Stars Cant Shine Without Darkness by Caterina Alexander (young adult books to read .txt) 📕

Chapter one:

*Creak* My nose twitches. Another creak comes from the left side of my room. I open one eye and look around. I sigh and close it again. I hear a slight noise. "Draw on my face and I'll kill you" I say still half asleep.

"Ugh! How do you know this stuff, Jason?"

"I'm the smartest person alive"

"Guess you know why I'm in here then"

"Yep"

"No you don't."

"Mom wants me to go and get milk from the store"

"What?!?" He says shocked. "How-"

"I told you" I say opening my eyes. I only knew cause I had a dream that this would happen. Weird. I know. Well that and I read his mind. "I'm the smartest person alive, Jack." I sit up and yawn. "Turn on the light would you?"He gets up and flicks the wall switch. A blaring light comes from the center. "Now get out" I say squinting from the bright light.

"Bleh! Bite me!"

"Is that a challenge?"

"Jason! Did Jack wake you up yet?!?" Mom shouts.

"Yes ma'am!" I turn to Jack. "Byeee"

I shove him out and close the door. He's only a year younger than me but can be such a pain. I check my phone. It says: 5:17

I yawn and stretch. I take my grey shirt off and put it in the dirty clothes hamper. I get jeans out of my drawer. I sigh. I'll just take a shower. I get my clothes and go into the bathroom. I hop in the shower, letting the warm water flow over me.

I get out and wrap a towel around my waist. I towel-dry my hair. It's so fluffy and... Brown. It has those little blonde highlights. Yes, they're natural and it drives me crazy. I get the razor to shave my prickly chin. I get about halfway done when Jack bangs on the door.

"It's 5:50!" He shouts. "And you still have to go get milk!"

"Yeah yeah. Don't rush me." I got back to shaving. When I finish, I put my clothes on. Jack shoves me out and he goes in. I walk down stairs, un eager for the day known as Satan's day. Monday. I start putting on my shoes and mom tosses me the keys. I reach out and grab them. Cat-like reflexes. She smiles. I return it. "Oh, Shiz. I forgot my phone" I mumble. I don't curse around my mother. I don't know if she could handle it. I run back upstairs and grab my phone. "Bye mom" I manage.

"Bye sweety!" She calls. I hop in the car and start her up. I'm unusually warm. It's frost bitten outside and it could start snowing. I'm just wearing a black t shirt. And it's warm. Hm. Being a wolf has it's perks I guess. I put the car into reverse and back out. I row down the window a bit. The smell of pine fills the car. I take a deep breath and smile. I love the woods. Don't know why. I just do.

Chapter two:

"Elle, get your lazy ass up!" I groan and pull the sheets over my head. It's so cold.

"I'm up" I yell back.

"Good! You can go get the charcoal and lighter fluid from the store"

I groan again. I slump out of bed and go to the bathroom. I have to hurry up cause my step brother is a pervert. He still manages to get in even if I lock the door. He's two years older than me.

Why did my mother marry this awful man? It didn't matter. She's dead now. So I can't leave. She didn't take me with her. My mother was the kind, gentle soul. What did she see in this wicked douche bag?

I hop in the shower. The warmness of the water soothes me. There's banging on the door. "Elle! Open this door IMMEDIATELY!"

"Go away Philip! I'm in the shower!"

"I said open the door! Now!" I turn the water off and slide my clothes on quickly. I open the door with a little force. He doesn't scare me. He shouldn't. He disgusts me.

"What?" I snap.

"Weren't you just in the shower?"

"Yeah. And?"

"Why'd you get out so quickly?"

"Oh, I don't know... Maybe cause you were trying to beat the door down?"

"Hey, young lady, I don't like your attitude" he says grabbing my chin. I jerk away from him. "You could just let this all go... If..."

"If what, Philip?" I say in a bored voice.

"Just one night. Come on, Elle. One night is all I'm asking for. And I'm actually asking"

"Ech. You disgust me" I snarl.

"Don't make me do it by force, Elle"

"He won't let you."

"I bet the hell he will! He doesn't care, Elle. Don't you know?"

"Ech." I repeat while rolling my eyes. I walk around him. I close my door. I walk to my dresser which has a little music box. I smile and open it. It has a picture of my mother and the locket she wore all the time. I gently take the locket from the hold and fasten it around my neck. I look in the mirror and sigh. My damp dirty blonde hair. I flip my hair over and use my hands to shake all the water out.

"You know I can't resist you in those tight jeans" Philip purrs. I flip back over and stare at him in the mirror. He's leaning in the door frame. I swallow. He smiles that pedophile smile of his and gently closes the door. I stay put. He slowly walks over to me. "We can finally do as we please." He whispers while brushing my hair to one side. "Old man left. I told him I'd take care of you while he got the stuff." He slides a hand into one of the back pockets. The other hand softly traces the side of my neck. This would be nice... If it wasn't him. I will not cry. I will not give him that satisfaction. I take deep breaths. "Come on, Elle. Say something... Or I'll be forced to-"

"Please leave me alone." I say shakily.

"I'll only leave you alone if you promise to give me my one night with you tonight." My heart burns. As if it's being dipped into acid. I squeeze my eyes shut and nod. He smirks. "Good. A promise is a promise" I nod again. He turns and leaves. Hot tears trail down my face.

"Momma..." I whimper. "Why?"

Chapter three:

"-Jason Frett." Mrs. Dels calls.

"Here" I say.

She continues with the daily role. I don't really hear anyone else except: "Elle Reyes"

She looks like she's been crying. I stare at her a moment. "Here" she whispers so it's barely audible. It echoes through my mind. I pull out my phone.

Me: She's my mate. That's her.

Brandon: What? Who?

Me: That Elle girl. I feel it. I just know it.

Brandon: Still lost here. Don't know an Elle.

Me: She's perfect. But she looks like she's been crying. I'm really concerned.

Brandon: Oh. That Elle :/

Me: ???

Brandon: She's such a dork. And she's weird. You don't want to tangle with her.

Me: But Brandon! She's my mate!

Brandon: Don't jump to conclusions. Gosh. Keep calm. That wolf of yours will start to show if you're not careful.

Me: let me say this more clearly, as Alpha: She's. My. Mate.I shoot him a look.

Brandon: ok, ok, don't get your panties in a twist.

I stare at her. Trying to read her thoughts. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Weird.

"Ok. Partner up. We're going to study the trees outside." Mrs. Dels says.

I open my mouth. "Elle" she whips around in surprise. She looks alarmed. "Wanna be partners?"

She swallows and stares at me. "No"

What? Rejected? What?!? "Uhm. Ok." I say looking down. She walks up to Jayden. He's apart of my pack, just... Not like us. He's really nerdy. What? Rejected? For him?!? What???

"Oh come on, Jacey." Ally whines. "Be my partner" I sigh deeply and walk over to her. She loops her arms in the crook of my arm. I give a fake smile. She returns a smile.

We get outside.

Publication Date: 10-22-2013

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