The Lycan Alphas' Little Gift.

Staring through the glass window beside me, taking in the avenue with a few people passing by the sidewalks and cars driving past the area, I heave a deep sigh, propping my head in my hand. It’s been a week since we moved into this small town—Blackville, and life has never been so boring.

It’s not that I’m the liveliest, outgoing, or the most active city girl there is, quite the opposite, I’m the stickiest wallflower there is. It’s just I don’t really like this place. This isn’t where I pictured myself to be after graduating from one of the most esteemed universities in the country, with honours I may add.

Never mind.

I shift my gaze to the book in my hand, a paranormal novel I’ve been reading for the last two hours. I’ve always been a fast reader, but seeing that I’m still stuck on the second chapter while I should’ve been on the seventh at least, I decide to call it a day. Perhaps I’ll try again tonight when insomnia hits again.

Closing it, I gather my stuff, pile them into my bag, and rise to my feet, slinging it over my shoulder. Drawing the chair back, careful not to drag it and irk a group nearby, I grab the book I’m planning to borrow and head straight to the reference desk.

Walking through the main doors a couple of minutes later as I slide the book into my bag, I halt just outside at the sudden vibrations in my bag.

“Who could it be?” I murmur, ruffling through the things inside and finally grabbing my ringing phone. “Oh..” I arch my brow at the caller ID flashing in my display before picking up, slowly turning to my left at a slow pace. “Hey, Clover.”

“Dawn, hi! How is it going?”

“Okay, I guess..” I say.

“How do you find the town? How’s your mother coping with everything?”

I stop in my tracks, waiting for an approaching car to pass so I can cross over to the next street, “She’s miserable but she doesn’t show it. You know how tough she can be. She’s been working with David on that project I told you about..”

“The furniture store?” she asks.

“Yes. They’re planning on opening by next month, so you can imagine how busy they are.” I mutter.

“This is why I admire your mum. She’s one strong woman.”

I nod, making my way through more lines of shops, never bothering to look over the display windows. It’s not my thing really. “It’s not easy though. As long as we remain in this country, our last names will end up screwing us, one way or the other. News travels fast you know.”

“You’re practically on the other side of the country, starting afresh. Try to be positive.” She pauses, “.. so, how about you? What have you been up to?”

“Nothing in particular. I’m giving myself some time to reflect before I decide on anything.” I disclose.

“That’s not bad. Just know I’m here if you need someone to talk to,” she offers.

I smile, “Sure, thank you.”

“You sound like you’re walking?”

“Yeah, I just exited the library, I’m taking a walk. I hear there’s a waterfall somewhere around, I think I’ll check it out.”

“That’s pretty cool. Take some pictures, alright?”

“Okay..”

“Ok, talk to you soon.”

“Take care.” Hanging up, I decide to fish for my AirPods and stick them into my ears, walking on.

Clover, I’ve known her since middle school and we grew much closer during high school. She’s the only person who’s able to understand me and stick with me. She’s the only one who doesn’t see the ‘ice’ in me like everybody else. I’m my father’s daughter I may say, you simply wouldn’t catch me smiling or giggling like a fool for no reason. So to say being real has landed me no friends throughout my life—except for Clover, of course, should be an understandment.

I scroll through songs, tapping a few to make a playlist. I know I’ll be walking for a while, a nice entertainment is sure to keep me company. I pass through nice outdoor restaurants, ignoring a few stares from the locals, probably because most don’t recognise me. For a town with less than two thousand inhabitants, it’s quite understandable that everyone knows everyone, thus a new face should spark attention, surely.

I haven’t spotted a lot of tourists either, and for a beautiful place like this busting with nature and serenity, I find that odd.

Just outside the town centre, I pass through a rustic tall building; I think if I stand in its bell tower, I’ll be able to see the whole town from up there. I could draw a detailed map with the view and save myself from losing my way almost every day. It’s a church, and its bell is gigantic, well, they always are, and I’ve always disliked them.

I can’t stand the noise.

I follow the straight road that leads out of town, passing through a couple of private homes and smaller streets on either side. I spot a sharp crescent turn up front, and a divert route, the latter leading into a narrow dirt road lined with thick trees. That should be it. They say the waterfall is deep into the woods. Pushing my feet a tad faster, I keep walking.

My ears perk up at the distant sound of an incoming vehicle, it should be coming from somewhere behind me and I’m almost at the junction. I quickly cross over, taking the side that leads to the dirt road as the car gets nearer. It’s a good thing I’m rocking a minimum volume or I wouldn’t have heard anything and risked abrupt horns followed by rough breaks on my feet.

It has happened before, more than once sadly.

I stiffen as the car slows its pace; shooting a glance to my left, I realise it’s a blue truck and a middle-aged man is peering out at me with furrowed brows, “Hey, wait!” he loudly says.

Frowning, I dip my hand into my pocket, grasping my pepper spray. I might have a small pocket knife in my bag, actually on a small zipper just outside. He better not-

“I’m not trying to harm you,” he states stopping his truck whilst I keep up with my quick pace, ignoring him. “I’m not even climbing out. I just want to warn you!”

Warn me?

I stop a couple of paces away and slightly turn, curiously glancing his way.

“I reckon you’re new around here. If you’re planning on going in there alone, it’s best you don’t,” he shouts from the car.

I arch my brow, “Why?”

“It’s not safe, especially for a young woman like yourself. Nobody goes there, and it’s almost sunset, you might lose your way out,” he states, then pulls his head back inside, “It’s more dangerous when it’s dark.”

I blink, watching him as he pulls up his window. I can’t see anyone else in the truck and he looks innocent enough, but then again, it’s the innocents that we should beware of. ′Go home,′ I read his lips through the front windshield and step away as he drives past me, taking the crescent highway.

What was that?

That’s news to me. I never read anywhere that this place could be dangerous. In fact, I think I’ve seen a few pictures taken inside the forest and all. Maybe I skipped some details? Nothing a brief googling won’t fix.

I turn around, taking in the dirt road before me. There are lush trees on each side, guiding you in. I can see the tree lines grow thicker the deeper you go, it’s pretty cool. It should take a good few hours of hiking to get to the waterfall, it should be somewhere between the hills that surround this town.

Yes, I have to agree it’s pretty late for an adventure. I’m kind of hungry as well. I’ll have to ask Mum about this place first before coming back and I’ll do some digging myself. She’s a social butterfly, and that applies to David as well. I’m sure they must know about this already, unlike me, a bee who hasn’t taken the pains to have a chat with anybody.

I want to see that waterfall. I pray the man was wrong. He could be a bit deluded or had mistaken the site for somewhere else, I wouldn’t be surprised with all the white hair on his head.

With a bored sigh, I turn around and follow the road back to the town square. Our new home is on the other side of the place, a fair exercise. And I’m not complaining.

Taking long walks is my hobby after all.