"You know, I don't even know why I bother any more!" Lukas grumbled, as he unlocked the door to the Order Hall.

"B-But you have to understand my point!" Radar squeaked backed.

"No, Radar, you're point is nothing but pure selfishness!" Lukas snapped back, as he stepped into the warmth of the Order Hall, pulling off his leather jacket and shaking the snow off of it.

Radar looked at a loss for words, gaping at Lukas like a fish out of water.

"N-no! Y-You don't get to judge m-me! Radar snapped back, his voice starting to stutter like it always did when he was angry and nervous at the same time.

Lukas pulled his hand through his hair in frustration. "Radar, I know you want things to go back to the way you were, but it isn't happening."

"You're telling me that not even you would want Jesse to stay in Beacontown again?" Radar asked as he shut the door rather loudly.

"I want the Order back together more than anything, but that doesn't mean I'm expecting everybody to push aside their own lives for it." Lukas said firmly.

"If Jesse wants to leave Beacontown with Petra after all this, then that is her choice, it's her life. I'm not going to stop her, or even do as much as ask her to stay. So I suggest you drop it now."

Radar scowled at Lukas, looking visibly angry and hurt. He was hoping that if he couldn't convince Jesse, maybe her old friend could. Doesn't matter now, considering Lukas flipped the moment Radar brought it up.

"Listen." Lukas said, pointing a finger accusingly at Radar. "Not a word of this to Jesse, you hear me? She's got enough weighing her down, she doesn't need this crap." He turned his back on Radar, stomping deeper into the Order Hall, a pouting Radar following behind.

It was unusually quiet in the Order Hall. A clear sign that Axel wasn't back yet.

"I wonder where Jesse and Petra are." Radar muttered, grumpily sitting down on the nearest couch, nestling into the pillows to warm up his icy limbs.

He squealed in surprise when one of the pillows moved and Rascal stuck his head out.

"Hey you." Lukas greeted the little puppy, reaching out to tap him on the nose.

Rascal yapped, playfully trying to catch Lukas' finger.

"Where are the girls, hmm Rascal?" Lukas asked.

He stood up straight again, looking around the room. But other than a fed up looking Radar, there was nobody. Not even Lluna was in sight.

"Jesse, Petra! You in here?" Lukas called out, his voice echoing through the halls.

"Lukas?"

Lukas turned around to see Jesse at the top of the stairs. "Hey, I'm back!" He said, trying to not let Jesse hear the edge in his voice from his argument with Radar.

Jesse slowly walked down the stairs. As she did, Lukas could see that something was wrong. Jesse's face was pale and she looked a little dazed. Her hands were shaking violently, her breathing unsteady. Over-all, she looked like she was on the verge of a panic-attack.

"Jesse, what happened?" Lukas asked, as Jesse came to a stop in front of him.

"You gotta promise you won't freak out." Jesse said in a shaking voice, folding her arms slightly to hide the fact that her hands were trembling.

Lukas and Radar exchanged surprised glances.

"OK?" Lukas said uncertainly.

Jesse opened her mouth, like she was about to launch into a big explanation, but then she seemed to hesitate.

"Maybe.. maybe it's better if I show you." She said.

"I'm not sure if I like where this is heading." Radar whispered, only to be shushed by Lukas.

Jesse turned away to look up at the stairs.

"Come down." She called. "Don't worry, it's just Lukas."

Lukas waited intently to see who would be coming down the stairs. To his surprise it wasn't a person at all. A big, greyish white shape stepped into view. Lukas's breath quickened at the sight of the large wolf.

"Jesse..." He said, trying to keep his voice calm. "What is that doing in here?" He asked nervously, as the wolf came down the stairs.

She looked a little uneven on her paws, almost like a pup learning to walk. Jesse sighed, putting her hand on the wolf's furry neck as it came to a stop beside her.

"This, Lukas... this is Petra." She said, looking down at the ground.

Lukas took a step back. He suddenly felt slightly dizzy, so he quickly sat down on the couch, pulling his hand through his blonde hair.

"What?" He finally managed to ask.

Radar still hasn't move a muscle since Jesse said the wolf was Petra. Jesse sighed and nodded.

"I... I think this is what the cloaked figure meant by the consequences. Whatever he hit Petra with... It turned her into... this."

"Hold up, how the hell are we supposed to believe, that that creature, is Petra?" Radar asked, snapping out of his daze and accusingly pointing at the wolf.

The wolf pulled back her ears, baring her teeth. This made even Lukas flinch in fear. But Jesse didn't seem to be afraid at all.

"Radar, if Jesse says so, it's true." Lukas pointed out. "She wouldn't lie to us."

"I know, but how the hell do you expect me to believe-"

"Radar." Lukas said again, making Radar fold his arms in front of his chest.

"I know this sounds crazy to believe..." Jesse said softly. "But I know Petra, and this is her."

Everyone was quiet. Rascal was the first to break the silence. He yapped, clambering down from the couch. He stopped a few inches from the bigger wolf, looking up at her with a confused expression. Petra lowered her head, allowing Rascal to touch noses with her.

"Listen, Jesse, I promise I believe you but... how did this happen?" Lukas asked. "I'm not sure." Jesse admitted, sitting flat down on the carpet. Petra looked uncertain as to how she should use her hind legs to sit down, so she just opted for laying down beside Jesse, resting her head on Jesse's knee.

"What do you mean you're not sure?" Radar asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "If you didn't see her change into that, how can you know it's her?"

Petra lifted her head, a growl coming from deep in her throat. Jesse looked hurt at his comment.

"What's up with you?" She muttered.

"My question remains." Radar said, folding his arms.

"Petra wasn't feeling well, so she went up to her room." Jesse trailed off, shutting her eyes. "I'm not exactly sure what happened but... a few minutes later I heard her scream."

She looked down at the wolf.

"She sounded like she was in a lot of pain." Jesse said softly. "I ran up to the room and... there was a wolf." She bit her lip. "In the heat of the moment, my first thought was that the wolf had killed Petra, but then I saw it's eyes and... I just knew."

Petra looked up at Jesse whining softly.

"I don't get it." Lukas said, pulling a hand through his hair. "Why? What is the point of this? The cloaked figure-"

"Can we discuss this later?" Jesse interrupted, looking down.

Lukas looked at her questioningly. "Jesse, we need to know-"

Jesse jerked her head up, looking both upset and angry.

"Right now, I don't care why this happened. I don't care why the cloaked figure wanted this to happen to me. All I care about, is the fact that one of my best friends is no longer human!"

Nobody said anything, and the room was quiet. Lukas leaned heavily on the armrest of the couch, trying to piece together the bits and pieces of information.

"I'm sorry." Jesse finally said again, her voice now quiet and somewhat strained. "It's just... no matter what.."

She trailed off slightly, before looking up with tears in her eyes.

"I can't shake the feeling that this is all my fault."

With that, Jesse hastily wiped her eyes on her sleeve, before getting up and walking out of the room. Petra whined again. She looked over at Lukas and Radar, blinking a few times, before jogging after Jesse, her fuzzy tail swishing behind her.

Lukas and Radar exchanged glances, both looking as overwhelmed as the other.

And as if on cue to make things worse, they heard the Order Hall's door opening.

"I'm back!" Axel's cheery voice sounded through the hallway.

He walked into the main hall, stopping as he caught Lukas and Radar's eyes. "Woah, what happened with you two? You look like you saw a ghost!" He said, glancing from Lukas to Radar and back again.

"Close enough. Try 'saw a wolf.'" Lukas muttered, making Axel frown in even more confusion.

------------------------

Jesse sat on the steps to the back porch of the Order Hall, watching Lluna doze in the sunlight. She had her chin resting in her hands, her elbows propped up on her knees. She felt something warm and soft press against her.

"Hey." Jesse said softly, noticing it was Petra.

The wolf whined softly, nuzzling her head against Jesse's shoulder, before laying down on the step beside Jesse.

Jesse absent-mindedly stroked Petra's smooth grey fur, still staring out in front of her.

She had never felt so uncertain as to what to do, as she did at that moment.

Suddenly, she felt Petra tense up. "What's wrong?" Jesse asked softly, as Petra whimpered again.

"Petra?" Jesse asked uncertainly, as the wolf got up, still whining.

Petra pulled her ears back, closing her eyes and scratching at the ground with one of her front paws. Jesse jumped in surprise, when she heard Petra softly growling. Then, the growling turned into pained yelps, as Petra dug her claws into the ground. Jesse's breath quickened, as one thought ran through her head - What was happening to her friend?

But then, to her complete shock, the wolf transformed right in front of her eyes. Jesse felt slightly disorientated, as she stared at the familiar, red haired girl who was on her knees beside Jesse, breathing heavily.

"Petra?" Jesse asked uncertainly.

Petra looked up at Jesse, her blue eyes wide and filled with fear and pain. "Jesse." She croaked.

Before Jesse knew what was happening, Petra had her arms around Jesse's neck, and her face buried against Jesse's shoulder. To Jesse's completely shock and surprise, Petra burst into tears, sobbing against her.

Jesse didn't know what to do or say. Petra never broke down like this. Heck, Jesse's only seen her cry once or twice in the ten years they have been friends, and Petra always tried to hide it. But then again, a traumatic experience like that was enough to get to anybody. Even Petra.

Uncertain as to what would make her feel better, Jesse just comfortingly rubbed Petra's back, as she sobbed. They sat like that for quite a while. After a few minutes, Petra's unexpected sobs had died down to heavy, raspy breathing. Jesse finally decided to risk speaking.

"Are you OK?" She asked Petra, who was still hugging her.

"Jesse..." Petra said, her voice weak and tired sounding. "It was horrible." She said, her voice cracking slightly.

"Don't worry, it's over now." Jesse said soothingly.

Petra nodded, sniffing. Jesse hugged her tighter.

At that moment she didn't question how, or why. All she cared about was the fact that Petra was here, and she was back to normal. More importantly, Petra was upset, scared, maybe still in pain, and Jesse wanted to help.

"Come on." She said softly, pulling away and looking her friend in the eye. "Let's go inside." But Petra instantly shook her head.

"I don't want to face the others, not now." She said quickly, reaching up to wipe her eyes. "Did you see the way they looked at me, Jesse?"

Jesse felt slightly guilty. She clearly remembered how shocked and afraid Lukas and Radar had looked when they lay eyes on her, and she could only imagine how horrible it had to be for Petra – to see her friends look at her with fear in their eyes. But Jesse had that same fear in her eyes when she first saw Petra.

Jesse pushed her own guilt aside, trying to comfort Petra. "I know... don't worry they'll get over it, OK?"

Petra didn't say anything. Jesse could see the exhaustion in her eyes. Most likely the consequence of the transformation, pain and trauma.

"Come on." She said softly. "You need some rest."

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep after what happened." Petra said softly, looking away.

"Don't worry, I'll be right there if you need me." Jesse said, standing up.

She held out her hand to Petra, who hesitated, before taking Jesse's hand and allowing Jesse to pull her to her feet. She staggered slightly, a bit off balance, before quietly following Jesse back into the warmth of the building.

Everyone was in the main hall, talking seriously among each other, when Jesse and Petra came in. Jesse had her arm protectively around Petra's shoulders. At the sight of the familiar redhead, everybody crowded them, asking questions, wanting to know what happened, and how Petra was back to normal.

But the minute they did so, Petra did something... how would you call it? Something very non-Petra-like. She pressed against Jesse, hiding her face from the others, almost like she was shy. Either she did this because she didn't want them to see her obvious red eyes and wet cheeks, and felt embarrassed that they would know she had cried. Or maybe she really meant what she said about not wanting to face them. Jesse protective pulled Petra closer to her.

"Not now, guys." She said softly, hastily leading her upset friend away from the crowd, and up the stairs. Lukas, Axel and Radar exchanged very confused looks.

Petra sat down on her bed, looking down at the floor. "Jesse, I'm scared." She whispered.

Jesse bit her lip tensely. Those were words she's never heard from Petra before. She wasn't afraid of much, and if she was she never let you know it. Jesse sat down next to Petra, who immediately leaned her head onto Jesse's shoulder.

"Jesse, what if... what if I.. turn again?" She asked, looking up at Jesse.

She closed her eyes, as if she was remembering the horrible event. "Jesse, I've never experienced that much pain in... in my whole life."

She took a shuddering breath. "Not even the things Romeo did to me, hurt this much."

Jesse pulled Petra closer into a hug. She felt guilt overwhelm her. All that pain, all that suffering Petra was going through.. it was meant for her.

"Don't worry." Jesse whispered. "We'll find a way to... to stop that from happening."

They were quiet for a bit. "Come on, you should get some sleep." Jesse said.

Petra only shook her head.

"You went through a lot just now, Petra." Jesse said softly. "You need to rest."

Petra didn't do or say anything. Jesse reluctantly let go of Petra, standing up.

"Don't worry, I'll be right here if you need me."

Rewrote this chapter twice, but at last I'm happy with it 'XD 

I promise things will be explained within the next few chapters. In the next chapter we'll actually be revisiting some events from the first chapters of this book. 

I hope you guys don't mind how rapidly I'm updating this book. I've drafted up all the way to the end of it, all that's left is to round off the chapters and upload them. I've literally already started on the book I'm going to be doing after this one. 
Yes, I am way too eager XD 

Also, I'm really tempted to also start one of them "Randomness" books about myself. Almost every time I post something on Wattpad, I feel like ranting about something in my author's note. And of course, that's annoying as hell to read through, SO XD 

Plus, overall I just need a place to Storymode Fangirl. 

Anyhow, all of that aside XD I'll see ya'll in the next chapter!