Losing control

A little shudder rolls through me.

"Who are you?" I ask quietly.

I'm not really sure why, but I lick my lips as a series of images roll through my head.

I hear a clap, and my head turns in the direction of the noise, breaking the trance I was in as what feels like a bucket of ice cold water washes over my head. A harsh sense of reality comes crashing back and I am left feeling confused as hell.

I narrow my eyes and question whether he just did something to me, or if this something new and part of being a werewolf.

I don't know much about the ramifications of my recent transformation, but it is possible this is something I have not learned about yet. What I do know, however, is that the hair on the back of my neck is raised, almost as though my body is reaching towards him and trying to get as close to him as possible.

"Right!" Professor Wesley shouts excitedly at the end of his clap. "There is no need for a syllabus in this class. Knowledge is not a product of teaching but of us putting into practice and liberating our minds," he announces with an excited grin while patting the telescope behind him. "I will share relevant guiding principles, and then we will do a lot of reading of the stars and exploring the cosmos to put our discussions into practice." He nods, once, and clasps his hands together in front of him.

My mind is wavering in and out of focus as the mysterious stranger's heavy stare burrowing into my back. Tension is building with each passing moment.

"There will be a few times our class will run late into the night, so we can observe the universe in real time."

My heart rate picks up and my pulse thrums in my veins.

"Next class, I expect you to know the phase of the moon on your birth dates for becoming a human and a werewolf. If you were born a werewolf, these dates will be the same. That is your homework - see you next class."

The mounting tension disappears with a snap, and it is like my ears pop with a release of pressure. I glance over my shoulder behind me, but my eyes widen when I realize the stranger is no longer there. I'm left feeling bereft in his wake.

I turn back around and bite on my nails nervously, as I put my bag on my shoulder and head out of the observatory. I still have no idea what that was, but with the storm of emotions already in me, I try to let it go for now.

With classes over for the door, I wonder what to do with my time and I think about what I would do if I was home. I don't plan on gardening at the academy, so I can take that option off the list. Perhaps going for a run would be a good idea…

I walk steadily down the stone stairs and am walking through the courtyard when I am suddenly pushed into the rock wall. My breath is knocked out of me with the force of it, and my alarmed shout is cut short when a pair of lips are fused to mine.

The kiss is hungry and demanding, but the lips are familiar. A sickening feeling slithers under my skin and I try to push him back. He ignores the rejection, and I am still struggling for air as he groans and deepens the kiss.

Well, I gave him a chance.

Anger curls hot and unstoppable in my gut, like a blazing inferno that wants to burn me from the inside out. And as though it was waiting to be unleashed, my anger surges forth and fuels me with adrenaline. Time slows down again, and everything becomes tinged in red.

I reach back and punch Javier straight in the throat. He clutches his throat as he chokes, and now he is the one with difficulty breathing. My knee comes up next and makes quick work with smashing him right between his legs. He grunts in pain and falls to the ground on his knees before tipping over and landing on his side. With one hand clutching his jewels, he tries to hold one hand out to stop me, but I decide to ignore him just like he had ignored me. But I'm not done with him yet.

I sink into my wrath and a wide, manic grin takes over my face.

"You."

I lay a swift kick to his ribs.

"Sicken."

Another hard kick to his side.

"Me." I seethe, not holding back anymore.

"Stay."

Another.

"Away."

Another.

"From."

"And another.

"Me."

One to the head.

"Motherfu-"

Something comes crashing into me from the side and I'm pulled off my feet in the next instant. I turn my head around to see my attacker just as a fist comes flying at my face.

I taste blood in my mouth, and give an eerie smile, letting another punch hit me in the face.

This time, I'm ready for it, so she leans forward into her next punch, I raise my head and smash it into her face before it can land.

"You bitch!" I hear, as she scrambles off of me with blood pouring out of her nose.

I let out a loud growl of annoyance and a fresh well of rage rises within me and clouds my thoughts. I roughly grab her ankle and sling her like a rag doll into the rock wall and a crunch accompanies her groan as she slides down the rock and lands on the ground near Javier.

I stalk towards them both with my fists clenched by my sides.

"Layla," Javier says as he inhales deeply. "Please wait."

At the sound of his voice, resentment festers inside of me, and I just want him to stop talking. I straddle him, and he freezes while watching my growing smirk.

"L-Layla?" He asks, running his hands up my thighs and placing them on my hips.

My hand flings forward, grabbing him tightly around the neck. His eyes widen in surprise and he tries to get me off of him, so I aim my other fist towards his nose, causing blood to spray on the ground beneath us.

His eyes are bloodshot, infected with red just like my own vision is.

"Stop!" I hear in a panicked, but familiar voice. Surprisingly, it cuts through the haze and settles in my bones. I inhale and catch a scent that comforts and soothes the raging storm inside of me in the same breath. It brings more clarity, and I can now hear the sobs of the woman on the ground and the murmurs of students around us.

I come to, my eyes blinking, bruised muscles protesting with my movements, as my eyes search out the voice that was able to reach me.

Ryker has made his way through the crowd and is rushing to my side. "Come with me," he says, with a hand outstretched in my direction. I nearly whimper in relief, shaken by the violence I am capable of. My hand slides into his with ease, and energy hums between our palms.

Blond hair with a bite on her neck flashes in my mind, and I look back in the direction of Javier and the female when it dawns on me that I have seen her before. She's at his side cupping his face while speaking to him.

One of the stares on me stands out above the rest, and my eyes roam the crowd until I find where it's coming from. The tall, powerfully built and darkly handsome stranger has savage grin on his face, amused by the sight before him and by me losing control. When his stare meets mine, I shiver at the darkness I see there.

Ryker's pace is quick as he pulls me along,, so I turn back towards him and we head in the direction of the Headmistress' Office.