Connorsford

"Dante, I know you and your sister probably won't be able to get along and I'll respect your privacy by not asking why. But, you two at least need to be civil with each other. You can't argue every time you speak to each other, Avoid each other if that's what it takes, but I need you both to try and at least act like you can stand each other, especially around Ares. He doesn't need to see or hear you two arguing every time you two are around each other."

A male voice she now recognized as James said his tone gentle but reprimanding.

“If you didn’t notice SHE talked to ME” Dante bit out using her anger to block the tears she felt forming.

“I didn’t say anything until she used---she started it, I finished it…have you ever been betrayed? By someone all your life you considered to be a part of yourself? Someone who was so close to you, that you felt what they felt and visa versa? No? Well that’s what it is. That’s what happened. She left me to suffer while she stayed here with you guys a happy go lucky family. I’m just trying to fit in, to have a family again. She keeps ruining it. I don’t need you to tell me what I need to do, I understand, and I’m trying. Why don’t you go talk to that bitch?” Dante asked in a broken voice. Finally her tears fell. There was no venom in her voice….just broken girl. She bit her lip and turned away, trying to stop crying.

Jac hesitated at Gavin’s bold, sly grin that crossed over his lips when he looked at her.

"Yeah." He replied, an excited tweak in his voice. Jac raised an eyebrow and gave a returning grin.

"Bonfire starts around four-thirty, five ish. I'll see you on the porch." He said

“Okay…guess what?” Jac said feeling suddenly better, more light-hearted, and more playful. She waited a heartbeat then tapped him on the nose and started running.

“Tag, your it” she said with a laugh. SHE knew it was ridiculous but she loved running and she felt like being a kid again…if only for a few minutes.

James closed his eyes and let his chin drop against his chest. He listened silently but intently to Dante's words. Near the end of her little speech, he looked up to notice tears in her eyes. He stared at her for a moment, trying to figure out how to stop her from crying. Like all guys, he hated it when girls cried. His brows furrowed as his wolf spoke up in his mind, 'Do something, idiot.' For a moment, he look confused and wondered why his wolf would speak up now of all times. With a mental shrug, he decided to follow the advice of his wolf and he pulled Dante into a comforting embrace.

"I don't know what it's like to move into a new home, but I do know what it's like to feel as if you're being betrayed by someone who should be supportive of you. I don't know what happened between you and your sister," James paused here, unsure of what he was about to say, "but I promise that if you try not to lash out whenever she talks to you, I'll try and get her to leave you alone, at least during the day."

Kiyoshi glanced down at their entwined hands for the barest of instants, and then his smile reappeared as he relaxed once more.
"Mm," he agreed, squeezing her hand gently back. "Maybe that would work," he agreed. "I know I would enjoy it."

He nodded silently to himself, reflecting.
"Alright, then," he murmured. "Let's see if we can raise some interest...? Though perhaps it would be better to do it after the moon wanes..."

Gavin flinched when Jac bopped his nose. It was so random and unexpected and... cute. He let out a deep laugh as she ran off, letting her get a decent head start. He had thought about saying something to her about her sister, for the sanity of the pack, but since she seemed to be feeling all better, Gavin decided against opening that can of worms again. At least for today.

When she got far enough away that he was positive it would take him a little while to catch up to her, Gavin took off like a bat out of hell. All of them loved running, even his wolf had gotten over the fact that he had growing affection for someone who was potentially not his mate. Her playful mood had rubbed off on him, and he smirked as he caught up to her. Gavin threw himself at her and tackled her to the ground, promptly rolling off of her.

Laying on the grass on his back, Gavin laughed for a minute. Then sighed, and looked at Jac. "Don't you have class or something?" He asked in a teasing tone.

Jac laughed hard when Gavin tackled her. Out of breath she lay there on the ground a smile on her face.

"Don't you have class or something?" he asked

“Ouch. Trying to get rid of me already? Geeze, didn’t know I was that boring.” Jac said with a mock pout.

“And what about you? Aren’t you going to go to class or would that cramp your style?” she asked with a grin and a wink.


~~~


"I don't know what it's like to move into a new home, but I do know what it's like to feel as if you're being betrayed by someone who should be supportive of you. I don't know what happened between you and your sister, but I promise that if you try not to lash out whenever she talks to you, I'll try and get her to leave you alone, at least during the day."

James said as he hugged her.

Dante body wracked with sobs for a moment before they subsided and she sniffled a little and stepped back.

“I’m sorry, I ruined your shirt” she said with a wet laugh.

“I’ll try not to be so…explosive in public” She said with a frown as she looked down at her hands.

“I really am sorry” she murmured.

Reina calmly munched on her dry cereal as the chaos around the house began to diffuse. She’d been listening closely to the Chaos involving Dante and Jac. From last night and this morning she’d figured out that Jac and Dante were fighting, and Dante felt that Jac betrayed her. From this morning's hullabaloo she'd also gotten a hunch that Gavin might have a crush on Jac. Reina grinned, it was information that she would definitely use against him. Perhaps she could manipulate the situation for her B-day prank. The information Ray had was a good start, but she was naturally curious and needed to know more if she wanted to create a large enough amount of trouble. She finished off the last of her cereal and placed the bowl in the counter, she would have to do some detective work later on in the day. Perhaps she'd skip some of school to go back to the pack house while people were out. She could rifle through drawers, build that rope of clothes, and set a few traps.

Glancing at the clock Reina realized she was going to be late for school unless she got someone to drive her. She smiled and poured herself another bowl of cereal. She had a record of Tardiness, ditching, and suspension. She wasn’t going to arrive at school on time if she could help it. She glanced around the kitchen to see Duncan and Kathy still there. Duncan wasn't a surprise but Ray was a little confused to see Kathy; she wasn’t usually the kind to be late for school.

Trying to look inconspicuous Reina turned to block the clock from Kathy’s view. Then, a thinly masked grin on her face she turned to Kathy and asked, “Kathy, how ya’ doing on this fine morning?” Ray almost groaned, she needed better conversation questions. She’d completely forgotten her mental note not to ask people how they were that she'd set for herself last night. But, the damage was done, and she wanted to distract Kathy, so she waited for Kathy’s response.

"Yes, Jac, that is my ultimate plan. That's why I'm letting you come with me tonight." Gavin teased her back, "Yes, attending class today would totally cramp my style." He then realized he didn't warn her yet, and with the sudden speed of his realization, he put his hand on her shoulder. "I have to tell you... They'll treat you differently than you'd probably think. It's subtle, but definitely there." A smirk crossed his face. The girls would definitely be hating on Jacquelyn.

"I haven't entirely figured out why, but I have a few theories. If you're around any drama- which, I can guarantee you, will happen- they'll probably look to you to calm things down. They don't do it consciously, I think something about us just radiates power." He thought if there was anything else. There was, lots of stuff ...

"Um. You're going to see some things. And you're going to smell some things. You'll be able to figure it out, though- if it makes your nose numb, move away." He laughed. "The guys will flock to you- at least, the girls flock to me, so I only suspect they'll do it to you, too." Gavin looked at her very seriously. "I know you're tough, and don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure if you felt insulted you could take out any of them in half a heartbeat- but if anyone gives you trouble, come get me. It shouldn't happen, though, I told them you were there as... with me." Kind of. Not really. Not at all. "They should leave you alone. At least the guys. But hey, anything can happen when you mix drugs and alcohol."

Gavin pushed himself onto his feet and offered her a hand. "Not to insult your intelligence, or anything." He smiled genuinely.

Ares looked up as the beating didn't come and he quickly grasped the book and held it in front of his chest protectively. He gave the Alpha a quick apologize and a deep bow then left with James and walked into the kitchen. There, he saw the girl he had angered yesterday and he looked at her fearfully, unsure of how to act. But she didn't seem mad, she had even apologized to him yesterday. But it was all his fault. Ares guessed he had to come and apologize for not shaking hands with her, too. There was also another girl there. Hesitantly, he took a step forward and stuttered "...I-I..."

He took a deep, shaky breath and tried again, this time managed to speak a full sentence without stuttering "...I'm sorry for yesterday..." He looked at his hand, unsure if he should offer his hand to her but he had promised himself yesterday that he wouldn't be such a weakling anymore. Taking another deep breath, Ares mentally counted '...1...2...3...4...' and when he seemed to calm down again, Ares pressed his eyes tightly shut and thrust his hand forward "...IamAresItisapleasuretomeetyou..." He said as quickly as he could and then blushed bright red as he realized he just spoke in a none-exist language. He fidgeted uncomfortably and waited for her answer, his eyes darted back and forth between James' form, the other girl's form and Ray's form.

"Yes, Jac, that is my ultimate plan. That's why I'm letting you come with me tonight. Yes, attending class today would totally cramp my style. I have to tell you... They'll treat you differently than you'd probably think. It's subtle, but definitely there. I haven't entirely figured out why, but I have a few theories. If you're around any drama- which, I can guarantee you, will happen- they'll probably look to you to calm things down. They don't do it consciously, I think something about us just radiates power. Um. You're going to see some things. And you're going to smell some things. You'll be able to figure it out, though- if it makes your nose numb, move away. The guys will flock to you- at least, the girls flock to me, so I only suspect they'll do it to you, too. I know you're tough, and don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure if you felt insulted you could take out any of them in half a heartbeat- but if anyone gives you trouble, come get me. It shouldn't happen, though, I told them you were there as... with me. They should leave you alone. At least the guys. But hey, anything can happen when you mix drugs and alcohol. Not to insult your intelligence, or anything."

“Oh, my, my don’t tell me if guys get to…clingy…you might go all big brother on me.” Jac asked with a mock horror face thought deep down she hoped he didn’t see ‘little sister’ plastered to her forehead.

Suddenly she took his hand and pulled him down as she pulled herself up. She touched his hand lightly with her free hand before letting go with both and grinning at him.

“Like you said, I can take care of myself big boy” she said trying to shake the tingly feeling in her hands out of her mind.

“See you tonight Gavin….by the by…..your it again.” She said with a wink, then she was gone, jumping onto her old 1994 motorcycle and speeding off, not even bothering with the helmet.

It only took her half the ride to get her mind off Gavin and on the fact that she had forgotten her book bag. What hope was there to make it back to the house then to school again without breaking many traffic laws? None. She sighed and parked her bike outside the school before fixing her hair and going inside. The tide of people parted for her as usual as she made her way to her locker, then to her first class art.

James allowed Dante to cry into his shirt, a sad expression on his face. He could feel the damp spots on his shirt where her tears fell and it made him feel a bit guilty for bringing up the obviously painful subject. As she stepped back, he allowed a small smile to cross his handsome features.

“I’m sorry, I ruined your shirt”

She said to him with a bit of a laugh. He shook his head in forgiveness of the 'crime' and laughed as well.

“I’ll try not to be so…explosive in public. I really am sorry.”

She sounded sincerely apologetic when she said this and he believed when she said she would try. He saw a hint of a frown on her face before she looked down and once again he felt a pang of guilt at bringing up the touchy subject.

"Don't worry, you're already forgiven," his voice was deep and calming as he spoke, a hint of a smile on his face and in his voice.

Calvin snorted and shook his head. “Alright well sit tight for a minute, the road can wait.”

He heaved into the kitchen and grabbed a sandwich steak out of the freezer, sliding it under the grill and grabbing a crusty roll. Breakfast was always the main meal of the day for Calvin, and he didn’t have time of day for the dainty cereals and fruit assortments some of the other members of the household favoured. It only took a few minutes to be ready, and the smell of the salty beef sliver overtook any other scent that might have been detectable in the kitchen. Slapping the meat into the roll, he rejoined Anya in the hallways, his breakfast in hand.

“Alright let’s go shall we?” he said nonchalantly, making his way out of the front door and bidding her to follow him as though the whole thing had been his idea in the first place. He devoured the sandwich before they’d even reached the end of the driveway, and started to jog on the spot a little, warming up his legs. “Where were you thinking of running? We need to make it a good one, I gotta be in top shape for tonight.”

Adrian stood in the doorway of the safe room, hand on his chin, grimacing. The mess down here really had gotten out of control; there were boxes of allsorts piled up everywhere. If there was ever a real emergency which they’d need to retreat into this room for...well, it’d be awkward to say the least. And worse still the escape tunnel at the back of the room wasn’t accessible without climbing over a bunch of stuff.

No two ways about it, it was time for a clear out. With a sigh he rolled up his sleeves, deciding there was no time like the present. If it got out of hand he’d get one of the guys to come down and help him (maybe there were some forgotten treasures down here...old video games, etc). As he clamped his hands onto a particularly interesting looking box, his PDA beeped in his pocket. Seizing the excuse to delay some tedious labour, he took it out and read the email.

Ade, after your message last night I thought I’d mention that someone reported a young female wolf around town yesterday that nobody recognised. Also, there were two people sleeping out in a car on the outskirts last night. Not hidden, nothing suspicious, but thought I’d let you know.

Adrian scratched his head thoughtfully. People roughing it in a car on the edge of town? Nothing sinister about that in itself, but Connorsford wasn’t exactly the sort of town people ‘passed through’ on a road trip very often. It wasn’t on any highway route. He forwarded the message to Duncan, adding the note:

Hey buddy, keep an eye out for this when you take the patrol later alrighty?

Kathy blinked and looked up at Reina. She’d gone into total daydream mode alone in the lounge with her cereal. She still needed to get dressed and get ready for school, but it didn’t sound like anybody else was rushing. “I’m alright Ray.” She said, “Happy birthday by the way. I saw on the calendar when I was making breakfast. Don’t try and pump me for information about any party because I don’t know anything.”

She stood up and put her bowl to the side. Her head had practically gone to sleep again, and she stretched up tall to work out the tiredness with a small yawn. It was difficult to know what Reina was up to half the time, but it could be that she was being especially nice because it was her birthday and she didn’t want to annoy anyone before she had their presents. “What are your plans? You walking down to school in a minute?”

“Oh, my, my don’t tell me if guys get to…clingy…you might go all big brother on me.” Gavin caught the worry behind her mask of playful teasing.

He shrugged passively, "Not exactly." Jac pulled him back down to the ground and let him fall. He huffed and shook his head. Women. Standing up again, he brushed the dirt and grass blades off his shorts. While Jac headed off to school, Gavin grabbed his coffee and her empty mug, and went inside, hoping to get a few games on his computer before he had to go out. On his way up, he gave Kathy a wave and said a quick congrats to Reina on another year conquered. Parts of his mind still on her, Gavin washed her mug and put it away.

"Me either!" He said right after Kathy about the party. Then he mentally kicked himself, but supposed his and Jac's being gone wouldn't upset the balance too much, Calvin had a basketball game tonight, anyways. "I know nothing of a party."

In his room, he booted up his computer and took another gulp of coffee. Nectar of the gods, it was. His eyes fell on his backpack, thinking about what was inside of it. He chewed the inside of his cheek. The whole thing was bothering him... He considered confiding in Calvin- but was completely unsure how he'd respond. On one hand, being in possession of such a feminine thing would undoubtedly draw a laugh. On the other hand, it was a pack-related matter. If one girl knew her mate, others were bound to follow.

On the nightstand, which is backpack was leaning against, his phone erupted into a violent lightshow of vibration, and danced around in a galore of rapid taps. He saw that he had missed four calls- undoubtedly from Blondie. Gavin pushed the call to 'busy' and texted Calvin: "Got something to show you." Gavin was a social being, he couldn't really keep secrets... And he didn't want to involve Jac. After he sent it, the damned thing rang again. Annoyed and angry, Gavin shut it off and threw it on his bed.

Around noon, he finally quit playing games- over all, happy with what he accomplished- and jumped in the shower. After he changed, he grabbed his backpack and swung it over his shoulder, ran downstairs. There were still a few things he had to do before tonight...

Anya rolled her eyes when Gavin decided it was time to be off, quickly, she shed her dressing gown and threw it in the hall. She was only in shorts with a vest top, but once they got moving it would be fine. The young woman preferred to jog and then eat, rather than what Gavin was doing. Cramp wasn't cool and she didn't intend to get cramp if she could help it. She followed Gavin without question, though she arched her eyebrow slightly. As they walked, she stretched her arms out, warming up the muscles as they drew to a halt at the bottom of the driveway, where she followed Gavin's lead and began to jog gently on the spot, stretching her calves and thighs as she did so. Reaching up, she gathered her hair together and tugged it into a high ponytail, out of the way for when they were running. Strands fell around her eyes, but she ignored them, carrying on with their warm up.

"Tonight?" She was questioned, gesturing for him to follow her further down the road. There was one way in and one out of the pack house. A single road, followed by a long driveway. But from here they could access many of the paths into the surrounding forest. "We can go into the forest from here. I know Adrian said to be careful, but I'm pretty sure I'm safe with you...Unless you suddenly decide to attack me." She winked, before taking off at a fair pace, her hair streaming behind her. Anya loved to run. In fact, she often did it alone, but with Adrian's warning, she believed it best to be accompanied now. Who knew what she might run in to. Turning, she ran backwards for a few steps, waiting for Gavin to catch up with her.

"You better keep pace with me. I don't wait for those that are slow."

Lyra laughed in agreement to Kiyoshi's advice of starting the class after the full moon. "Hai, you're probably right. For the next few days no one is going to be focused on anything besides the full moon." She smiled, her eyes catching the flower still tucked beneath his ear. Why was he still wearing it? And, more importantly, why did this fact delight Lyra? She shook her head softly to clear her mind, allowing herself to simply enjoy his presence and the warmth of his hand. This was something that she would one day be doing with her mate.

WHAT?!

Lyra resisted the urge to snatch her hand away from Kiyoshi and instead allowed it to casually fall back down to her side. Her mind felt heavy at the prior thought, confused and scared for what she may have discovered. Yes, she was coming to the age where she would discover her mate, but how could it be Kiyoshi? They were friends, best friends. He was her Sempai, not lover. Or. . . Could he be both? Could it really be that simple?

She sighed slightly and rubbed her hands against her arms for the warmth of friction. Maybe she was misunderstanding this. Maybe she was anxious for the moon to come and was stirring up pretentious feelings. Maybe they were meant to be. She wanted to growl at herself, to crawl inside her shell and strange the truth from her wolf in this very moment. Because, if she was wrong, nothing would ever be simple again. With adverted eyes, she smiled softly to Kiyoshi in attempt to hide her sudden mental turmoil. "I should get going. I can't start tarnishing my record for perfect attendance now, can I?" she joked, turning back to enter the house. "I'll see you later, okay? Have a good day Sempai."

With that said, Lyra turned and ran into the house to change and dress, her mind slightly unfocused to all but the matter at hand. How, what, why? She groaned while grabbing her bag and flute, realizing that not only had she over-slept, but she missed her morning training and ran out of time to study. She had a calc test first period. Mentally she ran through her theorems and physically ran out the door towards school, sliding into the classroom moments before the bell. She forced herself to slow down and breath. She was usually so focused and driven, now, with the possibility of her mate unveiled, she was a wreck. James would love this. She sighed heavily as the test was distributed and glanced to the first question: Integrate ∫ (2sinx + 2x) dx

Easy, she thought, a small smile crossing her face as she began to work. Her mind slowly drifted away from Kiyoshi. For the moment, anyway.

For the briefest of sudden moments, Kiyoshi felt tension from Lyra. He had hardly had a chance to open his mouth and ask her what was wrong, however, when she had let her hand fall away and abruptly changed the subject.

With adverted eyes, she smiled softly to Kiyoshi in attempt to hide her sudden mental turmoil. "I should get going. I can't start tarnishing my record for perfect attendance now, can I?" she joked, turning back to enter the house. "I'll see you later, okay? Have a good day Sempai."

Kiyoshi stopped, staring after Lyra as she ran off into the house. He was very good at telling how people were feeling, and often why, but her shock and confusion and fear was something he simply could not understand. They had been talking about the moon... what did she have to worry about when it came to the moon? She had no mate, she would not be transforming. She would not have to suffer the pain of it.
Slowly, he shook his head. Maybe... maybe she had really just been worried about being late to school.

Shaking his head slowly, he wandered off to the kitchen. The house would be empty for the school day, and he thought maybe it would be nice to start dinner early for everyone. Surely there was something he could do to make it go faster, which would not involve food that would spoil over the course of the day. At least, he hoped there would be. The coming full moon made even Kiyoshi antsy, and suddenly the tai-chi master, so practiced at doing nothing, wanted something to do. He did not want to sit still, needed a distraction, need his hands busy.
Nervous. That was what they called it...

"Yeah, tonight." Calvin said, raising his eyebrows incredulously. "Darby game. I'm heading up the team again, there's a lot riding on this one. Be good to see your face in the crowd if you fancy it."

He grinned, turning aside as if he didn't much care what her response was. The fact that it was Reina's birthday hadn't so much as occured to him. Even less so when the attractive blonde mentioned how she would be 'safe with him'. (His ego filtered out any flippancy there may have been in the remark.)

"Ya we'll be fine I'm sure. There's nothing out there, and we'd know if there was." She bolted off ahead of him, and his grin broaded as he launched himself after her competitively. However she was going at full pace and had a head start, so to his dismay he didn't catch up with her before she deliberately fell back to get in-step with him. "Hey don't lay off on my account sweet stuff. Remember I'm chasing the moon, and it's just around the corner."

He threw her a wink as the forest canopy cascaded over them and the pack house and the town disappeared. He knew they had plenty of time to run more or less the full perimeter of the pack house grounds; Calvin didn't have any morning classes, just one afternoon class. As for Anya...well he didn't know her schedule but she could worry about herself.

His phone, back in his room on his bedside table, beeped and buzzed with Gavin's message, but for now there was nobody around to hear it.

Rory's eyes bugged in panic as the phone went to voicemail. What the hell? It wasn't like Gavin to switch his phone off or just let it run out of charge! And it couldn't be at a worse time! Maybe he was busy. Don't panic Rory...he said to himself, he knows the party is tonight, he's gonna have to look at his phone some time. So taking a deep breath, the scrawny boy glanced around and starting writing a text message.

Gavin! Call me dude. I just met a girl and invited her to the party tonight, but I need your help. The full moon is coming and you're the only one who understands my 'condition'.

He sent it eagerly and slipped the phone into his pocket, before wandering into class. Gavin would know what he was talking about. It was no secret that Rory had the curse of lycanthropy...everyone had seen his website. Gavin, for some reason, seemed not just interested in it, but actually seemed to relate to it. For a while, Rory had worried if Gavin was a werewolf too, but after inviting him several times to join his online web ring and Gavin repeatedly declining, Rory had ruled out that possibility. No, Gavin was just an unusually perceptive and sympathetic human. The nearest actual werewolf, as far as Rory knew, was known only by the screen-name "bloodfang" and was about fifty miles away.

It certainly was tough being the only lycan in the town.

Dante did her best to calm down. She still felt like…well crap, but there wasn’t a lot she could do about it. She sighed and looked around the library. She wasn’t registered in school yet so she couldn’t do anything there….she picked up a book with the total Fahrenheit 451 and opened it. Soon, not minutes later, she planted herself on the ground with her back against the book shelf, and lost herself in a tale of burned books.

Standing in the kitchen, Kiyoshi sighed. What few dishes had been there on the counters, he had cleaned. There was no way he could prepare the food this early in the day...
He shook his head, certain there was something he was forgetting. He always got like this at this time of month... distracted, fidgety, forgetful. He hated it, but he had to live with it. It was worth it, for the wolf. He hated the transformation, but he loved to run, and frankly the voice of his wolf could be downright useful sometimes.
When he could figure out what on earth it was trying to riddle to him...

Once a year, it whispered now. It happens to everyone, once a year.

Sure, that one was cryptic, but not nearly as much as most of his wolf's other hints. Birthday. A birthday happened to everyone once a ye-
Reina! That was what he forgot.

Smiling slightly to himself, relieved that he had remembered, Kiyoshi turned and hurried to the front door. He did not bother changing, wearing street clothes already. He had to get something for her... a present, and a cake. Yes, he would get ingredients for a cake. A chocolate cake... well, he hoped she liked chocolate. Maybe white cake with chocolate frosting was safer...
Nodding to himself, he rushed away from the house, down towards town. On foot, of course, it never occurred to him to try to go any other way. It did not take him long, with his long legs and martial artist's strength. He knew the path well and could run most of the way, if not all.

In what seemed to him a very short time, Kiyoshi had reached town. He wandered off down the street, seeking what he needed. He was not sure what to get her for a gift... so he just browsed through the windows. What would she like...? What would she like...?
Ah. There. Perhaps...
The stuffed rabbit was cute.

In minutes he had bought it, hoping she would appreciate it, and continued down towards the baking-goods store.

In the fairly vacant street, Kyoshi would have been entirely away of the stranger coming up behind him. Not least of all because the human smelled like he hadn't washed that morning. There was a tap on Kyoshi's shoulder.

"Excuse me," said the man, "you couldn't help me out could you. I don't suppose you've heard of Finchway productions have you? Ever seen the name on a building around town?"

The man, who was in his mid-thirties and looked rather dishevelled and tired, didn't sound very hopeful or optimistic and added with a sigh, "Or failing that, can you recommend a decent coffee house?"

Duncan dried his hair quickly as he walked out of the bathroom a towel wrapped around his middle, seeing his phone light up with a new message his eyes scanned the message his brow rising in slight confusion why would someone stop in this small town? the larger city was at least 5 or 6 miles away from the town with a better eason to stay there. Also a female wolf had been sighted too, nothing out of the ordinary for that most travellers passed through the forrest but they were always treated with caution incase of them working for other packs as spied finding out a packs weakness or even trying to assasinate members of the pack.

Thinking about his reply he tapped out a reply to Adrian. Sure thing, i'm heading out for morning patrol soon anyway round the grounds and town. See if i can pick up anything about our rough sleepers from some of the guys in town. I'm sure our female friend would have left a trace of something, young pups are so messy sometimes, need a hand with anything today after i get back?

Pressing send he dried the rest of his body getting dressed in a black shirt and baggy jeans making him look like an undercover officer of some sort, actually that was a good idea if he saw the two people roughing it in the car he could question them about why they were there. Opening a draw he picked out a police ID badge it was fake of course but a very convincing fake, slipping it into his back trouser pocket he pushed his phone into his other trouser pocket incase anything came up on the security system or if Duncan needed anything.

Perhaps the ID wasn't needed it was quite simple to find any new people in town everyone knew everyone.

"Well, you might be lucky," Anya grinned to herself slightly, as she kept a steady pace alongside him. It would do no good exhausting themselves on the first stretch, especially if Calvin had a big game that evening. She'd never seen him play, though it always interested her when she heard it mentioned. Of course, although she loved to run, she didn't know much about sports. In fact, she knew very little, but she wouldn't let on to Calvin about that. He'd been nice enough to invite her (even if it hadn't been a direct invite) and she too was ignorant of the party plans for Reina's birthday. Making a note to check out more sports on her laptop when she got back, she focused on keeping her strides long and using her arms to pump herself forwards. It wasn't hard for her. This was what she did best. And she hoped that when she received her wolf she would be even better at it. Fingers crossed.

"I may show my face if you play your cards right." It was her turn to throw him a wink as the trees flew past them in a blur. Although the Pack used these paths, some of them could become overgrown. Brambles snagged at their ankles occasionally, but it wasn't hard to dodge them. "Probably even easier for Calvin who has received his wolf." Pulling a slight face, she shook her head playfully. "Even with the full moon just around, the corner, you don't stand a chance against me." To prove a point, she increased her speed a little, moving so that she was running directly in front of him, with no room to manoeuvre around her. Tossing him a smile over her shoulder, she arched a eyebrow, almost teasingly, daring him to even try.

Luckily for Anya, she didn't have lessons until mid-morning. It gave them enough time to have a good long run, as well get showered and ready for school. Ugh school. It wasn't Anya's favourite thing in the world, though she was looking forwards to the music lessons that were being held afterwards.