23 | Breaking

I didn't know what to think as I walked next to Alec. I had a feeling that he was lost in his thoughts just as I was in mine. I hadn't known what to expect when we had approached Corey—now I was even less sure what to expect. I had never considered the possibility that Avery may have been the one to kill Maggie. Sure, she was pretty terrible but she didn't give off the vibe of a killer. Still, we couldn't ignore the fact that she had motive and opportunity to do the act.

There was also the fact that the Vanderville's didn't have the best relationship with Callum. Maybe, the murder had been the chance to kill two birds with one stone. Get rid of the girl who was getting to close to discovering the town secrets and use Callum as the scapegoat. It seemed like a rather logical conclusion to come to.

"Avery isn't a killer." Alec grabbed onto my arm, stopping us.

I turned my face toward him, staring into his eyes. I couldn't tell if he wanted to convince me or himself more of his sister's innocence. I covered his hand with mine, gently freeing myself, "Nobody said she was Alec." I turned from him and started walking again.

His footsteps were heavy, "But you're thinking it, aren't you?" He accused.

I shook my head, "I don't know what I think right now." And I meant that. This whole situation was all sorts of twisted, and I was no Nancy Drew. I probably should have left things to Callum but I knew that I was the only one that could follow these leads. I could ask the questions and get the answers without it looking too suspicious. Plus, not many people in this town trusted Callum—he was a suspect in the murder of a high school girl, I didn't blame them.

"She didn't kill Maggie." He asserted loudly.

I spun around to face him head on, his gaze hard when it locked on me, "Do you know that for certain, Alec?" I questioned him. He needed to stop running from the possibility, it would only make it harder if it turned out to be true. He ground his jaw but said nothing. I glanced up at the sky with a sigh. This was getting more complicated by the moment. I wished that I hadn't asked Alec for his help. I guessed hindsight was twenty-twenty.

I dropped my face, "I'm not saying that Avery did anything, but it doesn't mean she's innocent either." He opened his mouth to speak, "Just let me get this out."

Alec snapped his mouth shut, "Your sister had motive and opportunity. You know it an I know it. Maggie was too close to Corey—she might've started to question things. I get it. The chance of her finding out the big secret posed a serious threat to your pack and this town. That's how you saw it, but that doesn't mean that Avery's intentions that night were for the good of the pack. Is it possible that she had feelings for Corey?"

Alec rolled his eyes at my question, "That's what you're basing all of this on? Some guy caught between two girls?" He was on the defensive. I wasn't upset with him for that. I know that I would've been the same way if someone were even entertaining the thought of my sister being a killer. Still, even though I understood his feelings and actions they weren't helpful right now. They were only muddying the water.

"People have killed for less—" His forehead creased as if he were in pain. Maybe, he was. I couldn't say I knew the depth of his relationship with Avery, they were twins after all.

"You don't know that she killed anyone. I mean what about Gunther? He was killed too—what motive would she have to for that? Huh? Was she trying to fuck him too?" I didn't respond to his goading. I had already considered that as well, but I had no answer. It was a messy puzzle with too many missing pieces. He shook his head, "This is ridiculous."

I took a step towards him, reaching out for his hand, "Alec—"

He pulled back out of reach, "Don't touch me." I knew he was speaking from anger but the action still hurt. I couldn't explain my attachment to him. We hadn't known each other that long and he wasn't necessarily my type—and yet, somehow, he had pulled me into his orbit. It was like have a splinter under my skin that I couldn't get out. It wasn't entirely pleasant but I could tell I'd eventually adapt to the feeling.

I dropped my hand to my side, "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you, Alec. I'm trying to help—"

"Well, you're not helping. You're making everything worse." He snapped at me.

I saw the regret written on his face the moment the words left his mouth, but it was too late to take them back. He squeezed his eyes shut, and pressed his palms to them "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

I watched him throw his head back, mouth opening like he wanted to scream his frustrations to the universe but nothing came out but a rush of hot air as he heaved a giant breath. I cleared my throat as I turned my face away, "We should probably get back before lunch starts." Because we couldn't be seen together. It's something that didn't need to be said but hangs silently between us. Before I changed it was less of a big deal, now the circumstances had changed and not for the better.

I turned my gaze back to him. He nodded his head but didn't say anything. His silence was suffocating as we walked back into the school. The hallway may have looked empty but it felt like it full of ghosts.

The ghost of my parents, Maggie—others that had suffered at the hands of these beasts. I could understand why my father had shielded me from this world. I could feel the power of my wolf humming under my skin. Maybe, the truth was that I was really just a wolf that donned human skin, it made it easier to hide—to hunt. The human part of me felt so far away at times. It terrified me. What if I became a monster? A killer?

The shrieking of the bell jolted me out of my internal monologue. I turned to see Alec was standing beside me, despondent. I was reaching for him before I could form the thought. The action as natural as breathing. He didn't pull away from me this time. His skin was warm against mine. "We'll figure all of this out, Alec—but whatever happens, none of this is your fault."

He gave my hand a firm squeeze, almost painful, "Listen, about before I'm—"

"I thought I told you to stay away from my brother." The sound of Avery's voice had Alec dropping my hand quickly as he had been holding onto a fire. I turned slowly, seeing the fury in every step that brought towards us. People filing out of their classrooms, taking notice with interest. This was not good. This was exactly what Roxie had warned me not to do. I felt myself searching the growing crowd for her—thinking I caught sight of pink hair for a moment before I was stumbling back a step as Avery pushed me back.

Alec quickly stepped between us, "Chill out, Ave. You know better than to make a scene." He cautioned her, looking to the crowd, "We were just talking."

She glared at her brother, teeth grinding together. I didn't understand if her dislike of me was simply because she wanted to protect her brother or if it was because I was an outsider. Her eyes met mine in a heated stare, nostrils flaring in her anger, "Yeah, well unless you want me to tell dad about your new friend I think your conversation is over."

"Avery—"

"You know the rules, Alec. You're not above them." She rebuked before he could even produce a counter argument. All I could think about was Corey. How he must have felt about Maggie, and how this had to have been what he faced down to be in any kind of relationship with her. This was ridiculous.

"Honestly?" I felt a sharp stab of anger followed by a swelling panic at the thought that I wouldn't be able to talk or see Alec again. It was that unexplainable, irrational attachment. It made me lose my calm, "What's the big deal if we talk? What harm ever came from talking, Avery? This isn't the dark ages. If I want to talk to Alec then I will and nobody can stop me." I took a step towards her, a hush falling around us. I was close enough that I could smell the lemon scent of soap and sweat on her skin. "Not your daddy, not my sister, and certainly not you."

She blinked, a smile slowly creeping across her face, "Oh? Is that what you think?" I felt my stomach churn, losing some of my bravado. I didn't have much time to react before I felt the stinging force of her fist as it collided with my cheek. I stumbled back into lockers, the metal rattling loudly. I blinked a couple times, reaching up to touch my face. There was a dull hum of voices but all I could focus on was the steady beat of my heart.

Beneath my skin as beast awoke, snarling and snapping its teeth. I charged at her, wrapping my arms around her waist and tackling her to the ground. I heard the shouts of people around us. Someone tried to pull me off of her but I elbowed them hard, knocking them away. Avery clawed at my face and arms. I didn't care. I was full of rage—I was unhinged. All the pain and anguish of the past year being unleashed. I was going to make sure I left my mark. Avery was never going to forget me—nobody was going to forget me.