Chapter Three

***

Pulling into the school parking lot, I could feel all eyes on me. Derrick had even gone so far as to have a parking spot saved for me by the former Alpha, now Elder Reiner. Stepping out of my new jeep, Reiner hugged me tightly. 

"It's good to see you, little one!" He said as he pulled me away to look at me. "My, how you have grown."

"Good to see you too," I said as I brushed the hair from my eyes, "And I'm sorry that Alpha Derrick made you wait here for me. I know that you are a very busy man." 

He shook his head," he didn't make me do anything. I wanted to come see you, but with how busy I have been lately, I haven't  been able to." We walked and talked as the bell rang and the students made their way to their morning classes. Leaving me and Elder Reiner alone in the parking lot, other than a few stragglers here and there. He pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it to me. "And I wanted to give you this." He said as he handed me the small black box with a silver bow.

Opening the box revealed a tiny veil attached to a black leather cord. Inside the veil is a dark black fluid that appears to have an almost galaxy-like quality. "Thank you, Elder Reiner, but you didn't  need to get me anything." 

He took in a deep breath, "I know, but ever since Beta Jace and Alpha Derrick found you on the old Harvest moon territory, I can't help but feel like something or someone is still coming for you and this," he picked up the necklace and placed it around my neck. "This will give me at least some form of relief, even if it is only a small amount."

Confused, I looked at him as he continued, "This is Phoenix blood."

My mouth gaped open, "but I thought that Phoenix were just a myth?"

He shook his head, "at one time, they were very much real creatures. However, they were hunted to extinction nearly a hundred and fifty years ago for the healing properties that their blood contained. A single drop of their blood can heal near any aliment, and half of the vile can bring back a child from the brink of death. Who knows, three-fourths of the vile might even be able to bring someone back from the dead. Though I am not entirely sure what this healing blood can do, I do know that it is incredibly powerful. Which makes this extremely rare."

"Why would you give something so valuable to me?" I asked as I bit my lip.

Tears welled in his eyes, and he took a deep breath to compose himself, "Because it was Eve's final request." He paused momentarily and tightly clenched his jaw before going on about his absent mate, "She wanted you to have it. She said that one day, she believed you would need it."  A single tear escaped the corner of his eye just before he composed himself. "Well, I suppose I have taken up enough of your time. I think that I might have made you late for class." He said with a regretful look on his face. 

"It's okay, Elder Reiner," I began when he shook his head.

"Little one, how many times have I asked you to simply call me Gramps or Grandpa Reiner." He said as he pulled me in for another hug. 

"Too many Grandpa Reiner," I said with a smile.

He pulled away and nodded in the direction of school, "You better be heading in, and I will see you after school for your party." 

Slowly, I entered my homeroom with all eyes glued on me, "Sorry that I am late, Mr. Foster I was…"

He held his hand as he interrupted my explanation, "There is no need for you to explain. Alpha Derrick, let me know that you might be a little late for class this morning." He nodded for me to take my seat, "Oh,  and happy 17th birthday. May the moon goddess bless you with your mate." 

"Thank you, Mr. Foster," I said with a nod as I took my seat, pondered his words, and recalled my conversation with Quinn as a tear touched the corner of my eye.

***

At lunch, I sat in my usual spot in the corner entirely alone when Erica excitedly ran up to my table at the end of lunchtime. Erica was a strawberry blond with emerald green eyes, long legs, and a tiny waist. She was the most popular girl in the entire pack school and the younger sister to Luna Emily. And for reasons unknown to me, she would always be there to stick up for me, though most of the time, I was beaten and bruised before she could get to me. As she sat down across from me, she exclaimed, "Happy Birthday, Serenity!"

"Thanks, Erica," before I could say anything else, the warning bell rang. "I guess we better be heading to class," I said as I stood up from the table. 

She smiled brightly at me, "Okay, but would you be able to meet me behind the gym before you head home today? I have something I was wanting to give you." 

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you then. "  

***

After class, I made my way to where I was supposed to meet Erica and sat on one of the benches facing the forest. Pulling my sketch pad from my bag, I began to draw.  

Having drawn for a while, I pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time. Shock consumed me. I had been waiting here for almost an hour! 

"She must have forgotten," I mumbled to myself. As I gathered my things, the hairs on the back of my neck rose, and an eerie feeling of being watched vibrated over my skin. 

Clenching my jaw, I searched my surroundings for the prying eyes staring at me. When I turned towards the trees, two strange men emerged from the coverage of the tree line and leaned lazily against the trees closest to them. The taller one had sandy blond shoulder-length hair with twigs and leaves throughout it and a large scar that went from just above his left foggy brown eye to his jawline through his scruffy beard. His build was thin, and his scraggly torn and worn shorts hung loosely over his bony hips. The shorter one had much more defined muscle and looked as though he weighed more than the taller one. He had short, spiky, brown hair, a clean-shaven jawline, and brown eyes, and his tattered clothes almost seemed to be a little tight as they pinched at his hips, giving him a muffin top.

My heart thundered inside my chest upon realizing that they were rogue wolves. 

How did they get this far into our territory!? And what am I supposed to do without my wolf? There is no way I can escape them.

A crooked smile spread across their faces as the shorter of the two spoke up, "She is far prettier than that shewolf let on that she was." Lust flashed in his eyes, turning them to a deep black color. 

Wait, someone told them about me? So then this was planned? Are they going to kill me?

The tall one placed his large hand upon his companion's shoulder. "That’s not what we are here to do, Sam.” 

The shorter one, Sam, rolled his eyes, "I know, but…"

As they argued back and forth, their words began to blur into inaudible mumbles. I racked my brain, trying to figure out who had hired them. 

‘Why did someone hire them? What did they hire them to do? I know I am not the most liked in the pack, but…Never mind, I’m only liked by my family and a few others. I guess it isn’t too much of a stretch to think that there might be people who wanted to cause harm to me. Maybe this will be for the best. If I am no longer around, it will make the pack stronger. 

As I mauled these thoughts over in my head, the two rogues began beating me. Instinctively, I crumpled to the ground in an attempt to protect my vital organs. As my body shrank to the ground, they violently kicked and punched me. Bone-cracking snaps rang out through the air as they broke bone after bone. My entire body screamed in agony, but I would not let them have the satisfaction of hearing my screams of pain. A tear escaped the corner of my eye, and I could feel all resistance to their beating begin to fade from me. 

‘Why fight it? This is what is best for everyone. I mean, all I ever do is burden people around me. Luna Emily’s hatred of me is proof of that. 

Blood began to pool around me, and my vision blurred as I coughed up blood. There was a burning pain that vibrated over my body, with each agonizingly painful that wheezed in and out of my collapsing lungs. As my bloody red vision further blurred, a shadowy figure approached me, only for my sight to completely go black.