I was standing outside of the school, waiting to be picked up. It was Ms. Silverstone who was getting Alexis since she was quickly becoming a favorite of Darrel. I was, of course, correct when the black jeep pulled up, revealing Ms. Silverstone and Alexis. 

"Come on in," she invited, opening the door from the inside. "we are going to the woods." 

"Alexis, how are you," I asked, climbing in and closing the door

"I'm a little nervous," she responded. She looked at Ms. Silverstone rather than me. as if verifying that it was okay to answer the question. That was concerning. 

"go ahead, kiddo, and answer her. She is coming with you to support you. She won't judge," Silverstone winked as she hit the main road through town. 

"I just feel like there is a hierarchy with the woods people, and I'm not sure if they will accept me." Alexis was telling me enough information to seem like she was opening up. But there was something she was hiding. 

"I tried to tell her that with Darrel and Max taking her in as well as Baxter supporting this, she will be protected, but of course, I don't know what the kids her own age will say," Silverstone elaborated. These were all adults that she was naming. They weren't likely to have an effect on the student's likes and dislikes. "and besides, I saw you cozying up with Taylor at lunch, so he will help you get acclimated as well." 

"he and I are friends." Alexis was blushing at the conversation. This Taylor boy is new to the school, but if they are dating, that would afford her a certain level of protection. Most of the boys don't mess with a girl if she has a boyfriend. Half of the population was probably going to leave her alone. 

"oh yeah, I see those glances you shoot him in class. I think we might be more than friends," Silverstone shot back. It was just a high school romance. I don't know why she was pushing the girl about it. 

"his older brother might be the new B... umm, well," Alexis was stumbling for a word and looked to Silverstone in panic. 

"he is being held as the beta community lawyer until his trial period is over," she corrected smoothly. Still, this was the first time I had heard of a beta community lawyer. 

"what does that mean?" I glanced at the two women, waiting for one of them to explain. "oh, it just means there is someone in the job that Baxter is thinking of pushing out because he isn't doing the job right, and McCoy Fields is doing an extended interview like a tryout. I think you talked to him today, didn't you?" Silverstone asked me. She had a shiver run down her spine as she spoke, but she ended with confidence. I simply nodded, and a silence filled the car. Alexis was nervous about fitting in, but she seemed confident that she would be physically safe in this new environment, and that was all that mattered. 

We pulled up to a massive building. People were wandering in and out, stopping as they saw us to give us curious looks. There was a sign out front of the building that read Avery INC. offices, community center, and temporary living quarters. Now, the size of the building made sense. It had to be at least five or four stories tall and as wide as four houses. The outside was all wood-stained, treated, and elegantly designed. There was a grand entrance double door with a beautiful stained glass nature depiction on top. There were balconies on the upper floors with intricately carved wood pillars supporting them. We walked up the steps to the door. When we opened it, I swear there was an animal growling, but when we entered, there was no animal in sight. There was a two-story entranceway with a chandelier in the center and a grand staircase to the upper floors. 

"It's beautiful, isn't it" Silverstone whispered to both of us. It was then I noticed the look of awe on my mind and Alexis' face, but not Silverstone's, meaning she had been here before. I guess she was a woods person since they are the only ones allowed through the main gate around the community. 

"from my very brief tour, the first floor is community rooms, a gym, a ballroom, an industrial kitchen, and a game room. The second floor is offices, and the third and fourth floors are housing." 

"wait, everyone in the community lives in this building?" Alexis asked, shocked. 

"go... oodess no, this is where new additions and young adults live until there is something more permanent for them." Silverstone grabbed her hand. "Come on, it is best we see Baxter first, okay" She started her way up the grand stairs with me taking the back. At the top of the stairs, there was another grand double door with beautiful carvings of wolves on it. This is where Silverstone stopped and knocked on the door very loudly. The noise had all those busy people who had been running around stop and stare openly at us. Then, the doors were thrown open, and I was not prepared for what I saw.