The Right Choice - Prologue

I knocked on the door and stood back. There was no reply so I knocked again. There was a faint sound of music playing from round the back. My ears detected Paramore. I went through the back gate, the music getting louder, expecting to see my boyfriend rocking out. As I entered the garden, my gaze immediately went to the two people lying on the grass at the bottom of the garden. Damone and Alexis, a girl from my English class. And they were doing more than discussing homework, if you revised with your tongue nowadays. Immediately without having to think about it I turned and ran.

I could feel the familiar energy coursing through my veins. What I was born to be. What my whole body was made to do. I felt my spine re-arranging; it's happened so many times, it's long ceased to be painful. Then the rest of my body bent and I lurched forward. Onto all fours. All the while moving faster, pushing myself to my limit, which was about level with a cheetah. I jumped over fences, weaved between cars, crept past gardens and then shot forward. I knew I was moving too fast to be seen. And even if I were, all it would be was a flash of honey brown fur. Finally the forest loomed ahead. I sprinted past trees and hedges, twigs and branches snapping underfoot as I passed. Skidding to a stop beside the stream, I let out a huff.

I was angry, literally blazing with anger. I forced myself to calm down, to relax my muscles. Finally I was calm enough to return to my human form, crouching in the shade. I shook the leaves out of my hair and brushed mud off my legs as I fished my emergency bag out the stream. I have four of them, in different places. All waterproof, places marked with nature. I rarely phased unexpectedly, but it had happened a few times. After the first time I figured it was better to have a backup, just in case.

I pulled out a bikini, considered going for a lush swim in the cool stream, then put it back. I had things to consider. Pulling on some shorts and a halter top, I threw my flip flops down on the ground. It was hardly summer but seeing as my temperature was always a few degrees higher than my surroundings, I was hot enough. I put the bag back and then sat against my favorite tree. I wasn't angry and slightly upset because that asshole was cheating, but because I had actually been on my way over to dump him. He had basically beat me to it, and now I had even more of a reason to take a fucking chunk out of his pale, hairy arse. I punched the tree in frustration and it shook so hard a few squirrels fell out, chattered angrily at me, and ran for their lives.

Growling, I leaned back against the rough bark, and closed my eyes, hoping it would help me think rationally. Half -an-hour later I woke up to see my brother Caleb standing over me. I took in his expression and guessed he was in a good mood. He had a habit of switching moods, he was rather bi-polar. He smiled and held a hand out for me. There was no need to ask how he knew where I was, I always was there.
"Hi" he said
"Hey what's up?", he shrugged.
"Mum wants to talk to you. I was on my way to Clarissa's and she rang me"
"What about?" I asked as I slipped into my flip-flops and we started walking.
"Dunno" he shrugged again. I rolled my eyes.

We left the forest behind and I saw his beat up Ronda parked a few meters away. I could smell bleach, and other cleaning products as we got closer. I glanced at him. Had he cleaned up?
I got to the passenger door and looked in. God, he had! Hallelujah! Caleb heard my whisper and chuckled.
"Clarissa forced me to clean it. She said she would dump me, permanently this time if I didn't".
Any other time I would've laughed, but the word 'dump' had reminded me of earlier. I clenched my teeth and slammed the door shut.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he started the engine.
I didn't want to tell him because I knew he would get angry and do something he'd definitely regret. I wouldn't regret it, I would be delighted and probably try to help, but our parents wouldn't. And he had responsibilities to his pack. I didn't want to be responsible for getting him kicked out.

"Nothing" I spat. He sighed and I slumped down. If I ever saw Damone again, I'd rip him a fucking new one. The journey was silent, the tension so thick you could shape it into a ball and play tennis with it. When we pulled into the driveway, I noticed two things. One: my mum's friend Alyssa's car was parked in one of the spaces, and two; the hottest guy I had ever seen was lounging against the low wall beside our flower bed. I checked him out as he bent down to tie his laces. He was so fit! As if he had heard me, he straightened up and turned around. When his gaze fixed on mine I jolted. He was human!