Karma

My footsteps seemed to echo as I walked through the empty halls. I stared at my phone, mindlessly scrolling until I reached my locker; I could hear someone approaching me. Their footsteps were light and much quieter than my earlier footfalls revealing that it was most likely a girl. I could hear multiple other people joining her seconds later.

I gasp as someone grabs my shoulder roughly, turning me around; I lift my eyes towards The owner of the Well manicured hand on my shoulder and the large group of boys behind her. She had long curly red hair and a face full of caked-on makeup, reminding me of a particular annoyance in my life.  

One of the boys Advanced towards the girl and me as she held me against the locker. He looked at her and said, "Baby, Let me; you don't want to ruin your nails," The girl gasped and turned to the guy who was large and bulky "oh! You're so right! Thank you, Barry!" She giggled in a sweet but narcissistic voice. I winced from the stinging pain that went through my back as Barry grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me even harder into the metal. I glared at him as he hit me, sending my instincts on fire, while I just clenched my jaw, trying not to shift and tear him to shreds. As I blinked away the anger, More guys started joining in beating me and making me clench my jaw with every blow.

"That's enough boys, I think he's learned what happens to someone who doesn't follow our rules," Dante, one of the few people who stood back and watched.

 I scoffed and glared at the petty humans. 

"What are you laughing at?"

I just looked down to my feet.

Dante growled as he picked me up off the ground by my collar; I just shook my head. He rolled his eyes then threw me against the lockers with all his strength. I fell to the ground bloody and bruised, but not in pain. Supernatural healing and all.

When I finally thought it was over since the group started walking away, I attempted to stand, but it's never that easy. Dante turned around after I got my footing. He walked towards me until he was next to my ear.

 "Stay down, idiot."

 He said as he punched me in the gut, making me double over from the surprise and slight pain plus, with how fast it happened, I had to suppress the animalistic growl rising in my throat. I looked up and saw him walking towards his friends once again, laughing. I noticed Dante glancing back at me with what looked like sympathy, but that wouldn't make sense, so I ignored it.

I stood up once they left, picking up my glasses.

 "How annoying,"

 I sighed as I put on the fake glasses. I walked to my locker and put in the combination, opening it on the second try; I grabbed my bag and slammed my locker shut. I make my way out of the school, walk over to my old SUV, and get in as I dread the long drive back to my home.

I drove through the mountains 30 minutes away from the school until I reached the first gate about 4 miles into a remote Forest. I pulled up to the entrance.

 "Mayleen, it's me, open please," 

I said into the intercom. Watching as the gates opened, I pulled forward and drove over to the extra garage about a mile and a half from the house and 6 miles from the gate so no humans could notice it. I pulled in, parking my car and climbing out. I think of my wolf's form after I put my clothes in my bag. Thick, black fur extends from my body while my bones crack and rearrange; I could feel myself shifting with the painful sting of a tail sprouting from my back and ears from my head. I open my eyes and leave the compact building ready to run.

I reach home in minutes, shift back and put on my clothes. I walked into my house and greeted my mother, sitting on the couch tending to the twins.

 "ciao mamma, I'm home." I greet

 "Hi sweetie, do you think you can go get Nick out of his crib? It's time for his bottle and diaper change," she asks sweetly with her thick Russian accent.

 '' Of course," I said with a smile. 

 I turn and run up the stairs towards the nursery. I opened the door to find my dad sitting in the rocking chair, reading a book

.

 "Hey, Dad," I said cheerfully

 "Hey Ragazino, what are you doing?" he asked

 "Mom said to get Nick so she can change and feed him," I said with a grin

 "oh good, that means I won't have to do it," he let go of a breath and visibly relaxed

 "you've done it for eight other kids, and it was mostly me and mom doing it too; I don't see how little Nick is any different," I chuckled

 "Yeah, well, he is the most explosive out of all of you kids," he said, shaking his head with a shudder; I chuckled and pulled Nick out of his crib to bring him down to my mom.

"Here's the little Ragazzo, mamma," I say, my Thick accent slurring between Italian and English. I carry the pup downstairs. "Thank you, Karma," My mom said with a small smile. "Could you take Rük and Miry up to Benny so he can watch them please?"  I walked over to the two 3-year-olds and picked them up "let's go up and see Benny, ok girls?"

"Ok!" they said at the same time cheerfully.

"Hey Fratellino," I say with a smile

 as I brought the girls into my Brothers room, he rolled his eyes and greeted me 

"hey Karma, what brings you here to your TWINS room," he said,

 "Hey you're younger than me so you are still my Fratelino and mom said to bring the girls up so you can watch them," I said as I chuckled

 He laughed "ok, Karm let them lose," he said as he waved the girls into his room.

 "I'm going to go for a run," I told him before I left his room and headed downstairs so I could run to my little home away from home.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------meanings for the Italian words used

Ragazino= Kiddo

Ragazzo= boy

Fratellino= Little brother

Ciao=hello