Amelia Wilson [Wilson - Seeking The Alpha (Wolf Pack Chronicles Series Book 1)

You can never, truly, know when the worst day of your life is coming. Its always waiting for the perfect moment to spring out, to become an unexpected bump in the tracks that derails your entire life. Of course, Mia couldnt have known that she was living in the worst day of her life. She had pancakes for breakfast. A boy told a great joke in her science class. She even finished her homework early. How could she have ever have believed her worst day had finally arrived; looming over her like a dark shadow?

According to Mia, the woods were the soundest place to be. They were a secret haven, nestled in between her backyard and the middle school she walked to each day. The towering trees burst from the ground, sheltering her with their colorful leaves. They were mighty towers that she pretended were part of her own fortress, a powerful force that sheltered her from the troubles of her everyday life. She could close her eyes, and breathe in the delicious concoction of crisp autumn air, and tangy pine and leaves, still wet from a recent downpour.

Mia flourished here, and she walked home from the school one afternoon with an extra spring in her step, the keychains on her backpack jangling as she hopped carefully from stone to stone across the bubbling creek. She hummed to herself a new song shed learned in chorus class that day relishing this tiny place of freedom. She passed a bulky tree, smiling up at its branches, blissfully unaware of the figure hiding behind it waiting to spring out at her.

Mia tumbled to the ground with a hard thud, and her backpack slid up her back as her legs flew back over her head and she rolled over. Another body collided into her, arms clutching round her waist as it dragged her down into a swooping ditch in between the trees. Mia cried out, trying desperately to untangle her arms from the knot of limbs, but she couldnt. The knot separated as they crashed into a pile of leaves. Mia felt the weight leave her and her eyes fluttered open, suddenly blinded by the blank slate of the grey sky above her. She could hear the leaves next to her shuffling wildly, and soon her attacker was standing right over her, his shadowy frame filling her vision.

Rowan! Mia shouted as she sprang up from the ground, still covered in a layer of crumpled leaves. She punched the shaggy-haired boy in the shoulder.

Rowan laughed, revealing the gap between his two front teeth. You shouldve seen your face, Rowan said, clutching his stomach in the hope of containing his laughter.

I already knew you were there, Mia said defensively.

"Yeah right," Rowan said, brushing his hair out of his face.

His locks were dark-chestnut; often unkempt and just covered his deep-hazel eyes. Mia stared a little too long at him and was startled as his hand reached out to help brush the leaves from her clothes. She felt a tiny spark, almost like the minuscule zap one gets from a wool sweater, as Rowan picked a bright-orange leaf from her jacket sleeve. Mia often felt this way when Rowan was around. He was almost like lightning to her, though she couldn't quite sum up this feeling into perfect words.

Oh, I missed one, Mia said, but Rowan beat her to the leaf still burrowed in her amber hair.

Your hair is soft, Rowan said nonchalantly. Even with his indifferent tone, Mia still took it to heart, as a compliment. At fourteen she was not really starting to think about boys, but whenever she was with Rowan she felt different.

"Race you to the rock!" She said, as she took off. She was already halfway to her favorite spot. Rowan groaned, shuffling awkwardly through the piles of leaves, kicking them up into the air.

They sat on their rock, looking out at their neighborhood nestled safely below. Mia took out a thick marker, coloring a new drawing wherever she could find space.

You shouldnt draw on it, Mia, Rowan said. Mia shrugged.

Its a little late for that, she said, gesturing to the dozens of faded drawings she had already completed during their times at the rock. She expected Rowan to laugh, but as she looked up at him she was immediately concerned at his firm expression. He gazed sadly out into the neighborhood.

"Mom's packed up the last few boxes already," Rowan said quietly.

Mia capped her marker, her heart sinking a bit. "You're not going too far, right?" She asked.

Rowan shrugged. "We'll be on the other side of town now," he said. "I don't think we'll be in the same high school next year." Mia looked down at her boots. Rowan had been her best friend since they were very small and they lived just a few steps down the road from each other. She liked how close he was to her all of the time, as if he could always be there for her whenever she needed him. However, looking at Rowan, now, she knew that she'd have to put her own feelings aside.

She dug into her backpack, pulling out a small object wrapped in paper. "Here," she said. "I was going to wait, but I thought you'd want it now."

Rowan opened the paper, his thumb running over an ornament made of clay, filled with dents from fingers trying to make it into a perfect shape. It was broken into two even pieces. His said, Be, Bud.
Oh, I have the other half, Mia said, holding up her clay ornament. Together, they spelled Best Buddies.

"It's great," Rowan said as he carefully put it in his pocket.

"It's our promise," Mia said seriously. "Even though you're moving, we can still come here whenever you want. I'll even ride my bike to your new house on weekends."

Rowan slipped off of the rock, heading for the path towards home. That sounds dangerous, he said.

Not if I wear a helmet, Mia said with a smile as she followed after him.

Thats not what I meant, dummy, Rowan said.

Excuse me? Mia said. She was about to nudge him again, when Rowan froze in his tracks. Mia crashed into the puff of his jacket.

Dont move, Rowan whispered; his breath harsh and as cold as the air around them. Mia felt the warmth drain from her skin as she glanced over his shoulder.

Just ahead, a dark cluster moved in front of them, barely making a sound. Mia hid behind Rowan without getting another look.

What is it? She whispered, but Rowan shushed her. Then, she could hear them. A low collection of growls and heavy sniffs. In all their trips to the woods, it had never crossed Mias mind that there would be wolves lurking in the trees. There wasnt supposed to be any evil here, not out in these beautiful woods, and she had taken this blissful ignorance for granted.

The sound was getting closer now. Mia reached out for Rowans hand, terrified. It was warm and comforting, even in the moment that might be their last. Rowan held on to her fingers tightly as he tried to take another step towards the trail, back to the safety of the neighborhood. It wasnt far, but the wolves became more uneasy with each step they took. Mia risked another peek, and could see them more clearly now. They were large. Their dark coats, of various browns and greys, were matted with dirt and what looked like blood. Their lips curled dangerously around their razor-like teeth in cruel sneers.