"Why don't we take this over to the table" he gestured to a large table tucked into a corner underneath a huge, hanging light. A long booth seat surrounded one side of the table while chairs lined the other. At some point, Sophie had migrated her way to the booth side and was beaming at me, nodding her head and moving her eyes rapidly from me to the spot on the booth next to her.

"Ummm, yes sir." I managed to laugh out in response.

We, my grandparents and the Betas and I, made our way to the table. I slid in the booth next to Sophie, who was as excited as a small child with candy. Beta Allison was laughing at Sophie and Beta Andrew just closed his eyes and shook his head smiling.

"Obviously you have met Sophie?" Beta Andrew asked as he waited for Allison to slide into the booth and then proceeded to take a chair opposite me. My grandparents sat to his right, my grandmother's hand wrapped in my grandfather's on the table.

"Yes, she has, because I am a good Pack House Resident and I answer the door when someone knocks" Sophie told him with a little bit of fake attitude and a smirk on her face.

"Watch yourself Rayes, I'll make you clean the bathrooms for the next year!" Sophie cringed at that and everyone laughed. Even I caught myself grinning at her unamused face. The relationship everyone had was very nice and for once I didn't feel uncomfortable in a group of people.

"What are you doing here anyway, Sophie?" Beta Allison asked with a laugh.

"Well, I thought I could be here for Terri. As moral support. I am her first friend in the house after all" she beamed.

I guess we were friends now.

She had no idea that she was my first friend...ever. I smiled back at her, and then looked at Beta Andrew, waiting for him to start giving me the pack rules.

"You're lucky you're dating my brother, or else I'd kick you out of the house Sophie!" he laughed and Sophie put on a hurt, pouting face. Beta Andrew looked at me then, "Alright Terri, we're just like any other pack. In fact we're probably a little less strict than most. We like to consider the pack family. Everyone is close. If you have a problem with someone, bring it to me or Alpha Alexander. Although, if its a small argument, I would just bring it to me. The Alpha can be a bit... moody. But don't tell him I said that. I know that you're technically still in high school, even though you were home schooled, so we registered you to start classes tomorrow at the Public High School. Is that alright?" I nodded, suddenly struck with the fact that today is Sunday and that I would have to attend a public school now. That sort of scared me, but also made me a little excited. Maybe I could make more friends and have fun rather than be alone like usual. "Good. Alright, the high school is a mix between wolves and humans, so no shifting in school and you have to keep your temper in check, but I've heard that you're good at that from your grandparents. You're welcome to date humans, but don't tell them about our life unless you know for sure they are your mate. That has happened to a few of our wolves in the past. When is your birthday?" he asked

"October fifth" I answered.

"That's two Wednesdays from now... you'll be eighteen?" I just stared at him dumbly. In two Wednesdays I'd be eighteen. How could that be? It seems like I just turned seventeen. "Terri?"

"Ah what? Yes eighteen" I mumbled, waking up from my stupor.

"Alright" he continued, "all I can tell you is to be prepared. Mates will hit you with emotions like a freight train" He smiled fondly at his mate. "Ok, Alpha Alex will be back this Saturday, so either Sunday or Monday, we'll do an official pack induction ceremony. It involves combining your blood on our pack totem. Until then you won't be able to communicate with the pack through the link. But I'm sure Sophie and her gang will take you in under their wings and keep an eye on you to help you with communication. You're allowed to do whatever your grandparents allow you to except for a few things. Three important rules: 1.) do no shift in front of humans that have not been informed of what we are 2.) Do not use your canine super abilities to hurt, harm, maim, retaliate, beat, or kill anyone unless you are defending yourself. We do not bully here. 3.) Listen to the Alpha and myself. Our word is law. Some things we say can be fought but a direct Order will be almost impossible for you to break. We don't like to use Orders, so just do what we say when we say it and we wont have to compel you" he finished with a smile. I nodded my head. The first rule I had no problem with, it didn't pertain to me. The second one was one I could pretty much handle except for the fact that my ability to control fire was a little difficult. The third one, I had no idea if the Orders would even work on me.

"I have one question" I said.

"What is it?" Beta Andrew responded.

"Does this high school allow tattoos?" While I could mask my tattoos, make them disappear from others' sight, I didn't like to because it made me tired. If I was going to make sure I didn't set someone on fire, I was going to have to have all my strength about me. Not wasting it on hiding some swirly spirals.

Everyone in the room just stared at me in shock. My grandparents, probably because I had even brought them up, and everyone else because they didn't think I was the type of person to have them.

"Well, yes, but... you have a tattoo?" Beta Andrew asked in shock. I leaned back and shrugged off my cardigan. I mentally let the mirage I had created fade and you could now see the black tribal swirl that started at my elbow and traveled up my shoulder and under my shirt.

"Its a long story, but is it ok? If not, I'll cover them up" this time Beta Allison answered me.

"No, of course not Terri. Don't cover them up, they're beautiful" she said with a warm smile. Beta Andrew was just staring at my arm with a pondering face on. Allison nudged him in the side roughly.

"Hmm- yes, no they're fine. Leave them uncovered. That's alright, although I would like to know the story behind them some time" he said with a side ways, knowing smile.






Thank you so much for reading! Beta Andrew on the side!