The bright flash of Strawberry bedroom light flickering on caused us both to stir from our slumber, Strawberry and I curled into each others trying to block out the light by pulling the blanket up over our heads. I could hear a slight huff escape Physalis as his steps growing louder as he moved closer. With a sudden movement, the warmth of Strawberrys heavy duvet was ripped out from around us leaving us exposed to the cool night air. Berry and I groaned in unison.

"I will clobber you" I growled glaring through my lashes.


"As much as I would love to see you try, Berry we have to go. Roman called a meeting." Sal informed directing at his sister, Berry rolled looking over her shoulder at her alarm clock


"It's two am" she grumbled.


"yup. now move it, before Mame comes in here." He informed heading for the door.

Ar
"I am not dragging my self out of bed and across town" Berry stated firmly.


"No need, everyone's downstairs. they know how lazy your short ass is." Sal teased walking out the door not bothering to shut it.



"Should I go?" I questioned sitting up next to Berry.


"No.. its fine. Roman may be our Alpha, but he's family first and Mame will beat his ass with her cane if he's a decides to be a dick. Anyways it's about time you saw a real pack." She stated pulling herself from the bed dragging my hand with her.



A half chuckle escaped my lips as she pulled me from the bed. Despite both Strawberry and I  being wolves, we had two very different lives. Her family had been the leaders of the Aurum Falls pack for centuries.  I however never knew what it was like to have a pack, My father was born a wolf, while the mother was turned... by him even though they were in love it angered my father's alpha and so he was banished. Leaving us packless,  according to Mame, not having a pack was s the reason Quinn, Emerson and I never experienced our first, never connected with the wolf within.  It made us weak and vulnerable.

Taking the throw off Berrys reading chair I pulled it over my shoulders slowly following her out the bedroom door.  Nearing the stairs I could hear murmured voices Berry linked her arm with my mine squeezing my gently in an attempt to calm my growing nerves. It couldn't be that bad... could it... Sure.. Sal could be annoying but he had a good heart, like Mame and Berry... maybe the other would be like them.. and not like the wolves my father talked about in his drunken hazes.



Reaching the last step I frozen once more seeing a large group setting where they could in the kitchen. I'd never seen some many wolves in one room, I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat, gripping tightly onto Berry's arm she marched forward ignoring the prying eyes, out of all of them there one pair I recognized instantly Mateo Cacciatore. The bane of my high school existence. 


"Whats the trash panda doing here?" He hummed leaning against the island.



"Don't call me that" I growled. 


"Or what. Trash panda" He taunted starting up.


"I'm going to punch you in the throat Cacciatore" I snapped lunging at him.


I could feel Strawberry attempting to grip my arm his fingers brushing against me as they pulled the shall off. I was caught mid lunge by pair of strong arms, Sal pulled me into him restraining me as I attempted my best to pry his arms away.


"Let me go Sal. so I  can scoop his eyeballs out with this spoon!" I demanded my hand swiping the spoon out he'd been using to stir his tea.



"please you and I both know there are butterflies scarier then you" He stated firmly.

"Enough" Mame stated firmly. "Physalis let Micah go, Micah you and Mateo can fight to the death later" She assured walking past us into the living room.



"This isn't over" I growled forcing myself away from Sal as Berry and I trailed after Mame, I could hear Mateo chuckle at my comment. 


Berry led me to us to a spot next to a couple of  tanned skin girsl at the bay window, one I swore looked familiar but not enough to know who she was. They both looked like they could be sisters. Berry wrapped the throw blanket over my shoulders once more and we leaned into each other. As Mateo and Sal exited the kitchen  The two whispered to each other, Mateo briefly looking in our direction before finding a seat.

It took a few moments before a golden-haired man raised from his seat. I couldn' t pull my eyes away from him. I could feel something inside me twisting, sparks vibrated over my entire body. His eyes scanned the group before they landed on me I  was instantly hypnotized by his orbs of Cerleun and burnt hickory. His lip twitched upwards into a smile for a few brief moments before dropping again pulling his gaze from me. It was only then I noticed the dark haired man standing behind him.


"So what's so important you dragged us out of bed at 2 am" Berry grumbled narrowing her eyes at what I could only assume is her older cousin.

"We have a Vargulf wandering in from the mountains. We need to deal with it, before it kills any more humans." He announced

"I do wish you would of mentioned this earlier Roman." A blonde-haired girl announced raising to her feet. Roman shrugged as a response.


"Aliya, Scirocco, Strawberry and... uhm friend?  why don't we go to the kitchen while the other talk about how to deal with this threat" The blonde announced motioning to the girls beside us.

Strawberry, the two girls and I followed the blonde into the kitchen, Berry led me to one of the stools before she headed to the cupboard. The two tanned girl took the seats next to us, one familiar one beside me, the other beside her. The blonde, on the other hand, walked around the other side of the island standing in front of us.


"Ro, Rocky, Ali what do you guys want to drink, Tea, coffee hot chocolate?" Berry quizzed

"Coffee" The younger of the two girls next to me said.


"No. she will not be having coffee. You have school tomorrow Rocky." The girl I now clued into be Aliya informed.


"Fine. Tea." Rocky grumbled narrowing her eyes at the older girl.


"Make that two" Ali added.


"Three" The blonde, added.


"Peppermint or regular Mikie?" Berry questioned knowing fully well I'd want hot chocolate.


"Mint please," I  asked with a soft smile "by the way. Girls this is my best friend Micah, Micah you might remember  Alyia, she graduated our jr year, and Scirocco is actually in school with Emerson and This is my darling cousin  Aurora, Romans twin and better half" Berry somewhat teased nudging her cousin.

"I haven't seen you around before Micah. who's pack are you in?"  Aroura inquired leaning closer.



"uh... I'm not.."I bowed avoiding eye contact- suddenly feeling minuscule. 

"Is that even allowed?" Rocky gasped.



"Her father was kicked from the Night stalker pack, for turning her mother." Strawberry announced placing our cups down on the counter



"I see..." There was something about Aurora's tone that caused a shiver to run through me.


"But It's fine because she has me." Berry assured pecking the top of my head.



"Of course." aurora smiled "Did Mame bake anything  today?"  she quizzed clearly changing the subject


"It's Wednesday. of course, she did" Berry chimed strolling over to the fridge and pulling out a tray of goodies Mame had left behind knowing very well if she didn't we'd sneak some.



The five of us sat around making small talk, Aurora clearly avoiding all things wolf topic, even when I tried to question what exactly a Vargulf wolf. While she may have avoided it, Berry gave me a brief explanation that it was a rogue wolf stuck in wolf form who had feral.  The subject was very quickly turned after that. 


"So your bothers Emerson huh... what's his deal?" Rocky questioned leaning past her older sister to look at me.


"Rocky!" All three other women scolded.



"What?" She explained unsure of why she was being scolded,  Aliya glared at her.


"I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt  and assume you mean that in the nicest possible way," I stated locking eyes with her


"What.. no.. I didn't. I just mean  I've tried talking to him before and he shut me down every time. or straight up just walks away." she replied.

"He's never been that good at making friends to be honest..." I admitted, " I actually worry about him for it..." I admitted looking down.


"I'll keep an eye out on him if you want?" She suggested with sincerity.


"I wouldn't want to bother you" I informed.


"It's not a bother at all. Packs members look out for each other and I know were not actual pack members.. but he is the only other wolf at school, so it be nice to know someone my own age" She informed with a soft smile.


"If Roman goes for it..." Aliya half mumbled.


"I'm sure he won't mind.  I'll have talk with him. " Aurora informed  "Pack or not, wolves should stick together" She assured with a gentle smile.



"that would be nice... thank you" I smiled, Aroura returned it



Picking up the last of the mint Nanaimo bar I lifted it to my lips prepared to take a bait before I had the chance once more it was plucked from my fingers. I could feel my eye twitch with annoyance. It was the second time Physalis had stolen my Nanaimo bar and this time it was the last one.  Dropping my hands into fists on the counter I spun in my chair prepared to rip a strip off of my blonde-haired frenemy. instead, I was met with a taunting smirk of the brown-eyed demon that was Mateo.


A frustrated scream escaped my lips as I lunged for him,  Mateo was quick to jump from out the way. Catching myself on the wall I narrowed my eyes at him, a smug grin still planted on his lips.  Pushing off the wall I  charged towards him,  Mateo chuckled slipping into the living room.  I didn't give him any warning as I stormed through the kitchen door tackling him over the back of the couch. The two of us tumbled over the couch landing between the small space between it and the coffee table I pinned him to the ground.


"I spent four years being tormented by you and that smirk. Not anymore were not in high school  and I am going to end you!" I snarled through gritted teeth hands on his throat.

  For once the arrogance and cockiness that filled his chocolate orbs faded into a hint of fear.
Suddenly I was weightless strong arm wrapped around my waist lifting me into the air, Instantly I started struggling attempting to pull the arm off me as It pulled off Mateo. 

"Sal put me down now!" I growled 


"yeah... not me this time there Micah " Sal piped up leaning over the couch into view a half-smile on his face.


Instantly froze. If he was there, who was restraining me. I lump formed in my throat as  I debated on if I should turn around or not. As the grip on my waist loosed to hand I took a hard swallow before slowly turning around. 


"As entertaining as that was,  I do need him to help the others and I deal with the Vargulf"  Roman informed with a smirk.

"Looks like you'll have to finish this later trash panda" Mateo snipped leaning over my shoulder. 

I spun around attempting to swing at him only to miss, however, the dark-haired fellow that was standing behind Roman at the meeting, did not. With a quick swipe of his hand, he smacked Mateo in the back of the head giving a warning brow raise. Mateo glared back at him as they headed for the door.


"See you around, Micah"  Something in the way Romans voice lingered on my name caused sparks to once again rattle through me.  I stood there watching him as he followed the other out the door.