Better Than That

When we arrive at school, the section of the parking lot where Addy's labyrinth ripped up concrete and posts is blocked off with yellow tape. The student body seems a little more ampt up than usual, and in the halls I hear them speculating excitingly about what happened. Why do people enjoy seeing suffering and destruction?

During first period, the principal makes an announcement over the intercom that a student tragically died during a freak accident when a rope tornado interrupted the super-varsity practice game on Saturday. No mention of her name, but he asked that students carpool to conserve space until the parking lot could be repaired. Is he trying to respect the Malums' privacy?

During second period, Coach Yukiya scolds me for being sluggish and slow. I miss every other set and even my blocks are subpar. Ellie glances my way nervously, but everytime she tries to pull me aside to talk, Coach yells at us to get back in formation. "Berkleys, talk on your own time at home! Or, I don't know, use your twin telepathy and stop interrupting my practice."

"Not twins," Ellie mumbles.

"Although he is not entirely wrong about the telepathy," I banter half-heartedly. My joke seems to settle her concern for now, and I avoid her after practice by rushing into the boy's locker room.

During third period I go to the library to study, but I don't smell Alastair nearby, and I don't go looking for him. He made it clear he needs space. Instead I pop my earbuds in and wonder what Alastair would sound like singing Radiohead. It successfully makes me super depressed.

I sluggishly make my way to the cafeteria, and I'm the very last person in the lunch line. By the time I make it to the front, all the good food has been taken, but despite not eating breakfast this morning, I don't feel hungry. I grab an apple and instinctively look towards my usual table. Everyone is already there, even Tiffany, happily hanging off of David's arm. Ellie catches my eye just before I turn to leave, intending to find a quiet spot outside. She jumps up from the table and rushes towards me.

"Cam, hey… I— I overheard a little of what Mom said this morning. Are you—"

"I'm fine, Ellie." My emotions are a rollercoaster on rails, turning at unexpected times, giving me whiplash, headaches, and nausea.

"I'm going to ignore that obvious lie," she answers, trying to be playful, I think. "Do you—" She bites her lips, trying to decide what to say. "Are you not going to sit with us anymore?"

I sigh, irritated. "I don't know Ellie. I just… need a little space from him right now."

"Right." She looks disappointed. Whatever. "Well… do you want me to come with you?"

"I'd rather just be alone. Go back to the pack."

She looks conflicted. My irritation rises. What does it take to get rid of a clingy sister? "Are you sure?"

"Did you know?" I snap. I instantly regret it, but the remorse can't shake my annoyance. Ellie has always given me the space I needed before, so why is she being so insistent now? "Did you know what Mom was planning?" When I see her guilty expression, bitterness fills the void I've been feeling all morning. It pushes on the walls of my chest uncomfortably.

"I… suspected," she admits. I growl and shoving down the angry tears forming in my glowing eyes. She looks up at me, sorrow in her large blue eyes. "I— I'm so sorry, Cam." She releases a few tears, but I can't find it in me to care.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" I roar, pushing aside the uncomfortable thought that I haven't always been honest with her either. "Is this what you meant by the Moon Path making me happy?"

"No! Of course not! What they want is not the Moon Goddess' will!" She takes a deep breath before whispering, "I just really thought you loved him."

"And I thought you knew me better than that," I shoot back bitterly.

Alastair isn't in precalculus. I don't want to wait for Taylor to be done with football practice, so I shift and spend fifteen minutes trying to awkwardly loop my backpack through my front paws. Instead of running home immediately, I hunt until dark. I'm starving, but when I am about to dive in for the kill, an image of Addy covered in claw marks, her neck jaggedly sliced open, stops me short. The deer runs away, frightened by my fumbled lunge, but I don't care. I can't do it anyways.

When I come home well after curfew, my parents are waiting. I knew they would be. They have been trying to mind link since school ended.

"Did you forget you are grounded?" my mother starts.

"Nope. I just don't care." I try to escape upstairs.

"Cam," Dad's gentle tone stops me in my tracks. "I'm so disappointed in you. You're better than this."

I'm so done being manipulated. "Apparently not."

Having allowed Dad to try the diplomatic approach, Mom takes over. "Your father and I have decided to cut your phone plan until you start taking your responsibilities seriously."

I pull my iphone out of my back pocket. "Here! You can have it!" I throw it at the wall directly behind them. With a loud "thunk" I dent the drywall, and, when it lands on the ground, I see the screen is smashed.

"Cameron Marion Berkley!" My mother marches right up to me, her face full of pure rage. It takes everything in me to meet her eyes with my own fiery look, instead of backing down. "Extra chores! And you will clean the pack house bathrooms every Saturday until you can pay for that dent!"

I scoff. "Anything else?"

"Yes! You can kiss that driver's license goodbye. We canceled your test for tomorrow."

"Like I care." I do. Stripping down to run everywhere is damn annoying.

"The Alpha banned you from the pack gym."

Great. I'd rather not risk running into him or David there anyways. "That's fine. I don't need handouts from the pack."

"And for your sake I hope you change your mind before volleyball season in the spring."

That one stings. That one doesn't just affect me, but the whole team. Not that I was much use to my team today anyways.

"Whatever," I say instead and storm off to my room before she can think of any more punishments to dole out.