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Chapter 5 Isabella Teenage years

POV Isabella,

I am Isabella Tomkins. This is the tale of my high school years. I started high school and enjoyed the experience. My brother and I became closer during this year. I wanted to show my friends I was important that day, so I sat with the seniors. No one thought I was out of line because my older brother was a senior. That evening, he called me to his room. He told me I was a freshman and should find friends to eat with at lunchtime. He said it was cool to have me around him, but I was lonely and without friends when he left high school. I realised my brother needed his space. To be honest, I did not want to be with Ashton's group. I just wanted to be near my crush. I knew he had a girlfriend, but that did not stop me from hoping they would eventually break up and allow me to have him for myself, but I could not tell my brother the real adolescent reason.

The important event of this year was when I became a cheerleader and was on the debate team. I was an excellent student and performed well at the end of my first year. I could attend all sports events and stay close to my brother and my crush. Whenever I saw my crush and his girlfriend making out, I felt chest pain. My heart broke each time, and I told myself I would get over the crush eventually. Every school vacation, our parents took us camping upstream at the Cabin in the woods. Most of the time, Beta had to stay on Pack grounds, so my crush tagged along with Nathan, who was one year younger than my brother. In my perception, Nathan was my second brother; he regarded me as his little sister and behaved exactly as Ashton did, ruffling my hair and patting my head. But Ian barely said much when I was around. I sometimes hear them chatting on the steps outside the patio for hours at night as they talk about all kinds of stuff, laughing and goofing like the teenage boys they were. Even though he was aloof, I am sure he would not make anyone bully me.

I recollect once Carrie, Mae and I were swimming in the stream when my crush saw us and pretended to steal our clothes as he waved to us and shook our clothes in his hands. We often played pranks on each other. But he did not hide them away as we thought. They were right there when we came out of the water. While we were going back home, he came over to chat. I wondered why he wanted to escort me to my home and enquired about my brother's whereabouts. I guess they had something important to discuss. Those two were two peas in a pod.

Dasha told me Sue hated me because Ian always looked out for me. I told her, “For crying out loud, all the alpha youths were looking out for me. She told me she heard her chatting about it with her friends in the washroom. I never paid her any mind. At the Spring party, I met Anthony Roma, who was best friends with Carrie's brother Christopher. They brought some potent drinks and,shared them with us. After consuming some, I wanted to use the washroom, and I felt my legs weaken as I stood up. Then they buckled, and I fell forward. I landed in the pool, but my arms and legs could not move when I tried to swim. I found myself going under the water, and I could do nothing about it. As I was about to lose consciousness, I felt hands picking me up. The next thing I knew, I was coughing water. My crush rescued me, and my brother took me to the hospital. Sue has been very wary of me since this incident, making me uncomfortable whenever she looked at me.

Another memorable incident was on the day of the Young Leaders induction. After the dance with Beta Ian, Sue told me the cook wanted me in the kitchen. When I reached the kitchen, the lights were turned off and deserted. On my way back to the dance hall. Someone used a blunt object and hit me behind the head. It was no coincidence. She must have planned it. I woke up once again in the hospital. My parents and the other leaders were furious. They questioned me and discovered that Sue directed me to find Cook because she needed me. Sue was called in and found lying. She said she was just pulling a prank on me, and she did not know who hit me behind the head. She was with the Beta all night except when she went to the washroom. I believe no one believed her to this day.

My sophomore or second year at high school was much more stable. My three friends protected me, and we went everywhere together. For Spring break, the young leaders were in their first year at university. They brought their friends for the break and had a humongous party for the whole weekend. The moms provided the food while the dad provided the beers for the boys. They were now men, and no one stopped them from doing all the things that men did. We all hung out, and one of Ashton's friends stayed with our family. Ashton must have warned him that I was out of his reach. He was cordial with me, but he gave me second glances. I know that I piqued his interest. I overheard my dad saying to my mom that they would have to get more ammunition when I became a young adult. I laughed at his nonsense because I was not interested in anyone else but the Beta.

My family took us on vacation to Disney on our Summer Break. The Alpha and Beta had to stay behind because they were on duty that week. It seemed as if we would never have vacation off-pack Lands ever again. When we returned, the guys went out drinking and returned to our home. I was out on the verandah when Beta came out to smoke one of his vapours, and as he sat down, he asked me what I would do after high school. I told him I wanted to go to Paris to train in clothes design and probably acting classes as a minor. He cleared his throat and asked if anyone could change his mind, and I told him no. I also wanted to leave the state after graduation to find my identity. He cleared his throat and said Mhhm! I excused myself as this was probably our longest conversation since they left high school. He was sitting beside me as I got up to leave. He jumped up simultaneously, and we bumped our heads; as I turned to say sorry, he was right beside me with his head bowed; our lips collided, and I felt weird as I apologised. He seemed in a daze, and I wondered if he bumped his head too hard on mine. That was my first kiss from a man and accidental touching of lips.

I went inside and told Ashton to check on his friend. Ashton left immediately, but when he returned, he looked at me weirdly, and I wondered what transpired between those two. I asked if Beta Ian was fine or if he had to see the doctor. My brother said, "Yeah, right, doctor!"

In my Junior year, life became challenging. I could feel eyes watching me wherever I went. I felt tormented and had no peace, so I spoke to Mom about it. She said she would ask my dad to do a quiet investigation. That was the year I started applying for colleges. I had to keep up my GPA to 4.0 if I wanted to get into an international university. I was accepted to London, Paris, NYU, Princeton, and Harvard. I wanted to go to France.

This year, Mom said she felt our time was limited, so we should set up a routine for a mom-daughter date once a month. Dad got jealous and said it was a dad-daughter date for the next weekend. When Ashton heard that, he said he was calling Dibs the following weekend. I left one weekend with my friends. During the Summer, I was almost captured by rogues. I went with Ashton and his friends to the bar to hang out. at about eleven p.m. I went to the washroom, and as I was returning from the washroom. A man approached me, and four others blocked me from every angle before I could push him away. They confirmed with each other that I was the female they were searching for. Their Alpha supposedly wanted to move the Moon goddess's heart, so they thought if they captured me and made a sacrifice to her, she would grant their every wish.

They grabbed me and were walking to a van. They pushed me into the van when I heard a roar. I know that roar. That was Alpha Brian's roar. It was not him alone but the entire young leaders and Nathan. They all rushed to my rescue. They held onto the van, and instead of it going forward, it automatically moved backwards revving. Beta Ian flung open the back door while my brother and Nathan jumped in to get me out of it. He hugged me as I sobbed and handed me over to my brother. They wrapped me in a warm blanket. Those rogues were ruined for life. I could see blood everywhere. I could hear Alpha Brian saying, "How dare you try to kidnap one of our she-wolves!" He was out of his mind as he mauled those rogues, and the one who escaped was limping. When we got home, and the shock wore off, I could smell Beta Ian all over this blanket. I never returned that blanket to him.

In my final year, I could see my parents mentally preparing for my departure. They gave me more attention than ever before. Would it be easy for them to let me go?

My Beloved Readers,

I hope you see where this story leads. This book is closely linked to the sequel that I am writing simultaneously. It gets more interesting as Isabella leaves for university. Let us see how Beta Ian copes without his mate. Will Isabella Shift, or is she woofless?

Love always,

Your author.

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