Chapter 22: Shock!

In class, Erick was trying his best to concentrate on what the teacher was talking in front, as he kept his eyes glued on him. With his pencil on his hand, he did not realize that he was doodling, instead of writing. The teacher was teaching History, speaking monotonously about World History and its causes. Sounds of rustling papers, pencils writing on papers and soft whispers echoed around the class.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see some of the girls trying to catch his attention. He looked over and saw one of them giving him a little wave. Erick gave her a small smile and looked back down at his notes. Well, more like his illegible notes. He sighed. He should asked Hamish for his notes, since they were in the same class.

While he was trying to decipher his handwriting, he felt someone looking at him. He turned around and saw Amber, who was sitting a few seats away in front of him, sneaking glances at him. When she was caught looking, she quickly looked down on her notes, her face beet red. Erick's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 'What's with her?'

As the teacher continued to drone on about History, now touching on wars and so forth, it was hard for Erick to not yawn. He always had preferred studying about his ancestors, rather than World History. He thought of the wars the shifters had back then. About how hard it was back then, when people started to become ignorant and close-minded.

As he thought of the stories his parents used to tell him, his teacher noticed that he was daydreaming. Rather than interrupting him, he said out loud, "Alright, class. I hope that you understand today's topic. So for the next class, there will be a mini test for you all. Please say thank you to Erick for suggesting that."

Erick was startled out of his daydream. He then realized everyone in class, including Hamish was glaring at him. He rubbed his face and groaned inwardly. Could this day be any worse?

----

Practice has just ended and because Erick's foot has already healed, his practice session felt more tiring than before. It was probably because he hadn't had practice for such a long time that he had to get used to it again.

He was so tired that, at the end of practice, he had to lie down on the grassfield to catch his breath. He had taken off his shirt so he was shirtless as he lay down with the grass prickling on his skin. After practice, he had to go to the pack house. His father had sent him a text that he wanted him to go straight to the pack house. Yes, they do still use phones. This is because using mind-link may take a toll on a shifter's mental health. Yes again, using mind-link may be convenient but it will affect the wolf inside them and it would not be good to make them weak.

Lying on the grass, he suddenly thought of the white wolf at the Kraken Forest. Earlier after getting out of the forest, he realized that the white wolf wasn't a wolf but rather, a spirit wolf. He remembered that before a shifter has their wolf, they would need to wait for the spirit wolf to choose them. In other words, before Dane came into his body, he was actually a spirit wolf without a body. They usually would look all over for a host body to join together. And their minds must be compatible with one another or one soul will take over the whole body. And the other soul will dissipate.

Ever since he had a glimpse of the white wolf, there was something in him that yearned to look for it once more. He felt saddened at the thought of not seeing the white wolf. He hasn't told anyone about this, even to his father and Hamish. He had thoughts of going back to the forest but had to think twice. Yet, he did not lose hope. He was positive that he would be able to see it again some day in the future. Until then, he would just wait.

Few minutes later, he was on his way to the pack house, with Hamish beside him and this time, it was Noaz who had picked them from school. Noaz had just finished his work at the local university and he told Roel that he will pick them up instead.

Noaz was the worrywart of the triplets. He tends to fret over small things, especially when it comes to Erick. When he first heard about Erick being sent to the Kraken Forest, he had nearly fainted with anxiety. Both Roel and Latham had to pushed him to the ground, preventing him from going to the forest. One time, he had even tried to sneak out of the pack house. Luckily, Roel knew him too well that he had already installed an anti-theft bars on their windows. The two of them nearly had a fight over it until Lachlan, the Alpha had mind-linked him to stop.

Erick was about to listen to his music player when Noaz suddenly called out. "Hey, Erick. How was the Kraken forest? Were you alright? Did you get enough to eat and sleep? Heard you found a small wolf? Have you brought it to a nearby vet or something to get it checked? What about the mission? Did that Seer gave u a hard mission to do? Tell me if you want to complain about her and I will report this to your father," he shoot out.

Both Erick and Hamish blinked their eyes in surprise at Noaz's non-stop questions. Erick rubbed his forehead in resignation. Noaz was still the same worrywart. Sometimes, he even worries more than his own mother.

"Yeah, I'm good," he simply answered. And before Noaz could ask another question, Erick cut in. "So, what's going at the pack house? Are there new tasks for Hamish and I?

Hamish just kept quiet as he looked out the window, his chin resting on his palm.

Noaz studied Erick through the rearview mirror and was quiet for awhile. Then he shook his head. "Nah, the Alpha only told us to bring you there. You should go straight to the backyard."

Erick frowned. "What about Hamish?"

"I need Hamish to help me out at the office first. He will join you shortly."

Hamish looked up when he heard his name being mentioned and turned to look at the window again.

"Oh, ok," Erick said slowly.

Shortly after, the three of them finally arrived at the pack house. Erick got down first and as he stood in front of the house, he felt something weird. It was eerily quiet around them. Usually there will be noises such as people talking, walking here and there. But at that moment, one could even hear a pin drop.

"What are you doing standing blankly over there?"

Erick whirled around and saw both Hamish and Noaz looking at him weirdly. "Uh, nothing," he said. He then pointed at the house. "Don't you think it's weird that it's so quiet over there?" he asked, confused.

Hamish shrugged while Noaz replied, "Is it? I don't think so. Seems normal to me."

He then gestured for Erick to move. "Go and head over at the barnyard. Hamish and I will be right with you."

Erick nodded. He turned and began to walk towards the pack house. Inside, the house was very quiet. The office inside were all closed, with their chairs neatly tucked underneath the tables. There wasn't a single soul in the house, which Erick, again, found weird. Even Melody wasn't in her office. He walked further in, past the mess hall and just as he was about to reach the door to the backyard, he thought he had heard something. But he couldn't be sure.

Dane was quiet so he assumed that it must be safe. Erick knew that Dane would only called out to him if something amiss happening.

Pushing open the door, he was surprised at the sudden yells from outside.