Louis pov

I put on some pants and loosely draped a button up shirt over my torso. Sunlight was pouring into the cabin through the tiny window. That was not my only indication that it was past dawn. 

I headed to the upper deck. Niall gave me a wave "good morning". I waved back. Standing at the bow, I could see the shoreline. Finally after days of open waters, it was refreshing to see some land.

I thought about what Rivers wrote. The sun was what made us human. With being human came feeling responsible for things my wolf did.

The waves spit at my face. I rubbed my cheek, enthralling myself in the skin on my body. It was much more preferable to fur. At least in this form, I had better control over my actions.

Saltwater soaked into the wrists of my cotton sleeves, plastering them to my forearm. I had grown to enjoy having clothes on. It was different from what I was used to in my tiny house in the woods. Putting clothes on made me feel a bit more human, which meant being with Harry without the dangers of being a werewolf. Of course, clothes really play no part in keeping us out of harm's way. I almost laughed at myself keeping up a pretence just to convince myself that we would be safe. Since when was I one for facades?

There was a tug on the elbow of my sleeve. I whipped around, barely missing Alex's face. Instead, I swung onto his bicep. "Ouch," Alex groaned.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there," I remarked. "Are you alright?"

"Yea, I didn't mean to frighten you." Alex stood next to me. I stepped up onto the railing. The added height made me feel a bit more at ease.

"What can I do for you, kid?" I asked.

"When this is over, what will happen to me?"

"Hmm?" I left his question unanswered, prompting him to elaborate.

"After we find the curse breaker, we'll be human again."

"That includes you," I assured him.

"I know," Alex watched the waves smack against the body of the vessel, "but where will I go?"

"Home?" I suggested.

"What home?" Alex huffed. He sat down, leaning against the metal railings. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. The wind blew his fringe into his eyes. With a sigh of exasperation, he swept them out of his face. He looked almost tiny.

I realised our contradictory plights. I had everything to lose to the curse. Alex only had his so-called family which abandoned him to be cursed.

"We'll figure something out for you," I pulled him to stand up next to me, "okay?"

"Yea, okay," Alex lied. It was not okay. But I was not about to call his bluff.

"Isn't the weather lovely today?" It was okay at best. I just said it to get the conversation onto something less depressing.

"How did you find someone like Harry?" Alex asked, blatantly avoiding my question. "Someone who loves you?"

I chuckled at him. "Actually, he found me."

"Tell me." Alex leaned towards me with keen attention. "What happened?"

"His wolf collided into mine when we both lunged for the same doe and fawn."

"What next?"

"Well, my wolf was hungry and furious so we fought, eventually rolled down a hill. He broke his crown."

"And Lou came tumbling after," Harry chimed in. I only just noticed he had arrived at the upper deck.

"And then?" Alex prompted impatiently.

"Then I woke up with his balls all up in my face." A dirty grin curled at his lips.

"Harry!" I scolded. "He's a kid!"

"How old are you again?" Harry inquired.

"18," Alex answered.

"See he's good," Harry chirped in such plain disregard that I could not hold back an eye roll.

"I'm not that much younger than you," Alex groaned.

"We're actually like at least double your age," Harry disclosed. "Wait, what is 18 times 2?"

"What are you looking at me for? Do I look like I math?" I remarked.

"Well, I'm 51 and he's 54," Harry paused before adding, "chronologically."

"You look so young!" Alex cried in disbelief. "What's your secret? Is it moisturiser? Should I be starting now?"

"Perks of being a werewolf," I sighed in heavy irony. "Immortality comes with it."

"Oh, wow." Alex eyed his skin, almost like he was searching for magic between each crease and fold. Even deep within his pores, he would find nothing. I would know; I tried. "Immortality…" Alex repeated with a soft whisper.

"Invincibility too," Harry said.

"Except with silver," I reminded them as a precaution. I realised that we had not really told our new pup the intricacies of being a werewolf. It may be futile to share at this point though. We would find the curse breaker and that would be the end of all this.

"Alex," Harry piped up like he just remembered something, "they were calling you to help with something over there!"

"Oh, I didn't hear anyone-" Alex was cut off by Harry.

"Go find Niall. He needs a lot of help." Harry shoved Alex, prompting the kid to hurry up.

"Should I go too? They might need an extra set of hands," I volunteered.

"No, they don't. They just need Alex." Harry turned to wave at the kid. "Run along now," he chorused.

"But I thought you said Niall needed a lot of help?" Before I could make a move, Harry stopped me, pressing his palm on my bare chest. I was backed against the railing. The cold metal poles pressed against my back. Poorly, I resisted the urge to wince at the chill.

"What is it going to take for me to get some alone time with you?" Harry whined.

I pulled him in at the waist, feeling the warmth of his body close to mine. I leaned in. My lips pursed in front of his. "You're assuming you'd have to do anything but ask," I retorted.

"Haven't I been asking?" His intonation dropped in abject sadness.

"Not verbally," I murmured, holding the cold hands of the crestfallen boy. His eyes shifted to his feet, where water had pooled on the deck.

"I would think it was a given."

"Darling, I can't read your mind. If you want to spend some quality time together, all you have to do is ask. At the snap of your fingers, I'd stop the world from turning-"

"Harry! Louis!" Liam cut in. "We need you-"

"Put a sock in it, Liam! You are ruining our moment!" Harry snapped. It was there and then that I had realised my irascible nature may have rubbed off on Harry.

"Go back first. We'll be with you shortly," I assured, to which Liam grumbled but headed back downstairs with little resistance. I turned back to Harry. "Where were we?"

"I believe you were about to halt the Earth's rotation on my behalf," Harry giggled.

"Yes. Right." I held him closer to me. He toyed with the collar of my shirt. Pretty sure it was a bid to mess with my head. Whatever it was, it was working. I was melting like putty and had forgotten what I wanted to say.

"You know, you look really handsome with your shirt open like that." Harry brushed a finger over my physique but it was his coquettish smirk that was driving me wild.

"I- I-" I was at a loss for words. 

"Ugh, just kiss me, would you?" Harry whined playfully.

And so I did.