Ares.

The stare off between me and the wolf kids continues to smoulder until JJ says something close to my ear and then I feel his wet finger inside my ear. I immediately react by slapping his hand away and simultaneously punching him in the balls, earning a scream from him and the amusement of the rest of the group

A movement catches my attention across the hall and I see a girl in the front of the wolf group mouth something to the others and they all relax a little, a wave of understanding flows through them without another audible word.

Curious.

The bell rings before I have a chance to go back to staring some more, or punch the ever annoying J again, but then a collective groan adds to the noise of the second bell and everyone beginning to trudge off to class shakes me out of the trance the wolves hold over me.

It is the weirdest sensation. I could essentially feel them. I definitely smelled them. They have a different scent to humans. It's more, earthy tones rather than the stench of grease and chemical fragrances that the kids round me present as. The wolves are something more natural but then again not. Its more than that. They are the earth. It's a primal thing. They are at one with nature and everything that surrounds it. The presence they command is high. Higher than the kids at this school. We just got dropped in the pecking order significantly.

I know the humans sense it, just in a different way to me. It's evident as I watch from behind their group. As they stream down the hallway, commanding attention and demanding authority, the school body just melts to the side. Subconsciously submitting, though they have no clue why.

Part of me wants to submit also. To let them take command. To slink away in the crowd. But somewhere, a bigger part of me wants to defend myself. My school. My turf.

And that terrifies me.

The fact that they don't scare me, like their mere presence in the hallway seems to scare everyone else, that frightens the living daylights out of me.

But it also lights my insides on fire with excitement.

What the actual fuck is this? This new boldness I'm experiencing? I'm always confident, cocky even. But not like this. This is.... new. This is more.

I somehow make it to my first class, my legs on auto pilot as I throw my bag into my locker and take out my laptop. I make it to my classroom door just in time to take my assigned seat.

As soon as I enter I can smell them. The new kids. The almost palpable scent hits my senses like a fist to the face. I can't shake the feeling it instills in me. A thrill. The unknown. The overwhelming feeling of a need to stake my claim on my school, my friends.

What is mine.

I shake my head, trying to clear myself of the odd sensation. It's more a feeling than a thought process. And it's completely out of my control. It's so intense i can all but taste the blood pumping around my body so fast and I hear it so loud in my ears. My pulse races. My veins throb. It's as exquisite as it is painful.

My back feels drenched with sweat as I try to remain still in my seat. In the background of my own head I can hear something or someone trying to break through but I can't seem to focus on anything other than the sound of my heart beating out of control in my ear drum. And the smell. The overwhelming smell that is taking me over. What is that?

"Mr Lewis? Ares? Did you hear what I said?" Ms Jenkins shrill tone suddenly cracks through the haze in my head and my eyes shoot up to meet her green orbs, her mouth in an o shape, her steely gaze set on my wavering one.

"Sorry Ms, I have a huge migraine. May I be excused to the nurse?" I manage to stutter out, already dragging to my feet.

She frowns but waves me away with a nod.

"You ok man?" J asks as I pass him in a rush and I just raise my brows, not stopping until I reach the door.

I feel a slight buzz from the new kids at the back of the class as I exit. As i stop to close the door I feel the deep blue eyes of the same girl from the cafe biting into mine.

Her eyes are locked to mine as I pause by the door, unable to break away from her gaze even though we are on opposite sides of the door.

As I manage to take a step back and compose myself I feel almost sick to my stomach as I break our stare.

What the fuck is up with me today.

I need to get home. I need to call our family doctor.
I don't go to the nurses office, I head straight past it and down the hall and right out the front door.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is all a coincidence. My body is having a reaction to the new kids being so close. To the wolves being so close.

Is this it? Is this the curse inside of me trying to break through? He always warned us there may come a time when the drugs no longer cover it. I feel the panic rising as I make a break for the exit and crash through. Leaving my bag behind. J can get it for me later.

I need to get away from here now. I feel sick. I feel confused.

I feel fucking scared.

As I sit on the bottom of the school entrance steps and dial my house number to ask one of the staff to come collect me, hear the doors open and close behind me.

I smell her before I even turn around. It's like I can feel her looking at me, from the inside of my head.
A probing feeling, gnawing at my brain.

I put my hands over my ears, attempting to block out the horrid buzzing feeling that her smell creates inside my sinus.

I can't take it. I can't take this feeling. The pressure is enormous.

I turn to face the person behind me and find that she is literally standing in my bloody personal bubble. We are now so close, we are face to face as I turn and stand before her.

I manage to stand to my full height, though in doing so, I make myself feel nauseous. Being this close to her personal scent makes it that much stronger. My body is trying it's hardest to repel it but it's intoxicating as much as it is terrifying.

It's a mixture of the best thing I have ever smelled and the very worst thing I have ever smelled. It's a delicious nightmare.

"What are you?" She says, touching my arm ever so slightly with her delicate fingers. The small contact sends shivers up my arm and makes the nausea return.

She recoils instinctively, if she were in wolf form, her hackles would show for sure.

"Fuck. I knew it. But I don't understand." She whispers, her hand going to her mouth, eyes wide and staring. She seems equally as confused by my presence as I am mystified by the reaction I am
having to hers.

"Knew what?" I manage to gasp out as I hear Lydia our house keeper calling my name through my phone. I forgot I was dialling.

I put the phone to my ear without dropping my eye contact with the girl.

"Can you send someone to collect me Lyds? Please? I'm not well." I say into the phone and hear her say yes before I cut her off and hang up.

"Who you are?" The girl questions, eyes still on mine. Her face is ever so close to me now, as she slowly closes her eyes and begins to breath me in like I'm some sort of cookie at a fucking bake sale or something. I don't even know what the hell this is but it's weird as shit.

"What the fuck are you doing? Why are you smelling me like that?" I gape at her. The whole thing has me rattled.

"I'm trying to scent you moron. What? None of your pack scent people?" She frowns at me, shaking her head and stepping back a little out of my personal space.

I deliberately step back even further.

"Pack? What do you mean? Do any of my friends sniff me? No. They fucking do not. I'm not an animal." I say, spitting out the last part to make my point clear.

Her eyes are the first thing to change. Immediately. Perfectly terrifying in their blackness. No other colour is visible now, no more ice blue eyes. She comes close to me again, all up in my face and grabs a fist full of my shirt.

"What did you say to me?" She snarls, her black eyes boring into my very soul.

"I'm not.... I'm not." I try to answer, yanking her hand off me and stumbling down the step. This girl is crazy as shit. And scary.

"I'm not what you think I am. I'm not, one of you... you.. animals." I say, waiting for her response. I know I'm being an ass but I can't help it. I'm not one of them. I'm not. I never was. I need her to know that.

The low growl that she omits says it all. I have offended her. Not on purpose. I just don't want her to call me that. Im not what she thinks I am.

"Careful boy." She spits but she lets me go.

We stand there now, staring at each other, not knowing what to say next. As I dare to lift my gaze, I breath a sigh of relief as I see my family car come into view beyond the gates and hear the familiar rattle as they begin to open.

Oh thank god.

I move fast towards the car, opening the door before it's even completely stopped and stepping in, slamming it closed behind me.

"Drive" I demand, not even sorry for scaring Terrence driving.

Leaving the girl staring daggers into my back as I leave without a second thought, I can feel her eyes on me all the way out of the exit. It's only after we turn the corner that I feel myself relax.

As we drive towards home, I dial the doctor and demand he meet me at home. I need this sorted. Now. He agrees just from hearing the tone of my voice.

Something has changed.

I dial my father next. He will know what to do.