We met my mom at the edge of the forest in the backyard of the house. She had turned back into a human and got dressed before we got there. I notice the sun is beginning to set and the sky is darkening. We all gather around her waiting for her to explain why she interrupted our game of War. We had been apparently playing for three hours.

When Layla and her boyfriend left Kai's house, we came straight back here. It was around two by then and the boys begged for me to stay with them and play War with them. Since I had been excused for the rest of the day anyways, it worked out alright. Though I forgot my homework and backpack there. Milo managed to grab my phone in all the chaos when I fell into the lake, it came out unharmed, thankfully.

So we called Ruby and invited her to play with her. She wholeheartedly agreed and pretty much ran over here. We had to prep a lot of things such as War costumes and our bases before we could start. Ezra dealt out the rules and then we broke up at four and began to play. It was a lot of fun for the most part, running around like a crazy person and hiding in the bushes ready to ambush each other.

I started getting a little upset towards the end since I got kidnapped and then strung up in a tree. But it was fun getting to play with the boys like that. I don't think anyone would ever be able to play something like that. The thought of L.A.R.P comes to mind for geeks dressing up and battling each other but this is nothing like that. It's more real and we don't have to hold back with each other. We're werewolves.

For once that title doesn't make me sick to my stomach. Maybe I'm getting used to it faster than I thought. 

Mom stands in front of us, hands on her hips, "We said you should come back at six. I thought you knew that we were having company tonight?" she asks in an accusing voice. Her brown eyes narrowed and her expression hard. The Mom look. She wears nice blue jeans with a white chiffon shirt with gold edges. Her hair is a bit fizzy but managed to stay in it's ponytail.

Kai sighs lowering his head, "I know, we lost track of time," he says taking the responsibility for this. 

"We got carried away, I'm sorry," Milo says in a guilty voice, taking a step backwards. Ruby stands close to me, keeping her eyes on Mom. 

Mom sighs loudly, "It's okay, just be more responsible next time, eh?"

We all nod quickly, grateful she didn't yell at us. She glances back at the house then at us, "Get cleaned up as fast as possible. Use the tree to get up onto the second floor. Ruby's mom and Mr. and Mrs. Nell are here. Remember? Friends of Gabriel?" Mom asks pointedly towards the boys. 

"Right..." Ollie says slowly scratching the back of his neck.

"Now go, and hurry," Mom says quickly before dashing back towards the house. I give them a confused look, "What did she mean by using the tree?"

Kai shrugs smiling at me, "We climb the tree next to our room to get inside unseen. It's actually quite helpful for times like this. Come on," he says and takes off running. We all run after him and circle the house coming to the side of the house where the large windows can't see. There's a large pine tree that pretty much towers over the house. On the second floor is a window that is shadowed but I can barely make out a little light inside. 

Kai leaps up into the air, grabbing onto a branch. He yanks himself upwards and starts expertly climbing the tree. I stand at the bottom staring up at him and watch Ezra follow him up like a monkey. Ollie reaches up one handed and Milo pushes him up, helping him for the first step. Ruby turns to me with an easy smile, "Don't worry, the branches are good for climbing!"

I nod slowly feeling a little nervous climbing such a tall tree. I stare up at it watching the boys climb with ease.

"Here," Ruby kneels down with her hands locked together, "I'll help you for your first step," she offers, glancing up at me with her blue eyes. I gulp and nod shortly at her. I reach up and grab the first branch with both hands. I lift my right leg and place my foot on her hand. Then I realize my weight may be too much for her, before I can back up she suddenly raises her arm with ease. I yelp as I rise up and I grab onto the branch for my dear life. She pushes my wobbling feet up and stands up, "Don't worry," she chuckles, "I'm a werewolf girl, I have a bit of muscle now."

I wrap my arms around the prickly branch with giant eyes. I nod quickly feeling my stomach tighten, wanting to back out and just use the back door to get inside. 

"Come on Brookie! Be brave!" Ollie calls down from the tree. I feel pine needles sprinkle on my head and I hear branches moving around from the boys. Then I hear a loud snap and I shriek panicking one will fall to his death. I hear a lot of scraping sounds and a loud grunt. Then it falls silent. All I hear is the breeze against the tree branches and the distant bird calls along with the rest of the animals of the forest. It scares me for a second before I realize my senses are stronger now.

I hold my breath staring up at them, unmoving. I grip the branch tightly feeling Ruby's hands still under my feet. Then I hear Milo's nervous laugh from above, "T-That was fun," he stammers, I hear him trying to stay calm.

"Jeez Milo you scared the life out of me," I hear Ollie mumble from above.

"It's not my fault the branch broke," Milo retorts sharply but his voice cracks at the end of his sentence. He clears his throat shortly after.

"Come on girls!" Kai shouts down to us. 

"Come on Brook, you can do this," Ruby encourages me and kinda pushes my foot up. "You're a double dominant, you're stronger than me now. You can climb a tree with no problem," she reassures me. I glance down at her nervously and then take a deep breath wondering what happened with the boys. Slowly, I start pulling myself up and find it's very easy now. I used to have no upper body strength. I blink in shock as I easily pull myself up and reach for the next branch. I swing my legs up and they land on the branch and push down.

I stand up on the branch steadily, slightly wobbling but I keep my balance because I grab the next branch. Soon I'm climbing up the tree like the others. I'm going a bit slow but still. This is the first time I've ever really climbed a tree. I feel pine needles fall on my face and shoulders, getting caught in my hair too. I feel my hair being snagged on some of the branches, pulling me back every once in a while. But I manage to get out of it and keep going.

Finally, I reach the height I need to and find the window with Kai sticking his head out of it. His face still painted from War and wearing his black War clothes. He looks hot. There's no denying it. The other boys do too. With that black wrap around their chest with black pants and war paint... something about that makes them look good. I quickly push away those shallow thoughts and focus on Kai.

He reaches out of the window with encouraging eyes, "Okay now come towards me, slowly."

I nod quickly and then make the mistake of looking down. I gasp and freeze on the branch, staying very close to the base. I see the branches below spreading from the base like a spiderweb. I can't see the grass anymore and I can feel the tree swaying. Or is that my head? I feel very dizzy and the wind blows again, scaring me. I gasp and throw myself onto the tree base, starting to hyperventilate. OH MY GOSH WHAT HAVE I DONE.

"Shoot!" Kai says sharply and then reaches out, "Brook it's okay!"

I shake my head quickly feeling the rough bark against my bare arms. I gasp for breath constantly feeling my heart racing. I swear the tree is swaying with the wind. I am crouched low on a branch somehow keeping my balance, with my arms wrapped around the tree. I bend my head low to avoid my hair getting stuck on the branches above. I gasp louder feeling a bit dizzy.

"Brook! It's okay just reach out!" Kai pleads and then leans further from the window. I see Ezra run up behind him and meet my gaze with a panicked look. 

"Brook you'll be fine!" Ezra shouts to me, rooted behind Kai. I stare at Kai with pleading eyes, "L-Let me down!" I stammer on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Your mom wouldn't have let you come up here if it wasn't safe! You'll be okay just reach out!" Kai calls and reaches out his hand, using his other hand to hang on the window. He is crouched somehow on the thick window base with the windows slide open. He reaches out further, on the verge of falling. I shriek loudly, "KAI! STOP!"

"Come on!" he shouts shaking his outstretched hand. 

"You can do it Brook!" Ruby calls from below.

"Let-" I gasp, "Let me down from here!" I wail convinced I'm going to fall to my death. Splat. Dead on the ground. I hear my own breaths becoming shorter and higher in pitch as I panic. 

"Let me through!" I hear Ollie shouts upsetly. Then I see him budge through Kai almost knocking me off the window. I shriek again feeling even more terrified.

"Brook listen to me," he says seriously with pleading eyes, "you'll fall from panicking, take Kai's hand now," he tells me sternly. The seriousness in his eyes is sobering my pain. Ollie is always joking around. And now he's serious.

"B-But I can't!" I yell at them with wide eyes. I clutch the tree tighter and shake my head quickly wanting to go back down. But I know Ruby won't let me so maybe I can convince the boys.

"Yes you can," Kai says seriously and reaches out further. I stare into his dark blue eyes. T-They look trusting. He says I can do this. He knows me. I-I think I can do this. Maybe. Slowly, I loosen my arms and slowly reach out one arm. It's no where near enough. I gulp loudly and feel my body shaking from fear. Kai nods slowly, "Good... a little more..."

I unhook my other arm from the tree and balance myself on the branch, terrified I'll fall. But I inch out on the shaking branch and reach out as far as I can. Kai smiles at me and then grabs my forearm tightly. I gasp when he pulls me forward. I almost throw myself backwards but I stop myself knowing that I'll kill him if I pull back. Then he goes splat. I slowly inch forward feeling his warm hand gripping my arm/wrist.

Ollie backs out and Ezra reaches for me as well. Then Kai starts leaning back making me go faster. I shriek for a second stumbling a little on my little branch. I'm still crouched low and my back is bent down. Then I turn myself to be facing the boys and window and then reach out to Ezra. He grabs my wrist tightly, hurting it a little but he got me. Then they both pull back and help me into the window. I slip into the window and then the second I feel the solid ground on my feet and I collapse forward.

I fall into Kai's arms and gasp loudly. I wrap my arms around him tightly burying my face into his stomach. My legs are completely limp and trembling violently. I gasp for breath and close my eyes feeling his warmth and body. I'm alive. Oh yes I'm alive! Kai hugs me tightly and I feel his cheek on top of my head because I'm half laying on the floor and hugging him. 

"Whoa, that's a weird position," Ollie jokes playfully from the side. I burst out laughing, mainly from adrenaline that makes me very dizzy. But I'm also embarrassed. I force my legs to solidify and I stand up normally still hugging Kai. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face into his shoulder. He brushes my hair back gently and kisses the top of my head.

"You're just jealous Ollie," Milo retorts in a playful tone.

"No I'm not!" Ollie argues but still sounds happy.

I let out a shaky sigh of relief. I lift my head slowly and stare up into Kai's dark blue eyes. His black hair is wild from our game of War. I smile up at him, "Thanks," I whisper shakily. He smiles relieved, "You're welcome."

I slowly look over my shoulder to find Ollie poking Milo trying to annoy him while Ezra leans against the wall with crossed arms. Ruby slips through the window with ease and jumps onto the floor. 

"Don't ever make me do that again," I tell them in a serious voice, but then flash them a smile.

"Oh please Brookie! That was nothing! We like to climb up onto the roof sometimes!" Ollie answers in a mocking tone and then grins ear to ear looking proud of himself. My eyes widen just of the thought of it.

"God no."

Ollie bursts out laughing, tossing his head back and wave me off, "There's nothing you can do to stop it!"

"Oh Ollie give her a break," Ruby tells him and punches his good arm, hard. I wince thinking it hurt him but he just turns to her with a mischievous smile.

"So RUDY," Ollie taunts and leans forward quickly, meeting her face to face. She frowns not moving her head. They are centimeters apart staring at each other. Ruby continues to frown at him while Ollie looks taunting. 

"What now?" he asks cocking his head completely to the side.

Ruby studies him, and then her lip twitches up forming a small smile, "We go get dressed dummy."

"Join me?" he says in a low voice, still looking mischievous.

"Aren't you a big boy now?" she asks in a mocking voice, trying hard to fight her smile.

His smile grows wider and I can practically scent his mischief, "Only offering Rudy."

She smirks and then starts leaning closer, "But of course Oliver," she says in a seductive tone, her eyes confident. She gets extremely close and her nose brushes his. Suddenly Ollie blushes and reels back with giant eyes. He jumps back looking panicked and blinks a couple times, touching his nose. Ruby laughs evilly, "HA! I win!"

Then Ollie glares at her, "That's not fair!" he points at her sharply, "That doesn't count!"

She keeps laughing and stands up quickly. She sharply flips her fiery hair over her shoulder, placing that hand on her hip. "It does! You backed down and blushed, goodness Ollie I don't think I've seen you blush before!"

Ollie face is still red and he rubs his cheek quickly, like he hopes to wipe it away, "No I didn't!"

"Did too!" Ruby sings and starts skipping out of the room.

"Did not!" Ollie argues starting to follow her. Then she winks at me before dashing out of the room, "DID TOO!" she shouts distantly. Ollie jumps shortly before dashing after her, arguing at her at the top of his lungs. I hear running footsteps for a while before a door slams shut, shaking the walls. I hear a loud pounding on wood followed by Ollie's shouting. Kai looks down at me with a wry smile, "Sorry, they're always like that. They like to play the 'first one to back away loses' game."

I shrug letting my body relax in his muscled arms. I smile up at him, "That's fine with me."

Ezra groans loudly, "Guys please, get a room!"

I stifle a laugh and pull away from Kai's arms, "Oh shush," I tell him giving him a sassy look. Ezra shrugs still leaning against the wall, "It's true, we all know it."

I glance at Milo who stands awkwardly off to the side. He nods too studying me. Kai scoffs, "Shut up Ezra."

I look around for the first time realizing where I am. The room is dark and everything is shadowed since the sun is setting and the clouds are gathering again, creating an overcast. The darkened sky makes everything seem fresher, brighter greens and damper. The bark is damper just from the cool, moist wind. I have always enjoyed the rain and wondered why people say it's sad when it rain. I'd like to think it's a new day. The rain washing away the dry and crusty old past and starting anew.

I realize I'm standing in the middle of the boy's amazing room. The beds are unmade, except Milo's. I see a pair of sweatpants thrown on the ground along with a pillow and a rogue sock. The closet door is open and the laundry basket inside is filled to the brim. Kai walks over to the door and flicks the lights on, instantly brightening the room. 

I feel warm and cozy inside the room. It feels welcoming and almost familiar to me now. The brown fuzzy fur rug is crooked now and Milo's "hidden" book drawer under his bed has been closed now. I still want to talk to him about books and find out what he reads. I wonder what Kai reads, he said he does. I've always loved the idea of reading books together with a friend. Haven isn't a heavy reader like I am so we don't have that connection.

"Alright let's get dressed, Alpha will be upset if we don't hurry," Kai says taking charge again and glancing at us. I nod and glance down at my black wrap making sure I'm still modest. My shoes are a bit muddy and grass sticks to the sides of them. I know my hair is a tangled mess from climbing the tree and my face feels weird from the war paint. I'll have to take a shower soon, but for now I need to be presentable. We have guests.

Ezra walks to the closet and starts digging inside and Kai joins him. Ollie walks back in, grinning, and swoops down and grabs the sweatpants on the floor. I decide it's best to take my leave now. I don't want to be in here when the guys change, not that it would matter to them, I think. I begin to leave when Milo cuts me off.

"Wait," he says quickly and fishes his hand into his pocket. He pulls out my phone and I am hit with a huge amount of guilt and gratitude. 

"Oh! Milo thank you!" I exclaim giving him the best grateful face I can give. My mind starts racing about Jayden and his panicked texts and calls. What could he have meant? When I left with the boys for our surprise picnic, he started texting me like crazy. Asking if I was okay and said I was in grave danger of something. I didn't get the chance to call him back because Ezra was rude and I got really upset. Then it all went downhill. Literally.

I fell into the lake and nearly forgot about the whole thing because I almost drowned. Thankfully, Milo picked up my phone on the way down. Then the boys freaked out because I was freezing and we raced to Kai's house. Then caught Kai's sister Laylah and her new boyfriend in the act. But then again, Kai and I had an amazing moment together. Kissing in his bed. Fully clothed of course but still. It felt amazing.

I still have to catch Ruby up on that and I'm sure Haven would love to hear about my kiss with Kai. Then I being to wonder what we are now. Are we officially dating? Would my parents truly allow it? It sounds like their love story so maybe it'll be okay...

"You're welcome," Milo says sheepishly.

I check it quickly, making sure it still works, and find no more messages. "I gotta call Jayden to make sure everything's okay," I tell them starting to walk towards the door, "see you downstairs."

They all say good-bye and I shut the door behind me. I walk down the wooden hall towards my guest room and open the door. I find the fireplace stone-cold and my bed unmade along with my torn clothes on the ground. I sigh and shut the door behind me, collapsing onto my thick blanketed bed. The bed engulfs me and I suddenly feel exhausted from running around all day long. I smell like the lake, pine tree sap, and mud. It's probably worse for the boys who have werewolf smell.

I quickly click on Jayden's number and hold the phone up to my ear hoping he picks up. It clicks and I hear a loud breath on the other end, "Hello?" his voice asks.

I let out a sigh of relief, "Jayden! It's me, Brook."

Then I hear him gasp, "Brook! Brook are you okay? Did they hurt you? I was so worried! Are you okay?!"

My eyes widen, "Yes of course! Why wouldn't I be?"

He falls silent for a moment.

"Jayden?"

"I-I just was worried."

"Seriously? You were seriously freaking out, and I know you don't do that often," I point out flipping onto my back staring up at the antler chandelier. The wooden ceiling is very smooth but I see little imperfect lines in the wood. I stretch my legs up feeling the muscles ache and pull. I find slight relief in it so I continue to stretch my legs up.

"Yes, I-I'm fine."

"Really?" I question starting to worry about him, "You don't sound okay..."

"No really, I'm okay. I was just a little bit suspicious about you... being with those boys... alone... what did you do?"

"Oh we went into the wood for a picnic," I answer immediately, "yeah they wanted to surprise me."

I hear his shaky breath on the other end, "Oh."

I shrug, "Yeah it was good until I fell into the lake."

He gasps, "What!?"

I chuckle and nod knowing he can't see me, "Yeah I rolled down a hill and into the lake. I would have drowned if the boys hadn't come and saved me," I joke easily, but finding it a bit strange to lie to him like this. Well technically I'm not lying... I'm telling him what happened, just without the parts of their super speed and why I really rolled down the hill. But I did roll down the hill.

"Oh are you okay? The lake must be freezing!"

"Mhm, Kai carried me back to his house that was close by. I got into some warmer clothes and we hung out there for a little while. Then we went back home and played a fun game of War. It's pretty much capture the flag but... a bit more intense."

"Home?"

I pause and realize I just called the pack house my home. Why did that come so easily? I get an uneasy feeling because everything is coming so easily now. Why can I lie to Jayden so easily? Bending the truth is just like lying. Do I already feel comfortable with this new life? Maybe I do. I remember in the beginning I was so against being a werewolf. That was last night. What will happen tomorrow?

"I-I mean the cabin. Their families hang out there together. They have a bunch of guest rooms so they stay there. I stayed overnight, remember?" I refer to our conversation earlier during lunch.

"Yeah... hey uh where is it? Do you think I could see it sometime?"

I think about it, "Um, maybe? I'm not sure..." We have guests that are human right now, I guess it would be okay... But then again it may be risky. "I have to ask, and I'm not exactly sure where we are anyways. It's all new to me."

"Oh right."

We fall silent. I listen to the quiet crackle of static in the background wondering what he's doing right now. I sigh softly and lower my legs and trace my hand on my black wrap. I find the metal clip on the side that keeps everything tied together. The wrap is pretty much a black fabric that wraps around my body keeping everything in place and making me feel like a ninja. I slowly unwrap it leaving me in my black sports bra.

"So how are you?" I ask trying to fill the awkward silence.

"Oh uh, tired."

"Hm."

Silence.

I slide off the bed and find another bundle of teenage girl clothes in the drawer. I put on the long sleeve evergreen shirt and dark blue jeans with the nice white socks. "So..." I say slowly, "That was all you were worried about?"

"Oh! Yeah that's pretty much it."

"Cool."

Silence.

I inhale deeply as I fold the wrap, "So I'll see you Monday then," I tell him remembering I need to get downstairs.

"Hey uh where are you anyways? I tried your home phone but nothing."

"Oh I'm at the cabin."

"Again? Why?"

"Just another visit. Turns out my parents finally decided to invite me after all these years, I guess. Kai's mom is over along with... some other couple. It's fine, no big deal."

"Oh, so are the boys with you?"

I nod, "Yeah...? Their parents are here."

"Huh," he says sounding a bit upset.

"Jayden?"

"Yeah?"

"What is it?"

"What? Nothing."

"Okay..." I say slowly frowning slightly. "Well I'll see you Monday, 'kay? I have to call Haven now."

"Right, okay see you Monday. Bye."

"Bye."

I pull the phone back and tap the red button for end call. I inhale deeply staring at my phone feeling a bit confused. Was that really all it was? Does he really mistrust the boys that much? There has to be something else, there just has to be. But what? I sigh and tap on Haven's contact readying myself to tell the same story. Then I realize I have to tell her about my kiss with Kai. She'll go nuts when I tell her! I smile softly feeling a little normal and preparing myself for the conversation.

She picks up and I can't help but smile. 

"Haven, do I have a story to tell you!"