Braylee held Mickey for what felt like hours before the crying stopped. They sat curled up together on her bed, wrapped in the white floral covers. Of course she’d never let it all go. She hadn’t even wanted to be back in this house. Now she didn’t have a choice. Nothing she could say could bring Mickey’s parents back, but she knew the pain that was haunting her.

“I’m sorry… I should have just stayed in the basement” Mickey sobbed and Braylee held her tighter.

“Just let it out Bestie. I promise it will eventually be better” Braylee coed, looking around the bedroom.

Everything was untouched, it hadn’t really occurred to Braylee until now. Her best friend really had moved into the basement. She’d brought clothes from here over the summer, but hadn’t been back since. All the daily tasks of her life had been embedded into Braylee’s parents house. Yet now they had somehow taken Leah’s side.

“It won’t get better! They are gone forever…” Mickey continued to sob, growling low trying to fight away the anguish.

“They are still here” Braylee knew it sounded cheesy but as she tapped her friend on the forehead it felt right. “You need to let all this stuff out. So it’s not holding you down. It’s a terrible situation but your stronger now”

“I guess you’re right. And I have Corbin” She giggled a bit through the tears. “It hadn’t even been a few hours and I miss him”

“I’m pretty sure they were sent to hold up the store” Braylee wiped her friends face of the tears. “Tomorrow will have a whole new world of problems and surprises. You should let go of the old stuff now”

Braylee watched as Mickey stood up, shook her hair out. Wiped her face of the tears and dripping mascara and headed back towards the room door.

Following, Braylee rounded the corner as Mickey stood at the master bedroom door. Hand on the nob, waiting for someone to tell her it was ok to enter. No such voice existed.

The door creaked loudly as Braylee watched it slowly move open. Mickey was frozen in place, Braylee moved to her side. Rubbing her shoulder for comfort.

The room was completely clean, a film of dust had started to coat the dresser and ceiling fan. Across the ceiling two separate holes had been filled in. Braylee hadn’t imagined that Mickey would actually enter the room. Everything else in the room looked like it had been modeled after a film bedroom. It all matched, from the dressers, to the tv stand, to the bed frame.

“This is where it happened…” She said coldly, not actually stepping past the door frame. “I don’t get it. They didn’t fight all the time. They hardly ever argued… Why?”

“Maybe we should head back to my house” Braylee said unsure of what else to say.

“What if we can never go back after we shift? What if we will never see anyone again?” Mickey had turned and was searching Braylee’s expression for an answer.

“Nobody else knows…. We will be fine” Braylee said and shut the door. “Let’s go do something else”

Instead of fretting over the past they ended up just hanging out in Mickey’s bedroom. Watching something on tv as they both just started with homework.

“Tomorrow is gonna suck!” Braylee confessed after finishing a math problem out of her work book.

“For sure” Mickey whined.

“I’m gonna have to spend nearly all the day alone.” Mickey giggled a bit at her best friends audacity.

“Oh lord” Mickey laughed. “Is it sad I almost forgot and would have gone with you?”

“Well you earned your days off” Braylee laughed. “The look on her face was priceless. I feel so bad for Shay though”

“Maybe since I’m out of the way” Mickey laughed harder. “I still can’t believe she went that far. Like it was hardly as serious as she made it out to be”

“I can only wish. And yeah but she’s been known to do outrageous stuff like that.” Braylee continued to write the next question out. “Remember when she pushed me off the trampoline and I nearly broke my arm. All because she was mad I took her Barbie”

“That was sickish. For sure” Mickey started to chew on the end of her mechanical pencil. “I remember riding with you to the hospital”

“I just don’t get why she’s so..” Braylee started but couldn’t get the word out fast enough.

“Bitchy!” Mickey shouted out like she’d known the answer but didn’t care she hadn’t been called on.

“I guess. She wasn’t always like that though. I remember when we all used to play Barbie’s and have fun together” Braylee’s voice started to wain.

“Guess that’s just growing up” Mickey added in tossing her math book and note book onto her dresser. “Well Corbin says she left with Logan”

“Welp. That’s good. But I hate how much it felt like my parents were taking her side.” Braylee groaned.

“Your not wrong on that front. I feel like they have never done that before.” Mickey added in being fully attuned to her iPhone.

“So what else did my brother say?” Baylee looked at her friend and watched her face start to redden.

“Nothing else about Leah” She said quickly before Braylee watched her typing away.

“Sooo yuck” Braylee laughed tossing her stuff onto Mickeys floor. “Food?”

~~~~~~~

Sleep didn’t come quite as easy as she’d hoped it too. But heading off to school all alone was worse then the lack of sleep. Mickey hadn’t even really woken up, when she left.

The school bell sounded just as she headed through the big grey painted metal doors, into the main hallways on the parking lot side of the school. Weirdly enough she quickly realized today was gonna be a day.

Xavier was crowned inside a whole group of kids ahead of her. In the air, the dude who was bullying him had him again. This time it had escalated to him carrying Xavier like a small toddler through the hallway. Of course instead of being scared or acting as if he was, he was laughing harder then ever.

“Put him down!” She heard Bruno’s voice as she started pushing towards him through the crowd.

“What if I don’t want too?” The boy questioned, she could hear the cockiness in his voice.

“She didn’t ask you what you wanted?” Bruno shot back and she was jumping up trying to see over the last few people.

“Kinda gay you wanting to hold me” Xavier chuckled even harder.

“Well I’d ask you why you care about the homo freak? But I’m sure it’s obvious.” Now he’d dropped Xavier and was openly taunting them both as he circled like a solo shark. “You want me to go to my dad and tell him to tell his favorite golf buddy’s sons part homo!”

“Why do you have such a problem with me!” Xavier shouted standing up all fear gone from his face, tears starting to stream down his cheeks. “I did nothing to you! No snide comments, nothing.”

“You exist that’s enough. You weirdo!” The football guy spat back.

“I can’t with you. You call anyone else a weirdo. How about what you did when you were with Brittney? Or how you talk about it constantly? That’s not weird?” Bruno was now face to face with him, Xavier at his right giving this boy the stare down of a lifetime.

“How did you?” The guy stopped; looking perplexed, mind trying to figure out how he knew.

“It’s not hard to know when you boast about it. You should lay off or I’ll be talking to our lovely new sheriff about it” Braylee jumped in.

“Isn’t she a freshman here to this year?” Xavier questioned and watched his jaw dropping.

“That’s not necessary” The guy took off, pushing clear over anyone in his way.

“Thanks but I had it under control” Xavier groaned, grabbing his book bag off the floor and heading towards his locker.

Braylee and Bruno exchanged a confused expression, but neither said anything. Bruno hung close to Braylee as they watched the crowd disperse. She quickly noticed that his eye had healed up.

“Wow. Jayden was right” Braylee absentmindedly said touching at Bruno’s face.

Who was in turn, ducking and backing up so that she wasn’t touching him. Until he stumbled into someone else. Knocking them both to the ground. Of course as Braylee looked over, Shay was looking up at her with a disgruntled look.

“Sorry” Bruno said, grabbing her hand and setting her upright.

“It’s fine” Shay said without sounding to harsh but Braylee grabbed her arm.

The skin on skin contact sent a rippling wave of fire across her body and Shay turned to her pulling from her grasp. The faint smell of a strawberry scented bath and body works lotion hung in the air. Giving her a saddened expression, but trying to pull away again.

“Can we talk…. Please…” Braylee whimpered like a puppy, giving her the eyes to boot.

Of course Bruno seen this as a great time to get moving. Which didn’t really effect anyone else. Shay whipped off her black band t-shirt and frilly emo looking black mesh skirt and gave Braylee a pleading glance.

“I don’t want to be late to first hour” Shay started moving and Braylee let out a low growl.

Shay froze in place and Braylee moved to her side. Intertwining her fingers into Shay’s and she gasped. Quickly pulling their hands apart and giving her a warning growl.

“Stop” She warned, pulling her fingers free. “Not here, please”

That was all Braylee could handle. Without another word she just strode off to first hour. Not even glancing back, yet inside she was weeping. Her mate didn’t want her.

Throughout the first half of the school day she was hardly paying attention. Of course Mickey and her didn’t share every class but most of the morning ones they did. She needed her Bestie as she strode off towards the cafeteria.

Thankfully Emily was a few people ahead of her in the hallway. So she quickly caught up and gave her a quick smile.

“Hey Emily” Braylee said stepping in stride with her.

“Hey Braylee…” Emily replied trying to figure out what was out of place, then it dawned on her. “I forgot Mickey’s suspended”

“Yeah it’s a bummer” Braylee added in as they dodged a group of guys horsing around in the hallway. “You sure you gonna be alright tonight?”

“I’ll be fine” Emily replied unsure.

“We’ll hopefully you are close to an exit” Braylee giggled but Emily didn’t really even notice the joking manner of delivery.

“Did you hear about this morning?” Emily questioned not looking at Braylee.

“The Xavier and Bruno thing?” Braylee asked.

“Yeah, heard it was a mess. Involved a girl from my morning class Devon. Not sure how, but that’s the talk of the day” Emily added in.

“Dam Bruno must not have been lying…” Braylee said as someone behind her grabbed at her hand.

Of course her body instantly knew who it was, but why was she doing it. Instead of letting their fingers mesh together. Braylee pulled away, not even looking in Shay’s direction. Emily looked over and seen her approaching.

“Hey Shay” Emily said trying to sound as nice as possible. “Hope your not in to much pain after that crap with Leah”

“Nope. No physical pain here” She said annoyingly, pushing past them.

“What’s her problem?” Emily questioned, gawking at her as she passed them.

“Complicated like everything else around here” Braylee said pushing into the cafeteria.

Instantly noticing Bruno wasn’t at the “cool kids table”, instead him and Xavier where waving obnoxiously outside at their hang out table.

“Lord. This day keeps getting weirder and weirder “ Emily giggled, watching them interact.

“I need to talk to you!” Shay said slamming her tray down on the wooden table outside.

Breaking everyone away from the conversation about the morning gossip. Braylee just gawked at her for a few moments, not saying anything.

“It’s about time” Braylee replied and started to follow her over to another table close by. “So what do you want?”

“Don’t talk to me like that” Shay fired back laying down across the top of the table.

Shay’s longer black hair fell in a cascade nearly touching the ground. Letting out a loud audible sigh, and rubbing her temples with painted nails.

Braylee just sighed and sat down next to her. Looking down at her carmel colored skin as her eyes softened a bit. Then she sneezed and Braylee couldn’t help but bust out laughing.

“Cute” Braylee said at the very petite sounding tone of her sneeze.

“So why’s your sister have it out for me? That wasn’t cool at all” Shay said with a hint of anger.

“It was payback… I had a anger lapse and choaked her…” Braylee answered honestly and watched as Shay gave her a confused smile. “This wolf thing isn’t easy… I keep having bouts where something sets me off”

“I forgot you weren’t born to a family of wolves” Shay said without looking over at her. “I’m sure it’s tough.”

“Well at least I have them” Braylee smiled to herself thinking about how easily they had fell into a friendship together. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

“The full moon is tonight…. Are you all ready?” Shay was sitting up now, looking at Braylee with concern.

“I think we are…. But only time will tell I guess” Braylee sighed and just looked back at her friend group. “I don’t want anyone of them to get hurt, but I also don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“Just keep everyone together. I’m sure you’ll all pull through it. There’s only a small percentage that die durning the transition…. Doesn’t happen often though…” Shay said nonchalantly.

“Great. Something else to worry about”

“Don’t. I’m sure they will all be good.” Shay said back moving forward closer to Braylee.

“So about us?” Braylee’s voice was calm and cool sounding, trying not to sound as if they’d been trading blows all morning.

“We can’t be us…. It’s way more complicated than you know…” Shay didn’t meet her gaze now, just stared at her group of friends. “I wish I had a group like you do…”

“Aren’t you part of a pack? Didn’t you try to reach for my hand in the hallway?” Braylee questioned quite confused.

“Yes to both… but I can’t speak about the first thing… leaders orders…. I been trying to figure out how to speak to you….” Shay now was looking at her hands fiddling with her thumbs. “Or something worse then last time could happen…”

“When you almost died… you mean?” Instead of saying anything else Shay nodded. “What if you just nod?”

A lightbulb went off in both of there minds and she nodded again. A smile crept across Braylee’s face.

“So you can’t talk about the pack?” Again Shay nodded yes. “So that’s why you haven’t been around me?” Another nod yes.

“I’m your mate thing right?” Braylee asked again and Shay giggled a bit and nodded yes. “Do you normally like girls?”

Shay gasped a bit and her carmel skin started to turn a shade of red. Quickly she kinda turned her head away and didn’t nod at all.

“I haven’t been into girls, but I’ve never actually tried to be with a boy before” Shay answered honestly, rubbing her shoulder a bit.

“Same I guess…” Braylee said thinking of all the times before hand, where Mickey had helped keep boys away from her. “I definitely had help keeping boys away, but I also never really tired or bothered with them”

“Is that normal in wolf society?” Braylee questioned and Shay shook her head no. “So even in another society we are weird…”

“Not weird. Just different” Shay grabbed Braylee’s right hand and intertwined their fingers, pulling her hand up. “I’ve been a solo act since my mom died…. My father took us away from the group… and just decided to move back now…”

“Do you want to sit with us?” Emily’s voice sounded a bit more shy then normal but they both realized everyone else could hear them anyway.

Xavier and Bruno exchanged a sigh as the girls both laughed and shook their heads no. This was their time. The first time they really got to spend in each other’s company.

“What else?” Shay asked still looking at their intertwined fingers and enjoying the heat that started to form.

“Do you have siblings?”

“Nope. I know of yours” Shay shot back with a giggle.

“Really sorry about that” Braylee sighed. “At least the twins aren’t bad company”

“Your besties boy toy or the other one” Shay laughed as Braylee pulled her closer.

Instead of being a full arms length apart with their hands intertwined, now Braylee had pulled Shay nearly up onto her lap. Their eyes locking as they both smiled a bit.

“No pda!” Xavier called out with an obvious snorting fit of laughter.

“Hush!” Braylee’s voice was calm but feisty. “Any questions for me?”

“Have you ever kissed anyone before? Family doesn’t count” Shay’s eyes and smile turned to a shyness Braylee hadn’t expected.

“No… I’ve never had the urge until now…” Just as Braylee felt sure enough to push the envelope the bell rang.

“Let’s go love birds!” Bruno spoke this time causing both girls to join in laughing.

“Guess it’s just not the right time” Braylee said still holding Shay’s hand.

Nearly pulling her up into a standing position. Yet as Braylee started towards the group, Shay hadn’t begun to move at all. Braylee’s eyes scanned hers, only to find them focused on their intertwined fingers.

“If your not comfortable then…” Braylee’s voice sounded a little shaky and unsure about what to say.

“Are you comfortable with this? Walking together to class like this?” Shay seemed instantly conflicted and Braylee just smiled and pulled her hand free.

“I guess I was so comfortable I wasn’t even thinking about anything else” Braylee replied honestly with a shrug. “I’m in no rush..”

“Would you two hurry up! Or we are all going to be late!” Bruno added in his two cents again, standing at the entrance way holding it open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shay and Braylee walked together with the group dropping off each other at their respective classes. Throughout the next four periods Braylee didn’t see Shay again.

After school everyone was standing outside waiting for the sleepover directions. Of course the twins also had to be there. Standing around in a big circle, all of them chatting. Braylee stepped up to them and just sighed.

“What’s the plan?” Bruno questioned looking at the group.

Braylee’s eyes were wide watching Shay get into her father’s sheriff charger nearby. A sigh escaped her lips as Emily was giving everyone goodbye hugs.

“You should have invited her” Xavier said without hesitation.

“I guess even gay guys like girl on girl action” One of the jocks hissed as he passed.

Emily was thankful in an awkward attempt at a goodbye hug / trying not to let Braylee free to go start something else.

“What an ass” Bruno added in stepping up as the boy waved his hand in surrender still laughing.

“Guess cats out of the bag” Xavier gave Braylee a sly grin.

“Not like they hadn’t nearly had a major make out session in the middle of lunch” Bruno added in which earned him a glare from Braylee.

“Well I’ll take the twins with me” Braylee started getting her phone out to text Mickey.

“I have my car. I can take me and Xavier” Bruno added in and Xavier gave him a quick jab in the shoulder.

“You sure? Might get your old friends talking again?” He chuckled a bit and Bruno sighed.

“I really don’t care what they say. I know it’s not true”

“So follow me to Mickey’s, then to the store for snacks. Then to the house” Braylee said already starting to round her suv.

“Sounds good” Bruno said clicking his keys as a baby blue ford focus rs dinged to life.

Xavier only laughed as he headed over there.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mickey had been anxiously waiting for her group to show. And hopped into the car without much of a fus. Of course the twins qued her in about the drama of the day and the lunch stuff.

“So she all but made out with Shay?” Mickey giggled out loud as Braylee’s heart dropped.

Right at the front of the store was none other then Shay’s dad’s sheriffs charger parked just outside the front doors. With a sigh, she parked a few spots from the front door and turned to her best friend. Who was flaunting an ear to ear grin, looking at her and then to the twins. Them pointing over at the police cruiser.

“Guess your lover beat us here?” Mickey quipped as the boys laughed.

“Ughhh. Enough” Braylee hissed only to get out the Suv to see Bruno and Xavier hopping out pointing out the car.

“Get a grip guys” Mickey shouted as the twins nearly rolled out the back seat play fighting.

Nobody else said a word. That is until the front door of the store slid open to reveal Shay’s dad leaning against the manager counter with Shay at his side. Her parents were on the other side of the counter chatting away.

“Look the gangs all here” Braylee’s fathers voice was cheerful as he smiled.

His own dark complexion matching that of Shay’s fathers. Eyes a light brown completely focused on her and the group. Wearing his normal polo shirt and slacks.

Of course her mother on the other hand had to dress like one of the stephford wives. A long dress with flower arrangements across the front. Her green eyes and bleach white smile focused on Shay’s fathers attention.

“Thankfully someone else isn’t” Mickey shot back and Shay laughed a bit.

“Definitely” Xavier added in and Braylee’s mother shot her a quick glance, before motioning them over.

“So I went ahead and added someone else to your sleepover” Braylee’s mother’s voice sounded sweet and innocent, but Mickey started giggling before the words left her mouth. “Shay’s coming to your sleepover tonight”

Braylee didn’t make a sound, everyone else just seemed to be holding back their laughter. Mickey took it upon herself to give Shay a hug. Then lock arms with her and drag her towards the snack isle. The twins at her heels.

“Guess that went well” He father added in.

“I would have asked her earlier but I didn’t know how the sheriff would feel” Braylee said sort of shyly.

“I guess it’s working out well” Shay’s father gave her a smile. “I gotta get back to work. You sure you guys don’t need money or something?”

“No we got it handled” Braylee’s father said back.

Of course the moment Braylee and the guys rounded the snack isle. Mickey was asking a million questions and Shay was just nodding. Their new way of learning stuff. Braylee shook her head at Mickey’s devilish grin her way. Shaking her head she stepped closer to her best friend and her mate.

“So whatever could you two be talking about?” Braylee questioned with a side glance at Shay, who turned bright red.

“Just how someone could have had her first kiss” Mickey stuck her tongue out just as Braylee playfully slapped her arm.

“Feisty as always!” Mickey yowled playfully, stepping back and holding her arm.

“Well what’s everyone want for snack stuff? Get it now and let’s head home” Braylee asked as she felt Shay’s fingers trying to hold hers.

It was welcomed and they continued to toss stuff into the cart that Xavier and Bruno brought with. Of course everyone hadn’t been able to come to an agreement on pop or chips. So they ended up with a cart full.

Rounding the corner with the cart Braylee’s mom’s hand went to her mouth the moment she caught wind of the hand holding. It was at that second Braylee really realized the gravity of that situation, but she didn’t let go. They had already been fighting each other earlier and throughout school. It was a win she wanted to enjoy.

“You guys get everything you needed?” Her fathers voice interrupted her and her mothers eye contact.

“I think so” Braylee said softly as her mother gave her father a nudge, slowly pointing at the girls.

Of course her fathers brown eyes softened a bit and a smirk started to form. But instead of the world war three look her mother had given a smile was starting to form.

“Well you all have a good night. But don’t party to hard” Without another word he gave them a wave and sent them on their way.

“So not to be that girl” Mickey interrupted turning to her best friend. “I’m not giving up my front seat”

Braylee sighed softly and Shay smiled. Corbin was the first to speak.

“You don’t want to sit in the back with me?” He gave her a devilish grin and Caden groaned.

“Please don’t make me go with them?” Caden was looking at Bruno and Xavier.

“I’ll save you too” Bruno laughed.

~~~~~~~~~