Howl - Brieanna Boyce (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

never noticed how loud and alive the forest was, I also don’t remember being this agile we were going at a descent speed and yet I didn’t ever make a noise. A crunch of a leaf or the breakings of a twig, not even the quiet patter my clumsy feet made when my paws met the earth.
Finally when the sun met the horizon we reached our destination we emerged from the woods the rest of the pack changed back their bodies molding back to their original state their fur shimmering then turning to flesh their clothes turned into scrap hanging limply over their bodies yet they showed no shyness.
“Remember all the parts of your human life remember those things you hold dear and let that guide you,” the she-wolf commanded.
I closed my eyes and breathed and for a moment I felt two heartbeats in my chest felt the wolf part in me and the human part meet as if in passing and then I felt my body reshape and reform when I opened my eyes and looked down to my body. My shirt had literally been reduced to a few shreds of cloth and my bra was completely visible my pants were shorts with a few really long pieces left dangling. Yet I couldn’t manage to feel shame for over the distance I could see an amazing glittering city on the horizon. It was New York City I had never been there but there was no need to explain, its towering Skyscrapers and massive amounts of buildings spoke for themselves.
“Kale I thought you’d said that we needed to hide and be low key?” Meg said echoing my thoughts, and for the first time since I’d met her she actually had a point.
Derek nodded “Unfortunately I have to agree with Meg, doesn’t going to New York to hide seem a bit contradictory.”
Kale grinned lopsidedly “That’s how it seems however that is not the case. Our…kind is more comfortable in the trees and forests however if we manage to keep ourselves low key we can just blend in even the best of them wouldn’t be able to track us.”
Jason frowned, “Maybe but they would be able to smell us.”
Kale shook his head “Most vampires don’t even think we exist anymore so I don’t think we’ll have to worry.”
“They don’t think we exist anymore?” I asked, “Why’s that?”
Kale looked at me his golden eyes shimmering almost with tears then he looked away his jaw working. I had never seen so much sadness, such unguarded sadness.
“Because they’ve killed most of our kind off,” Kale rubbed his temples frowning, Meg pouted sympathetically and pat his back glaring at me but then Kale shrugged her off.
I wished I could understand why this affected Kale so deeply I mean sure it was the death of some of his species but it seemed more personal then that but before I could apologize or offer any solace to Kale Gerard cut through the silence.
“Kale, we have to move.”
“Yes Gerard thank you, you are right.”
Kale got off the tree and walked easily towards the city and we followed after, and suddenly I wasn’t as bold anymore I covered myself lowering my head and positioning myself between Derek and Kale.
Derek chuckled “You know it’s been so long since someone joined our pack I forgot how bashful humans are.”
“That’s a habit you want to break quick dear,” Gerard interrupted.
Meg looked over and glared at me and just to spite her I smiled warmly to Gerard. “Thank you I will keep that in mind.” It was hard to smile at him since he came off so cold hearted but apparently Meg couldn’t tell because she was giving me the evil eye.
Kale dragged me closer to his side, “Stop talking and focus.” He said it like a command.
“No make me,” I sneered angered by him treating me like a child I heard my inner she-wolf scream at me in response but I couldn’t care much I don’t like being told what to do. Then I calmed myself and focus I knew I should be grateful and I knew later that I’d apologize but for now I had to worry about other things.
I hid myself in the center of the group not wanting people to see me half naked and blushing immensely. Kale shielded me and the rest followed his lead.
“The next time you pull that I’ll rip you apart,” Meg snarled.
I didn’t respond I shouldn’t have acted like that towards Kale. I’m sure none of the other pack members are happy with me either.
People stared at us in wide eyed shock and whispered about us some girls winking at the boys and some boys hollering at Meg. To no one’s surprise she winked and flirted with them but to everyone’s surprise Gerard muttered “I don’t know why you’re responding like that they just think you’re hot it’s not like they really like you or anything.”
Meg pouted and looked at him sadly the rest of us continued to walk in silence and I wondered for the thousandth time today where we were going and when we’d get there. We must’ve walked through the whole city until finally we got to the outskirts of the Bronx in a rundown apartment complex.
“This is where we are staying?” Gerard grimaced.
Derek elbowed him chuckling, “hope you like herpes and dead hookers.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle and was relieved when Jason smiled too.
“What a coincidence I like dead hookers and herpes.”
Derek grinned mischievously “I like this girl we are keeping her,” he high fived me.

Meg frowned “I don’t know she seems like a pest.”

Kale turned “Why don’t we worry about more important things and head inside?” He didn’t say it like a choice but rather a command and I was getting kind of irritated with this “top dog” attitude but I nodded and went inside with the others and took my backpack from Derek.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime new girl,” Derek headed into a room.
I walked around our apartment and frowned when I ended up being in the same room as Meg.
“Oh great,” I frowned dropped my bag and took out a sleeping bag.

“Not like I want to see your face when I wake up either,” she sneered cruelly.
Jason peeked into the room, “What do you want for dinner?”

“I want Chinese.”

I grimaced “Why don’t I just make you something?”

“You can cook?!” Jason asked excitedly.

“She’ll probably poison us,” Meg frowned.

“I’m a great cook,” I smiled confidently.
I walked into the kitchen and looked around, there was just enough here to make a chicken dinner which was easy. I quickly grabbed what I’d need I got a pan and two pots. I focused on making the chicken, corn, and potatoes in some weird way I found cooking relieving it reminded me of my regular schedule at home.
Kale walked up behind me, “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to, I do this all the time it makes me feel normal.”

“Okay…I’m sorry about before.”

I looked at Kale surprised “What? Why?”
“For yelling at you before,” he started to set the table and I took out the food.

“It’s okay I pulled an attitude.”

“Yeah I noticed,” Kale chuckled.

I shoved him playfully and got the food out then called everyone to the table.
We all sat down and ate awkwardly and I got compliments about how I’d cooked from everyone but Meg.

“So what do werewolves do when they are bored?”

“We usually go to clubs.”

“I’m not twenty one,” my eyes widened it sounded thrilling and scary at the same time.
They looked at each other, we don’t need I.D’s.”

“Oh,” I said then smiled “Can we go tonight?”
They all looked to Kale for reassurance apparently it was a more serious question then I’d originally thought.

Kale nodded “Yeah I think she’s ready.”

Meg nodded “Okay but all your clothes suck so I’m picking what you’re wearing.”

“What-,” but before I could manage to get another word in Meg dragged me to our room and sat me down going into a closet nearby and rifling through her clothes then she pulled out a long skirt with long slits up the sides and a low cut shirt and thigh high boots.

“Uh you want me to wear that?”

“Yeah it’s hot!” Meg grinned.

I would’ve stopped her and told her this outfit was slutty but she was having such a good time and she seemed playful and kind I liked seeing her in this light and I didn’t want to ruin it. So I got dressed while she put on a skin tight low cut red dress with black pumps and this look fit her much more then the outfit she gave fit me.

“You don’t like the outfit I picked out for you? Well then you shouldn’t have asked for my help then.”

I could’ve pointed out that I never asked for her help but why bother? I don’t want to upset her I mean before I did but that was only because I was so overwhelmed I didn’t care to be patient. However now that I saw there was some good in her I wanted to try and be friends.

“No I’m very appreciative Meg,” I smiled although I was thinking of ways to get out of this experience but I was still a bit curious about what a club was like. I had a general idea but I’d never actually been to one although I felt stupid in an outfit like this it only made my immature body all the more obvious. I bit my lip nervously and Meg smiled and sat me down in a chair then set make up onto a nearby nightstand and started putting make up on me which was a somewhat new experience.
“Hold still, oh damn you made me smear the mascara, haven’t you done this before?” Meg whined then she yanked all my hair, piled it all on my head, and stuck pins into my head scraping my scalp and then creating a cloud of hairspray that left me suffocating.
“Stop being so dramatic Skylar you’d think I was killing you.”
“My thought’s exactly,” I managed through gasps.
Meg rolled her eyes then turned me so I faced the mirror and I gaped in shock. Usually I looked fourteen but now I actually look like the seventeen year old I was. I began to tear up I looked like my mother used to I missed her so much my hands instantly found the locket around my neck.
“What’s wrong? Why are you crying? You’re going to smudge your mascara.”
At that I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically, I hoped one day I could worry about superficial things like Meg did frankly I found it rather refreshing and almost made me feel normal. I hugged Meg she really wasn’t so bad.
“What’s wrong with you Skylar? You have to be the weirdest person I ever met.”
I chuckled “Nothing’s wrong thanks Meg.”
“Sure,” she said raising her eyebrow at me and looking at me like I was insane, which seemed more and more plausible by the moment.
Finally we both headed out of the room and into the living room with Gerard, Derek, Jason, and Kale all waiting for us their mouths dropped when they walked in.
“You look like a hooker,” Derek said through chuckles and I couldn’t help but laugh too I felt ridiculous.
“Ah but the real question is do I look