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making me pull the receiver away from my ear. “What happened in the dreams?! Tell me every little detail!”

“Calm down,” I said into the phone.

He growled. “I don’t have time to be calm. Now answer my questions.” I quickly

explained my dreams to him. He groaned softly. “Hold on one minute.”

“Alright,” I said with a sigh. He talked quietly away from the phone, but I couldn’t

understand what he was saying. I heard a man with a thick British accent talking back to him, but still couldn’t understand what they were saying. I kicked my feet around in the water as I grew impatient.

Koda came back on. “Alright. I can’t really say anything to you except that they are just dreams.”

“Why are you being so secretive with me?”

“It’s your father’s fault. If he had told you about us, there wouldn’t be a problem. Shit, you would probably be with us right now.” I felt my breath whoosh out of my lungs and tried to think about what he had just said. Koda grunted. “Shit. That was too much information.”

I inhaled and asked, “Is your friend’s name Ares?”

Koda groaned. “Yes, that’s all I’m going to say though.”

I nodded my head. “Fine. Well I did have another dream last night as well.”

Koda sighed in exasperation. “Tell me.” I explained the dream about my father and he

sighed again. “You’ve been in contact with wild wolves.”

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyways. “Well, sort of. There was a group of three

wolves at the lake and I swore one of them looked just like the wolf in my dreams that turned into Ares and I just felt compelled to go to him. Well his other two pack mates pushed him away.

Then this morning the same group of wolves were being aggressive and I showed the alpha a sign that I was dominant and he was debating what to do when his pack mates nudged him and I swear I heard him sigh. Then they left.”

Koda scoffed. “He sighed. You know it’s not very smart to show an alpha dominance

when you aren’t.”

“What should I have done? Let him eat Bret’s friend?” I said defensively.

He laughed. “It might have been funny.”

“The asshole would have deserved it. He thought I was
communicating
with the wolves.

How stupid is that?”

“Look Artemis. I can’t really tell you much and I’m sorry for that. I do have a feeling that we will be seeing you soon though.”

“I have two more questions.”

He groaned. “What?”

“Do you know what the white mist is and if it is going to come here?” I asked.

He exhaled. “You have to keep this completely secret. Even from you friend, okay?”

“Okay.”

He whispered quickly, “I do know what the mist is and I promise it will not come for

your town and you will be perfectly safe. Consider the wolves and your dreams a good omen.”

I sighed as the heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. “Okay. One more thing. Why

does silver burn my skin?”

Koda spoke in another language fast and loud. I assumed he was cussing, but couldn’t be

sure. “I can’t say anything. Just don’t touch silver. Did any of it get in your blood?”

“No, just burned my palm.”

“Good. Don’t worry Artemis. Soon you will be experiencing a lot of different things. I’ll see you soon.”

I yelled, “How soon?”

“A few weeks probably. We’ll find out for sure next week.”

“What happens next week?” I asked.

He laughed. “Can’t tell you. Bye Artemis.”

“Wait! Why did you know that we had to leave Tahoe and how did you get out okay?”

“Bye, Artemis,” he said again.

“Bye, Koda.” I pressed the end button and stared at the phone in my hand. Why was

everyone so secretive? I hate secrets and surprises. I remembered that Koda had said they would be coming soon and felt butterflies flip around in my stomach at the thought of seeing Ares again. “Just what I need, a crush on some older guy who won’t be interested in me.” I walked slowly back home and didn’t care how late it was when I got there. It would only take me ten minutes at the most to get home anyway.
Stupid small town
.

I heard someone walking behind me and stopped and turned around. Billy stood smiling

behind me. “What is it Billy?”

“I’m sorry I overreacted today,” he said softly.

I scoffed. “Right. Calling me the wolf whisperer was just a small overreaction.”

“I just said I was sorry.” He started to move closer to me and I held my hand up.

“I thought you said we couldn’t see each other anymore Billy? Why the change?”

He smiled. “I changed my mind. I don’t want to be away from you.”

I remembered what Bret had said about him being a horndog and asked, “Is it me or my

body you don’t want to be away from?”

He stopped moving and the smile left his lips. “What’s that supposed to mean? I haven’t

tried anything with you.”

I shrugged. “From what I’ve heard you think mostly with your smaller head and you’re

just being nice today so you can pressure me tomorrow.”

Billy snarled. “That bastard will say anything to keep you to himself! I swear I am going to kick his white ass!” He started walking quickly down the road to Bret’s house. I knew I should stop him, but this was actually a fight I wanted to see. We arrived at Bret’s house quickly and Billy yelled from the yard, “Come out come out wherever you are! You pussy ass liar!”

I stared in shock at the angry Billy who was somehow more attractive now. Bret walked

out of the house with no shirt on smiling. “Hey bro, what’s up?”

Billy shook his head. “Don’t call me bro! You tell Artemis the truth right now or I’m

going to whip your ass!”

Bret shrugged smiling smugly. “I did tell her the truth! I’m better than you.”

Billy looked at me. “You didn’t tell me that part.”

I shrugged. “It didn’t seem important at the time.”

Billy turned around and glared at Bret again. “Tell her the truth!”

Bret smiled. “You aren’t better than me. That’s the truth.”

Billy charged up the steps and slammed into Bret, knocking him down on the ground.

Billy was one of the strongest football players on the team. I had seem him bench pressing and couldn’t even add up all the weights that were on the bar. Billy started punching Bret in the face.

Bret shoved Billy backwards and jumped up. Darren walked calmly out of the house and past the fighting boys to stand next to me. “What’s going on?”

“Not much. Bret said Billy was a horndog and that he is better and now they are

fighting,” I said.

Darren smiled. “So, they’re fighting over you?”

I frowned and then thought about it. “Shit! Now you tell me!” I ran over to the boys and

threw myself between them. Bret threw a punch that barely missed my face. “Hey!” I yelled as I ducked down. Bret at least had the decency to blush. “Look, I didn’t really think this through.

Now stop fighting.”

Billy shook his head. “Not until he tells you the truth!”

“Fine. Artemis he isn’t a horndog. He’s a freaking spineless virgin!”

I stared at Bret in shock. “Why is that a bad thing? I’m a virgin.”

Bret’s face fell. “No, it’s different for girls.”

“You’re one too.” I said quietly, nervous of his answer.

Bret sighed. “No, I’m not.”

Billy smiled smugly. “He’s been telling you that so he had a better chance of screwing

you.”

Bret punched at Billy and I kicked Bret in the shin. “We are done Bret!” I ran into the

house and grabbed my bag. I walked out of the house furious and shaking with anger. “I should let my dad kick your ass!”

Darren smiled and waved bye to me. I walked away with Billy walking beside me

silently. We got halfway through town and I stopped walking, turning to look at Billy. “Why didn’t you tell me about Bret?”

“What was I supposed to say? ‘Hey Artemis, Bret’s really just trying to get in your pants, but he is lying to you to do it’?”

I smiled. “Yeah that would have worked.”

He scoffed. “Right, and then I wouldn’t have him as a friend anymore because I broke the

guy code.”

I rolled my eyes. “The guy code. Stupid!” I realized I had no clue who Bret had slept with or anything. “Billy, who has Bret slept with?”

He cringed. “You sure you want me to answer that?”

I gasped. “Skanzilla! That’s why she is always hanging on him and hates me so bad.

Because he’s been screwing her! That bastard!” I felt my body heating up more and groaned as I fell to the ground and started convulsing.

Billy held me down and whispered, “Breathe Artemis. Come on, stop the seizure.”

I gritted my teeth and focused on calming myself down. The twitching finally stopped

and I exhaled. The doctors always thought I was lying when I told them that I could stop the seizures, but obviously they were wrong. I looked up at Billy and asked, “How’d you know?”

He smiled. “Bret told us in case he wasn’t there and you needed help.”

I smiled back at him. “Thanks. You can let me up now.”

He kissed my lips softly. “I don’t want to let you up.”

I suddenly felt pinned and my body started to heat up again. I thrashed against him, but

he held me down. I screamed in anger and fear of being trapped and pushed against him lifting him up off the ground.
TRAPPED!
I fought with my mind to make it realize that I wasn’t trapped, but nothing worked.

Darren appeared over the top of me and saw the fear in my eyes. “Billy get off of her!”

Billy stepped away and Darren backed up too.

I sat up slowly and slowed my breathing down so I wouldn’t hyperventilate. Billy shook

his head. “What happened?”

Darren rubbed the back of his neck, a mirror of Bret’s nervous habit. “She got scared and well…its hard to explain.”

“Sorry.” I said, embarrassed.

“Are you okay now?” Billy asked. I nodded my head and he smiled. “Good. Now let’s

go.” I let him grab my hand and pull me up to a standing position. Once I had my balance I kissed his cheek. He smiled wider. “What was that for?”

I smiled back. “For being understanding about my…uh…stuff.”

He shrugged. “You’re too much of a catch to let a few minor things bother me.”

I started walking away with Billy when Darren cleared his throat. I turned around to glare at him. “What?”

“When will you be home?”

I shrugged. “Why do you care?”

He frowned and spoke in his ‘don’t talk back’ tone, “Artemis.”

I sighed. “Tonight. You and I have things to talk about anyway.”

He cringed. “What stuff?”

I smiled. “Things Koda and I were discussing.”

He growled. “What did he tell you?! And when did you talk to him?”

I shrugged and turned away, dragging Billy along with me. “Interesting things. Bye

Darren.”

Billy walked with me as I skipped like an elementary school girl. “What was that about?”

I smiled and started walking instead of skipping. “Apparently my dad has been

withholding information about my past so I have to make him sweat a little.” Darren and I had never been close. He provided for me and I never starved or anything like that, but he had never been emotionally open to me. I’d never felt loved by him. He didn’t act like he loved me. I’d always blamed it on my mother’s disappearance, but maybe it was more than that. I needed to get out of the town and away from Darren as soon as I could.

We arrived at Billy’s house to find J.D. and Jess sitting on the porch. Billy smiled at

them. “What’s up guys?”

Jess and J.D. stared at us in shock for a second before smiling. Jess held up a bottle of whiskey. “We come bearing gifts.”

Billy licked his lips then looked at me. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.”

I shrugged. “I’ve never tried it before.”

Jess laughed. “Oh, girl, you are in for a great night!”

We walked into the house and sat down around the kitchen table. J.D. grabbed four red

plastic cups and poured some of the alcohol into each glass. I sniffed the cup and gagged. It was horrible smelling, like rubbing alcohol.

Billy laughed. “Don’t smell it! Just down it.”

I stared at the brown liquid. “Down it?”

J.D. tipped his cup up and gulped down the drink in one swallow. “Woo!” He yelled.

Jess smiled. “Like that.” She held up her cup towards me. “Ready?”

I lifted mine up and hit the side against hers. “I guess.” I looked at the liquid one more time then tipped the cup up and swallowed. The liquid burned my throat and I exhaled and set the cup down. “Whoa.”

Billy poured another round and raised his cup. “Cheers!”

We all hit cups then downed the alcohol. My stomach felt warm for a moment as the

liquid settled then the warmth disappeared. J.D. frowned. “You sure you haven’t drunk before?”

Jess giggled beside me. “I’m a lightweight no matter how much I drink!”

Billy snorted. “You’re just a lush!”

Jess rolled her eyes. “You’re a boozer!”

I could see the difference in Jess already, but I didn’t feel any different. J.D. poured

another round and we touched cups then downed yet another drink. Billy took out a deck of cards and taught me a drinking game which consisted of taking as many shots as corresponded to the card you pulled. Jess and J.D.’s eyes became glazed over and they started acting drunk. Billy was slurring his words and smiling a lot. I frowned as I realized I didn’t feel any different. I went to the bathroom for the fifth time and as I walked out of the restroom ran into Billy. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt instantly disgusted as his alcohol breath stole my fresh oxygen. He tried to kiss me and I pushed him away heading for the door.

Billy frowned and followed me. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you having any fun?”

J.D. scoffed. “No ‘cus we’re drunk and she’s not. Artemis has been holding out on us.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled at Billy. “I have to see my dad, remember?”

“Are you coming back tonight?” He asked.

I shook my head. “No, but you can come over in the morning and I’ll make you