R a i s e d [by] Wolves --one--- {One is the Loneliest Number}

Hey guys! Wow...this new site is very strange. I'm not quite sure what I think of it yet. Hopefully I won't end up leaving, but if it turns out too badly I might have to. :)

Ok, the banner contest hasn't ended yet! There's still time to get your banners in! Lol. I've gotten some pretty amazing ones already. I originally had the dealine at May 11, but I'm extending it to May 15th because...I'm not sure why. Just too lazy to judge anything right now. Any questions you have about it can be directed towards myself, or you can go look at the journal entry.

Also keep reading the stories by lovemeelots. :)

“You’re staying home this weekend. Don’t even think about going anywhere.” Her brother’s announcement was loudly heard through the house the next day, when Laela appeared downstairs for breakfast. He didn’t say it, but she knew it was because of her face. He’d left bruises the shape of his hand on either cheek the night before.

“Fine.” She mumbled, grabbing an apple off the counter and trudging out the backdoor. Her whole side was a dark purplish-blue from his fist, even worse than her face, making it painful to even move. She planned on spending the day outside reading a book. Hopefully everyone else would sleep most of the day, leaving her alone.

The rest of the weekend passed slowly, and unfortunately Laela had to miss another week of church. For some reason, though, she felt a teensy bit relieved. She couldn’t seem to shake Tristin from her mind, but part of her was hurt that he’d left so quickly the other night. Every time the thought surfaced, she shoved it back down. School on Monday was worse.

“So…where’d you disappear to Friday night?” In the hallway outside of class Sophie cornered her, her pretty face screwed up into a frown.

“Sorry.” Laela muttered, ducking her head so that her long hair fell over her face. She was doing her best to keep her face covered. The bruises across her cheeks had faded to a dull yellowish green, but were definitely still visible. “My brother made me go home.”

“Oh.” Sophie accepted the answer rather suspiciously, but knew Jamie’s tendency to keep a close eye on Laela. “Well, before you left I saw you with Tristin.” Her voice turned teasing.

Laela turned sharply. “So?”

“Hmm. Well, he was asking about you at church yesterday.” The mischievous grin on Sophie’s face was unmistakable.

“What’d he ask?” Laela felt the familiar warmth across her face. She was both pleased and worried at the same time.

“Oh, well, just where I knew you from, and if you came around very often.” Sophie’s grin widened as they entered the classroom. “And guess what? He asked for your number.”

Laela groaned. “You know I don’t have a phone.”

“I know. I told him. So he said to tell you that he’s sorry he left so quickly. And –“ Before Sophie could finish her sentence, the bell rang and they had to hurry to their seats. Laela’s heart was suddenly racing. Closing her eyes for a brief second, she took several deep breaths. He just wanted to apologize, that was all. He didn’t really want to talk to her. For some strange reason, the thought brought a pang of regret.

At lunch, Sophie once again was late. It didn’t take long for Shane, Ash, and Cale to corner her and drag her back to their usual spot.

“So. You talked to your vampire friend yet?” Shane stood close to her, too close, with one hand on the wall next to her face.

“I don’t know any vampires.” Laela pleaded, eyeing Ash who was moving closer in the small space toward her right side.

“Jamie thinks so. He told us to keep an eye on you.” Cale offered from his position against the opposite wall.

“Shut up Cale.” Shane barked, glancing over his shoulder. Laela used the distraction as a chance to slip out underneath his arm. Ash quickly grabbed her by the hair, yanking her close to his chest. She could feel the heat from his skin, and hear his heartbeat pounding inside his chest.

“She doesn’t smell like blood-sucker.” Ash announced, bending his head down to sniff suspiciously.

“Good.” Shane raised a brow. “So who is he?”

“I really, really, don’t know any vampires.” Laela stuttered, pressing a hand against Ash’s broad chest.

Shane sneered. “Sure.”

Suddenly, Ash took a step back and glanced to the right, toward the entrance of the alcove. Turning his face back to Shane and Cale, he gave them a look. “Time to go.” Without another word, the three released her and exited, moving quickly. Laela waited a minute, then followed. She knew it wasn’t time for lunch to be over yet, so there must have been a reason they felt the need to leave so quickly.

“Lila? Lila Conan?” Back inside the noisy cafeteria, Laela was surprised to hear her name being yelled across the room, albeit mispronounced. An aid with a microphone was standing by the door, a bored expression on her face.

Laela quickly made her way across the crowded room, dodging people who were getting up and down. By now she’d decided that Ash, with his super-sensitive hearing, had heard them calling her name and decided to leave before they were caught. But what she wanted to know was why she was being called. An aid meant that they probably needed her in the office. She hadn’t done anything wrong, and there was no one that would call her in an emergency.

“Lila?” The girl with the microphone pulled her mouth away and addressed her.

“It’s actually Laela. With a long a and silent e.” She volunteered, as politely as she could.

“Whatever. You’re needed in the office.”

“Why?” Laela felt a slight bit of nervousness.

The girl shrugged. “I dunno.” Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she walked ahead of Laela the rest of the way.

Scurrying through silent halls, Laela felt a shiver of apprehension. Somehow, she could just tell this wasn’t good. Things got worse once she made it to the office.

“Laela!” It was crowded inside, several teachers and people she didn’t recognize standing about. The person who had spoken was the Principal, Mrs. Schumack. How she knew Laela by first name and sight, Laela wasn’t sure. It had been her goal to remain completely unnoticed.

“Yes ma’am?” Laela pulled her wandering gaze to rest on the elderly woman. “Is something wrong?”

“Dear, I need to talk with you. Let’s go inside my office.” The older woman smiled stiffly, then opened her door, indicating Laela enter. Inside, the room was slightly musty and cluttered. Two padded chairs sat facing a large desk with a swivel chair, on which Mrs. Schumack perched herself. “Take a seat.”

Laela did as she was told, nervously clutching her satchel. “If this is about falling asleep in class, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just stayed awake too late last night.”

“No hun, although Mrs. Harding mentioned that also.” Pausing, the principal leaned back in her chair and propped her chin in a wrinkled hand. “Where did you get those bruises on your cheek Laela?”

Laela reached up self-consciously to touch her face. “I slipped on the stairs at my house.” She could feel her hands begin shaking. She had an idea of where this conversation was heading.

“Really? What about the bruise on your arm?” Mrs. Schumack’s watery eyes were suddenly piercing. She was talking about the fading bruise from where Jamie had grabbed her when he hit her.

“I-it happened when I fell down the stairs.” Forcing her breathing to regulate, Laela forced a pleasant smile to her face. “Guess I’m just clumsy.”

“Dear, your gym teacher says that you also have a huge bruise on your side. That must have been one nasty fall.”

“I – it was.” Shuffling her feet, Laela could feel her smile drooping. The principal wasn’t buying it.

“These aren’t the first bruises your teachers have told me about. Mrs. Harding says you keep showing up to school with them, and I’ve heard a lot of other troubling things.” Sighing softly, Mrs. Schumack looked a bit sad. “When you’ve worked in the public school system for as long as I have, you see just about everything.” Leaning forward, she became earnest. “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine, but I have reason to believe that your home situation may be unfit. I’ve called the Child Protection Services, and they will be coming to your house sometime before tomorrow to make a formal report.”

Laela felt a sudden lack of air. “B-but Mrs. Schumack, y-you don’t need to do that. This is just from tripping when I was coming home from school.”

“I thought it was from falling down the stairs?” Shaking her head slightly, Mrs. Schumack appeared to have already made up her mind. “I’m sorry dear, I know this sounds scary, but don’t worry. If there’s nothing wrong at home, then there’s no problem.”

Chewing her lip nervously, Laela slowly nodded. She needed to get home to tell Jamie. If the CPS showed up and the pack didn’t know, bad things would happen. Not to her necessarily, but to the CPS agent. She really wished escaping the pack was as easy as calling the CPS. She would’ve done it a long time before. “Yes ma’am. Do you need anything else?”

“No honey. I don’t think so. You get back to class, and let me know if you need anything.” The principal smiled once more.

Bolting up from her chair, Laela offered a weak smile back and hurried out the door. In the hallway again, she realized she’d made it out right as the bell was ringing. “Dang it.” She muttered. She needed to find Ash or Shane. Jogging down the hallway, she tried to remember what class Ash had next. She was pretty sure it was Chemistry, but she wasn’t positive. To be safe, she headed toward the chem lab. As luck would have it, or maybe her silent plea to God was answered, Ash was right outside the door of the lab, talking to another guy. He looked up, surprised, as she came closer.

“I need to talk to you.” Laela panted, out of breath from running halfway around the school.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” Ash raised a brow, then went back to talking to his buddy.

Gritting her teeth, Laela folded her arms over her chest. “It’s important.”

Ash ignored her. Tightening her lips, Laela turned on her heel. It wouldn’t be her fault when they didn’t know she’d left school without them. Trotting down the hall, Laela slipped out the front doors just as the warning bell rang, and started for home.

It took her about twenty minutes, but by the time she walked through the front doors her lungs felt like bursting. Dropping her bag on the floor, Laela gasped for breath. Once she was able to breathe again, she trotted up the stairs. The first door on the left was Jamie’s bedroom. She knocked quickly, then cracked the door open.

“Jamie?” She whispered, noting the dark and quiet. He was probably still sleeping.

“Need something?” Instead of coming from the room, the voice came from just over her left shoulder.

Jumping slightly, Laela quickly closed the door and spun around. “Brady!” Blinking furiously, Laela backed up ever so slightly. His humongous form towered over her, his chest bared and his lower half clad in a pair of jeans. “I-I need to talk to Jamie.”

“What about?” Folding his brawny arms, Brady eyed Laela slowly. She shivered as his gaze moved across her body, as steadily as if she was an item to be bought.

Laela swallowed. “The principal of the school talked to me today. Sh-she said that she called the CPS about me.”

Brady changed positions slowly, blinking lazily. “When are they coming?”

“I-I don’t know. She said between today and tomorrow.” Laela forced herself to slow her breathing. He was taking the news very well.

“Why did they call the CPS?”

“Because of the bruises.” Laela rubbed her arm self-consciously. “Mostly because of the ones from Jamie.”

Quick as a snake, Brady grabbed her by the neck, lifting her in the air. His entire hand fit around her slender neck. Gently, as if he was being kind, he pushed her against the wall, and moved closer, his face inches from hers. “This is your fault. I expect better from my future mate.” His upper lip curling slightly, he let out a soft growl. “Just because your brother wants me to wait until you’re 18 to turn you doesn’t mean you don’t already belong to me.” Eyeing her face which was quickly turning a shade of purple, Brady gently placed her back on the ground and released her neck. Without another word, he pushed past her and into Jamie’s room, shutting the door in her face. A few minutes later, she could hear yelling between the two. Rubbing her sore neck, Laela couldn’t help but overhear parts of the conversation.

“We can’t have any more government people on our backs! They’re getting too close.”

“Well, I wasn’t the one who sent the girl to school with bruises everywhere.”

“She deserved them. How was I supposed to know she’d be so careless and let other people see them?”

“It doesn’t matter now. We need to leave before the social worker comes and sees anything suspicious.”

Laela had heard enough. She didn’t want to leave. Her whole life was here, along with her only close friend. God, please don’t let them make us leave. Let me stay here. The whole way up to her room, Laela kept praying the same thing over and over.

Later that afternoon, Laela was awakened from a sound sleep by a banging on her door. Groaning, she pried her face off of the open Bible that she’d fallen asleep on. “Coming, coming.” She muttered under her breath, rubbing her eyes and slowly trudging across her room. Pushing the door open, she peeked her head down.

“Get down here. Pack meeting.” Cale demanded, his arms crossed. His normally cherubic face was creased into frown lines. Something must be wrong.

Yawning, she slowly released the door and allowed the ladder to fall down. Hopping down to the first step, Laela moved slowly, her mind slightly hazy still.

“Hurry up. You take forever.” Cale remarked, his voice slightly whiny.

Yawning again, Laela walked ahead of him down the steps, still going slower than he liked. Out of the whole pack, Laela was least afraid of Cale. He was young and inexperienced at keeping one shape, but he was the least disgusted about having a human in the house. The others tormented her because she was human and not wolf, and so to them she wasn’t much more than meat. It was more true of the older wolves than the younger ones. But if she was a werewolf, the house would be torn apart with the males fighting over her as a potential mate. Laela assumed that was the reason behind her brother not allowing her to be turned yet.

The pack was sprawled around the kitchen table; half standing, half sitting down. As soon as Cale and Laela entered, the business began. Brady was standing at the head, with Jamie and Colin on either side. In his hand was a pale sheet of paper.

“We have a problem.” Brady’s words were short, curt. “The highschool has called the CPS to come check us out. Which means a social worker will be here within 24 hours.”

There were grumbles of complaint around the table and a few dirty looks cast toward Laela’s blushing face. Jamie interrupted further discussion. “And on top of that there’s rumors that a government group has moved into the area. They’re investigating a series of murders within the state.” By his tone of voice, Laela realized the deaths were caused by the pack. A look of disgust tightened her expression as smirks crossed several faces.

“But we have a choice.” Waving the sheet of paper in the air, Brady made sure everyone was paying attention. “I have in my hand a letter from my cousins who have said the pack can stay with them for a while until we find a new location. They have enough room, and they’re our kind, so our pack will be accepted. Or, we can stick it out here until, hopefully, all of this blows over.”

“Where do your cousins live?” Cooper quickly asked, one eyebrow raised and his arms folded.

“New Eden.” The announcement started a hum of excitement through the room. New Eden was a secret city, hidden by magic and advanced technology, where immortals and inhuman creatures lived freely. Everything in the city was specifically geared toward those who lived there, and humans weren’t allowed except as food or playthings. Not that any human would want to be there because a lively human slave trade was situated in the heart of the city, and several clubs were designated specifically for vampires to quench their thirst. The whole place had been mentioned several times, specifically Foster and Cooper, who had lived there before joining the pack and loved to talk about how amazing it was. Laela didn’t find any of it particularly appealing, especially since she was human, albeit a “special” human.

“New Eden? Really?” There was no denying the enthusiasm in Shane’s voice as he spoke.

“Yeah. They live right outside of the city, in the hills where there’s plenty of room and privacy. They only have one neighbor, but he stays to himself.” The noise level of the room rose dramatically as he finished speaking, until Laela was fighting to keep herself from covering her ears.

Finally, Jamie let out a sharp whistle, quieting the room. “Ok, you have the options. Stay here or leave. We’ll vote. All in favor of staying?” Laela was the only one who raised her hand, but it didn’t matter because her vote didn’t count for much. “For leaving?” Every hand in the room except hers was held up. “Ok, guess we’re leaving then.” The three highschoolers let out a noisy yell in celebration.