Escaping from the wolf

"Apolo," I whispered his name without taking my eyes off him.

I noticed Thomas frowned and followed my gaze, immediately tensing up. Both of us stood up as Apolo walked toward us slowly. Apolo was a gray wolf, the one I had found months ago devouring a poor animal, and he had told me, "I found you." Back then, Carolina and I knew nothing about this.

His gaze never left Thomas, but why is he here? Why is he acting like this if he supposedly ended things with me? I definitely don't understand.

"What are you doing here, Apolo?" Thomas asked, articulating his name mockingly.

Apolo growled.

"I see you replaced me very quickly," he said to me mentally, ignoring Thomas's question.

Replace him? He must be joking.

"What's wrong with you?" I snapped, angry with him. "Thomas and I are just friends, and even if he and I had something which will never happen-that's none of your business because you and I are nothing."

My words affected him; I could see his ears pin back slightly, but he immediately straightened up, glaring menacingly at Thomas.

"Fine," he forced a nod. "Enjoy your date," and he turned and ran into the forest.

Thomas turned to me, arms crossed, looking amused.

"What?" I inquired.

He shook his head. "Nothing, it's just that you surprised me," he admitted. "Uh-huh."

"So... shall we go?" I questioned.

He frowned. "Did you get bored of me so quickly, little Anne?" he asked playfully as he approached.

I

Every time he called me "little Anne," it stirred something inside me that I couldn't explain. Thomas had appeared in my life out of nowhere. I knew nothing about him, and maybe he was hiding something or using me, but that didn't seem convincing. The arrival of Clark, the vampire, was also very mysterious. Why was Thomas, a werewolf, trying to seduce me when he should have his mate somewhere? And then it hit me: he probably hadn't found her yet and wanted to pass the time with me, just like Connor with Carolina. Connor had resigned himself because he couldn't find his mate, and when he met Carolina, he grew fond of her and confused it with something more.

Thomas would soon find his mate and leave. And I... I would be left alone, so I had to distance myself from him as soon as possible to avoid another disappointment.

"Why so serious?" he stood in front of me. I could smell his cologne; it was such a peculiar scent that made my heart skip a beat.

"I-I think I have to go." I hated stuttering, and I had done it in front of him. Now he would think he had an effect on me.

He smiled sideways. "I invite you to the amusement park at the beach on Saturday," he proposed.

Amusement park? And the beach isn't close to here.

"Where?" I questioned.

And why is he inviting me? Is it... another date?

"I know a place. I know it's not close, but you'll ride on my back. I'm very fast, so we'll get there in no time," his gaze had a special spark.

"Is... this... a date?" I asked, frowning at the last word. I felt embarrassed asking that.

He looked amused. "No, it's a friends' outing," he said. The embarrassment washed over me. "For dates, I don't usually do these kinds of outings," he commented. "I'm usually more... daring," he winked.

I felt my cheeks burn but tried to hide it so he wouldn't notice. How silly of me to think he would invite me on a date. Me. He probably had prettier girls, and I... well, I'm just me.

"Ah, well, I thought it was a date, but since it's a friends' outing, I accept," I downplayed it. Thomas always embarrassed me. "What time?"

He raised his eyebrows, amused. "At seven," he replied. "Don't worry, I'll come to get you."

I frowned. "You won't come to get me as a wolf, right? I have neighbors," I crossed my arms, raising my chin.

He looked at me with boredom. "I know," he nodded. We started walking towards the school. It wasn't far.

For some reason, I felt the need to know more about Thomas. I bit my lip because I didn't know what to do or ask.

"Come on, ask me," he said, as if reading my thoughts.

I looked at him incredulously. "What?" I pretended not to know.

He gave me a quick glance. "I know you have many questions about me," he murmured. "I can't promise to answer them all."

This was my chance.

"Why did you come here, Thomas?" we continued walking. This was the question that had been on my mind the most.

He didn't get nervous or anything. He acted normal. "For you," he looked at me. Though it seemed like a joke, I knew it wasn't. And it wasn't because I wanted it to be true; it was just a feeling inside me. "It's not funny," I murmured.

The forest was quiet.

"Next question," he sounded more like a command.

"How was your life before coming here?" I blurted out.

This question should make him thoughtful, as he always had quick answers to my questions. He surprised me. However, it wasn't like that this time:

"My past can be very terrifying for you," he stopped to look at me. "I don't plan to scare you with it."

I also stopped.

A terrifying past? Actually, it doesn't surprise me. Who knows if he left girlfriends scattered everywhere? Obviously, he's a heartbreaker because Thomas is what every girl looks for, what Kara would like to have. But why doesn't Kara follow him?

"I understand that your past might traumatize me, but I don't think it's that bad." I started walking again. "I can handle it." "Uh-huh."

We had been talking for several minutes until we arrived at school. It was the same; I imagined the students were in class and a feeling of guilt invaded me. This is the second time I skipped classes.

We walked through the empty hallways in search of our classrooms. Thomas's classroom was next to ours. Being with him makes me forget everything, makes me want to break the rules and be more carefree. And that terrifies me. "So, I'll see you tonight," he said goodbye, and without saying more, went into his classroom.

Tonight? He didn't give me time to protest. Ugh. I hate that he's like that. Always so mysterious and invading my privacy. I rolled my eyes and walked towards my classroom, but before I got there, I noticed a silhouette at the end of the hallway. It was Clark.

What is he doing here?

He had a devilish smile on his face.

He made a sign with his two fingers for me to come closer. I unconsciously pointed at myself to make sure it was me he meant. He just nodded. I looked around and slowly approached. As I got closer, I could see his pale face forming a smile. "Looks like Thomas gets what he wants," he commented in a grave voice.

What?

"What are you talking about?" I questioned, completely clueless.

He smiled more. A devilish smile.

"All in good time, Anne, all in good time," and without another word, he walked past me and left.

I stood there, wondering what he meant by saying Thomas gets what he wants. How does he know Thomas? What does Clark have to do with Thomas and Apollo? Why am I being involved?

So many questions and no one to answer them.

I think instead of spying on Apollo, who obviously isn't hiding anything except that he no longer loves me, I should be investigating Thomas. I don't know him well enough, and I'm letting him into my life. What is so terrifying about your past, Thomas?