

Laughing echoed from the children playing further down the First Beach, it was a beautiful day to enjoy the sea and a relaxing day with families and friends.

The wolves— minus Sam since he was passing the day with Emily— were launching a ball back and forth between them. Smiles adorning their faces at whatever joke Jared was spewing from his lips.

Laying down on towels, Amelia and Kim with matching heart shaped sunglasses enjoyed the hot sun, trying to get their tan up.

Next to the two girls, I was sitting cross legged with Maddison, silence reigning as I passed the time reading through a chemistry book for the next school year AP class. Highlighters already staining my skin with multiple colors.

Maddison was writing in her journal— more specifically, trying, because the girl was continuously checking her phone and the beach shore anxiously.

"Your anxiety is making me kind of nauseous." I closed the book already knowing that I could not concentrate enough with all the emotion bombing me from the side. Empathy gifts were useful sometimes— not everyday though— and even with practiced control from keeping emotions to always reach us, stronger ones had an easier time passing through. People close to us, feeling strongly, even more. "Why are you checking your phone every thirty seconds?"

"I'm sorry." She apologized. "It's- uh... Jacob." Maddi let out a defeated sigh, forehead furrowing, eyes casted to her hands as she played with the string of her bracelets. "He told me that he would come too today but..."

"Today?" It was Amelia that asked that. She sat down, raising the sunglasses on top of her head, biting her lips as she awaited the answer.

"Yeah, today, why?" The air witch hesitated to reply, making Maddison ask more insistently, "Why Amelia?"

"I saw Bella before leaving the house." She finally replied.

"Oh." It was a sound of acknowledgement. The fact that her best friend ghosted her all day to hang out with her own sister. "I understand."

Amelia shook her head,"You don't have to understand it, Maddi. He is being an asshole."

"It's okay."

"It doesn't have to be."

Silence followed until Kim stood up, "Time for this depressing talk to end. He is the one losing the opportunity to spend the day with your fantastic self, Strawberry shortcake." Resting both her hands on her waist, Kim grinned widely down at us. "Now, let's go and have fun so you can forget all about the bad copy of Amelia in male version."

"I love it!" Mia laughed, "This is going to be his new name."

"Fun? I heard the word fun." Interrupting the laughter that was created throughout the group of girls, Jared spoke, wolfishly grinning, "I know how we can have fun." In a swift motion he threw his imprint over his shoulder, throwing her in the sea like she weighed nothing.

With a screech of happiness, Kim landed in the water, hair covering her face when she reapered. "Jared!"

"Who's next?" With a smile that never faltered, the wolf jogged back towards us girls.

"Nope, no, no. Don't you dare." Amelia spoke, eyes hard on the boy. Two steps made backwards, we were stopped by the third shifted wolf.

"Oh fuck no." I mumbled, "Take her." I tugged at the air witch in front of me offering her as a sacrifice in my place. I did not want to go in the water.

Amelia and Maddison were hauled on the shifters shoulders and soon, they had joined the earth witch in the water.

So I started running. It was a lost cause since I knew that they were both much faster than I was, but I wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"Where do you think you are going, Beatrice?" Paul's taunting words came from behind me, too close to comfort.

"Anywhere but the water or near you."

The laugh that followed sent chills down my spine. A gravely sound that was all taunting and dark amusement. "Run, little arsonist, run."

I was not going to stop and think about why the heck that was enlightening my body with arousal. The forest was near my reach, I could go there and use my powers to stop him. That was my plan.

I could do it— or not since before taking a step past the forest line I face-planted into a wall made of compact air— courtesy of the air witch as revenge.

"What the fuck! Mia!"

"That's karma, traitorous bitch!" Shouted back to the other witch.

Turning around to glare at my best friend, my eyes caught the sigh of Paul. He was stalking towards me, not even running anymore. Dark eyes showing macabre amusement.

I think he was liking this as much as I was.

"Fucking hell." I mumbled to myself. This was not going to my plan.

"Got you."

In a second I was thrown over his shoulder, laughing spilling from the wolves chest as he jogged down the beach towards the water.

"Let me down, dickhead."

"Alright."

Pulling my body off his shoulder, he tossed me into the water near the others as they laughed at the scene.

"I hate you." I glared at the wolf, splashing him with water.

"Keep thinking that, little arsonist, maybe one day I'll even believe it."

Oh, that asshole.

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!

The last part of the first draft was wayyyy more sexual. I cut it off since I didn't like how it didn't match with the rest of the vibes of the chapter. (I still have that draft tho👀)

If you want to read a scene like that, please let me know.

Emily still does not know about the pack here, but it won't be long. (Me preparing to write the drama in the following chapters 💅 )

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, I'll see you on Thursday!

˚ · ° . 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 . ° · ˚

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾