Escaping from the wolf

"What are you doing, Clark?" I asked seriously.

We were far from Carolina, and she was probably looking for me at this moment. But where was Thomas? Clark's smile gave me chills. The forest was covered in snow, and the moonlight cast a bluish hue over the night. I could see the lake freezing over just a few steps away, halfway there.

"I was just passing by, Anne. I wanted to say hello," he replied, his gaze dark and unsettling.

"Couldn't you greet me in front of Carolina?" I asked.

"Hmm... She's a wolf, and wolves and I don't mix well," he said casually.

"That doesn't seem to apply to Apollo and Thomas," I crossed my arms.

I heard a few howls in the distance and wondered who it could be. I needed someone to come quickly. I didn't like being alone in the forest with a vampire.

"Thomas is a different matter," he shrugged. "He and I have history, you know? We came to this town together," he said. "And Apollo... Well, he asked me for a favor."

What?

"What favor?" I demanded. I had to muster all my willpower not to show fear. I didn't want him to think I was weak or easily intimidated.

"Sorry, but that's between him and me. I might be bad, but I'm not a traitor."

"But Apollo making deals with a vampire makes him a traitor," I muttered.

I heard footsteps around me and looked in all directions. There were footsteps.

"Come out, Thomas. I won't harm your prey. She's all yours," Clark exclaimed while still looking at me.

More footsteps behind me made me turn around. Thomas was approaching, growling at Clark. He was tense, his paws and fur were dirty and scratched, indicating he had been in a fight. He passed by me without looking and positioned himself in front of me.

"Get lost, Clark. Don't come near her," he ordered.

Clark laughed and looked at the moon.

"Relax, I just wanted to say hello," he explained. "Wow, so the moon's magic makes you guys stronger," he commented, and I didn't understand the reference. There was something more behind that comment.

"Get lost," Thomas repeated, growling. I had never seen Thomas this angry. It scared me a bit.

"Calm down, Thomas, unless you want me to spill the beans. You wouldn't want your little Anne to know the real reason you're here," he taunted.

The real reason? Could it be that Thomas had another motive for coming here? What was it?

"Shut up!" Thomas lunged at him, but in the blink of an eye, Clark moved away, and suddenly he was behind me, wrapping his arm around my neck. I tried to pry it off, but he was squeezing tightly.

"Let me go," I gasped.

"Let her go!" Thomas approached, but Clark stopped him.

"Hey, I just wanted to remind you of the real objective. Otherwise, your brother pays the price."

His grip started to loosen, and he pushed me forward, causing me to fall near Thomas's paws. A quick, cold wind told me Clark had left.

"Anne, are you okay?" Thomas asked, nudging me with his nose.

I lifted my head and looked at him.

Thomas was hiding something.

He came here for another reason.

And if I asked, he wouldn't tell me anything. I no longer knew whom to trust.

I stood up and brushed the snow off my clothes.

"You're hiding things from me, huh?"

He exhaled and took two steps back before sitting down.

"Now's not the time to talk, Anne. You need to leave. This place isn't safe for you right now," he evaded my question.

It was clear he wouldn't tell me anything, just like Apollo. But unlike Apollo, I had no reason to force him to tell me things he didn't want to. We were nothing. But one thing was certain: I wouldn't let them hurt me. Not him, not Apollo, not my father, not Clark.

I was fed up.

I clenched my fists tightly, feeling a foreign anger taking over my body. Suddenly, I wanted to punch something.

"Fine, if you won't tell me the truth... Don't talk to me again, Thomas, understand?" I spat through gritted teeth. He was silent for a moment.

"Anne?" He called, and I thought he might relent, but then his gaze darkened further. "I can't tell you anything, for now."

I nodded, understanding, and started walking towards the lake's edge. I had no idea where I was, but once I reached the lake, it would lead me to Carolina's house. I heard footsteps behind me and turned immediately. Thomas was following me.

"Stop!" I exclaimed. He halted in his tracks. "Don't follow me. You know what you need to do to be part of my life again. But I see that's not going to happen, so leave me alone."

"Anne, please..."

I gave him one last look and ran away from him. My boots clung to the snow growing in the forest. The moon's reflection shone on the crystal-clear waters of the lake, and if I weren't so angry, I would have stopped to admire it.

I had been running for a while until I started feeling tired. But a house in the distance made me breathe a sigh of relief. There were wolves in the yard. People too. I quickened my pace and saw Carolina insisting something to Kayler, who was trying to calm her.

The wolves noticed me, and one of them howled.

Apollo.

Carolina and the others looked in my direction, and she ran towards me.

"Anne, thank God! Are you okay? Did that jerk Kent do anything to you? Tell me! Because if he did, I'll make sure he can't have children," Carolina was very nervous.

"I'm fine, Carolina, don't worry. Thomas arrived, and nothing else happened."

She frowned for a moment but let it go. I knew what she was thinking-what would Thomas do with me? But she seemed to save the questions for later. We started walking towards the others. Mrs. Lane must not be here because there was a pack of wolves in her yard. And Kenzie?

"Where's Kenzie?" I asked.

"Connor took her to PopCap."

I nodded.

Apollo was sitting somewhere, watching me, with another wolf beside him.

"Glad you're okay, Anne," Kayler said. I smiled in gratitude, but my head hurt. "I'll tell the pack to leave," he told Carolina in farewell. She just nodded, and as soon as he left, she dragged me to her house's hallway.

"Do you know what I don't get?" she asked while opening the door. I raised an eyebrow. "That Thomas is after you. He must have his mate, right?" she went inside briefly and grabbed her coat, then closed the door. Honestly, I wondered the same thing. But whatever, I didn't care.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter. I don't talk to him. He's a liar, so it's better to keep my distance from those kinds of people," I shrugged, going down the stairs again.

The wolves had disappeared, but I felt watched. I got into the driver's seat, and Carolina sat in the passenger seat.

"How? I thought you two were inseparable..." Carolina murmured. I looked at her. "Or at least that's what I've been led to believe. Anne, I thought Apollo was your mate," she muttered, confused.

I was confused too. I started the car and began driving down the dark road. I had a bad feeling, though I didn't know why.

"I thought so too, but I don't know. It's very strange because... he and I aren't together anymore, and... I don't feel... bad," I confessed. It was also a confession to myself.

I felt her gaze on me.

"That can't be..." she whispered more to herself.

"Why do you say that?" I glanced at her quickly.

"Because when I broke up with Kayler the first time, I felt so empty inside. There was an inexplicable need to be with him. It was something inside me, you know? You should feel that. Just like he should."

That made me think: at first, I might have been a little sad, but I never had that need to be with him. However, now that I wouldn't be with Thomas anymore or even talk to him, I felt a certain... nostalgia and also a small emptiness inside me. But that couldn't be. It was too soon.

"I don't know, then," I admitted. We had passed the turnoff to Kayler's house.

"We need to investigate this further, huh?"

At that moment, her cell phone rang, and she answered it immediately.

"Hello, Vane," she responded. "Yes, I'm with Anne... No, not at all... Uh-huh, I'll tell her. What? A party at a cabin? With whom and where?... The forest? And who is this Carlos?... Don't drink too much, okay, fine. Be careful they don't kick you out for not belonging to that circle of friends. Yes, okay, bye," she hung up.

I looked at her incredulously.

"She says hi and sends regards to your cousin and brother too," she said in a bored tone. I smiled. "Those slackers are going to a party this weekend at a cabin in the forest. It's hosted by someone named Carlos," she commented. I raised my eyebrows.

"And why did you say to be careful they don't get kicked out?" I questioned.

"Well, because the party is hosted by one of those kids who goes to the private high school in the same city. Usually, when they throw parties, the kids from Johnson High crash them," she explained.

"I get it," I nodded. "Did you go to those parties?" I looked at her.

"Yes, a couple of times. I don't remember if I know this Carlos, but his name sounds familiar," she said. "They're fun. Those rich kids don't care about anything."

I laughed.

The conversation was lively. We were driving past the place where I had met Thomas when my car broke down, and he fixed it. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the forest and crossed the road. I slammed on the brakes, making a screech that must have been heard for miles. My hands were trembling. I looked at Carolina, and we both turned to see the girl standing in front of us. She circled the car and started banging desperately on my window. "Help me, please! Open the door!"

I recognized that voice. The girl was dirty, her blonde hair was in her face, her pupils were dilated, and her hair was disheveled and covered in snow. But I knew that shrill voice.

Oh, my God.

Kara.