The Wolf Within Me

River: “Why the hell would a wolf like you risk entering another pack's territory? Are you dumb or brave? I can't tell. What pack are you from, huh?”

Kiani: “What the hell are you talking about?”

In Kiani’s head: Is this girl on drugs?

Kiani: “I just wanted to have a meltdown in peace since I keep being called things. Wolf is a new one.”

River: “Quit the act. I can smell your wolf from a mile away.”

Kiani: “Now I stink? This isn't how my first day was supposed to go. Forget friends. Bring on the fucking art.”

River: “Oh great.”

Kiani: “Don't tell me-”

River: “Hello, classmate.”

Kiani: “I’m Kiani Green, FYI, not a wolf.”

In River’s head: Is she being serious right now? I'm sure she's a wolf shifter. My wolf knows it. Surprisingly, my wolf finds this crazy wolf interesting more than a threat.

River: “River Darkwood.”

Kiani: “Can we start again?”

River: “Do you even know what you are?”

In Kiani’s head: The Darkwood pack couldn't get more known amongst the shifter community. They are the pack to be feared. Every wolf shifter knows them.

Kiani: “Forget it! You're on drugs. Good luck with that.

In River’s head: What the hell?

In Kiani’s head: Is this the right classroom?

River: “You've never heard of the Darkwood pack? Have you ever shifted yet?”

Kiani: “Stop talking to me. Don't do drugs.”

River: “I’m not on DRUGS!”

Kiani: “That's what people not on drugs say.”

In Kiani’s head: Wrong classroom. (Kiani walks away River follows - in the cafeteria)

River: “You can't lie to me when my wolf scents you!”

In Kiani’s head: Maybe if I ignore her, she'll disappear.

River: “Are you ignoring me?”

In Kiani’s head: Is she gone yet?

River: “My alpha isn't gonna like a new wolf on his territory without an invite.”

Kiani: “No, really? What drugs are you taking? You read too many fantasies. I love a good book but it's best not to live out your fantasy.”

River: “Could that sound anymore wrong? (Kiani walks away to another class). If you don't tell me what pack you’re from, I'll let my alpha know that you're here. Then your little game is up.”

Kiani: “Listen River Darkhood is it?”

River: “Darkwood!”

Kiani: “Urgh yeah, that's the one.”

In River’s head: I'm starting to believe she has no fucking idea. Could I be wrong? If so, I sound like a complete idiot. Good start. But her scent.

Kiani: “I'm here to learn. Boost my painting skills. Maybe go to a party and get drunk. The whole college experience. I was homeschooled until now. Now I know why.”

River: “I've got it. You recently rejected your inner wolf so you're slowly becoming human. Which is making you confused. I mean, my first shift was at sixteen and it was painful like a motherfucker but I could never reject my wolf. She's a part of me. Damn, is it too soon to talk about it? But why the hell would you reject your wolf? It's a sign of weakness. You practically killed your inner wolf. You're a murderer.”

Kiani: “YOU’RE FUCKING CRAZY!”

In Kiani’s head: I let out a deep angry growl.

River: “Okay, so you haven't rejected your wolf. My bad. (Kiani runs out)”

Teacher: “Miss Darkwood. Lost your classmate already?”

In the Teacher’s head: When I heard Darkwood was in my class I knew there was gonna be trouble. So many rumors about them.

Teacher: “Just because you're from a wealthy family doesn’t mean you’re unique or chase my students out of the door. There’ll be no trouble in my class. Do you understand Miss Darkwood? (in the garden)”

In Kiani’s head: What's going on with me? I felt a sharp pain shoot through my whole body. Suddenly I feel and hear an agonizing crack. I realized my legs have broken. Like it's been forced to disjoint.

Kiani: “AHHH!”

In Kiani’s head: I shake in pure agony. Then everything goes black. Am I dreaming?

Kiani’s Wolf: “Hello my Kiani. Let me out”

In Kiani’s head: Urgh, where am I?

In Beth’s head: Is she alive?

In Noah’s head: Please don't be dead.

In Peyton’s head: What happened?

In Brooke’s head: What a drama queen. I hate her already. Maybe more than River.

In Curtis’s head: This is gonna go viral, baby.

In Halyey’s head: I hope she's okay.

Lucas: “That's the hot girl I was telling you about.”

Curtis: “Which one?”

River: “GET LOST PEOPLE! It's called ‘she tripped and fell on her face’.”

Brooke: “Aw, the new freaks of the University created a freak show.”

River: “What did you just call me?”

Brooke: “You should’ve stayed in your manor Darkwood.”

River: “I knew I'd seen you before.”

Brooke: “You can look, but you can't touch.”

River: “Like anyone would want to touch you.”

Brooke: “Brooke Hawthrone. I'm onto you and your cult of a family Darkwood.”

In River’s head: My wolf snarls. (Brooke walks away)

Kiani: “Are you just gonna leave me down here? Please tell me my leg isn't broken.”

River: “Don't worry wolf girl, you healed right up. Come with me. (River walks away)”

Kiani: “You could at least help me up. (in the forest near a river)”

In Kiani’s head: Damn, this is beautiful.

River: “We need to talk. (Kiani takes a picture)”

Kiani: “Sorry, but I had to get the shot.”

River: “Kiani. You're gonna shift any day now. You nearly did today. You cannot shift in the middle of the University. Go back to your pack. They'll help you with your first shift. My wolf weirdly likes you, so I'm not telling my alpha. Okay?”

Kiani: “What are you talking about, River? I feel like I should but I don't know what's happening to me. I keep getting extreme mood swings. So much anger that's not like me. I keep growling at people. The pain I felt before I passed out was excruciating. I'm scared, okay? (Kiani cries)”

River: “You don't know anything? Please stop crying, tell me who you live with?”

Kiani: “My aunt Nia.”

River: “Where are your parents?”

Kiani: “They died when I was a baby. I don't know what's happening to me. When I passed out from the pain I saw something. It spoke to me. You kept calling me a wolf. That's what I saw. A sort of white creamed colored wolf. Please tell me you slipped me some drugs. (River laughs)”

River: “I wish I had, for your sake. Well, this explains why you wanted a death wish.”

Kiani: “What?”

River: “This is my pack's territory. If another wolf shifter comes uninvited, they die. Good thing I found you.”

Kiani: “Territory?”

River: “Where do I start?”

Kiani: “Please tell me.”

River: “This is gonna shock the hell out of you. But keep an open mind.”

In Kiani’s head: River’s telling me everything. I can't believe what I was hearing. Now she's telling me I'm one of them. It's insane. It makes so much sense at the same time but it's crazy. Does my aunt know about this? Is this why we're constantly running? But my biggest question is…are my parents dead? Did my parents leave me with Nia? So many questions were answered but so many questions are still unanswered.

River: “You need to talk to your aunt. Your parents must have been wolf shifters. Nia could be too. Your wolf has awoken. You'll be able to smell who’s a wolf shifter.”

Kiani: “Yeah.”

River: “Nia might know your pack.”

Kiani: “What if I don't have a pack? Do I have to leave Meadow Lake?”

River: “Maybe I could talk to-”

Kiani: “Please don't.”

In Kiani’s head: This Rocco guy seems dangerous.

River: “Rocco will find out. He might take you in if he knows you've got no pack.”

Kiani: “I don't wanna be taken in, River. I have a life. A human life. With Nia.”

River: “I hate to say it but Nia probably lied to you. You need help when you shift for the first time. Trust me it's gonna be more painful than what you experienced today. You need to learn the pack way when your wolf comes out. You don’t wanna be alone. You need to learn.”

Kiani: “I wonder if I believe all of this anyway.”

River: “Are you serious? (River takes of her clothes)”

Kiani: “What are you doing? I mean, I like girls but…River?!”

River: “Just shut up. I'm gonna show you something.”

Kiani: “Yeah. Damn, so you work out hard too?”

River: “Just don't freak out.”

Kiani: “I kinda already am. Okay, totally naked now. River, your eyes are weird.”

River: “Stand back. I can control my wolf, but she can be unpredictable. Sorry, but this site you're about to see is pretty gruesome.”

In Kiani’s head: I start to hear the bones cracking.

Kiani: “Please stop. (Kiani screams - Rocco storms in)”

Rocco: “Back away from the stray wolf River.”

In River’s head: Dammit. He must’ve been on patrol.

In Kiani’s head: OH.MY.GOD. Fucking highlander? My heart couldn't stop breathing. So tall, hard firm chest, body crave like a God. Beautiful fierce spiral tattoo. This man wore authority like a second skin. A sexy defined jawline. Kissable lips. Mesmerizing honey gold eyes. Dangerous scar I want to lick. Yikes. Where the fuck did that come from?

Kiani’s Wolf: “He's mine. Mark him, NOW!”

In Kiani’s head: Is this my damn wolf? She's lusting as hell. Is this a normal reaction?

In River’s head: Why is there no more yelling? He's not even in a threatening position right now. Not hostile at all, even though he smelled a damn stranger.

In Rocco’s head: My wolf is fucking purring like a bloody cat. This strange wolf scent drives my wolf insane. Insane with lust. I let my eyes slowly work their way up her curvy body. Her smooth caramel skin practically glowed in the sun. Full lips. A perfect beauty mark on her cheek I want to kiss. Damn. I would love to see what her wolf looks like. My wolf strongly agrees with me.

Rocco’s Wolf: “Go sniff her dammit. I wanna rub against her, NOW! Give her my scent, what are you waiting for?”

In Rocco’s head: Yeah. My wolf could be very vocal when he fucking wants to be. I'm doing everything in my power to hold him back. Noticing I haven't said anything for the past five minutes. If I spoke now, I’d be growling. My wolf is close to the surface.

River: “So um, is anyone gonna speak or should I take it from here so no one freaks the fuck out right now? Rocco, before you bite my head off, she needs our help.”

Kiani: “I don't need help.”

River: “If Rocco wanted you dead, you would be dead already.”

In River’s head: Okay, that didn't help at all.

Rocco: “Why are you with a stray wolf River?”

In Rocco’s head: I practically growl that out. I'm trying to stop my wolf from rubbing up against this girl. A girl who's confused and terrified.

In Kiani’s head: I felt his growl deep in my bones. His growl is so damn sexy. I should be terrified. From what River said he's a damn Alpha. Right now, I just wanna climb him like a tree and it's freaking me out.

River: “So basically she only just found out that she's a wolf shifter today. Oh, and her first shift could come any day now.”

Rocco: “What do you mean she doesn't know what she is?”

River: “Like I said, she doesn't know what she is. (Rocco rolls his eyes)”

Rocco: “What's your name, little wolf?”

Kiani: “Kiani Green.”

In Kiani’s head: For some reason I shouldn't say my surname yet.

In Rocco’s head: Kiani.

Rocco: “How do you not know what you are? How old are you? Who the hell raised you to believe that you're human?”

In Rocco’s head: This is rare.

In Kiani’s head: It's hard to speak around Rocco. He has this aura of power around him but I don't feel scared. I feel drawn to him in his penetrating eyes. I might be giving him hungry eyes. I'm flustered, it's unreal. I've never had this reaction. But I want this dark, brooding, dangerous male specimen. My very own highlander. Yes please. I think he just asked me a lot of questions.

Kiani: “What was the question again?”

River: “Rocco, look at her. Kiani’s no threat. She's like a deer in headlights. I mean, who can blame her? I would be freaking out if I didn't know who I was.”

In Kiani’s head: Yeah, a nervous wreck because I'm hot for the alpha. But that's really besides the fucking point right now.

Rocco: “You must come back with us. I can't have you exposing us to the world. Until your shift into your wolf is complete.”

Kiani: “NO WAY!”

In River’s head: Oh damn, that wasn't a choice Kiani.

Rocco: “What did you just say?”

In Rocco’s head: I must’ve heard wrong because she told me no.

Kiani: “You heard me, highlander. I'm going home. This is too much.”

Rocco: “That wasn't an option.”

In Rocco’s head: Did she just call me a highlander? Instead of my wolf getting angry with the resounding no. You've got to be kidding me. He gets excited.

Rocco’s Wolf: “She can tell me no all she likes. I like this wolf, make her yours now.”

In Rocco’s head: This girl with no experience can’t be my mate. Shut up. My wolf keeps moaning. I need to get out of here and think. I can't think with my wolf hounding me.

Rocco: “Have it your way. River, take her home. If you give my pack problems I'll be coming for you. (Rocco walks away)”

Kiani: “Who the hell does he think he is?”

River: “An alpha who could’ve killed you for the disrespect you showed him.”

Kiani: “I didn't ask for any of this. He can’t expect me to go with a bunch of strangers. No offense, but seriously we've just met today.”

River: “Did you not just hear me? You can't tell an alpha no.”

Kiani: “He's not my alpha. What? He acts like he owns the world. (River laughs)”

River: “I've never seen Rocco act like that. He hates being told no. It's his way or the highway. I'll be damned. Did you even feel his power?”

Kiani: “I did, but I was too busy freaking out. I'm a wolf shifter.”

In Kiani’s head: Also I was drooling over him for most of it.

River: “Did you hear your wolf?”

Kiani: “Maybe.”

River: “WELL?! How did she react to Rocco?”

Kiani: “Why are you so bothered?”

River: “I wanna know if you're gonna be dominant or submissive?”

Kiani: “I need to go. I'm so done today. (Kiani walks away)”

River: “Do you even know where you're going?”

Kiani: “NO, HURRY UP! (River laughs)”

In River’s head: Rocco’s reaction to her was weird. Kiani should’ve been terrified. Well maybe she's dominant. (Kiani’s living room)

Nia: “Where have you been? Do you even own a phone? Kiani?!”

In Kiani’s head: I don't ask anything. I got a headache. Too much insane information for one day. I can't even cope with the fact Nia might’ve known about me all this time. How can she keep something like that from me? I can't deal with that tonight. What's even worse…Nia doesn't smell like a wolf.

Kiani: “I'm going to bed.”