Noctis

It has been two days since mine and Orion's bond broke. I have been extremely lazy these past two days. My past time has consisted of laying in bed, eating and sleeping. I have played hooky long enough and I have decided to go back to school. Anyway, it's Friday so I don't have to go for the next two days. I throw on my light washed ripped jeans, a black bodysuit and a leather jacket with converse. I grab my bag and throw my hair up into a messy bun before walking to school.

I walk to home room and throw my duffle bag at my feet, leaning my head on my desk. I hear students walk into the classroom and take their seats. I also feel many eyes land on me. Most of the people probably know a version of what happened between Orion and I now. A lot of these wolves probably hate me right now because Orion thought I was rejecting him. The class starts and I try to listen, but all I can focus on is the events that went down two days ago. Maybe I should give up on graduating and force Sergeant Major Jones to let me back into the war. I sigh, I can't give up. I just need to wait another two weeks to graduate before heading back to the war zone.

The bell ringing brings me from my thoughts. I grab my bag and sling it on my shoulder, heading to science. When walking into the class, I see Orion sitting with his Luna, Brit, next to him. He must have missed this class on Tuesday because he wasn't here then. I sit in my usual spot at the back of the class and I can feel Orion look over at me every so often. I can also feel Brit's glare on me as well. I just ignore them both and listen to the lecture. Once the teacher is done talking, he hands out a few sheets of paper outlining an experiment. He tells the class to get in groups of two and one group of three. I walk up to him.

"Mr. Samson? Can I work alone on the experiment?"

He sighs and looks up. When he sees who I am, his expression hardens, "No, you will not get any special treatment after what you did. Go find a group to take you in."

I roll my eyes and grumble, "I didn't do anything wrong."

I leave the teacher and look around. Everyone seems to avoid eye contact with me, everyone except Orion. No way. There is no way in hell I will work on anything with him. I would rather fail this project.

"Noctis, you can come work with us," Orion suggests and Brit glares at him.

"Nah, I'm good," I reply.

Orion looks at the other groups, "Doesn't seem like you have much of a choice."

I huff, "I would rather fail."

I walk over to my seat and grab my bag and walk to the front of the class. I can't keep in my anger much longer so I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

"I didn't do anything wrong! You all have false information. You shouldn't judge a person without getting their side of the story first. I am a good person, I fought against rogues non-stop for the past year and did any of you thank me? No, you didn't. You just ignore me or give me dirty stares. I would rather be with those rogues than be here any longer."

After my little speech, everyone is shocked silent while I walk out of the classroom and make my way to the back doors. I barge outside and walk quickly over to the middle of the field. I let myself fall to the grass and sit down. I bring my knees into my chest and wrap my arms around them with my head in my knees. I don't cry, I just try to calm myself down. I can deal with all of these people. Right now it seems like I have two options. I either quit trying to graduate and join the army again, or I switch to another school far from here. I don't know what to do, I hate having conflicting thoughts.

A hand lands on my shoulder and I just keep my head down. "What?" I ask.

"Around you alright?" A woman wonders.

I look up, confused to who is talking with me, and I see Cali. "I'm not great to be honest."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I sigh and hang my head low again. I want to talk about it, but if I talk about it, I will relive those awe full days. I guess....maybe it would be good? Maybe I can get closure on those horrible memories.

"Can you keep what we talk about to yourself?" I ask Cali.

"Of course."

I take a deep breath, "I have gotten so used to being a hard shell of a person due to the constant threat of a fight. I never let myself think about nor feel when happened while I was in war. I think...I think I need to accept what happened, but it is so painful."

"I can't come close to understanding what you went through over there, but you do need to talk about it. Maybe talking about it will take that weight off your chest and let's you breath easier."

"Okay, okay," I repeat myself, preparing myself for the rollercoaster ride of emotions coming. "My real name isn't Noctis Kilo," I look around to make sure we are alone, "My real name is Braelynn Lockhart, daughter of Alpha King Riggs."

"What!?" Cali shouts.

"Shhhh," I scold.

"Sorry, I thought their daughter died."

I roll my eyes, "I left to join the army without telling anyone except Pa. Since I was three, I could never take a step anywhere without a guard being on my ass, watching my every move. My mom and dad said it was to protect me and even my twin brother thought it was right. I was done with their shit and enrolled in the United States Army."

"Wow. I can't believe that would do that to their own child."

I nod, "There was a big rogue attack at the training base to which I was able to take down the rogues. The rogues were also somehow able to control the other trainees to attack us. I still haven't figured out how nor why."

"I have never heard of that happening. Maybe the rogues are working with a witch. It would make sense with what happened."

"I agree. I was given the Lieutenant position in a special ops platoon that handles the most dangerous and deadly attacks. They were all rogues. Rogues were relentlessly attacking soldiers as they slowly made their was to our main base in Iraq. A lot of things happened when it came to these rogues."

"I want you to tell me the memories that are haunting you."

I sigh again, "The first one was two months after I went to Iraq. We were hunting a group of rogues through a forest and when we found them, they had weapons and grenades. My platoon and I made a run for it since we had no chance of winning that fight. My platoon ran while I tried to hold them off. I got to an open field and my platoon was waiting in the tree line. I walk halfway when I tripped and fell. I turned around to see a grenade land ten feet or so from me. I ran as fast as I could, but still got the effects from the blast. The rogues weren't smart enough to use silver yet so I was fine."

"Maybe physically, but emotionally, Noctis, you were hurt."

"I know," I sob.

Cali leans over and embraces me in a hug. I start to cry on her shoulder and she lets me. It feels so good to cry and it felt so good to talk about that day. I feel relief. She was right, I couldn't deal with the thought of me almost dying and the fact that no one would be notified in my family about it.

"Let's take a break. We will talk again another time, but for now let's go get some food," Cali suggests.

I nod and whip my eyes and cheeks of tears. I stand up with Cali and we walk back into the school through the back entrance. Everyone looks towards me minus the few students who were in my science class during my outbreak. Those students all keep their heads down...well, all but Orion and Brit. Cali guides me to the cafeteria and I grab an apple and a blueberry muffin while Cali gets fries and a slice of pizza. We sit down at the table I sat at on my first day here.

"Can I ask you a question?" I ask Cali.

"Of course, what's up?"

"Have you ever heard of a wolf's fur changing colour after their first shift?"

"Well, I mean it does if they died and came back. Is that what you mean?"

"No, I knew that. I mean Pa and Brae were both black wolves. I just mean one day, out of the blue, it changes."

"Oh, no I haven't. Why do you want to know?" Cali asks and I look down at my hands. "Your wolf colour changed? When?"

"I don't know when. I mean, the last time I shifted before Tuesday was maybe a year and a half ago. All I know is that a year and a half ago I had an auburn wolf with gold eyes and now...I have a white wolf with light blue eyes."

"A white wolf?" I nod, "As in the wolf that is blessed by the Moon Goddess from birth?" I nod again. "What does that mean?"

"That's what I want to know. Does your pack house have a library?"

"Yeah, it does. Want to come over after school?"

"Yes. I need some answers."