^Caraaaaaaa <3, plays America :) 

"Can we... steer away from this topic?" Will winced. 

I nodded once.

Will glanced out his large window with his cold, harsh eyes and then quietly came his question, "What is it like to be in a pack?"

I remembered faintly of memories as a kid. When Dad and Mum were happy, the whole pack was happy. When the Danes' moved here a few years ago as Rogues, Mum and Dad were more than happy to let them into the pack. 

"Home," I echoed their response from when I was ten, "It feels like home."

"Home?"

I glanced up at him, "Yeah. Everyone's there for you, supporting you... like a place of safety away from the cruel thing that is life."

"That was almost a nice sentiment," he let out a slow smile, "Except for the cruel life thing."

"It is cruel," I shrugged, "I have no choice in... anything."

"What do you mean?"

"My future's already laid out for me," I murmured, "I already know what I want to do after school. Aside from that, I have to be the Luna. There's no option out of that..."

"You don't want to be Luna?"

"Not at all. Why would I want to be a leader if I can only lead with my mate? What happened to independence?"

"To be fair," Will smirked, "I'm a pretty good mate."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

It's crazy to think that a few days ago, I was conspiring with half the pack on how to save us from the dangerous new pack. But now, they aren't even a pack and they're definitely not dangerous.

He says he was following Artemis' orders. 

But how do I believe him?

"What are you thinking about?" Will's voice cut through my thoughts.

'Believe him, America Lyra James'. 

Of course...

"Nothing much," I smiled gently at Will. 

His eyes widened. It took me a moment to realise why. I was smiling. I let out a small shake of my head at myself, the small smile turning into a full-blown grin. I'd just smiled for what felt like the first time in years.

And it was because of Will Elijah Gallagher. 

I turned to look up at the moon with wide eyes through his window. Watching it, I said quietly, "You're something special, Will Elijah."

His laugh came out in small bursts, "So, America... wanna know a few things about growing up as a rogue?"

"Why not?"

"One - don't trust anyone. Two - survive as a wolf. Three - don't leave your family behind."

"Don't one and three contradict each other?"

Will shook his head, "Always trust family."

"The three things about being in a pack?" I said aloud, "One - don't bite humans. Two - obey Lady Artemis. Three... - treat your mate as you would treat yourself."

The full moon seemed to glow impossibly brighter and the longing I'd had for Will in my bedroom earlier became thicker, consuming me. However, he was right next to me. 

There was a knock on the door, "Will? Do you have any washing?"

The voice belonged to a young girl, not old-William. 

"Just a second, Molls."

I watched as he hurried around the room, collecting articles of clothing thrown everywhere. He pushed them into his hamper by the door before stripping his current shirt off and opening his bedroom door. He pushed the shirt in the hamper and passed it to his - presumably - younger sister. As he turned back around and closed his door, the full moon lit up his room. 

For the first time in my life, I understood what it was like to be 'turned on'. 

Will scratched the back of his neck as he walked to his wardrobe and pulled out a pyjama shirt. He pulled that on, covering the best eye-candy on him. 

Will sat on the bed again, "So, you're in tenth grade, right?"

I nodded slowly.

"But you're taking twelfth grade Maths?"

I pressed my lips together tightly before looking up at him beneath my eyelashes, "Did you ever take the Morrisby Test?"

He nodded once.

"For... Reasoning, I got off the charts. The lady I discussed it with said that only two types of people get that result. The ones that are always in trouble and mucking up or the ones who are constantly bored and daydreaming. I'm stuck between the two. A few of my teachers got sck of me for being disrespectful and constantly zoned out. Which is why I've been advanced in a few subjects."

"So, that's why I'm now your maths tutor?"

I nodded, "Exactly. Don't expect me to be the best student, though."

Will studied me for a moment, "Then why are you in the attitude development program?"

"Because the principal reckons it will be good for me to work on my manners, I guess..."

"But you're a sixteen-year-old girl in a room with eighteen-year-old guys. Everyone saw what happened with Kye today!"

I shrugged, "Your Beta."

"Not for long," Will murmured.

"What?"

Will straightened up, in thought, "At the moment, Kye would be my unofficial Beta, yes?"

"Yeah..."

"But if I became your Alpha...?" I raised an eyebrow at the touchy subject. "Would Josh become my Beta?" he finished.

I crossed my arms, pondering this. I shrugged helplessly, "No idea. You got a laptop?"

"Of course," he said, slightly confused, grabbing it out. He typed in his password and then handed it to me. 

I opened up Chrome and a new tab. I typed in a memorised website link: http://www.wolfdruidhumanassociation.com.au/werewolfregistrationform.au/werewolfregristationlaws.au.hltp/

"That's one long-ass link," he murmured.

I shrugged wordlessly as the page loaded. Up came the rule handbook.

"Wait," Will held up a hand, "This is just floating around on the internet?"

I smirked, "We're not savages, dude."

I scrolled down to page 148. 

"That's a long list of rules."

"They're just complicated."

Law #467 - Established 07.12.1954 - By Werewolf Registration Association

If an Alpha must mate into an inactive pack already holding a Luna and Beta, the Alpha's own inactive pack must change. If a Luna must mate into an inactive pack already holding an Alpha and Beta, the Luna's own inactive pack must change. This means that if an Alpha already has a Beta but is to mate into another pack, that Beta is no longer a Beta; instead, the Luna's Beta becomes the new Alpha's Beta.

"There you go," I pointed to the paragraph, "Kye wouldn't be your Beta. Josh would be."

"Thank Artemis," Will whispered, "I don't understand why I had to bite Kye of all people, though."

"Does this mean you're willing to become my Alpha?"

Will's eyes searched mine, cold and harsh and chocolate brown. Slowly, he nodded, "Only if you're willing to become my Luna."

Willing, but not ready. 

I gave him another rare smile, "Looks like we have to have a pack meeting."

"Pack meeting?" he echoed, "As in..."

"My entire pack and your entire pack."

"Which would be...?"

"Your pack would be..." I tried to recall, "Your grandfather and sister, Kye, Sharon, Katie and..."

"Lea," he filled in. 

"Exactly," I nodded, "And there are way too many in my pack to recall."

"Sounds good," he began, "But... I doubt Kye, Sharon, Katie and Lea would actually come."

"We convince them," I muttered, "They do things my way or the hard way."

Will sighed slightly, "You should get going. School tomorrow."

"Right."

I stood from his desk chair and glanced once more out of the window before saying, "My house, 6 pm tomorrow. Pack meeting."

***

In ADP the next day there was, thankfully, no choking. 

The lesson started off like this. I was the first in the classroom except for Miss Tole. She'd asked me how my day had been and if I was alright. I said I was okay. The next to walk in was Kye Stone, looking dishevelled.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Kye stopped at the desk I was at. His blank eyes stared back at me and I cocked an eyebrow. 

He mumbled something below his breath.

"Pardon?" I asked genuinely.

He hissed between his teeth before saying, "William ordered me to say sorry to you."

"Well... thanks," because although it wasn't genuine, he was still saying it in a very Kye way. 

He moved to his backseat as a group of boys filed in together. 

The tardy bell rang. 

Miss Tole shook her head, "It's always those two."

'Those two' were Will Elijah Gallagher and Zac Sherman. Will winked at me as he passed my desk and... as much as I hate to say this, I blushed. Let's face it, when a hot guy winks at any straight girl, they're bound to blush. 

Will chuckled the slightest and my hands turned to fists on the desk when I realised it was pointed at my blushing. The room went a bit warmer with the action. 

Will stopped beside my desk and bent down to my head height. I scowled at him.

He murmured, "I didn't think you were capable of blushing, America."

"Sorry, Will," I muttered, "I think it's just the heat in here."

He placed a palm on my fists to relax them. 

Remember those cliche-romance-books-where-the-new-boy-makes-the-loner-fall-in-love-with-him that I like to read? They aren't exaggerating when they say a guy's touch can shoot sparks up one's skin. 

I took a deep breath and spread my fists out. He removed his hand and murmured in my ear, "Still on for tonight?"

I rolled my eyes, "That makes it sound like we're going on a date, Will."

He smirked, "Would you like that?"

I raised an eyebrow at him, "What's into you today?"

"Nothing at all."

He stood up and was halfway across the classroom before he turned back and loudly called, "See you at six then?"

As the boys shifted around in their seats at that, I simply ignored him. 

Miss Tole sighed, "Everyone calm down. Today, we're going over the assignment. Get with your partner and begin."

I was making my way to the seat beside Kye with my laptop when Miss Tole called, "Oh, and we need a switch of partners after the... incident yesterday. Kye and America... swap with Dan and William, please."

Thank you, Artemis. 

'Wasn't me.'

Kye and I exchanged a glance. I made my way to Will, "Partners?"

He nodded but then glanced over my head, "Kye doesn't seem too happy with the rearrangement..."

I glanced over at the guy blatantly ignoring Dan, "Is he coming tonight?"

I turned back to see Will nod, "I convinced him and Sharon. Haven't seen Lea yet. And Katie..."

"You don't know what to say?"

"Exactly."

I thought back to when I saw Katie and Tommy in the tree. I replied, "I can get her there. Meanwhile, let's get started on this project."

***

Song: Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding

xx Sharky.