Victoria ran through the dark woods. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She tripped over the bushes and stumps. She didn't understand what was happening. Her mind traveled back to a time earlier that month.

--

"Who is he?" her friend Carly asked.

"Some new guy," Victoria said with little interest. Melas got new students all the time but they rarely stayed. When she looked up she was met with the site of the most handsome male that she had ever seen. The way he held himself seemed to state that he felt the same. He was tall with practically platinum-blond hair and silver-blue eyes. He seemed to radiate confidence and arrogance. Even with this mixture, Victoria immediately found herself attracted to him.

"Pretty hot, isn't he?" Carly asked.

"Yeah," Victoria said. She walked towards him. She wanted him and Victoria Fulton always got what she wanted. "Hi." He looked at her with his cool, calm eyes.

"Hey," he said, his voice a soft southern drawl.

"I'm Victoria," she told him extending a hand. He glanced at her hand then looked into her eyes as he took and shook it. "Welcome to Melas. Do you want me to show you around-" she paused for his name. He smiled showing perfect teeth. Why did that bother her so much?

"I'm Riley," he said. "And yes, I would like to tour your school." And that's how it began. Victoria found herself spending more and more time with Riley. She began to think that she was in love with him.

Present day

/Love/ she thought bitterly. /I didn't even know what love was./ She stopped running feeling exhausted. She began to just walk quietly. Her mind traveled to this night.

Earlier

They had been parked at Star Lit Ridge, Melas' "make-out point." Abruptly he stopped kissing her. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I just wanted to talk to you," he told her. "There are some things about me that you don't know about. I really like you Vicky, I want you to know."

"Know what?" Vicky asked.

"What I am," he said getting out of the car. She mirrored this action feeling even more confused. "I'm not who. or what you think I am." He sighed. "I need to tell you now before I fall any deeper."

"I don't understand," Victoria said softly.

"It's alright," he assured her. "I'll show you." He doubled over as if in pain then began to shift into a wolf.

"Oh God," Victoria whispered. He shifted back. "What are you?"

"I'm a werewolf," he said simply. Victoria started to sob with fear. Riley started towards her but she backed away from him quickly.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled.

"Vicky," Riley said confused. "I don't understand. I love you. Don't you love me?"

"You're a monster!" Victoria screamed at him making him take a step back. More tears rolled down her cheeks. "Just stay away from me! God! When I get back to school, I'll tell everyone about you."

Riley sighed seeming truly upset. "No you wont," he said calmly. She understood this quickly. Then she took off running. This caught him off guard but he then took off after her.

--

Now Victoria walked through the woods trying hard to make each step silent. She didn't see or hear him anywhere near her. /Why?/ She wondered. /I know I'm not really a good person but am I really this bad? What did I do to deserve this?/ Then as she began to think that perhaps she'd get away, he appeared before her in his human form. He tackled her and pinned her down. Riley stood looking at her he seemed to be sad, angry, and repentant at the same time.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But I don't want to die." Then he shifted and attacked her. Unable to fight back, Victoria looked up at the moon as it went from white to red then to black.