Marking the black cross over the number five in the Tuesday column, May frowned as she stared at the Friday covered in pink highlighter. It was fast approaching, much too quickly for her liking. Friday was her seventeenth birthday and after the uneventful turn of events on her sixteenth, she wasn't looking forward to it. Being a wolf shifter, it was on the first full moon after turning sixteen that her kind were able to connect to their wolf. There was a ceremony involving the pack Alpha's, some howling and what May liked to simply call, wolf stuff. Then there was the waiting, which for May soon led to nothing other than humiliation.

Her birthday had only validated the teasing from the other shifters who knew about her less than perfect lineage. She was a runt, and not even the halfling kind like her older brother Chad. He could shift, then again he was also adopted. A spark of jealousy bloomed in her stomach, yet she couldn't sustain it. Just like how she sometimes hated her Mum for making her this way, even though she knew there was no reason to think that.

"May, are you up?" Her mother called out from down the hall.

'Speak of the devil,' May thought with a huff, dropping the marker onto her desk.

"Yeah Mum, I'll be down in a minute!"

If there was something her hate could stay in place for, it was school and the sympathetic look from her father as she entered the kitchen, told her he knew enough.

"Morning princess."

"Dad, I'm nearly seventeen. Stop calling me princess!" That said she took a seat beside him at the table and didn't protest when his arm went around her shoulders to hug her.

"You could be fifty and you'll always be my princess!" He assured her.

Groaning, May pulled way. "You're so embarrassing sometimes!"

"It's our job as parents!" Her mother dared to look amused as she walked past to go to the coffee machine. "Did you finish that biology assignment?"

"Yes Mum."

May helped herself to a bowl of cereal, ignoring both their gazes. All month it had been like this, them watching her. The closer it got to her birthday, the worse they became. She caught the look that went between them; a whole conversation going on without them speaking a single word. It was part of the connection they had as mates, something May feared she'd never be able to feel for herself.

"I'm fine. It's just a birthday and besides, I'm glad I don't have to turn into stupid animal!" She snapped.

"Stupid animal? Seriously June, it hurts you think so lowly of us." Chad declared, appearing out of nowhere.

"You're like fifty, when are you going to give them back your house key. Normal people have boundaries." May instantly argued, her mood not improving.

"Fifty? Ouch, how old does that make you two then?" He teased, glancing at Braydon before helping himself to breakfast too. "Thought you'd want a lift to school?"

"No!" One look from Miranda had her sighing in defeat, "No, thank you!"

"Someone is a little-"

"Chad," Miranda warned, still only seeing him as the sixteen year old boy she first met.

Then again, not much had changed. While his eyes revealed someone older than his thirty-three years, he'd managed to maintain a rather youthful appearance. It did nothing to stop a few of May's friends from crushing on their English teacher despite the fact he was double their age, had a beard that made him look like the missing link in man's evolution from the apes and still mooched breakfast off the only people he had really known as parents.

All Chad did in response was grin wickedly at her, while Braydon shook his head. It was then Miranda glanced at the clock. "Shit, I mean, damn, I'm late. May, get in the car now or you're going with him!"

It was already obvious what was going to happen.

"Guess you're riding with me today kiddo!" Chad pulled May's ponytail, making her slap him and with an apologetic look at her husband, Miranda left him to sort out the fighting siblings while she went to work.

"I hate you." May cursed under her breath, yet when the time was right, she obediently went and got into his car to be taken to school.

Away from their parents the pair got on much better. Despite being able to shift, Chad did understand what May was feeling. His own lineage was the same as Mays with his father being a wolf shifter and his mother a human. When he was younger, it didn't matter he could shift like the rest of them and he was still teased and called a runt. Yet the fact she hadn't shifted yet, and it wasn't known if she ever would was something else entirely. Few people knew his past as being able to turn into a wolf hid his differences now only May didn't have that luxury.

"Seriously, how are you doing?" He asked softly.

"Fine. I wish everyone would stop asking me."

"We all care about you May, and it doesn't matter if you can or can't shift to us. To any of us!" Chad glanced her way, frowning as he saw the way May's eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Any of us, was referring to the pack and she knew he was lying about that. Their Alpha's may not care, or at least not openly admit it due to their own family shame of a wolf having a human mate, but the pack did. For a race of people that managed to stay off the radar for centuries, the few cases of wolves branching out into mainstream society for a mate, worse yet - reproducing, worried them. Most of all, it angered the bulk of shifters and people like her, half-bloods that didn't shift used to be hunted down and killed.

Just because May had been raised by wolves, didn't mean she automatically belonged or was accepted and she wasn't naive enough to think that given the chance, a pack mate wouldn't hesitate in doing just that. How Chad, her parents and even Bianca and Cody thought otherwise was beyond her. She'd seen the way others looked at her, and the whispers behind her back were even worse.

"It does. You would've grown up knowing it does." Her voice was broken as she spoke, and that only made Chad frown more.

"Yeah, I did. You didn't. You are loved and respected, do what I did. Ignore the dickheads who think otherwise. Any trouble at school, come straight to me. If you don't want an adult to know, why not go talk to Caleb?" Chad suggested.

"Please, since my birthday he acts like I don't even exist." May growled, hating the ache in her chest that flared up like a sickness whenever Caleb was involved. "Just cause he's Bianca's son, doesn't mean he is on board with this whole humans are pack too bullshit. I can't wait to get out of here and go to college."

"May-"

"Don't Chad. Please, just don't." She begged.

"Fine. Want me to write you a note to skip classes today?" He offered in an attempt to cheer her up.

"Nah, your biggest fan was making her famous blueberry muffins last night to bring in, so you better share them."

"Deal." Chad agreed.

Chad's biggest fan was also known as Darcy Rogers, or May's friend. Since May was pretty certain Darcy was only friends with her for her connections with their English teacher, the attachment wasn't there. The upside of the so called friendship was Darcy loved to bake and most of what she cooked worked its way onto her teachers desk so May was able to indulge in the treats as well. Chad and May didn't speak for the rest of the drive to school until Chad groaned, once again sounding more like a teenager than adult at the figure waiting for them in the parking lot.

"So, his fault or yours that you're late today?" Tiffany stood cross armed in front of Chad's usual spot, with fake annoyance all over her face. For added effect, she tapped one foot impatiently though both ignored it as they got out of the car.

"For your information, it was hers Miss Collard. Now I do believe you're both late for homeroom?" Chad scolded.

"Nah, our teacher isn't there yet. Mr Winters is always late." Tiffany shot back mischievously.

May laughed and linking arms, the girls headed to their classroom separating from Chad. The pair were the exact opposites in nearly every way. May had her Mother's pale skin and fair, blonde hair, whereas Tiffany liked to refer to herself as the next Beyonce and not just for her looks, but the girl could sing. She called her voice her ticket to Broadway, yet she refused to even join the drama club. One of the few things they did have in common was their love of stirring up Chad, and also May's grandmother's Sunday roast dinners. Tiffany lacked the family May had been over gifted with and was often invited along to more than one dinner per week which suited them both fine.

"Oh god, don't look now, but jerk squad ten o'clock!" Tiffany muttered and glancing in that direction, May only glared at the trio of boys that looked at them as they passed.

They were shifters, and since the pack kept their young close together May had the daily joy of dealing with them all. Luckily she only had human friends and for the most part they left her alone. Well, all but one and the dark haired beauty that was nearly a mirror image of her Mother was suddenly running away from the three.

"May! Hi!" Leanna was Bianca's daughter, a middle child born after the twins and before another little terror of a boy that hadn't started high-school yet.

May braced herself for the hug she knew was coming and gladly returned it. "Hey!"

"I never see you anymore. Even Mum was saying the other day you haven't been to any-" She stopped herself in time, smiling at Tiffany. "To any of our family gatherings lately!"

"I know, I've been busy. Tiffany and I had that biology project due and you're lucky you haven't got Chad for English. Speaking of, I'll talk to you later. We better run!" May quickly brushed her off and practically dragged Tiffany to home room.

"Still haven't told her the crush you have on her brother is keeping you away?" Tiffany teased the second they were out of hearing.

"Please don't!" For the second time that morning, May was left begging for Caleb not to be mentioned.

"I really think you should at least talk to her about it. She's so friggin nice and is she ever not happy?" Tiffany paused for a second. "The kind of happy you wish you could bottle up and hand out to all the sad people so they wouldn't be sad anymore."

"What was all that about?" 

"Chad's poetry homework has inspired me!" She declared dramatically. "Seriously May, Leanna doesn't need to be dealing with your bitch face when the issue is her moronic yet attractive, total jerk of a brother. Don't you know its like the ultimate girl code. Thou shan't crush on best friends brother and ruin thy friendship!"

May rolled her eyes, knowing Tiffany was right. It was stupid to let her feelings turn into something more, something that would never be returned and Leanna didn't have to suffer for it. Still, it didn't feel right to hold onto the pack and all that her life used to be so really Leanna was better off not having her around. The fact she missed them, especially Caleb was something she was certain would pass eventually.

"Yeah, well, it is what it is. Please, can we talk about anything else!" May begged.

"Okay, but- Hello!" Tiffany froze in the doorway, and May followed her gaze to Chad's desk where a new student stood filling in something. "Who is he? Why didn't Chad tell us there was a new student?"

"I dunno!' May mumbled, pushing her friend over to where the others in their group were already waiting.

"Okay, now we're all here," Chad greeted the class, looking at May and Tiffany before shaking his head. "Please make our newest student, Joshua Burton feel welcome. May, Michelle, Joshua has chemistry with you two next period. Think you could show him around?"

Unable to speak, May simply nodded. Instantly she felt her cheeks heat up as a few giggles sounded from around her and unphased by the girls, Chad motioned Joshua to take a seat before carrying on with the morning announcements.

"He is so, hot!" Tiffany whispered to May as Joshua glanced back in their direction.

His hair was as dark as his eyes, and as kept his chair turned slightly, May used the distraction of Chad talking to everyone to look at him a little closer. He held himself rather casually, one arm draped over the back of the chair, while his other hand twirled the pen around idly. Clearly he was not affected by first day nerves since he looked as though he'd always been there and what wolf senses she did possess took over; breathing in deeply, May didn't pick up on any anxiety or fear.

As if sensing her staring, he glanced May's way again, causing her blush to deepen as he caught her. Instead Joshua only smiled, and May noted how when he did that, all of him seemed to smile. His eyes were bright and curious, yet they also seemed to have the ability to turn her brain to mush.

"Did you get Mr. Patrick's homework done?" Michelle interrupted as her backpack slammed down on the desk in front of May. "Number twenty-two was killer."

"What?" Blinking, May looked around to find everyone making a rush for the door. "Oh, yeah, all done."

Grabbing her things, she stood quickly and Tiffany nudged her to get May's attention. "See you in History!"

"Bye." May mumbled, following Michelle over to Joshua.

"So, May and Michelle right? I'm Josh, Joshua when I'm in trouble!" He introduced.

"Michelle, this is May. Come on, Mr. Patrick isn't like Chad when it comes to being late." She returned Joshua's smile while May started to get worried she'd lost the ability to talk. "So, what else have you got?"

Michelle and Joshua happily chatted away as she filled him in on the teachers he had, while also pointing out the cafeteria when they passed.

"Looks like your schedule is the same as May's." Michelle threw her friend another way in to their conversation and shaking her head slightly, May remembered how to function when in the company of a cute boy.

"Cool, at least I'll know someone on my first day!" Joshua smiled at her in the same instance she managed to trip on a step.

Instantly Joshua was there to stop her falling completely, while Michelle burst out laughing. Out of all of them, May was the most poised so to see her being clumsy was a rare treat.

"You okay?" He asked, while all May could focus on was how strong his grip on her arm was.

"Yeah, sorry, thanks." She answered quickly; proud of the fact she actually managed to talk back.

It was going to be a very long day.

_____________________________  

Joshua had no trouble fitting in with May's group of friends. At lunch he joined in with the boys sport talk and despite the way the girls made bambi eyes behind his back, everything was kept friendly. It was like he had always been there and as far as first days went, he was having a very good one. It also took until lunch for May's earlier shyness to wear off and as the class was dismissed at the end of the day, Joshua keenly followed her out into the courtyard.

"So, what do you all do for fun around here?" He asked casually, keeping pace with her as she headed to the carpark.

"Um, we hang out in town sometimes or at someone's house. The guys have football practice on Tuesday and Thursdays. Parties are usually Friday night, but you're better off talking to Michelle about those. My parents are kind of strict, so my life usually revolves between school and home only." She told him, tucking her hair behind her ear. It was then she realised how that probably sounded and started walking a little bit faster.

"Yeah, I get that. Mine are going through a divorce at the moment so now I'm more just a toy for them to play tug o war with and see who can out parent the other."

"Oh. That must be hard."

"It won't be for much longer. I can't wait for college to be out of here, and in the meantime I'm not feeling bad about getting what I can from them either. Just last week I got this sweet vintage playstation and one of the original batman games that came out with it." May stopped walking then, looking at him as if he was speaking another language. "You probably think I'm weird. Not many people still use the old consoles."

"No, that's kind of amazing. My Dad is like, the biggest ancient nerd in history. I was raised on DC and Marvel." She laughed.

"You're kidding?" Josh grinned.

"Normally I would wish I was."

"May!" Chad yelled over at her, sounding more annoyed than she thought he could ever be.

Looking over at the car, May frowned as the unmissable black SUV Bianca drove went behind Chad and thanks to the window being down, it was easy to see a couple of the other pack kids in the back. Instantly May's stomach sank, more so when Leanna reached over to beep the horn at Chad and wave. Bianca never did pick up. Chad would sometimes take her kids home, but for the most part, they all catch the bus together. Leanna continued to do that after her brothers graduated as none of them liked how everyone treated them differently in their mother's presence.

"Is that the English teacher?" Josh frowned.

"Yeah, he's also my brother and my lift home. I'll see you tomorrow." May quickly ran over to the car, and before she could put her seat belt on, Chad had already pulled out of the parking bay. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He told her quickly.

"You're a terrible liar and I saw Bianca. What's happened?"

"I don't know."

"Chad-"

"I really don't know. A message got sent out, and we're all heading to Bianca and Cody's now."

May groaned, and sunk down a little further in her seat. "Did someone die?"

"Maybe."

"What about Mum and Dad?"

"They're meeting us there. Luckily I was already acting as your chauffeur this evening otherwise you could have squished in with Leanna or one of the others." He teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"You're hilarious." She told him dryly, yet was unable to stop herself from smiling back at him. "Just, please don't leave me with them. Mum and Dad worry enough, and with whatever is going on, I don't want to add to that."

"No probs kiddo." Chad reached out and rubbed the top of her head. "I got your back."

"Thanks."

"Were you talking with the new kid?"

"Josh. Yeah. He's kind of awesome." May grinned.

"I thought he was a little weird." Chad shrugged.

"Weird like Dad. I think he would die if he saw Dad's old dvd collection."

Chad laughed. "Who even has DVD's anymore?"

"I know! Uncle Rory got him a comic book the other day too. The pair of them argued for like half an hour about whether or not to take it out the plastic to look at it!"

"It's their hobby, they've always been like it." Chad smiled, though not about Braydon and Rory. He was just, glad to see some of the stress leaving May. "So apart from being weird, what else is there to know about this Josh kid?"

"Oh god, you're not going to try to embarrass me in class in front him are you? If you do, I'm telling Mum!" May threatened.

"Pretty sure I have no idea what you're talking about. I wouldn't do that!"

"Yeah. You would. I dunno, there's just something so easy about him. It's like he's always been around, you know?" Chad didn't miss the dreamy way she drifted off thinking about Josh.

"Can't say I do. Sounds to me like someone has a bit of a crush!"

"I do not!" May wanted to argue more, but the possibility was almost refreshing.

"Guess I'll find out tomorrow when you two have english together then huh?" He teased, unable to resist.

"Why did my parents adopt you?"

"My roguish good looks, amazing personality, that winning sense of humour I have? Should I go on?"

Continuing with their banter, the short drive to their alpha's house went quickly. Like most of the pack, they kept to the outskirts of town, not too far from May's house and also the national park. The familiar drive only had May's anxiety growing again as she realised they'd arrived; a big change from the excitement the trip used to offer. Thinking of how happy she had been about the twins moving closer to her house seemed like a distant dream and by the time they took the walk up to the front porch which was as familiar as her own, May was positive she was going to throw up. Gone were the days where she could walk in without knocking, and standing in front of the door, the warmth and security that had always waited for her was still missing.

"May, you need to calm down." Chad stopped her from going inside, instead giving her a hug.

It took a few more minutes, but finally they went in and found the bulk of the pack already gathered in the back yard. Instantly May saw her parents, looking awkward as they talk to Jay and his human mate, Chloe. The other woman had never really bonded with Miranda as May thought they should; two humans being brought into this insane wolf shifting world. She knew it shouldn't really surprise her, if people thought high school was bad for social drama, shifters took it to a whole new level - even those who were only here by association and not actually shifters.

Jake, one of the boys from May's year walked past then, purposefully shoving her with his shoulder as he bumped into her. There was no mistaking the way he coughed to hide him calling her a runt either. Chad growled, scaring the boy enough to move off quickly to where his friends waited, laughing to themselves over what just happened, while May felt her face turn red.

"Jerks." She muttered under her breath, frowning as Braydon appeared out of nowhere in front of them.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing." May lied, hating the way her Dad then looked at Chad who never hid anything from Braydon.

"He just bumped into her. It was nothing." He said quickly, surprising May. The gentle squeeze on her shoulder instantly made her feel better, even more so when Chad kept talking. "So, what's this about? Feels serious."

Braydon looked between the pair for a second before nodding. "It is. There is trouble in the north, and we think it's coming our way."

"What kind of trouble?" Chad asked.

"Hunters. Dean has more info. Are you sure you're okay May?"

"I'm fine Dad. Honest." She smiled.

"Leanna asked for you to go to her room when you got here. I haven't seen the twins."

"Okay, well I'll go see Leanna then." May quickly told him as her mother joined them.

She didn't have to look back to know the trio would be watching her; talking about her too no doubt. With nowhere else to go, May went upstairs to Leanna's room and for the second time since arriving was nearly knocked over.

"May! Hi! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you coming around the corner." Connor, the youngest of Cody's family greeted in a rush. "You okay?"

"Hey Connor. I'm fine. I was just going to see Leanna."

"Oh great. She was just saying this morning how much she misses seeing you. Are your parents here too? I have something for your Dad."

"Yeah, outside. Chad too."

"Okay. Be careful walking around corners!" He grinned before bouncing away and down the stairs.

Taking a deep breath, May braced herself for Leanna. Without thinking she knocked once on her door and went right on in, the pink of the room almost blinding as May first walked in. So much pink.

"Hey! You're here!" Leanna cried out, jumping up off her bed she practically tackled May in a hug. "I miss you!"

"You saw me today."

"For like, two seconds! Have I done something wrong?" Leanna reluctantly let her go and stepped back. "Did someone say something to you?"

"What? No, and no. I've just been bu-" May started to try and come up with something that didn't sound completely unbelievable, but Leanna was ready for it.

"Busy. I know. It's like, since your birthday you've just, given up on everything."

"I haven't given up. I just-"

"Don't know where you belong now?" She offered, seeming to read May's mind.

"Well, no, I know I-"

"Why wouldn't you know where you belong June?"

Only four people called her June and their nickname had stuck thanks to how much she had hated it. In her defense, she had only been three and unable to comprehend what her tantrum would be the start of when the twins pretended to forget her name. Chad, was one of them only he started doing it about ten years later after May and the twins decided to cover his brand new car in old post it notes they had found in Miranda's office. Harry, the youngest of Bianca and Cody's kids had simply learnt it from his siblings growing up. But it wasn't Harry or Chad that now grabbed May from behind in a bone crushing bear hug, and for a second she felt her heart stop as her mind raced to work out who was behind her.

"You stink. Since when do you wear perfume?"

"Hello to you too Nate." May instantly relaxed as Caleb's body double let her go and moved to lay down on his sister's bed.

"Seriously though, what the hell did you spray yourself with?" He groaned, rubbing his nose.

"I like it!" Leanna loyally defended.

After sneezing a twice, Nate gave up on arguing with the girls. "Whatever. So, what's going on?"

"Dad said something about Hunters. I dunno." May shrugged.

"Mum's been stressed the last couple of weeks, Dean was on the phone to her for over an hour the other night." Leanna helpfully added.

"I'm sure they'll take care of it." Nate decided. "But maybe we should we go down with the others, you know, in case it really is important?"

May and Leanna looked at each other as Nate's words sunk in, making them both wonder just how serious this all was. A big pack meeting like this wasn't overly common these days, so maybe going outside was a good idea.

"Yeah, we'll be there in a sec. I just want to talk to May. Privately." Leanna finished, pointing to her door. "So get out."

"I come home after weeks away at school and this is the welcome home you give me? Get out? Tough crowd!" Slowly he made his way out of the room and Leanna closed the door behind him.

"Brothers." Leanna rolled her eyes and taking May's hand, pulled her over to sit on her bed. "So, spill it! Why have you become little miss lone wolf? I get it at school. We have different friends and you're in the year above me, but I can't remember the last time you slept over or came to a party, or anything!"

"To be a lone wolf, I'd have to shift. Which I don't."

"Not yet!"

May felt that little bit of hope flaring up in the back of her mind, thanks to how certain Leanna sounded. As much as she denied it and told herself she didn't want it - May did. It was an itch she'd never be able to scratch, and the wanting she had to run with her Dad, and brother through the forest on a winter's night or to howl with the pack under a full moon was always there. Admitting it out loud was something else entirely.

"And maybe not ever and that's okay. I've accepted it might not happen for me, and I'm moving on. Pack doesn't have to be my life, I'm just another typically average human."

"You're not typical or average and I hate seeing you like this." Leanna frowned.

"Yeah, well, get used to it." May didn't intend for her words to sound so harsh, but they did and when she left the room, Leanna didn't stop her.

Instead of going downstairs, May went into the bathroom and locked the door. Staring at her reflection, the tears that came did nothing to help her mood. Pushing them all away was for the best, it hurt now, but it wouldn't always be like that. Caleb had already managed to forget about her entirely, and so would the rest of them once she was out of sight.

By the time she left the bathroom, Leanna had gone down stairs too and keeping to the back of the group, Cody was talking about the Alpha's in the North looking for missing pack mates. Chad stood near his friend, Amber and drifting over to them, no one paid her attention. Leanna sat with the other kids near the front, and May knew she should fix things with her. Later, right now there was clearly something more important going on, but even that was forgotten as May sensed movement behind her. Glancing at Chad, he was too focused on Cody to notice much else and looking over her shoulder, everything else stopped as her gaze met Caleb's. Yet there was no sign of recognition, no smile or greeting of any kind. He only looked away, focusing all his attention onto his Dad too, while standing close enough May was unable to think of much else and a part of her knew he was doing it on purpose.

She'd been right this morning, it was going to be a very long day.  

_____________________________

So this is the start of May's story. Got some old characters in there and some new... I really hate first chapters. Feedback (good or bad) as always, is welcome and appreciated! xx