Pine Rose has a hospital and a clinic. Though this is a small town, the hospital is fully operational due to skiing and wildlife accidents. Thankfully we have a 24 hour ER. We park at the front doors and Dad helps Oliver out. He winces but makes no noise. We all clamber out of the van and walk in through the front door. I see Mom run up to us with a nurse running after her.

"Here he is!" Mom calls back skidding to a stop next to us. We stand in the middle of the lobby that's brightly lit. The nurse stops and glances at Dr. Jayal who wears a lab coat who is still shirtless. She blushes avoiding his gaze. The doctor rolls his eyes, "Act professional Nurse Greenway, this boy has shattered his upper arm and dislocated it. We need X-rays, now."

"Y-Yes sir," she says quickly looking shocked. "Um, you all can wait in the waiting room," she says looking at our large group. Milo sticks by Oliver's side, "I'm his brother, can I go in too?"

"You can't, I'm sorry," she says kindly. Milo gives her a look of death and rage, I've never seen him so upset. I just met him but this doesn't seem normal.

"Where are Erica and Sam?" Dad asks Mom quietly.

"Stuck in waiting room," she mumbles.

Jayal turns on the nurse, "They are his parents, they aren't going to wait in the waiting room. They are my personal patients, God! Do I have to do everything myself?" he scolds with hackles raised.

"Jeez, he acts like an alpha," I whisper to Ruby. She nods, "He's the most talented doctor this hospital has. No one disrespects him or second guesses him unless it's important. He's a neurosurgeon."

My jaw drops, "Seriously?"

"Yep, and he has multiple jobs here. He's pretty much a millionaire," Ruby explains quietly.

"Wow," I say impressed with the doctor. 

"Plus he's good-looking. Our... genes give us a more attractive look. He's still single yet every nurse in this place has a huge crush on him," she says glancing at the receptionist. She leans forward on the desk, her head propped up with one arm and she stares dreamily at the raging doctor. I stifle a laugh, "That's ridiculous."

"Ridiculous but true," she says smirking. Dr. Jayal starts walking towards the doors with Oliver and Milo following. 

"Let's go," Dad tells us. We walk another way and go through another set of doors. We come to a room filled with chairs with a door. The walls are decorated with beautiful paintings of the mountains and lakes. I see Samuel and Erica sitting down already. They look up hopefully and Dad walks over to them. 

"So... we wait," Kai says sitting down. I sit down next to him and Ruby grabs a magazine. She studies it and scoffs, "Americans," she mumbles throwing it down.

"What'd they do now?" I ask curiously.

"Celebrities," she says rolling her eyes and sits down next to me. Ezra sits down across from us in a comfy chair and looks around bored. 

"What? Did someone get drunk and cheat on their wife?" Kai asks curiously.

"No, divorce because of jealous actor," Ruby explains flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Of course," I say limply throwing up my hands. Ruby starts talking about her last time in the hospital. She had fallen off the swing and got her tooth shoved deep into her upper gum making it bleed everywhere. I listen to her story and nod every once in a while showing that I'm listening.

"I was nine so I was panicking. It hurt like you would not believe!" she explains moving her hands around to explain the story. 

"I would think," I comment watching her interested. 

"So anyways, we rushed here a-"

"Brook?"

I look back surprised and my eyes widen. Standing at the door is Haven. I tense feeling my stomach twist. Kai glances between us and reacts the wrong way.

"Who are you?" he asks sharply. Haven glowers at him, "I'm her best friend. Who are you?"

"Kai," I say sharply smacking his shoulder. I stand up and walk over to her, "Haven, hi," I say glancing back at my parents. They haven't noticed. Time to meet my nightmare. Betrayal flashes in her eyes, "I thought you were sick," she says flatly crossing her arms.

"I was but I'm better now. Turns out it was only temporary," I explain telling the truth. Throwing up was only temporary.

"What are you doing here? Who are they?" she asks pointing at them.

"Well... you see..." I trail off playing with my hands feeling nervous. I can't lie to her. Ruby stands up and walks to my side with swag in her walk, "Hi, I'm Ruby," she interrupts.

Haven shoots her a dark look, "Hi."

"So you are friends with Brook too," she says. I can tell she's trying to help but this is only burying me deeper.

"Yeah, who are you?" she asks studying her.

"We just met today. Our parents are friends, I'm Max Tyler's daughter," she says smoothly. 

"What are you doing here? She's sick," Haven says gesturing to me.

"Speedy recovery. We're here because another friend of ours broke his shoulder. He's in X-rays right now. We were all having dinner when it happened," she explains with a short flip of her fiery hair. 

"Dinner? Brook's never mentioned any of this," she says looking extremely hurt and betrayed. I lower my head ashamed I have to lie like this.

"She didn't because it just happened."

I jump and see Ezra standing behind me, his French accent seems heavier. He's taller than me and Haven making him seem intimidating. Haven looks furious and betrayed, "And who are you?"

"Ezra Peterson, and what seems to be the problem?" he asks stepping forward and almost in front of me. His arm slightly out in front of me like he's protecting me. Haven scowls, "Oh so now you have other friends?"

"I'm allowed to have other friends aren't I?" I ask trying to remain calm.

"Can I talk to you? Alone," she asks glancing at them, "or can you call off your sentries?"

"Stop it," I say sharply pushing past Ezra. I walk past her and I open the door, she stays put. "Are you coming or not?" I ask looking back her feeling myself get upset. She scoffs and walks towards me. I walk out into the empty lobby and stand in the middle waiting for her. She catches up and crosses her arms, "What was that about?" she asks sharply.

"Look it all happened so quickly," I begin softening my gaze understanding why she's mad, "just let me explain."

"Fine," she says, her eyes still burning.

"I went home and I was throwing up violently. My mom thought I had mono for a while. But at around five it stopped," I explain trying to tell most of the truth. She nods slowly, "But why didn't you call me?"

I sigh, "My parents were invited to dinner by their friends. I didn't have much time. They didn't want to leave me at the house alone so they brought me with. You know Samuel Mooncast?" I ask. She nods slowly studying me.

"Well his sons are Oliver and Milo, remember? They left last year?"

She nods again.

"Well we were all there. The people out there are the kids of my parent's friends. Anyways, the boys went outside to play or something and Oliver got hurt. Very hurt. He's getting X-rays right now and probably shattered his shoulder. Anyways, they came because they are good friends with Ollie. And during this time we kinda bonded. I came too because my parents were going and I wanted to help," I explain moving my hands around.

"This is the first time I've met Ruby, Ezra, and Kai though. They are all homeschooled. But I wanted to call you, we just got so busy and then Ollie-"

"Ollie?" she asks flatly, unimpressed.

"Um, yes," I say nervously.

"You just met them and you already have a nickname for Oliver?" she asks frowning.

"It's what everyone calls him, it caught on," I say starting to get mad at her. How can she be so insensitive? "Give me a break though, I didn't know. I can't tell you everything that happens at every second of the day. I get busy, you know that."

"But we do tell each other everything. We're best friends," she says shooting me a hurt look. "And you're not telling me something."

"What?" I ask reeling back. 

She scoffs, "I know when you're hiding something. So tell me, what is it?"

"I'm not hiding anything," I lie trying to mask whatever she sees. 

"You are lying! We never lie to each other Brook!" she accuses pointing at me. I take deep breaths trying to keep calm, "Haven I-"

"What?" she asks sharply.

"Let me talk!" I plead feeling tears coming to my eyes, "You're my best friend. You know this!"

"Then why are you hiding things?" she argues gritting her teeth.

"I'm not!"

"Liar!"

"Stop it!" I scream at her, tears stream out of my eyes, "Why are you acting like this?!"

"Me?! You're the one keeping secrets!"

"No I'm not!!" I argue letting my tears fall. I am getting angry but I force myself to numb it.

"Yes you are!"

The door opens and Kai pokes his head out. His eyes widen and he rushes up to me. Then he cuts through us and puts a protective arm out holding me back for no reason, "I think you should leave," he says darkly.

"Who do you think you ar-?!"

"Who do YOU think you are?!" he cuts her off with rage in his voice, "She said you were her best friend! What kind of best friend yells at her friend right after she was violently sick!" he yells sounding furious. 

"She made friends! BIG DEAL. Or are you threatened by that? Are you so insecure that you think she'd leave you for other friends. She's very loyal to you, from what I've heard you guys are very tight. So why doubt her?" he asks fiercely.

I cover my face feeling tears coming. I cry silently unable to believe Haven is so angry with me. I want to tell her so badly but I can't. I never can. My body suddenly shakes and my legs start getting numb. 

"Go Brook," Kai whispers low enough that Haven can't catch it. I take a couple steps back and bolt towards the doors. I burst out and run as fast as I can across the parking lot towards the woods. The air is cold because my black jacket is wrapped around my waist. I barely make it to the treeline before my weight is thrown. I yelp and somersault forward hitting my head on the ground. I roll and slam into a tree.

I groan and weakly lift my head. Giant wolf again. I see my torn clothes hanging limply off my giant body. My jacket had slipped off, thankfully, and still is intact. I feel a flood of tears coming and I don't stop them. I sob and bury my face in my large paws. I lied to her and I denied it. What kind of friend am I? I'm such a terrible person, I made her mad.

I wish none of this had ever happened! If I wasn't a werewolf, we wouldn't be fighting! I wish I could just wake up! No more of this! I wouldn't have to lie to her or anyone. I'd be clueless for the rest of my life about what my parents are. Layla has it easy, she can be normal and never even know her brother and parents are werewolves.

And Haven was so mad at me. I betrayed and lied to her, she deserves to be mad. This is all my fault. What was she even doing there anyways? Oh I'm so evil. I ruined our friendship. What if she doesn't want to be my friend anymore? After sixteen years of friendship can it all just disappear with one fight? We've never fought like that before, it's so unfair!

"Brook!" I hear Kai shout. I sniffle loudly and keep crying trying be silent. I can see the hospital from across the large parking lot. I am half hidden in the trees blending with the darkness. The darkness that's inside my heart. I break down again unable to stop myself. Then I see him running towards me at an impossible speed. He's at my side in two seconds flat. 

"Oh Brook," he says sadly. He kneels in front of me with sympathetic eyes, "Are you alright?"

I sniffle loudly looking up at him sadly, I shake my head.

"Come on, I'll change too but not here," he says standing up. I nod stiffly and slowly stand up on four legs. I am taller than him which feels strange. He steps into the thick treeline and I lower my head and slowly push through. The twigs and rocks don't hurt when I step on them, it's just bumpy. We go further and we come to a small clearing in the middle of the dark forest. He takes a deep breath and changes into a giant wolf. He matches my height but now slightly taller. 

"I lied to her!" I wail throwing my head back, "I deserve to be yelled at."

"No, she was a jerk. She shouldn't have done that. She was being rude the entire time," he says taking my side instantly. Though I'm on Haven's side.

"But I lied!"

"She shouldn't have been so clingy. She should understand if you are keeping secrets then it's for a reason," he argues lightly.

"But I-"

"No, no buts. This isn't your fault. You have to keep the secret, we all do. I keep it from my own sister, imagine that. Your parents had to keep it from you for years and had to be prepared to keep it from you for your entire life. She was a jerk to say those things and you don't deserve to be yelled at," he says in a soft voice.

I sniffle, "But I lied."

"Yes..."

"And she's my best friend."

"But she isn't, she would understand."

"But for sixteen years-"

"Brooklyn," he interrupts but I keep going, "We were so close. We've never kept secrets from each other. After all of that you just want me to throw it away?"

I give him a pleading look, "Please, just-, make it go away. Do something, hit my head and make me lose my memory or drug me. But please, just make it all disappear. I don't want to live like this," I beg staring into his eyes.

"Brooklyn I can't," he says sadly, "even if I did you'd still turn into a wolf. Nothing can change that."

"Kill me then," I whisper and I break down again. 

"Never," he says sternly coming close to me. He takes his paw and lifts my head to face him, "I will never do that Brooklyn."

"Do something then!" I plead desperately, "I can't lie to my friend or tell her! What do I do?!"

"Come here," he says slightly cocking his head. I cry bowing my head and come closer putting my head on his neck/chest. He rests his head on top of mine. I hear his heart thumping loudly and I shut out the entire world and cry my heart out.

"There there," he soothes quietly. Then he sits down with a loud thud and I do the same. I come closer getting somewhat of a hug. His head bows down over my shoulder and I do the same with him. I take shaky breaths trying to stop crying but I just can't. 

"I know, it's going to be okay," he says into my ear. 

I shake my head closing my eyes, "N-No, it'll never be okay. I'll never escape."

"But... don't you like hanging out with us?" he asks putting his wolf paw around me. I squeeze my eyes shut, "Yes, but I can't have both. I can't-, I can't-" I sigh shaky, my throat is tight from crying, "I don't want to choose."

"You don't have to though."

"You don't understand," I say getting frustrated with him, "I can't lie to her."

"Then take a break," he says remaining calm.

"How? This town is small and I'm pretty sure we aren't moving," I say moving my head to be under his head. 

"Be homeschooled with us. Leave the situation and take a break. You are heartbroken right now, don't talk to her for a while," he says sweetly. 

"But s-she look at it and see me being a coward and running-" I trembled, my lip quivering.

"You are not a coward Brooklyn Lupine," he argues silently.

"How?" I sighed sadly.

"First off, you were completely calm when meeting werewolves. You just sat there and talked normally, other than the other reactions you could have had. You could have locked yourself in your room and refused to talk to anyone. Or actually run away and disappear for two days," he mumbled in a kind voice.

"Who did that?" I wonder looking up at him.

He smirks, "Ezra."

"How did he disappear for two days?" I ask shocked.

"Oh you know, strength of a double dominant and the smarts of a French Canadian makes a very deadly werewolf."

I burst out laughing slightly feeling better, "Wow, just wow."

"See? You're doing pretty well, eh?" he asks nudging my head.

I nod laughing shakily, "Yeah I-I guess so."

"Everything will be alright. You just need a break. And I won't let anything hurt you, okay?"

"Okay," I say softly feeling sadness overwhelm me again. 

"GUYS!?" I hear Ruby shout.

"Watch this," Kai says with a smile, and he raises his head and actually howls. I stifle a laugh and he holds his howl for a bit. Then he stops and looks at the way we came. I see Dad burst through the treeline with Ruby and Mom.

"Don't scare us like that!" Mom says rushing up to me and throws her arms around me. I manage to smile at her. She hugs me tightly and pulls back, "I'm so sorry honey, we should have heard it."

"Are you alright?" Dad asks coming up to me. I nod slowly glancing back at Kai. 

"Did you run after her?" Dad asks him. He nods sitting up straighter. 

"Thank you," he says gratefully. Kai smiles softly looking a bit proud. Dad touches my muzzle looking directly into my eyes, he's about as tall as me.

"I'm so sorry Brook. The nurse walked in and started asking us questions-, we should have been there to back you up," he says sorrowfully.

"It's alright," I answer giving him a reassuring look. He gives me a sad smile, "Sorry honey I can't understand you."

"Oh," I say remembering. I lower my head feeling my face heat up, thankfully the fur blocks it.

"That's alright," he replied petting the side of my head. I close my eyes and lean towards his hand. 

"The nerve she had to do that. I can't believe she would make you cry," Ruby says defensively. I sigh closing my eyes. 

"Ruby, be gentle," Mom says softly.

"I know, I know," she says putting her hands up. I notice she's holding two bundles of clothes, man they are prepared for this. 

"Come on, Oliver just got out of X-rays," Mom informs. Ruby skips over and tosses one bundle to Kai. He catches it in his mouth and grins. Ruby rolls her eyes, "Idiot."

Kai laughs and trots into the darkness of the forest. Dad walks away with Ruby leaving me with Mom. I look around and hide behind a tree just in case. 

"Do you know how to-"

I change instantly and gasp loudly because I fell on my face, "Yep," I croak.

"Oh," she exclaimed surprised, "when did you learn to do that?"

"Uh," I pull on the clothes as quickly as possible, "Earlier, back at the house. Ruby showed me."

"Oh okay then, so how are you doing?" she asks worriedly.

"Best as I can be. I had to lie to her and she yelled at me," I reply sorrowfully. I step out now completely dressed and she holds up my black jacket. I wrap it around my waist again and fix my hair. 

"I'm so sorry," she says opening her arms. I run up to her and hug her tightly. I begin to cry again and I bury my face into her shoulder, "She was so mean," I sobbed.

"I know," she whispers. 

"I don't want this," I murmur silently.

"I know."

"Take it away Mom," I plead shakily looking up at her with tearful eyes.

Her eyes soften, "I'm so sorry, I wish I could."

I gasp for breath and cry into her shoulder wishing the world away. Desperate for some kind of escape. Wishing for all of this to be a sick dream.