/// Lulu ///

"I'm going on the bus this morning," I announced to Trixie. She blinked, a spark of joy in her eyes. "Really?"

I nodded, tying my shoes while Trixie ate her bowl of oatmeal. "I'm not spending another day in that stupid car of yours," I could barely drown out the music on the way home, with it being extra loud to Trixie and Desiree's delight.

"Lulu, don't say rude things to your sister," Mom chided lightly, giving me a look. "Are you sure you want to go on the bus? You never normally wake up early enough for it,"

"Oh, it's fine Stephanie," Trixie interjected with a sickeningly sweet tone. "If Lulu doesn't want to drive in my crummy car, that's perfectly fine. I can have it alllll to myself,"

"I'll be fine, really!" I reassured Mom. "Besides, one of the friends I made yesterday takes the bus. They asked if I wanted to go with them,"

Both Trixie and Mom had a surprised look on their faces. While Trixie went on to ignore what I said, Mom beamed. "I'm glad you made a friend,"

"Yeah," I grabbed my duffle bag, swinging over my shoulder. "I'm gonna head out. According to them the bus comes in about ten minutes, but I wanna make sure I'm there on time,"

"Okay sweetie! Have a good day," Mom waved to me, and I waved back. Slowly, I walked outside, and began walking down the street. There appeared to be a pack that waited at this stop. I gulped. I had to get closer if I wanted to identify the pack member escorting me.

Upon arrival, it was easy to see it was a pack of four. Three guys and one girl. None of them were Cynder and her pack.

I kept my distance, continuously glancing at the pack. They talked excitedly amongst one another, about God knows what.

One of them branched off, walking over to face me. "Hey," he said.

I gave the guy a weird look. "Can I help you?" I asked, genuinely confused.

The guy gave me a grin, and I swore I saw fangs. "I understand you're supposed to be new and all, but our pack usually takes this bus stop. So I'll kindly have to ask you to leave, unless you want trouble," he gave a little growl, his eyes narrowing.

I backed up, nervous. "I-I don't want trouble, but I'm meeting someone here today,"

"Oh really?" Another guy walked up to me, baring his sharp teeth. "Well, your little friend isn't here to save you now," he snarled. "So get out-,"

"Actually," a new voice piped out from behind me. "I'm right here,"

I whipped around to see an unfamiliar guy standing behind me. He wore a short-sleeved sweater, and had dark brown hair that ended at his shoulders. Immediately I was able to recognize the same hoop earring on his left ear that Cynder had.

"Excuse me?" The guy growled, furious. The newcomer gave him a lazy smile, while he gently moved me to the side. "James, buddy, since when have you become so hostile to a damsel in distress, hm? That's no way to treat a lady, and you won't be getting a girlfriend like that,"

I thought I heard a couple of James's packmates letting out snickers from behind him. The wolf whipped around to snap at them. "Be quiet!"

He turned back around to face my saviour, who kept talking. "And besides, from what I can tell you looked fully ready to shift if this poor rabbit didn't leave. If I recall, isn't shifting, in broad daylight like this... against the rules?"

James' confidence seems to crack, as he had a conflicted look on his face. Finally, he backed off. "Fine," he grumbled, signalling with his hand for his packmates to back off and move away from them.

I gazed at the guy who had come to my rescue, extremely grateful. "Thank you so much," I told him. "To be honest, I don't know that I would've been able to deal with those guys,"

The guys smiled down at me. "It's no problem, Laurel. At least, that's what Cynder says is your name?"

"Yes, it is!" I grinned, holding out my hand to shake his. "Who are you?"

The guy took my hand, and gave it a solid shake. "My name's Ansel. I'm Cynder's beta, and, seeing as you managed to show up, you are interested in joining our pack?"

I had been up almost all night, pondering what Cynder had proposed to me. I finally think I had a way to stay human while being able to join a pack and gain friends.

"Yeah, I think so," I said with a small voice. Ansel smiled kindly. "If you're sure," he replied. "But if you change your mind before lunch, you can let me or one of the others know, alright?"

I nodded, feeling even more grateful that Ansel was a reasonable... well, werewolf.

The faded yellow bus rolled to a slow stop in front of us. Ansel let me go on before him, and I chose a spot for us around the middle.

"So, Miss Laurel Castillo," he began, giving me a charming smile.

"Please, call me Lulu," I interrupted, my voice a little awkward and shakily in the moment.

Ansel's smile curled into a playful one. "Alright then, Lulu, do tell me about yourself,"

I played with the strap of my duffle bag, probably blushing. "Oh, well, I live with me, my mom, my step dad John and my step sister Trixie, who you've probably already heard about, right?"

The werewolf nodded. "Yeah. Just to set the record, a lot of people don't really like Mitzi and her goons. She's kind of a... well, what I'm trying to say is bitch, but personally I don't like insulting women unless absolutely necessary,"

"Ah, I see," I replied. "And Mitzi is one of those cases?"

"Precisely!" He snorted, laughing a little.

I laughed with him, squeezing the strap of my duffle bag. "What about Desiree? She came over to our house last night, and her and Trix wouldn't shut up,"

Ansel grinned cheekily. "Oh, she's delightfully terrible. Not nearly as bad as Mitzi, but suffers from a good old' fashioned case of 'bitch by association,' if you will,"

I nodded. "She still is kinda shit tho," I pointed out.

"Well, as long as you're with us, you won't have to deal with those pesky bitches, at least in public," Ansel pointed out. "We'll help you out, since that so-called sister of yours won't,"

"Thank you," I sighed in relief. As the bus slowed to a stop, I couldn't help but feel optimistic for my future here at William Hunter.