The bus into Beacon Hills dropped me off in town.

Finally, I was off that stinking bus  and able to breathe without inhaling the germs of the guy next to me, who couldn't understand how to cough into his hand or arm. 

The town looked just like it did online: small. There wasn't much to it, old colonial style buildings and the average American highstreets. It was quiet and settled. It was perfect.

A small town like this was bound to bring me some peace aside from having to look after Aya's kids because god knows she wouldn't do it. That was the only reason she was letting me stay afterall.

I tried to enjoy the walk through town before I got to Aya's, taking in the October sun on my face. I had a duffel bag with me that I'd packed in a hurry, most of my stuff was in there, I hoped.

When I got onto her street, my hearing picked up on something nearby.

"All I'm saying is Liam's a little shit."

The comment brought a smile to my face and I resisted a laugh.

"He's just having a hard time, Stiles."

The conversation was coming from two boys nearby. One was under the hood of a busted up blue jeep and the other was sitting on the ground with his head in his hands. The one working on the car, I guessed to be Stiles, looked at the other boy.

"Oh yeah Scott, it's fun how we just brushed over the topic that you turned an IED into a werewolf!"

To say I was surprised was an understatement, another werewolf? In a town this small? Dread filled me. This couldn't be happening... I came here to get away from all that!

"That's not the point, I—" the one called Scott smelt the air, smelling me, crap. "I smell something."

The boy under the hood of the car glanced at Scott. "Pizza? Please tell me it's pizza? What good is werewolf smell if you can't smell pizza nearby?"

Scott shook his head, getting up. I hurried my pace. "No, I smell...another werewolf."

"You can just identify werewolves now?"

"It's a smell that Derek has, and Liam has it too now, it's something every werewolf I've met has had but it isn't personal it's like they all wear the same cologne."

"Well, where's it coming from?"

Scott looked around on the street, I panicked and almost cried for the heavens when I reached Bailey's house. "It's coming from—"

I couldn't hear anymore of their conversation after running inside and slamming closed the door behind me. Even if I wanted to, the sound of a screaming baby almost pierced my ears.

Aya lazily popped her head around the doorframe to another room and rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough to get here." 

My sister was taller than me and really slim. She was half-dressed and had a cigarette hanging from her fingers, her eyes were red-rimmed as well. Even though she was only a few years older than myself, she looked so much older. 

The smoke from her cigarette made me cough, then I realised how hazy the house was.

"Open a window?" I asked and followed the noise to the baby screaming in her highchair, puréed Apple in her eyes, hair and on the highchair. She wailed and flailed her arms, rubbing her eyes where it was obviously hurting her. "Jeez, Aya."

"Oh yeah, make me out to be the bad guy, you just got here you don't know the half of it." She fired back, and sat in front of a questionable looking TV dinner.

"At least clean her up if she's screaming the whole town down," I said back, lifting the baby and carrying her to the filled sink. Crusty plates and bowls sat in it. Two minutes in and I was already disgusted and ready to leave.

"Just put her pacifier in, she'll be fine."

I ignored my ignorant sister and grabbed the crusty sink rag, smelling the mildew a mile off. I rinsed it the best I could then gently tried to wipe the food off of the baby. I'd been living blissfully without Aya's slob tendencies in the group home I was in, but then I got fostered and it definitely didn't work out so here I was.

"Hey, shh you can stop that crying now, it's okay," I murmured to Ellie, the six month old. She'd reduced her wailing to whimpering, a big improvement. Once she was almost clean, I slid off her dirty diaper and flicked it into the overflowing trash. There were some baby wipes tossed carelessly to the side which I used to wipe her.

"Diapers?" I questioned my sister then suddenly frowned and looked around. "And where are the twins?"

"You just threw the last one away," she replied flippantly. "And they're around here somewhere."

As if on cue, a battle cry roared across the house as my two nephews sprinted into the kitchen. The one being chased, most likely AJ, ran for cover behind his mothers chair at the table while I deftly grabbed the collar of my other nephew, Todd who struggled for a moment then looked up at me.

"Whoa there buddy, no hug for uncle?"

The six-year-old grinned toothily at me, his blonde hair dishevelled and eyes twinkling as he hugged me around the waist in a constricting squeeze.

"Uncle Tomoe! Mama didn't say you were to be coming today!"

"Surprise!" I said and shot an annoyed look at Izumi who ignored it, scrolling her phone. "I'm staying here with you guys now, also why are you killing your brother?"

Todd scratched his head for a moment. "He sat on my side of the bed, which was not allowed, so he is a traitor who must pay."

I couldn't dismiss my amused look as easily as I could my laugh at his statement, it wasn't good to encourage but my nephew could talk his way out of anything.

"On you go then," I told him. "Don't hurt him really though, why don't you sit on his side of the bed as revenge?"

Todd narrowed his eyes in thought then nodded with a determined look before he left the kitchen marching, his banging footsteps echoing up the stairs.

AJ crept back into view, ducking under the kitchen table, nervously glancing at the stairs in case his twin would suddenly come back for a second round of revenge. I was glad my nephews were capable and smart, considering Aya hadn't given up smoking or drinking while pregnant with all three.

"Hey AJ, Todd's gone upstairs buddy, he won't really hurt you."

He nodded at me, his face remaining serious. The boy let himself sit cross-legged on the sticky floor next to Aya's bare feet, black from the grime of the floor.

"Right, sis, can you go buy some diapers please."

"No money," she sighed, scrolling through social media.

I frowned. "Don't you get benefits?" I dried Ellie off the best I could before wrapping her in a clean enough towel to keep her situated for now.

"Try telling the council 800 bucks a month won't cover the costs for a four—ugh five person family now," she said but then got a thoughtful look. "I might be able to claim more now you're here."

"Yeah but you should still have enough for diapers, sis."

"She'll be old enough to toilet train soon anyway."

I glanced at the six-month-old baby waving her arms with a gummy smile. "Heard from Jack?"

Jack was Ellie's father. She left him, he tried to work out co-parenting but then she moved and demanded he stay away, she was hooking up with someone else so technically it was a 50/50 split on whose it could be.

Aya snorted. "He sends child support like once a month, totally not enough though..." I watched as she unscrewed a jar of nail polish and started painting a nail dark purple like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

I cursed silently. "So you're getting benefits and child support?"

"Like I said, not enough."

"And food stamps?"

She grunted and I clenched my fists. I knew her dad was paying her rent as well, so really what the fuck else was she needing to pay for that she didn't have enough money for diapers?

My anger felt like it was about to explode. "Right, well we should start cleaning up then, since there's stuff everywhere."

Aya looked at me and scoffed. "Don't come in here and try to play dad. I'm letting you stay here out of the goodness of my heart. If you piss me off too much I'll be straight on the phone to the police, so watch it."

The most annoying part was that she was right. She didn't have to let me stay here, she wasn't obligated. But was it really better than the streets at this point? I wasn't so sure. With my anger bubbling, I checked the fridge to see it only had some wilting lettuce, a jar of mayo and some crusty ham in it.

"Right, I'll go to the store then and pick up some more diapers, and food."

"Get me some more smokes," Bailey said and rummaged in her pocket before she slid me $20 across the table. I picked it up rolling my eyes. No money, my ass.

I wanted to be snarky, but I held my tongue best I could I jogged up the stairs with the baby.

After checking some rooms, I found one with a crib sat among unpacked boxes. I stared at them in shock, my sister had been living in Beacon Hills for months and she still hadn't unpacked? Brushing it off with my anger rising, I bundled Ellie up in a blanket and put her in her crib for until I got back. I poked my head around an open bedroom door to see Todd kicked back on a small double bed with a comic in his hands.

"Hey buddy, can you keep an eye on Ellie for me while I pop to the store?"

"Sure." He nodded and hopped from the bed before he proceeded to drag a beanbag into the nursery. He plonked himself down onto it and tickled the baby through the bars before he opened his comic again. I knew I shouldn't have favourites, but Todd had stolen my heart.

There was a forgotten $10 on the floor of the bathroom, I swiped it up since I'd need as much as I could use for the groceries.

I quickly took off, wanting to be back before anything major could happen. The store was close enough and near closing so I knew I had to be quick. I picked up the good brand of diapers, formula, more wipes, baby powder, bread, chicken slices, cheese, bananas, apples, chocolate spread, cereal, pasta and some other things for the kids and my stupid sister.

I was just leaving the store when I bumped into someone, one of my bags fell and I cursed.

"Oh man I'm sorry, here," the boy who is bumped into stammered and bent to pick up my bag.

He was around my height, with brown hair that was spiky at the front. And a werewolf.

"It's cool, thanks, I should've been watching where I was going," I said and tried to edge past him, not wanting him to pick up on my scent.

"Wait," he said and I stilled, cursing. How many fucking werewolves were in this town?

"Yeah?"

"My names Liam," he introduced himself. Oh, the IED.

"Tomoe." We awkwardly exchanged names.

"Tomoe? That's a cool name."

"Thanks...look I have to run I've got to get this stuff back to my house," I excused myself and started walking away.

"Wait, I'll help you!" The boy came running over to me and took one of the bags from my hand.

"No it's fine you don't have to do that." I went to grab it back but Liam jumped back holding the bag. I stared at him bewildered. "What is your deal?"

The boy leaned in. "I know you're a werewolf," he said in a hushed voice.

"Does that mean you're obliged to help me carry my shopping? We're not packmates, Liam." I was being a bit mean here I know, sarcasm was my defence.

"I-I know that!" He stammered. "Scott—I mean- ugh he told me to keep an eye out in case I spotted anyone new in town, any new werewolves."

My eyebrows furrowed. "I'm flattered but I don't need to be watched, I don't want to cause any trouble."

"Well why don't you meet him at school tomorrow?"

"Er, I don't go to school." Not if I was going to look after those kids properly. "I'm home-schooled."

"No way," he groaned. "That's so cool, I wish I didn't have to go."

I blew out a laugh and flexed my hands holding the bags. "Trust me, I don't recommend it."

He looked to think for a moment. "Come to our pre-season scrimmage tomorrow night then!"

"Scrimmage?" I made a face, it sounded weird.

"It's for lacrosse, we're on the lacrosse team."

"Oh." I bit my lip. Did I really want to expose myself like this and meet an Alpha when I had so much trouble with the last one I met? But I was already exposed now, one of his betas had sniffed me out.

"So you'll come?" He looked hopeful.

I sighed. "Fine."