22 Can't wait

I stand by the table looking over our results from the tests today as I find myself curious about vampires. Werewolves and vampires. And who knows how many other supernaturals that I have yet to learn about. "So light can kill a vampire, and sulfur can harm them?" I question, looking up at Teo for the answer. Her blonde and blue streaked hair fans over her face when she nods in response and looks back down at her work before her.

"Have you met a vampire?" I ask her. She snorts and looks back to me with a look of amusement.

"If you meet a vampire, it's probably the last thing you'll do. They're rarely seen, but in the odd chance there is an encounter, you better run and hope you have a decent head start. They're fast and travel in packs so they can easily overpower others. We usually only know vampires were around when we see the carnage left behind. They keep to themselves otherwise."

"I'll take that as a no, then?" I ask with a mocking grin. Even that short description has made me apprehensive about vampires.

"A hell no, actually," she responds, which causes both of us to laugh for a moment.

My fingers trace the table top in front of me while I think that over. Teo seems to fear vampires, but I find it strange that no one really interacts with them. Is the fear based on the unknown, or is there some merit behind vampires being natural enemies of werewolves? I'm glad she has been willing to answer all of my questions so far. I know I have a lot of them, but she hasn't seemed to mind.

"So, were you born as a werewolf or bitten?"

"Born. Remember that family I mentioned? I come from a long line of werewolves living in Poland. My uncle is actually on the Savet, or the Midnight Council."

"What's the difference, anyway?"

"What do you mean?" Teo asks while looking at me. Class is ending soon, so I start cleaning up the samples and the equipment we were using while avoiding her questioning gaze.

"Between being bitten or born as a werewolf. Is there a difference in how it affects us?" Maybe this is why I am having issues with my abilities.

"No, there's no difference. Either way it's a full transformation of our DNA, so the end result is the same." She tells me, shattering my theory. I had started to wonder if there was something wrong with the bite, if it was incomplete. But I suppose if it is an infection, then no matter how much or how little is in my system, it would spread.

We finish cleaning up in comfortable silence and together we walk outside of the lab to see Ryker waiting. He is wearing a nice pair of black slacks, a white button down shirt with the top few buttons left open so you can see the hard panes of his chest. The sleeves are rolled up, showing off his toned forearms, and his short, wavy brown hair is tossed casually to the side while he leans against a rock wall. One of his hands is in the pocket of his jeans while the other has a paper bag in his grip.

"Ah, let's go say hi, shall we?��� Teo asks while grabbing my arm and leading me towards him. As we approach, he goes rigid and straightens his posture while a blank look crosses his face. His clasps his hands behind his back, and a cold look that I can't decipher passes through his eyes, causing them to appear darker than usual.

"Hi, Ryker," I say in greeting, while he flickers his gaze and me and looks away dismissively.

"Yes, hello Ryker," Teo purrs, with a look of mirth across her face. If it's possible, Ryker stands even straighter and his look is so cold the temperature feels like it drops a couple of degrees. He looks to the side and nods, providing us with the smallest acknowledgement of our existence. My lips purse as I look towards him. He is so standoffish that if I couldn't feel him, I would think this was a different person.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Teo continues. "Layla has mentioned that you have been really, really helpful during her orientation...but, classes have already started." She pauses, and Ryker glares at her. "How long is orientation, anyway?" she asks, with a growing smirk on her face. At full height, his demeanor is intimidating and he looks every bit to be the alpha-in-training I heard about.

Rather than answering her, he clenches his teeth and looks at me. When his eyes pass over me, the yellow in his eyes brighten. "Ready?" he asks in a low, restrained voice. My eyes flicker between Teo and Ryker for a moment before I answer him. I can't tell if there is tension here, but it feels like I am missing something.

"Y-yes," I utter, while nervousness makes my stomach clench.

"Ms. Kaminski, always a pleasure." Ryker says over his shoulder while walking away from us.

I gulp and look to Teo for answers.

"Don't look at me," she says with a shrug of her shoulders. "That's how he always is. Better hurry along if you want him to get you to your next class," Teo adds with a wink. She motions me away with her hands, and I awkwardly turn away from her before jogging to catch up to him.

Catching up to his stride, I reach out to touch his arm, but when I see his back go rigid I think better of it and let my arm fall back to my side. "Everything okay, Ryker?"

"Yes, nothing to fret about," he says without looking at me. I trail next to him in silence for a few minutes before I can't take the tension anymore. If he's mad at something, I have no idea what I could have done so I don't know how to help.

Plus I'm not exactly the most level headed person these days. I follow him and he leads me to a locker room.

"You can change into your clothes for Transfiguration in here and leave your belongings in a locker," he explains, still not looking at me. A male student walks by and Ryker nods his head in greeting. "I'll wait for you here," he adds.

I give an audible huff of frustration and pull my new ring off my finger. "Hold this, please," I say to him, pushing the door open in front of me. He gives the ring in his palm a look of confusion while I walk into the locker room without another word.

I find an empty locker to hang my bag up and grab the outfit I'm supposed to wear for my next class. The black shorts and short sleeve shirt are made out of a thin material, and even though its skin tight, it slides on easily.

It only takes me a couple minutes to change and walk back to Ryker. When I reach him, I grab the ring from his hand and hold it in front of his face.

"What is this?" I ask him with a look of concern.

He frowns at me and answers "Your ring…".

I shake my head at him. "No, the color." While he was holding the mood ring for me the color changed to a dark blue, nearly black in color.

"I don't get what you mean," he says slowly. He is adorably confused at this moment, and my lips twitch but I try to smother it and keep a serious look on my face.

"It's a mood ring, Ryker. Spill it."

An unexpected laugh comes pouring out of him and his eyes brighten once again.

"This is utterly ridiculous. Do these things even work?" He asks me. This time when I smile, I don't try to hide it as I watch his mood turn lighter.

"No idea," I say with a shrug of my shoulders. "But I don't think it was wrong this time."

His gaze crosses over my face and his look softens when he sees that I am concerned about him. But whatever wall I was able to break through for a moment, it seems to still be standing. Something is on his mind that he is hesitant to talk about.

He lightly brushes the back of his knuckles down my cheek and takes a deep breath.

"I'm fine, Layla. Although it is satisfying seeing you worry for me, you don't need to." He steps back from me but hands me the paper bag he has been holding.

I quickly slip the mood ring back on and grab the bag he is holding up for me. When I look inside I see that there are chicken fingers and an apple.

"I took the liberty of adding the apple for you, since you still have an interest in fruits. But you still need a lot of protein, especially before Transfiguration so at least this way you can eat on the go." He says, surprising me with how thoughtful he can be.

I hug him and I hear him inhale deeply while I'm pressed against him. He only allows me his touch for a moment though, because he ends the hug quickly and puts space between us.

"Ready to bring out your wolf?" Ryker asks.

"Can't wait," I say with a smile that's growing in anticipation.