-George-

I walked around town, feeling slightly lost. It was a Saturday, so I didn't have much to do. I'd been given a week off school for my depression and my brother, and I didn't have any homework to do. I'd be swamped come Monday, but I'd manage. That lack of of anything to do left me wandering the streets. Geoffrey had asked me to leave for a few hours, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of surprise he'd be cooking up.

I hated myself for it, but I couldn't say no. Geff had been missing for so long, and he'd seemed so excited when he asked, that I couldn't work up the will to say I wanted to stay with him. I pondered what that could mean for our future when I caught a glimpse of someone familiar step into an alleyway. I couldn't think of who I'd have seen that I knew, none of my friends willingly went into the alleyways alone or even had a reason too, so I followed, confused as I tried to figure it out.

I stepped into the alley to find a dead end with no one in sight; though there was a pretty looking cat sitting on a dumpster nearby. It had a nice golden-brown color, and I stared at it in interest for a minute until it mewed, and I shook my head, sighing and leaving the alleyway to walk in the street again.

I walked for a while, slowly circling the small town and wandering around as I waited for the text from Geoffrey to tell me it was okay to come home. Honestly, I must've been an idiot to agree to this, but... Geff was home.

I caught another glimpse of someone, and this time, I hid, stepping to the side and watching them. He scanned the street, looking for something. I kept out of his sight until he turned and walked into the alley. It was Alex! I hurriedly stepped out of my hiding spot and ran to the alley, peeking in.

I saw him leaning against a wall, fingering a green leaf with a distracted look, his eyes slightly glazed as he physically kept the leaf away from himself, holding his hand at waist level as he visibly shook. I could tell he was addicted to whatever it was.

"Hey! Alex! I finally found you!" He blinked, jerking upright and staring at me. I took a step forward, smiling as I did so, excited to finally be able to thank him properly, and he bolted, dashing towards me as he ducked behind a dumpster.

I blinked, confused, then went to check behind the dumpster. All I found was an open manhole and that cute golden-brown cat from before. It was an odd tabby, apparently a bit disturbed by Alex having ducked in here and moved the manhole cover in his flight. I wondered why he had run- it wasn't like I was dangerous or anything.

The cat was staring at the leaf, and I reached in, grabbing it to figure out what it was. An odd thing, it definitely wasn't Marijuana, and I didn't think it was tobacco, so what was it?

I shrugged, pocketing it and walking back out into the street as the cat started growling loudly. I ignored it, wondering if I should ask Geoffrey or look it up myself. I started walking again, bored, and left the still crazed cat in the alley.

What had set it off on such a tantrum?
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-Alex-

I paced, back and forth, my limbs twitching now and then. I didn't want the catnip, I knew it did crazy weird things to me, and I needed to be on my a-game. The fact that George had caught me and taken it, though, was my main worry. What human was addicted to catnip? That was just not normal.

My only consolation was that he didn't know that the Were existed, he'd likely just assume I was a weird person. Still, I couldn't help the chilling feeling shivering it's way down my spine. It gnawed at me, making me want to chase after the boy... the man... he was a nineteen year old. What did you even call someone in that age range?

I shook my head, growling under my breath. I knew I didn't want it, but that didn't mean I didn't want it. I craved the catnip, and I knew I'd get withdrawal symptoms after a month without even a bit. I'd been fine until I'd picked up that leaf, the scent hitting me like a ton of bricks.

I'd been through the worst of my symptoms while I'd been unconscious, but now they were hitting me hard. I was lucky it was just shakiness and the occasional eye-twitch. I paused, realizing that time had passed. I needed some water. I turned and heard a curse. I bolted, hearing the AC guys chasing me. I must've just avoided whatever trap they'd placed down for me. I leapt onto the dumpster, leapt off the other side, then slipped behind it, shifting before they'd caught up.

I slid the man hole cover back into place, looking up as they looked in. I scampered away, as if afraid of them, running away and once again avoiding them. I'd need to pay more attention in the future; stupid addiction.

I knew that the rival Alpha would be searching for me, trying to kill me before I could become any bigger of a threat than I already was- all I had to do was stay out of his way for around a week. By then, if I acted right and kept my Pride-mates safe, I should be strong enough to at least keep my ground. What I needed, though, was a way to grow stronger than him, a way to out do him well enough that I could mark him.

If one Alpha marked another Alpha, he became a beta, losing whatever genetic victory had blessed him in the first place. Then he could be marked again and become part of your pack. That wasn't common, fallen Alphas tended to hold their grudges for a long, long time after they fell.

I kept walking, slipping into another alley and climbing up to the roof, then I sighed. This was where I'd been nabbed the first time- and it annoyed me to know that I would have to watch out for Orlando in the future. No witch I'd heard of could beat a clan-lord, and Orlando was next in line for the position.

I wondered what I was going to do. I was alone save my two Pride mates, one of which was going to be courted by a Vampire. This situation was so far removed from whatever reality had been for me, once upon a time. I blinked, biting my lip. The Vampire... he was an anima. He wouldn't be as strong as Orlando, but... he'd still be able to manipulate souls. Maybe... an idea for later. For now, I needed to get my act together.

I decided to start with simple things. My job. I had to teach Geoffrey how to fight, and I needed to find a place to hold pack meetings. Regular gatherings, maintaining the pack, keeping them safe, teaching them- serving our packs made Alphas strong while ruling them made us weak. We needed a mixture of both to maintain respect and loyalty. This alpha knew that, but he also had my old pack. Loyalty, once earned, was hard to kill.

Of course, I also needed to check up on Marco, I couldn't let a clanless, covenless Vampire wander around unsupervised. And I couldn't let the strange alpha kill him. He hadn't broken any rules, so I couldn't kill him or even leave him to die according to draconian law. It figured I'd have to start protecting the one Vampire I actually hated. The only one I'd ever wanted so badly to kill.

I sighed, beginning the search for Marco's scent. I found it, hours later, near the edge of town, and I huffed, walking back and forth for a few minutes before walking purposefully away. Marco would know I wanted to see him. I hoped he came, otherwise I'd have one heck of a time tracking him down.

I made my way to a roof and sat down, wondering what I could do to strengthen my Pride. Vampires were Vampires, they couldn't join- not as far as anyone knew. They were supposedly unchangeable, so trying to bond your soul to theirs- as the bond did- would fail. Assuming, of course, they even wanted in in the first place. For obvious reasons, none ever had.

At least... none had that were known about. I very much doubted that Marco was the first Vampire to have a change of heart; I couldn't bring myself to believe it. So I didn't. I began to wonder if it was possible for him to become a part of my Pride.

I shook my head and continued to wait- if I asked, it would have to be after Geoffrey accepted him, or when I was desperate; and I'd need to know what I could give him to convince him to stay. What could convince him to really mean he was a part of my Pride, and could make him loyal enough to me to be worth risking the attempt?
____________________________________

-George-
I walked into our house, and I froze as I smelled something wonderful. I blinked, then walked into the kitchen, staring at my brother. He was just grabbing the phone off the wall to type something in when I cleared my throat. He jumped, and stared at me for a moment before recognition hit his face, then he grinned self-consciously.

It was always strange to see a fairly buff guy close to six-feet tall, wear shy expressions like they were his most natural go-to. Of course, this was Geoff, so it felt more normal than it should have. I smiled at him, waving.

"I'm back, Geoff... we're you about to call me?" I grinned, hoping it broke through his surprise and helped him remember. He chuckled, shaking his head.

"I called you two minutes ago- you left your phone on the table." I blinked, looking at the table. Sure enough, my phone was there. That left me with a blush on my face, something not many people have seen; I don't blush at much, but Geoff could always trick me into it.

"Oh... hehe... sorry?" I scratched the back of my head self-consciously, jumping as a flash of light shot through the room. I whipped my head towards the door, only slightly behind and to the right of Geoff.

"You little devil! Give me that picture!" I dashed after the little girl, and she squealed as she ran; somehow managing to outpace me until she reached the stairs heading up. I grabbed her around the waist and she screeched, hurling the camera up the stairs.

Her twin caught it, and I stared, her evil grin revealing her intention. I paled as she started to step backwards, knowing I couldn't beat her. I had lost. I hung my head in shame, going limp and crushing my sister to the stairs as she let out a squeal.

Then we all started laughing. Geoffrey hadn't left the kitchen, I could hear his chuckling from there, and that made me laugh even harder. It was a stupid game the twins played, trying to take pictures of us in our most embarrassing moments and escaping to their room before we could catch them. It was the only time I'd ever seen Geoffrey willingly be aggressive.

I refused to count the locker room incident.

I grinned up at Abbie, and she smiled, sticking out her tongue at me. "We win! Again!" She laughed, running into her room before dashing over to the computer. She'd print it out and keep it in her and Sophie's photo album. They'd collected enough over the past five years to need one.

They would need a second soon. Of course, Mom's photo album for the family more than made up for it; there was more embarrassing dirt on the twins in there than they could ever collect for me and Geoff.

Besides, this little game was something that helped us stay close- I would gladly lose some dignity to stay their friend. After dad had left, I'd realized how much I took being a family for granted. I wasn't making that mistake twice.

I grabbed Sophie and she screamed again as I carried her back to the kitchen, tickling her mercilessly until we arrived and Geff dutifully pulled out the marker. "Prepare to be beautified!" I laughed as Geoff blushed a grin and began drawing on her face.

He only did a few lines- a dot in her nose, a permanent smile, eyelashes, that stuff- then moved on to drawing on her arm. He'd gotten good at drawing since he'd left school. Sophie would have no reason to complain about her arms.

Sophie laughed as Geoff got up to her elbows before Abbie came to her rescue. All it took to scare off Geoffrey was a bit of cold water. He ran, pretend-screaming, though it had been a real scream the first few times. I'd always wondered why, it was just water after all. I guess I knew why, now.

Of course, I wasn't scared of anything. I ran from her gerbil to... protect Geoffrey. Definitely. The high pitched squeal was definitely from Sophie as Geoffrey dropped her to her feet. Definitely. Yes, no doubts.

We played like that for a few minutes, laughing and screaming as we chased each other around the house. Geff had to stop to finish cooking, sadly, but I distracted the twins well enough. I never even questioned that mom had managed to have two sets of twins- me and Geff were different enough that the identical twins our sisters had wound up being made us seem like close brothers.

Regardless, I would never let my twin down, and I knew they'd drench him given the chance- so I took the proverbial gerbil-to-the-face. Multiple times. Never got any less disgusting either- the things hairless stomach dragging across my face as I shuddered, held down by the twins.

I wouldn't have managed if it had been a boy, but they had that much mercy at least and I didn't have to deal with that being dragged across my face.

I finally escaped and hid their gerbil in his cage, proceeding to chase them around the house until Geff appeared with a spatula in his jeans and three whisks in his hands . We froze when we saw that the whisks had some kind of chocolate on them.

Geff smiled and said one word that had us whooping with excitement and rushing him. "Brownies."

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(A/N) Hey Guys! How's it going?

Sorry this took so long, I hit some writer block and got stuck. I'll be able to do better this time. I'll try to do better from now on. :3

Till next time, Sept-Mates!

Your Poet and Scribe,
~ShadeFinder<(0^0)>