~Chapter 2~

I stumbled backwards when the wolf took a step forward.

"Hey, it-it's okay! Uhm, go on, go back!" I tried to shoo him away, wolves were one of my favorite animals but I didn't want to be eaten alive by one.

The wolf whined, his midnight purple eyes shining with the moon light. He sat down and tilted his head, no longer giving off a growl.

"..Huh.." I mumbled, feeling my legs trembling beneath me, " Good..good boy!" I smiled, then the wolf stood walking to the right. I turned to walk home, but the wolf suddenly ran up in front of me, startling me slightly.

"Woah, hey," I stepped back when the wolf came closer, "...You are a lot bigger up close.." I mumbled. The wolf stood to the middle of my torso, I stood at 5'10.

Swallowing hard when the wolf came closer, looking innocent until he bit my hand and drug me over to where he started to walk off before.

"Ouch! Hey!" I whined, but wasn't stupid enough to try and yank my hand free of his jaws. The wolf wasn't holding my hand as tight as I first thought he was, when he let go, he whimpered and nodded his head to the direction into the trees where he first set off to go.

"What?.." I looked at him and caressed my hand that was just between his teeth.

The wolf turned around and laid on the ground facing the direction into the woods.

"Why do I need to go that way?" Stepping forward, I looked down at the wolf.

The black beast moved into a sitting position, then looked at me. His midnight purple eyes were really fascinating..the way the purple was brighter on the inside but towards the rim it grew darker.

"Hm?" I raised a brow before the wolf growled and stood up coming behind me nudging me in the direction.

"Okay, fine! Fine!" I laughed, looking back at the dog, "Are you coming?" I questioned as I walked straight into the woods, the wolf soon following.

After we walked for a bit I started to see my own footprints in the snow.

"Wait, did we go in a circle somehow?" I stopped in my tracks, looking around at the trees.

The wolf whimpered and nudged me to go forwards again.

"Alright, apparently you know better than I do.." I furrowed my eyebrows, walking down the path, starring at my steps that had been going the opposite direction before.

"Is this why you wanted me to go this way?" I looked over to my left at the midnight black wolf, the dog never changed a step in his stride while he walked beside me.

"I'm guessing that's a yes.." I said when he didn't make a noise or action for a reply.

The snow crunched under my feet, and the wind whistled through the trees. I spotted a light, a familiar one, it was my porch light.

"Hey how did you-" I turned, pausing my sentence for a brief moment when I noticed the wolf wasn't there anymore. was I imagining it? "-know the way to..lead..me back.." My sentence was mumbled.

I looked down at the ground and saw a small chain, one with a pendant on the end. Was this the wolf's? I hadn't saw it around his neck... I picked it up, and inspected it. It seemed taken care of.

I heard a howl from back in the woods, shifting my gaze to the tree line, I could see the purple eyes of the midnight black wolf. Why did he bring me back?..

I smiled and waved to him, swearing the wolf gave a nod before walking back into the woods where he disappeared in the shadows.

I caressed the slim chain and pendant in my hand, walking back to the cabin I now call home. I had a huge smile on my face, one I normally wouldn't come home with.

"Bye, bye, Mr. Wolf.." I mumbled, walking through the front door, then shutting it quietly. Taking off my boots, I took the flashlight out of my pocket and shined it through the house until I was in my room.

I looked around my room, the skylight on the ceiling letting the bright moonlight in. I set the chain and flashlight on my nightstand then got up to change into my normal sleep wear.

I don't think I've ever experienced something quite like that... I thought I wasn't going to make it home tonight...

I shuffled a shirt over my head after my older one was thrown in the dirty clothes.

Kids yelled, screamed, and some even cried, I was back in school. My mom had just dropped me off, I asked her not to embarrass me. She didn't, thank god.

My locker slammed shut, almost catching my finger.

"Oh-" I jumped, my backpack had the books I needed for my next class, so I didn't need the locker open now.

"Hello, Lawrynce." My classmate Callum smiled at me.

"Hi,.." I replied softly, Callum thought we were friends, but I never thought so.. he went behind my back quite a few times, something that would be considered a toxic friendship. "I'm gonna head to class.." I turned to walk to my class, bumping into Miles when I turned around.

"Oh, are you? I think someone behind the school said they needed you." Miles hissed.

"Leave him alone you two." Stephen came down the hallway, a kick in his step.

"Hm, fine. Bye, lover boys." Miles mocked, he knew I was gay. I never figured out how he found out..

"Bye, Fuck boy." Stephen shot back, glaring at the others back.

Miles didn't dare say something else to Stephen, considering Stephen was bigger in muscle than Miles could ever be.

"You," Stephen pointed to Callum, "fuck off." Stephen shoo'ed.

I looked away holding back a laugh.

"Alright, I didn't mean any harm." Callum walked past us, bumping into Stephens shoulder. When I shot Stephen a look he started laughing.

"What? I'm just taking care of my friend!" He nudged my arm opening his locker that was only two lockers down from mine.

"Well, you don't have to be so rude to Callum, he really didn't do anything." I leaned against my locker.

"Exactly. He could have helped you out when you were getting pushed around by that fuck boy Miles." He let out a huff then looked over at me, "You really can't let them push you around, Lawrynce. Look at your face! They do that shit because they see you as weak. I mean, I've never even seen you fight back!" He finished grabbing his books, shutting his locker.

"I know,...just dads gonna make me move schools if I don't fight back, and if I do fight back I will most likely get expelled.." I ground my teeth together.

"Hm, well, it seems you should fight back anyways. Take your chances with the principal." Stephen put a hand on my shoulder before pulling me into a hug, "Don't worry, if you move schools..I'll find a way to follow." He said, making me smile, I hugged back.

"Alright. I will fight back next time, wish me,.." I let go of the hug, "and my face, luck." I laughed.

"Okay, bud." He started walking down the hall, towards his class.

He knew how much I hated being bullied, but he understood my struggles. He was always there when they picked on me in public, one time he punched Miles. He almost got expelled because of me.

I heard the bell ring, and I started off to class.

He will always be there.

"Ugh! Miles is so annoying! How do you even put up with him?!" Stephen groaned, getting into the car with me.

"Hello, Stephen! How's your week been going, hun?" My mom greeted, then questioned.

Stephen ended up staying with me tonight. His mom had work problems and an overnight shift. His dad passed when he was younger. He doesn't ever have anyone at the house with him when things like that pop up, so, I invited him to stay the night. Mom didn't mind, and his didn't either.

"It's been going fine Mrs. Adonis." He gave my mom a warm smile.

"That's good! I hope your grades are looking good." She smiled to me, showing where I was failing in history.

"Yes ma'am, I have Lawrynce to help me in most subjects, so I wont fail." He glanced at me.

There he goes again, taking up for me. How did he even know I was failing? Had I mentioned it and forgot?

"Oh? I'm so glad my baby can be of help!" She smiled at me, I cringed at her nick name.

"Mom!" I whined, then put my head on the back window glass.

"It's okay, Lawrynce, it's our mothers nature to embarrass us. You should know this, you've seen mine." He laughed, sitting in the front seat, buckling his seat belt.

"Did Miles mess with you today, Lawrynce?" My mom questioned and I shook my head. Negative.

"Nope, I strayed far away from the bathrooms and him." Stephen laughed at my statement.

"You've been complaining about how you need to use it all day. He's definitely telling the truth on that one." Mumbled Stephen.

"Shut up." I laughed.

The car was already headed up into the snowy mountains, where I had only been living for a day and a half so far. The snow and hot air in the car made the window fogged, and cold to the touch. The trees had snow falling off their frozen tree limbs, dropping onto other piles of snow in certain area's of the woods.

While my mom and Stephen caught up on life, I watched out my window, remembering the mishaps from last night. What if I dreamt that whole thing?..

There's only one thing to tell me it's real.

I held the chain with the pendant in my hands. It was definitely real, I did see a gigantic wolf last night. I set the chain in my bedside table drawer. Stephen walked into the room. I dropped my backpack beside my bedside table.

"Nice room! Best one yet I would say!" Stephen plopped on my bed.

"Yeah, I like this one a lot too." I sat on the edge of the bed. The wood frame went around my bed and vine like structures were carved into it, wrapping around the bed frame.

"You even have a skylight, I bet you love that." He stood up and walked under the skylight.

"Yeah, I do. It's beautiful looking through it at night." I said, laying back onto my pillows.

"Not many kids have these, they are pretty rare for around here." He hummed, and sat back on the bed after tossing his backpack beside mine.

"I was definitely surprised when I saw it, I wasn't expecting a window on the ceiling. I completely forgot those existed." I laughed.

"Well, what's there to do around here? New house, new explores." He smiled at me.

"Oh- uhm, sure, we can go look around." I sat up and looked over at him, "it's freezing though, so I would put an extra layer of clothes on." After I finished my sentence he nodded and searched through his backpack for his jacket.

"Where are you two off to?" My mom asked sitting in the living room, she was watching the weather channel. Who does that anymore?..

"We're going exploring. I have my phone, we will be back before supper." I smiled, walking out the door after Stephen.

Before supper meant before seven. It was currently four thirty. She was always fine with that, I didn't need to wait for her reply.

"So, which way?" Stephen pointed straight, left, and right.

"Hm.." I thought for a moment. He doesn't need to run into the wolf. so not straight. "Behind us." I walked around the house, Stephen following behind me.

"That wasn't in the options, but I like how you think!" He laughed, his gloved hand patting my shoulder.

"Thanks?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows at him.

"You're welcome." He walked around of me, standing and balancing on a log up ahead.

"Don't fall." I chuckled when his foot slipped, then he soon caught his balance.

"Oh hush, I'm a master at this." He looked over at me hopping down.

"I think there's waterfalls back this way." I smiled to him, walking a bit faster.

"No, it's too cold to swim." He huffed, snow crunching under our feet while he and I walked.

"I never said we were swimming in the water falls, there's also hot pools." I smirked, a little hop in my step.

"How do you know?" Stephen asked, catching up.

"I heard mom and dad talking this morning. You already know my dads a logger, he's scouted these area's to see if anything needed cutting a while back." I looked back at Stephen who nodded briefly.

"What if it's private property?" He went around a tree, parting his gaze from me for a split moment.

"It's not, dad would have mentioned it to mom." I spoke confidently.

"Huh, you already know these woods well. You look like you know where you're going." Stephen laughed, following close behind me.

"Technically I do, I listen in when dad talks about the woods he's scouted. It's interesting when he talks about things I may one day get to explore." I stated, hearing water up ahead.

"Oh," Silence was spread out for a split moment, hearing the soft trickling of water, and wind through the frozen trees, "we're getting close." He came up beside me, a huge grin on his face.

"Yup! About a quarter mile ahead, I think." I looked around, then looked at Stephen.

"Okay, you scare me with how much you know about these woods."

"I don't know them that well.." I thought back to what might have happened if the wolf never lead me home last night.

"Doubtful." He mumbled, I stayed silent, not commenting on his choice of words.

I heard a branch crack behind us, when I looked back I spotted a dark red and slightly black, figure run through the trees behind us.

"What are you looking at?" Stephen questioned, looking in the direction my eyes were pointing.

"Oh- uhm..nothing, I think it was a fox." I sat with my feet in the hot pools.

"You must have bad eyesight but great hearing. How did you even-" I cut him off.

"The branches are louder than they usually are with them being frozen and cold." I looked back at Stephen.

"That makes sense." He splashed the water over to the other side of the hot pool.

It was warm, usually in the winter they are a lot hotter than this.

"We should start heading back, it took like forty five minutes to just get here. We should have about forty if we start heading back now." Stephen said, looking at his phone in hand.

"Yeah, good idea." I stood, bringing my feet out the steaming water. My feet had smoke rising off the base.