It was the next morning and I woke up to the sound of birds out on the balcony. I turned on my side and sat on the bed. I then noticed Hiro was gone.

Guess wolves need to get up early, I suppose...

I put on a small sweater I had and stepped out on the balcony, and watched the birds on the railing fly away. I breathed in the crisp, autumn breeze as the little birds danced and sang. I stepped back into my room and headed down the hall to see if the boys were up. I looked up at the clock on the wall and sighed.

8:17 AM

Geez, I'm such an early bird...

I walked up to an open door and looked inside. Inside the room were three beds, a balcony, and a big wardrobe. I then noticed that some of the boys were still sleeping; Dante and Cole. Only one of the beds were empty.

Hiro must be out...

I smiled at how cute the boys looked while they were sleeping. I walked up to a closed door and quietly opened it. There, I saw Trevor, Chase, and Ryan sleeping.

Must be one of the Subordinates' rooms.

Next to the room was another room identical to the one I'm at. Inside were Cosmo and Bailey, but one of the beds were empty.

Wonder where Luca is...?

I then began to head downstairs, and that's when I heard grunting. I went down the hall and saw another flight of stairs leading downward. I tiptoed downstairs and saw Hiro and Luca sparring. The sight had me astonished.

They kinda cute shirtless...

I shook my head to get the thought out of my mind.

Maybe they won't mind if I joined them...

I headed back upstairs to my room and got out of my pajamas. I then put on a blue and black sports bra with matching blue and black leggings. I went over to my mirror and did my hair up in a ponytail. I went into the bathroom next to my room and grabbed a towel. I walked out of the bathroom and went downstairs to the basement where Hiro and Luca were.

They still haven't noticed me yet... Good...

I wrapped up my hands with some bandages and walked around the big gym. There were treadmills, punching bags, dumbbells, barbells; everything a professional gym would have. I walked up to a punching bag, and started whacking at it. The sound of the punching bag's chain caught the attention of the Beta and Subordinate, and they stopped to look at me. I felt their gazes on me and I just smiled.

"Mornin' guys. Hope ya don't mind if I train a lil'." I said, not turning around.

"We don't mind at all. Could of gave us a heads up that you were comin'." Hiro said.

I stopped and turned to him.

"You're the one who didn't give ME a heads up. I didn't know you had mornin' trainin'. Should've told me. I would've loved to join ya." I said.

"Well, ya here now." Luca said.

I smiled smugly at him.

"Ya pretty good at fightin', Pup." Luca said.

"Thanks. My father was a martial artist. He taught me everythin' I know." I said, whacking at the punching bag again.

The boys just smiled.

"Why don't you spar with us? Could use a new sparrin' partner." Luca said, smugly looking at Hiro.

Hiro gave him a challenging smile and glare. Luca returned the same expression.

"Sure. Could use the exercise." I said, turning away from the punching bag.

Luca and I sized each other up and began to circle one another. Luca made the first move by charging at me and throwing a powerful punch. I quickly blocked his move, but Luca kept raining down punches on me. I then saw an opening near his stomach.

You're wide open...

Using one arm to block, I balled my other hand into a fist and rammed it into Luca's stomach. Luca stumbled back while clutching his stomach. I charged up to him threw powerful punches at him, but Luca was quick and blocked my punches.

Damn it, he's good...

I then stopped punching him and tripped him up with my leg. When my leg caught his ankles, he fell backwards on the mat. When he tried to get up, I placed my foot on his chest, putting in a lot of energy to keep him from standing. I leaned on my thigh and stared down at Luca.

"Gotcha." I said casually.

Luca smiled and raised his hands in surrender. I removed my foot of his chest and extended a hand to him. Luca grasped it and instead of pulling himself up, he pulled me into him. I landed on his chest and my forehead hit the mat. When I tried to get up, Luca locked my in place with a bear hug. The more I struggled, the tighter his grip got.

"Gotcha." Luca said.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Then, I heard my father's voice.

"If you're trapped in a bear hug on the ground, roll yourself and your opponent over until your back is on the ground. Then, use your legs to kick ya opponent off of ya."

I blinked back to reality and shook my head. Using all my strength, I managed to flip me and Luca over. He looked at me with a very confused look. I smiled and then kicked him off me. He immediately let me go and his back met the mat again. I quickly got up and pinned him down.

"How ya like that?" I asked.

"That was a good move, Pup. Wasn't expectin' that." Luca said.

I smiled and turned to Hiro. He nodded and gave me a thumbs up. I got off Luca and held out my hand to him. He grasped it, and this time, he pulled himself up.

"That was great, Pup. Your father taught you well." Luca said.

"Thanks Luca... but you didn't have to go easy on me." I said.

The two of them looked at me like I sprouted another head.

"What are you talking about?" Luca asked.

His voice was dripping with nervousness.

"I know I'm the lil' sister of the gang, and you don't wanna see me get hurt, but that's not an excuse when we're sparrin'," I said.

"How'd you figure out that I was goin' easy on ya?" Luca asked.

"When you pulled me down and gave me a bear hug. Even though you grip was gettin' tighter, it was still gentle, like you weren't tryna hurt me."

Luca smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his neck.

"Next time, don't go easy on me, alright?" I asked.

"Whatever ya say, Pup." Luca said, patting my head.

I smiled at the Beta and Subordinate brightly. My smiled soon faded and I looked away from. I took out my phone, but there was still no word from my parents. I squeezed my phone as I watched frustrated tears fall on my screen.

What happened to them...?

I then felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Hiro and Luca with the same sympathetic and concerned looks. I wiped away my tears and put my phone away.

"Ya miss your folks, don't ya?" Hiro asked.

I nodded and felt a tear trickle down my face. Hiro stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. A warm feeling coursed through my body after his kiss. I then embraced Hiro and snuggled closer into his chest. Hiro smiled and embraced me back. Luca rolled his eyes and hugged me as well. All I felt was warmth.

They may be a gang, but they are just like a wolf pack; always carin' for and protectin' the young, makin' sure they're safe. And that's what I feel with these guys...

They soon released me from their embrace and I smiled at the two boys. I grabbed my towel and draped it over my neck. I unwrapped my hands and put the bandages on the bench. I waved goodbye to the Beta and Subordinate, and headed back upstairs. When I got there, I saw Chase, Ryan, and Dante sitting on the couch watching TV. I smiled and walked over to them. I then hugged Dante from behind and kissed him on his cheek. He looked back at me and smiled.

"Mornin' Pup." Dante said.

"Glad to see you boys finally awake," I said.

"Where were you for the past hour? I went to wake you up, but you were already gone." Ryan said.

"Oh, I was sparrin' with Hiro and Luca. Luca went east on me... unfortunately..."

"Why you say that?" Chase asked.

"I know y'all care about me, but I'm not a lil' girl. I'm sixteen, I can fend for myself."

Dante chuckled at my remark.

"I know y'all love me like a lil' sister, but y'all don't have to treat me like one. I wanna be like you guys. You are my older brothers, after all." I said.

"Well, that's true. But like any older brother, we don't wanna see you grow up just yet... we don't wanna see you get hurt, y'know?" Chase said.

I nodded knowingly.

I get what they sayin', but they don't have to treat me like a kid... Then again, if it weren't for their hospitality, I don't know where I'd be right now...

"Ya understand what we gettin' at, Pup?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, I gotcha..." I said, resting my chin on Dante's head.

Dante's hair was a burnt amber red, and it was very long. Past his shoulders.

For fun, I began to pat Dante's face. I could feel the smile growing on his face. Then, Dante's started doing the same thing to me. I chuckled and pinched his cheeks. Dante did the same. Ryan and Chase started to giggle at how silly Dante and I look.

If this is what it's like to have an older brother, I love it!

Just to tease him, I poke at Dante's neck. He giggled and grabbed my hand.

"Don't do that." he said smiling.

I raised a curious brow and poked his neck with my free hand. This time, Dante barked out a laugh.

"Stop!" he said trying to contain his laughter.

I smiled and stopped poking him. Instead, I leaned on his shoulder and rubbed my cheek against his, chuckling as I felt his scruffy beard on my face. Dante smiled and leaned his head on my mine. I straightened up and walked upstairs to my room. I walked out onto the balcony and breathed in the fresh air. I then shuddered. I looked down at myself and chuckled.

I was still wearing my sports bra and leggings.

I walked inside and put on some jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I put on a long, thin sweater over it all and headed back on the balcony. I leaned on the railing and looked out at the city where I was born and raised in.

Sometimes, I can't believe I'm a mix of two different cities. Dad was from Harlem, and my Momma was from Jamaica. I lived in Dad's turf all my life, and now I'm livin' in Momma's...

I felt myself shivering when a breeze past by.

Maybe I should give my parents a call...

I took out my phone and called the house. It went straight to voicemail. I then left a message.

"Hey Ma, hey Dad. Just wanna know if y'all okay, and that I'm okay as well... Hope to hear from y'all soon... Okay, bye..." I said.

I hung up and then called my parents' phones. No answer. I put my phone in my pocket and placed my chin on the railing. I looked up at the sky and watched the autumn fairies flutter in the Lord's breath.

Y'all probably won't believe me, but... before I meetin' the Night Howlers, I never smiled or laughed. Y'all can probably guess why... I felt like I was livin' in an old fashioned TV show, colorless... But now that I'm with these guys, it's thanks to them that I can show my true colors. I can smile and laugh whenever I want... Thanks to them... I can finally be myself...

I smiled at the thought. When a chilling breeze went by, I didn't even shudder. My smile and the boys' smiles in my mind were keeping me warm.

Wonder what the boys are up to...

I walked back in my room and then out of my room. I then heard laughing and shouting. I walked down the stairs and went down the hall past the kitchen. I then saw an open door and walked inside. The sight had me sigh and lean on the doorway. Inside was gaming room with almost every single console in existence; PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and a Wii U. They even had gaming computers.

Like I said, these guys are stacked.

Inside the room were Cosmo, Bailey, Chase, Hiro, and Cole. Cosmo and Hiro were playing MarioKart8, while the other three were watching.

It amazes me how close these guys are...

I couldn't help but smile at the scene before me. Hiro was in the lead, and Cole was right behind him. In the end, Hiro won the race.

Their rowdiness never ceases to amaze me.

I then let out a small yawn.

Don't remember the last time I took a nap...

I took out my phone and checked the time.

6:17 PM

I walked back up to my room and flopped on the bed. Drowsiness soon took over me and I fell asleep.

Three Hours Later
9:38 PM

My eyes fluttered open to meet nothing but darkness. The only light in the room was the hallway light. I turned on my side to see that it was dark outside.

How long have I been asleep...?

When I turned on my room light, I saw a piece of paper on my nightstand. I took the paper and saw that it was note from Winston.

"Pup, the boys and I went out to do some business. There's food in the fridge if you get hungry. Stay safe. Winston."

I sighed and put the note in my nightstand drawer.

Well, I guess I can go back to sleep. I do have school tomorrow.

I put on my sleeping clothes and flopped back on the bed.

Hope the boys are okay...