::CHAPTER 12::

Danyel’s POV

I turned off the alarm clock as I was closer to the table and Richie blinked up at me. He still wasn’t a morning person and I still hated school as much as I ever did. Neither of us was happy to be awake right now.

Richie blinked away his sleep and slowly went cross-eyed. I snapped my fingers in front of his face and he started. “Come on sleepy head. You have a plane to catch in a few hours,” I murmured somehow finding my balance and making it to the door.

At half three in the morning with one hour of sleep, one did not simply know how to do difficult things like balance on both legs.

I went to the kitchen, made two cups of hot chocolate and came back upstairs. Richie was an absolute waste of time before his morning chocolate. He would need it if he expected to get anything done today.

Just as I thought, he was sound asleep again when I got back to his room. I put the chocolate under his nose and watched him stir.

“Thanks, kiddo,” he yawned, “I needed this.”

“Duh. Who knows you like I know you? You totally need me.”

“Is that why you’re still up? You don’t have to be awake for another two hours,” a sleepy smirk, “How sweet, you want to help me get ready to go.”

“Yes. Because you are incapable of getting up on your own. You are,” I said and wiped a droplet of chocolate from the corner of his mouth, “useless without me.”

“True. You do take the best care of me” he yawned again, “How am I going to survive without you making sure that I get up and turn off the video games before I sleep. Or remember to put the cover back on the tin of potato chips so that the ants won’t come eat me.”

“I hope that you get a patient roommate. Any normal person would off you in your sleep,” I said blowing on the contents of my hot mug, “Maybe he’ll turn off the TV when you dose off and move the snacks from your bed.”

“Not likely,” he scoffed and finished the drink. I looked at him and couldn’t help but agree.

I’m not sure when, but at some point in our friendship the roles had reversed. No, not reversed. Evened out. I was old enough to look after him now too. Obviously he didn’t need babysitting, but Richie was still a kid deep down inside. A kid who liked being spoilt. And that much I could give him.

When he was sick I’d bring him soup and fresh orange juice, read him cooking magazines because he liked the pictures and kept cool washcloths on his forehead until the fever broke. And he did the same for me. If he had homework but was too tired, I’d wake him up and keep him company until all was done. I might even do some of the typing if he was really wiped out. And he did the same when I needed it.

It would suck if he didn’t have someone in his new school to have his back like that. He wouldn’t know anyone there.

While he went to shower, I cleared up the mess around the room. We’d agreed that I could use this as a second bedroom whenever I wanted to. He had the family’s old fridge, video games, a stereo, his own computer and internet. As if I’d turn down my own man cave.

Leaning against the wall, I let out a sigh. My mind was feeling full. The wolf had finally come to terms with Richie leaving. He was pacing up and down, growling at any and everything that caught his attention. Oh quit being so bitter about everything. He snapped his teeth at me. Ignoring that, I mentally scratched at his ear.

He needed soothing at this point. Richie and Orion were his only friends. He was not happy to lose either of them. I couldn’t be mad at him for that.

Phantom claws sank into my skin and I winced. I knew he wanted me to do something about this but there wasn’t anything in my power to do. I was thirteen to Richie’s eighteen. What could I really tell him to make him put off college? The animal didn’t seem to see things that way. He wanted his friend to stay and he worried that Richie wouldn’t return. It was an almost childish worry that betrayed the animal’s youth.

I leaned against the window so that fresh air could reach him. He calmed a fraction but he worried still. I comforted him in every way I knew how. Things would not be pretty when Richie left if this was the way he was going to be now.

Richie stepped into bedroom drying his hair with a towel and grabbed the clothes he’d set out to go to school today. He had shaved his face and his hair looked like a miniature hurricane had decided to go on vacation there. I had to admit, he’d changed a bit over the years.

He was a lot taller and had lost that awkward look about him. He’d gotten lanky but you could tell that he’d gotten sort of handsome despite that. Not classically handsome, but he was finally getting the attention of girls now. High five to him.

It seemed like I had inherited his awkward stage. I was like those kids who had that really cute look when they were young and grew up with a face that seemed to be trying to grow out of the cute phase while trying to keep it. To make things worse, I was scrawny. Like human scrawny. Not cool at thirteen. Especially when people were starting to think of you as Chosen.

Orion didn’t look that way. He was already getting hit on by everything with a pulse. The dumb lug already was coming into his Chosen body. Of course it wasn’t a guarantee to get a six pack by age fifteen, but with dominant wolves it was highly likely. The heavy training and the animals’ demand for a daily workout meant that Chosen guys – obviously not me – filled out pretty quickly.

Speaking of the animal’s demand…

He was still itching to go with his friend. He’d decided that if I couldn’t stop Richie, I had a right to at least bloody well go with him. I could probably manage the work in college but like most colleges, his was an all human college. I wouldn’t be allowed in.

Richie got dressed fast. He was ready and yelling back and forth with his parents by now, trying to make sure they had everything. His parents were going to drive him to the airport and go with him on the trip there. The Crowleys already had a place to stay waiting for them abroad.

Their house had gotten hectic in the shortest time span. I just sat quietly at the window waiting for it to all be over. Everyone was too busy to notice. The moment they were ready, they packed the bags into the car and was about ready to head out to the airport in town.

Orion was out on my porch, dressed in his school clothes already. It was a good thing too. I think I’d need him this morning.

Richie’s parents were visited by a few friends and even my aunt and uncle came to tell the Crowleys goodbye. His parents hugged me and went to get the car warmed up. Eliza was dropped off by her dad so that she could tell Richie goodbye before he left.

She didn’t hug him and I didn’t expect her to. They had broken up and she still wasn’t too happy with him for it. What she had felt for him was just a crush. Nothing strong enough to see past her anger and wish him luck or hug him one last time. I shook my head at her. After her goodbyes she left without a backward glance. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by her. In fact, he seemed indifferent. Where was this guy years ago?

Richie turned to me, his thumbs hooked in his pockets. Rubbing at the back of his neck, there was a subtle tension in the air. My stomach twisted in knots. It was too soon. He couldn’t go yet.

I stood frozen, still wearing my t-shirt and boxers from last night, arms crossed against the early morning cold. Orion looked from one of us to the other. My aunt and uncle were doing the same. No one said a word. I had no idea what to tell him.

It felt like I’d said everything I could have when I came over to his house this morning, and still it felt like I hadn’t said a thing. He was my Richie. Mine. He wasn’t supposed to leave. Much less for four years. I had a few seconds to tell him the last few words I could face-to-face. I couldn’t think of a thing. Just looking at him was hard. I felt stupid for acting like this when I could call him whenever I wanted, but I knew it wouldn’t be the same.

The heart of the animal seemed to swell to a point where it was a wonder it didn’t burst. He was slamming against my senses trying to get out. He refused to accept this as goodbye. On the outside, I was calm. On the inside the beast was in a frenzy running this way and that, searching for a way to escape the prison he was born into.

“Is he okay?” Richie’s eyes narrowed.

“As okay as he can be right now,” I evaded the question. My voice sounded strained though I’d tried to sound neutral.

“Are you? Okay, I mean.”

“Of course,” I put my most Danyel-ish smile on, “You go on ahead. I know you’ll be back. And when you do we’ll go out and celebrate.” He just looked at me for a while. He was silent.

“…come here,” he sighed after a beat. He hadn’t bought that for a second.

Before I could make it all the way over to him, he dragged me into a hug that seemed to never end. The familiar scent of his shower gel calmed the wolf in a way nothing else might have. His arms wrapped me in a cocoon where I could see nothing but his shirt sleeve. His fingers combed through my hair in the most soothing motion.

“I’m sorry, guys,” he whispered, “I never wanted him to feel this way. Or you. Promise you’ll keep our two-man Pack strong, okay?” I nodded, silently cursing the burn behind my closed lids. The wolf’s emotions were leaking into my own, doubling them. Pulling back from the hug, I tip-toed up and pressed a kiss to his mouth.

It meant nothing but a sign of love, loyalty and friendship within Pack. Just like all the others we’d had before. This time though, I noticed a flutter low in my belly when he accepted the touch. It was almost missed and faded so quickly that I doubted it myself. But I knew it had been there.

Before I could make sense of it, the words slipped out from the mind of the animal through my lips, “Come back home fast, right? W-We’ll miss you.” His palm curved at my cheek and his lips touched my forehead. My lashes went damp under the stubborn tear I tried to force back. “I’ll miss you guys too,” he murmured, “Bye, Nye. Bye, Little Wolf.” He hopped into the car and waved as his parents pulled out of the driveway.

I stumbled.

The animal had finally picked up that it was happening. He was playing battering ram inside my body and mind. It was so sudden that it took me off guard. He was going haywire trying to escape me. He dove again and again, trying to force me to let him take over. He tried to make me shift forms but we both knew that I couldn’t. Lurching forward, I tried to keep my balance. I opened my eyes to find myself on the ground.

“It’s alright,” Orion put a hand on my back, “Take a run. Just let him exhaust himself. You need it. He’ll be riding you all day if you don’t.” I shook off his hand. The animal didn’t want us to be touched right now.

The level of fury and pain and sadness ruling the wolf at this moment could not be cured by a run at human speeds. Orion was only trying to help but he didn’t understand. Running didn’t have the same effect in human form that it did when the animal was allowed to rule the body and mind completely.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself up from my hands and knees. I steadied myself. It took every ounce of mental energy I had to try to rein him in. He tried being stubborn and fought me, but I didn’t back down. He was being a child about this. Richie was his first and best friend, but he could not be like this for four straight years. I knew that he could be possessive. I just never imagined that he’d be this bad.

I stood immobile, afraid to make any sudden movements. The wolf was in a mood. The simplest thing could trigger him off. Focusing all of my energy, I went into my mind and reached out to him. My heart went out to the little guy when I felt the anger and longing and anguish in him. It’s okay. I’m here. He let out a low whine and started pacing. Shhh. I’m here.

Gathering what of my energy and strength I had left, I restrained the wolf and held on to him tightly. It was a hug that acted as bonds to keep him calm. I’d learned the trick from my uncle and was still learning to perfect it.

It bothered me to see him so sad. It didn’t help that I felt the same way without his sadness joining my own. If wolves could shed tears, he’d be crying. The poor thing didn’t know what to do with himself.

I went into the house without a word. It was taking enough effort to control him. I didn’t have it in me to talk too. I showered and got into my school things before coming back to the kitchen. Orion was there nibbling on one of Aunty’s cookies from the jar. Concern flitted behind his eyes, but he kept his silence. I was grateful for that.

The shower had calmed us down enough that I could trust myself to do something other than focus on the stubborn animal in me. Orion came and fell into the seat beside me. His arm rest against my own on the table and I rolled my eyes.

Packmates were so irritating. They wouldn’t let anyone handle their problems alone. It was the worst to let them know that you were in trouble. They’d smother you with care and concern. Orion knew me well enough to not blatantly try to help. I’d push him away for it. So here he was, offering touch comfort in a subtle way. This was him being Pack. Trying to take care of his own.

I let him.

He knew the minute I’d accepted it. I felt his wolf rise to the surface and his fur touched my skin. My own animal moved over to get closer to his one remaining friend. We sat like that for a while, letting the animals bond. I didn’t mind. It eased the tightness in my chest, if not the actual sadness.

Only half an hour and I was already missing Richie like crazy. I knew that I would, but not this soon. Definitely not this much. The old fart should be in here right now sitting where Orion was. He should be eating all the marshmallows out of my cereal or teasing me about getting fleas all over his room the night before.

I plucked the marshmallows out of the bowl and ate only the plain part of the cereal. Orion didn’t comment on it. He knew better in this mood I was in.

He looked like he wanted to say something but he remained quiet. His fingers drummed on the table and I ignored his fidgeting. When it seemed as if he couldn’t restrain himself anymore, he spoke up.

“You kissed him. On the lips,” Orion said, “Why?”

“Why not? We do it. Why can’t I do it with him?”

“Because we’re Pack. There’s a meaning for it with us and it affects our animals. He has no animal. Do you…like him?”

“It’s not about that,” I scowled, “It’s what it symbolizes for a Pack. When I thought I was human, he was there for me. Long before you came along or bothered to give me the time of day. You weren’t Pack. He was my Pack and I was his. Turning Chosen never changed that. Don’t you dare act like you have more rights to me than he does just because we’re bonded by Pack all of a sudden.”

“Damn I’m sorry,” he moved around a fraction and his backing down irritated my animal. It wanted a fight.

“I don’t need your sorry. Don’t ever talk about him like that in front of me.”

“Fine, fine. My bad. I didn’t mean to make it sound like that.”

My eyes narrowed. He flinched under my stare and went back to the cookie in his hand for want of something to do.

That irrational surge of anger I’d felt took me aback. It hadn’t even come from me. Not totally. My wolf wanted to claw at Orion for so much as suggesting that Richie didn’t deserve Pack rights. I didn’t get it. The animal was talking about the Chosen Pack rights, but he knew that Richie wasn’t Chosen. There’s so much venom in him.

He had never wanted to hurt Orion before now. He liked both the wolf and human side of Orion, but it seemed like Richie was a touchy subject today.

I never noticed that the animal had favorites until now. Because as much as he liked Orion, he was closer to Richie in a way that he’d never be with Orion. It didn’t matter that he and Orion’s wolf were bonded. It mattered less that, unlike me, he was friends with Orion first. That protectiveness that I always used to have for Richie seemed to have tripled since my change. He would defend the boy with everything in him even if he had to give up Orion to do it.

That thought from the mind of the wolf slipped into my own. Our telepathic link was handy, but that particular thought scared me. That level of devotion to one person just didn’t seem healthy. Or normal really. And with the strength of animal emotions, that devotion could be a problem. I shook the lingering anger from me.

“Sorry. That was harsh. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way,” I told him.

“It’s alright. Your wolf is only now developing and obviously he’s powerful. I understand better than most people would. He’ll try everything to make sure his voice is heard. Control takes years.”

“Now I see why people envied my humanness when I was younger. This is just too much some days.”

Before he could reply, I got my bag and left the house. He followed me and we got the bus together. I was not good company. No matter how much I wanted to pretend to forget about this and lighten the mood, the wolf wanted to brood as much as I did. His broodiness added to mine made it impossible for me to pretend to be okay.

Kenny met us at the front of the school. Now that I was classed as Chosen, I was moved up a year group. I was supposed to years ago, but humans weren’t allowed to skip grade levels. Now I was in a class meant for my mental level and I sat on the side of the class with the Chosen.

Most Chosen people had gotten used to thinking of me as one of them, but there were a few humans who thought I was lying about changing. They couldn’t sense my animal and what had happened to me was a new phenomenon. I wasn’t shocked there were people with doubts.

Kevin waved at us as we walked in. Kenny went over and gave him a one-armed hug and I waved back. Orion gave him a vague nod and continued on. He only associated with Kevin because of Kenny and me. If it weren’t for us, he’d completely ignore the chubby little ginger boy who chewed on his curls when he was bored.

It was no secret that he thought Kevin was ‘some kind of weirdo-loser hybrid creature’. His words not mine. I sort of felt guilty when he got like that.

Kevin used to be one of my only friends. Although it was Kevin’s fault that he was one of my only friends, I felt that I should be loyal to him. I couldn’t abandon him just because I’d gotten kind of popular lately. In the end that was why that oddball little kid wound up hanging out with us in the schoolyard.

Kevin was babbling on about something his granny said and Kenny listened politely. I was glad she was willing to take one for the team. I wasn’t in the mood to pretend to care and Orion surely wasn’t going to do it.

Most of the time Orion gave Kevin this blank stare whenever he started to talk to him. The stare itself was blank but it said ‘shut up and go away’ pretty loudly. Only Kevin didn’t bother to listen. Orion and I weren’t best friends and he didn’t owe me anything. He definitely didn’t have to tolerate my friends. Sitting here quietly and not saying anything to Kevin was probably the nicest thing he could have done.

All in all, the Chosen never talked – far less hung out – with humans. I knew that better than anyone. Orion was the supposed future Alpha. That made him the chosen of the Chosen. It gave him popularity above all others and no one expected him to so much as look in the direction of any human. And then there was Kevin…who was Kevin. That said it all really. Orion must have really liked Kenny and me to even be here.

Orion ran a hand over his regulation, military-short hair and let out a breath. I felt his wolf get restless. Our race wasn’t built for staying still. “I wanna head out to the gym. Come if you want,” he said passing a roving glance between Kenny and me. Kevin wasn’t allowed in the gym.

It was a Chosen only part of the school and humans weren’t allowed. The animals were usually too much in control to risk having humans inside.

Grabbing his backpack, Orion strode into the school. “I probably should go check on His Highness,” I said to the other two, “I don’t trust him to be alone with that rowdy wolf of his.”

Kenny nodded and stayed behind with Kevin. She seemed to be the only one who could stand him for long.

I took my bag and went into the school. I signed into the gym book at the door before nodding at the guard and going in. Orion wasn’t there so I guessed that he was changing into workout clothes in the locker room. Taking a seat on the bleachers, I looked at the equipment in the room. It was by far the largest room in the school.

It was open and wide with lots of windows letting in sunlight and fresh air. It spoke to the animals to be in here as opposed to a regular class. Since shifting forms on school property was against the rules, a place like this was important to keep the wolves behaved and in check without letting them loose.

There were weights and exercise machines in one section. Around the perimeter of the room was a track and field course designed for races. In another part was a sparring section with mats on the ground. There was a decent sized basketball court on the other end but it was in an adjoining room with thick, glass walls. By far the largest section of the gym though, was the Training Ground in the middle of it all.

It was loosely fenced off but it was easy to watch on when someone was going through the route. It resembled a more merciless version of a military training ground and was designed by Orion’s father. There was a part to climb up ridiculous heights, endurance testing obstacles and then there were portions that needed certain tricks to get past.

Orion stepped out of the lockers wearing only a pair of loose, white pants and a white sleeveless shirt. His feet were bare and he looked about to either do yoga or some kind of martial art. The clothes made him seem fairer. His skin was already pale as it was. Paired with the white of his wolf eyes and the shock of white-blond hair shaved low to his scalp, the clothes made him impossible to miss.

“Well hello, Future Alpha,” someone gave an appreciative murmur behind me. I turned to see who the guy was. Passable but not much to look at. Orion can do better. I was about to turn back around but the guy had noticed me noticing him noticing Orion.

“Is he yours?”

“No. Definitely not,” I shook my head not commenting on the phrasing. I noticed that Chosen people had a weird way of ‘claiming’ partners. I never got it.

“Then obviously you’re straight,” he gave a laugh, “Friend of his then?”

“You could say that.”

“Lucky you. Hey…I know you. Danyel Maynard right? The human-turned-Chosen guy?”

“Dormant Chosen. I was never really human.”

“And yet you’re not really Chosen now either. I mean it must suck not being able to shift.”

With my already crappy mood, I had to keep myself from hitting him. He quickly turning out to be an annoying excuse for a boy. He didn’t even seem to realize that he was annoying me either. I heard him introduce himself, but I forgot the name almost immediately.

“Oh look. He’s doing a training routine,” he said with joy somehow managing to flash every one of his teeth in a grin.

“Stop talking to me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Stop.”

“Make me,” he said bringing his face right up to mine but still grinning that stupid grin.

My wolf didn’t like that this new person was getting so close. I felt him growl deep inside. He wanted to brood in peace and the guy was making that impossible. The animal presence grew and spread, wanting to claw at him for getting into his space. The guy pulled back with eyes gone wide. “Man you’re strong,” he said, “You could take out so many wolves with that kind of strength.”

“Or maybe just one really irritating wolf,” my eyes narrowed.

“I like strong wolves. We could be best buds, y’know. Why don’t you come hang out with me and my friends later?”

“Why would I do that? I already have a ‘best bud’ and I don’t even like you.”

“Oh of course you like me. You just don’t know it yet,” he said happily, “Ditch with us. We’re going down to the arcade in a few.”

“As fun as that sounds,” I said, “I think I’d rather sit through an hour of Advanced Mathematics and smell Mr. Tate’s onion and nachos breath.”

“Gross. Come on, it’ll be great. Don’t be such a baby, Danny.”

“I’m not being a baby, don’t call me Danny and I hate Math, but I think I like it more than I like you.”

“Ouch,” he said but he was still smiling.

“Preston, what are you doing?” Orion said from behind me.

“You know me?” he asked looking pleased with himself.

“Seriously man,” I rolled my eyes, “He is going to be Alpha. He has to know his people.”

“Exactly. And even if I wasn’t going to be Alpha, I would know you from your reputation alone.”

“My, my, my. Boy, am I touched. My reputation precedes me,” he laughed, “Anyways Danny, think about my offer. We meet out back in a few.”

Before I could turn him down, he got up and left after making an appreciative noise in the back of his throat. His eyes had roamed over Orion’s sweat-soaked shirt and clearly he liked what he saw.

“How old is that guy?” I asked.

“Fifteen. But he acts like a brain dead ape,” Orion said.

“He’s too old to be that stupid,” I shook my head, “I feel sorry for you.”

“Why?”

“He likes you.”

“And I’m suddenly a little sick,” Orion said.

We shared a look and broke into laughter. He left to take a quick shower and made it in time for the first bell. We went our separate ways after that. I think these past two days were the longest Orion and I had spent around each other. We usually talked for a few minutes in school and then left to do our own things.

I walked into class and grabbed a seat on my new side of the room. With Math to bore me, I zoned out. Unfortunately that left me to my own thoughts. I quickly realized that that wasn’t the best idea. With my mind idle, I found myself wondering what Richie was doing. He was probably in the foreign airport now getting ready to drive over to the new school.

Maybe he’s in orientation. I checked my watch. Yep he’s probably in orientation now, glancing over at some new girl’s behind. No, I bet he’s checking out his new dorm now. Probably putting up posters all over his side of the room. That’s Richie for you. I smiled to myself. Or maybe he’s already stuffing snacks into some new secret place. He always has a stash somewhere.

I could feel the wolf curl into a ball and give a quiet, mournful whine. He was missing his Richie. Badly too. He didn’t like all of this distance and I didn’t blame him. I reached into my mind and mentally pet the animal. It wasn’t his fault that he was feeling this way. His heart was just too big. He loved with all of it or none at all. And when it came to the other boy, he had a soft spot.

It’s okay, boy. Four years isn’t that long. We’ll get through it. It’ll get easier with time. The whining stopped. He trusted me. He believed me, but I wasn’t sure that I did. And I really didn’t think he should.

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Sorry again guys for the late update. I sent out a message to the fans explaining so hopefully you got that. Usually I'm like clockwork, but these few weeks college has been more demanding. Anyways hope you liked :) Vote Fan COMMENT! I wanna hear for you guys.

VERY IMPORTANT NEWS (for Nye/Orion, Neon, Danyel/Orion shippers):

Now I know that this may break many hearts but I can't do this to you guys anymore. I have to tell you the truth. Because you guys are all waiting in vain and hoping and building up fantasies that will never ever EVER happen. And here's the truth...Danyel Maynard and Orion White will never be together in that way.

Yes I know some of you are taking it hard and I feel it for you shippers. But it just won't be happening. I think finding out now is a lot better than the crushing disappointment you'd feel if this went on for more chapters. I usually don't spoil parts like this but I'm doing it for you.

As much as Orion might have his feelings or crushes or whatever you want to call it, Danyel just can't see him that way. Not in my imagination or in the book. Hell the Danyel in my head would laugh in my face if I even mentioned it.

Orion has been eternally friendzoned. Absolutely and irrevocably.

Sorry guys. You can mourn together or continue hoping as you read along...however you want to cope. Just thought you should know.