(Character building, setting everything in place for the first big play)

School started off boring as usual, until lunch time. Xavier and Emily were already sitting at their new outside table. When Braylee and Mickey came out the doors.

“You have to be joking?” Xavier shouted out to them with a smile.

“What makes you think it’s that?” Emily questions as Xavier seems to be reading her expressions.

Telling them about the older guy, probably not a good idea. It sounded weird enough telling Mickey. And she’d been there for half of the time.

“I don’t know…. It’s just the hearing… the communication between each other… the way we all kinda fit together after…” Baylee tried hard not to give up the fact she knew for sure.

“Sounds like a very impossible thing” Xavier says, drinking his pop.

“This whole situation is impossible…. We all collapsed during gym class and now we are werewolves….” Emily seemed a lot more emotional about it then everyone else. “What if it’s true…. We are just stuck like this then?”

“I guess…. I read that the first full moon will cause us all the shift…” Baylee added in, definitely not helping the anxiety that seems to be building in Emily.

“Into a wolf?” Xavier questioned while still munching. “Like Teen wolf , scary half human or like Jacob wolf?” His daze became a bit dreaming and the girls laughed.

“Seems so” Mickey answered. “Unsure about which”

“So sleep over at my house Friday night?” Baylee questioned as she watched Emily’s gaze drop to the floor.

“I can’t make it…. My dad will be back in town.” She told them all playing with the jello pudding on her tray.

“Your step dad?” Xavier added in, as if they’d had a conversation about it already.

“Yeah” She sighed.

“If I’m right… you could be putting his life in danger?” Baylee tried not to sound to bossy but if not who was going to take the initiative.

“He definitely won’t let me go anywhere” She mumbled a bit.

“Is he the one….” Mickey interrupted, genuinely curious.

Emily didn’t say anything else, just ate her food. While Mickey gave Baylee a saddened glance. Mickey moved toward Baylee as if she was gonna whisper something to her and then she realized.

“I think you should not ask and just come over. We can all protect you…” Mickey said looking at Emily but she didn’t turn.

“Have you ever told anyone?” Baylee questioned but the terror filled look on Emily’s face told the entire story.

“We’ll I’m down, your brothers are hilarious.” Xavier laughed, trying to get the conversation away from Emily.

“Anyone seen Bruno?” Braylee asked, looking at the usual table inside but he wasn’t there.

“Bruno! Where are you?” Xavier’s voice echoed throughout their minds and he just gave them a smile.

“Obnoxious, just like her brothers” Mickey rolled her eyes and watched Emily stifle a smile.

“Didn’t stop you from getting it on with one” Xavier stuck his tongue out and Mickey quickly tossed her unopened bbq chip bag at his face.

“Maybe there is a distance barrier for the link?” Emily said looking at Braylee, interrupting Xavier and Mickey’s cat fight.

“True… I hadn’t even thought about that” Braylee responded honestly taking a bite out of her sub. “Maybe his family went away or something?”

“I don’t think he’s got any siblings. But I don’t know all that much about him” Cavier added in.

“We could test it later” Mickey added in, grabbing her bag of chips back.

“With one car?” Braylee giggled a bit.

“Someone stay here at the school and the rest of us can go across town. Actually that new burger place in Vantrose[Van - troose] sounds like a good idea.” Xavier plotted remembering the small excerpt on instagram about its grand opening.

“Can’t !” Braylee groaned. “Need to help my family at our store”

“Fuck your right.” Mickey added in.

“Well everyone here heard my voice last night. right?” Braylee tried to figure it out.

They all chimed in their own way in agreement. As they started to eat. Yet as Braylee watched Emily she seemed a bit overwhelmed by the mention of the sleepover.

“So what do you think of Caden?” Mickey gave Emily a sly smile as she munched on her chips.

“Can you not match make my other brother” Braylee glared at her for a second, before biting into the pizza slice.

“Excuse me, miss bossy.” Mickey giggled. “I’m just asking about what I seen”

“Just tell her to mind her business” Braylee said not even looking at Emily.

“Mind your business!” Emily choaked out, causing the rest of them to laugh.

Stepping back into the cafeteria as the bell rung Bruno’s entire table was still there, minus him. Xavier was super brave and walked right up to the guy who had been set in his place by Bruno. A girl on the other side of the table pointed at Xavier and the boy turned.

“What do you want homo?” He sneered, obliviously still mad about being put in his place, yet Xavier didn’t expect the hostility.

“You guys seen Bruno?” Xavier asked without skipping a beat, ignoring his comment.

“Got a thing for muscular football players now?” One of the girls started with a catlike smile.

“No that’s not” Xavier started to fumble his words.

“Come on homo spit it out” One of the others started to laugh.

“That’s enough. We have a group project in biology, and he’s not getting a free pass to skate by without doing some of the work” Baylee was now standing behind Xavier a pissed off expression clear on her face.

“His girlfriend and his family went up to their lake house for his birthday.” One of the girls said nonchalantly. “Won’t be back to school till next week”

“Great” Braylee pulled a Mickey hair flip and dragged Xavier away by his back pack strap.

“Are you mental?” She hissed at Xavier once they had cleared the hallway.

“I’m a badass werewolf, why would I be scared of those bozzo’s?” Xavier shrugged his shoulders.

“You don’t have to be scared of them. But picking a fight could also be bad. Use your head.” She flicked him square in his forehead as Emily and Mickey burst out laughing.

“That was a good cover story though” Mickey laughed as they all headed towards their next class.

**

The rest of school went by quickly, leaving the girls alone at the store for the night. Since Leah and Logan had a dinner date.

“Must have been nice to get out of working” Braylee groaned behind the manager desk.

“So I’ll run the register?” Mickey said coming up front.

The sliding doors slid open and Mickey waved obnoxiously. That is until Braylee’s mom entered after and waved to her. Of course Corbin and Caden were already horsing around behind her.

“Figured I’d bring you two some help” Her mom smiled as she tossed her phone onto the counter. “It’s been pretty dead last few nights”

“I’m gonna go change” Corbin said loud enough to tip Mickey off.

Who unbeknownst to mom slipped away like she was going to be stocking shelves. Braylee sighed and looked back to her mom and other brother.

“So we should do a pool thing at home on Saturday?” Her mom started but it made Baylee question it when she seen her looking at Caden.

“Invite everyone” Caden said and Braylee sighed.

“Was gonna ask about a sleepover on Friday night” Braylee didn’t look away from her mothers face.

“That will work. Everyone will already be here” Her mom gave her a smile. “We’ll the boys will help you. Have a good night”

With that she slipped away. Leaving Braylee to deal with the twins and her bestie. Who was probably doing the same crap Leah and her boyfriend pulled on the daily. Makeout paradise.

“You better both come out!” Baylee groaned angrily as she walked towards the back storage room.

“Ughh, we are coming” Mickey shouted back, moving out the doorway in a flash.

“Y’all nasty” Baylee said watching her Bestie fixing her black yoga pants. “Please tell me y’all weren’t trying to do that. Here?”

“No I just had to pee” Corbin walked out silently behind her, not even looking in his sister’s direction.

“So what is your plan for Friday?” Mickey said leaning over the manager counter.

“Just wait till we are home. Don’t want anyone to know about the “who”.” Braylee watched as a small family started to push a cart into the store.

“Once again totally slipped my mind. You think he’ll have silver chains to wrap us with?” Mickey was already biting her nails and looking down the isle to Corbin.

“God he’s already got you dreamily watching him” Baylee laughed at her Bestie pulling her out of fantasy land.

“Shush” Mickey pushed her playfully as the front door opened again to reveal the wolf guy from the other night.

Except instead of the unkempt mountain man. His face was shaved down and a ponytail was pulled back at the top of his head. Definitely better then mountain man.

Caden quickly hoped up from the counter edge and gave Jayden a friendly hand shake / hug thing. Unbelievable, of course her brothers had made friends with the strange wolf guy.

“Corbin! Jayden’s here. Did you grab that generator that dad ordered for him.” Caden was cheesing it as he looked back at Braylee’s scowling face. “Don’t forget the water stuff too”

“Guess someone made some friends” Mickey whispered but Jayden smiled at them a bit as he walked over.

“How’s the teen wolves?” Jayden asked leaning against the counter.

“I wouldn’t bark up that tree” Caden said with a giggle as he slipped past them.

“Wait. What do they know?” Braylee almost immediately gripped up Jayden by his black t-shirt.

“It’s a figure of speech. Calm down girly. Paranoid much” Jayden laughed. “I guess I never really had to deal with being secretive.”

“We’ll we have too. Also are you sure?” Braylee questioned, hoping deep down he was gonna laugh and say he’d been messing around the entire time.

“Definitely sure. You scared?” Jayden seemed genuinely concerned. “It’s not that bad, first ones pretty painful but after it comes pretty easy.”

“Maybe a little” Braylee answered honestly, Mickey nodded in agreement still eyeing the man up like her was a criminal.

“Guess you don’t trust me much” Jayden was looking at Mickey. “I literally mean you all no harm. I couldn’t put up a fight if I wanted too” A sigh left his mouth and Braylee caught a hint of sadness.

“Jury is still out on that one” Mickey said watching the boys pulling out two pallets.

One of them full of bottled water and the other had two mid sized generators on it. Corbin looked at Mickey and smiled but she was to busy glaring at Jayden.

“Everything is here” Caden added in, stoping at the strange hostility on Mickey’s face.

“What are you some type of off the grid guy?” Mickey growled a bit and Jayden only smiled a bit.

“No, just inherited an old farm house. Sadly it was abandoned for a good amount of time. Been fixing it up the last few weeks.” Jayden groaned a bit looking at the girls. “So what’s the damage?”

“Dad said he’d put it on your tab. He’d collect when he gets back” Corbin added in not trying to sound rude or interrupt Braylee.

“He’s a nice guy. Y’all should count yourself fortunate. Not everyone has parents like that” Jayden grabbed the pallet Jack with the generators and headed out the doors towards his truck.

Braylee quickly felt a hand on her arm as she started to follow. Mickey was begging her with a look of pure desperation and determination.

“Please don’t get him involved. I have a bad feeling about him” Braylee sighed and shook her arm free.

“I need answers… he’s our only chance”

~~~~~~~~~

Outside Baylee seen him loading the two boxes into the front seat of his truck. Looking around at the other few cars spewed across the parking lot. Then he looked at Braylee.

“Your friend doesn’t like me” He questioned as she came closer.

Tossing the second generator box onto the seat. Then he started to pull the pallet Jack back towards the store till he felt a hand on his arm.

“I don’t care. She’s wrong.” Braylee growled a bit as he turned to her. “I need to know more”

“Your pack friend” He laughed a bit as he said it. “Please refrain from asking her anything…. Also don’t mention me. Other than that. I’ll answer any questions you have?”

He leaned against the truck rear panel and looked down at her. Crossing his arms over his chest waiting for the first question.

“I didn’t tell you about her!” Braylee growled starting to feel anger building up from inside her.

“Calm down girly. I told you I’d look into it.” He shook his head. “I’m not your enemy. I went to the school and could smell the sixth wolf. I only know she’s female.”

“So you checked up on us?”

“I told you I was going too?” He questioned, hoping that she’d calm down a bit. “You should stop letting your anger spike like that. You could easily shift after the moon if you get to riled up” He said matter a factly.

“She’s my friend… I’m sorry…” Braylee dropped her head a little.

“We’ll I heard she had an epileptic reaction the other day. Heard you were there too?” Now he was looking at her reading her body, somewhat expecting a lie.

“I asked her to much…”

“So she’s part of another pack…. But she hasn’t given you up yet….” He heald his temple trying to figure it out. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

“I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. I really don’t know you and she’s special….” Now his eyebrows raised a bit, catching on.

“She’s your mate….. I’ve heard of it happening but not very frequently… that’s why she’s keeping it a secret…. But you can’t lie or disobey an Alpha…. So how is she….” Jayden mumbled to himself as Mickey appeared at the store doors.

“What does that even mean?”

“Your souls are tied together….. always…”

“Did you ever….?” She questioned but he looked away.

“I’ll try and get a grasp on this… I’ll try and meet you tomorrow night. Here again.” Without another word he headed towards Mickey and inside.

“So that was a long talk?” Mickey questioned as she got closer. “Find anything out?”

“A little bit more I guess” Braylee mumbled pushing past Mickey and back into the store.

~~~~~~

“Would you just spit it out?” Mickey hissed, leaping onto Braylee’s bright red felt blanket.

“What if I don’t want to?” Braylee gave her a mysterious smile and then started laughing.

Mickey and Braylee hardly ever spent time in her room anymore. Mostly due to Mickey wanting to be close to Corbin, and them having to all be together so it didn’t look fishy.

Either way her room was a mess of dirty clothes on the floor, clean clothes scattered across the bed. Yet both her laptop desk and vanity were spotless. Make it all make sense.

“When was the last time you cleaned this dump?” Mickey shot back looking around.

“Before my best friend decided to live with my family?” Braylee stuck her tongue out.

“We’ll dam. That’s cold” Mickey looked around for a second, before her eyes set on the door.

“I didn’t mean it like…” Braylee started.

“But that’s how you said it…. You know why I’m always here…. Your parents don’t even seem to care anymore about it….” Mickey raised her voice about it. “I hate that house…. I hate being there….”

“I’m sorry Mickey” Braylee was quickly reminded of last summers other mishap.

It was way more then a simple mishap. It completely jolted the small town awake for the entire summer and even the first semester at school. Mickey took the blunt of it though, for what all went down.

“It sucks” Her eyes were watering as the door opened.

Of course Corbin must have heard their argument and came running. His eyes opened wide as he seen his girlfriend cuddled up with her best friend.

“She’s mine.” He laughed running in and dog pilling onto the bed next to them. “So you better not take her from me”

“We’ll technically. She’s mine first” Braylee mock pulled Mickey closer causing them to shift to far.

Onto the floor they tumbled, Mickey was laughing wildly now. Corbin was leaning over the bed making sure they didn’t die.

“Thankfully those dirty clothes broke our fall” Mickey laughed harder.

“I’ll clean it up!” Braylee growled out, standing up and helping her best friend to her feet.

“You better. You guys sound like elephants from downstairs.” Her mothers voice sounded from just outside the door.

“Corbin pushed us off the bed” Braylee fibbed and started to laugh, Corbin opened his mouth shocked by the acquisitions.

“Your such a liar!” He groaned and Mickey quickly started tickling Braylee.

“No stop!” She giggled.

“I swear y’all haven’t grown up yet” Her mothers voice faded down the hall.

“So don’t think I’m gonna give up” Mickey said as they broke apart and she sat on the floor between Corbin’s legs.

“It’s nothing”

“I know your lying…. Why won’t you tell me?” Mickey was begging now, looking at her best friend wondering if they were still as close.

“If I tell you both…. It never leaves here…” Corbin’s ears perked up as Mickey started to smile. “Not even Caden….. She’s my mate…. But it’s so complicated….”

“What’s a mate?” Corbin looked super confused.

“Maybe that’s all for now” Mickey said squeezing her boyfriend’s cheeks playfully before kissing him quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mickey didn’t even ask anymore, Corbin was still confused. It was a good call on Mickey’s part to stop her before the bigger secret came out. The rest of the night the boys and Mickey stayed in the basement, while Braylee cleaned up her room.

School in the morning was torcher getting everyone else up. Of course Braylee had slept in her room. But the moment she went down into the basement she found Caden sprawled out on the small couch, and Corbin and Mickey cuddled together in the middle of the floor.

“Y’all nasty!” She shouted out, waking Mickey instantly only to realize it was a good thing.

Her dark chocolate complexion was red as she pulled the extra cover off the empty couch wrapping herself up in it quickly. Braylee gasped and covered her mouth.

“Are you serious right now?” Braylee whispered angrily. “Thoty much”

“It’s not that serious. Caden fell asleep and it just kinda” Mickey tucked her hair behind her ear feeling much more self conscious about the whole situation.

“What if mom came down here before leaving for the store?” Braylee sighed knowing full well they aren’t careful enough.

“But they know already” Mickey said holding her hip slinging as much attitude as she could muster.

“Maybe. What if Leah was just trying to bait us?” Braylee was trying to get it through her head.

“Ughhh you need to get with Shay so that you understand it” Braylee’s voice faltered as she tried to retort.

“That was harsher then necessary…. What if I told you to stop fucking my brother?” Braylee felt the anger starting to come out.

“Your not my boss or my mother” Mickey hissed.

“No I’m your best friend and up until this summer that meant something” Braylee could feel the tears starting to form.

“Well I’m sorry your summer was so bad. Since your best friend found a lover” Now Mickey was starting to get angry too. “You want to trade summers?”

“I didn’t mean it like that” Braylee says wiping the few tears that started to fall.

“They are dead…. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone… this summer sucked. Except for your family and Corbin…..” Mickey didn’t even wipe the tears away. “So I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you… I’m sorry that I’m not sorry about finding comfort with him…. And I’m sorry your being a shitty friend because you won’t accept yourself”

“Won’t accept myself. I Don’t even know who I am anymore. You don’t think we have enough stuff to deal with being werewolves!” Braylee shouted back and stormed off towards the stairs.

“Ok chill mom. It’s not that serious. We didn’t get caught” Mickey groaned grabbing her clothes and heading into the downstairs bathroom as both the boys started to stir.

“Werewolves?” Corbin chuckled. “You must be watching to much vampire diaries”

“For sure” Caden added in rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Braylee stormed away from her best friend and went upstairs to change. The ride to school was quiet, not even the boys said anything. Braylee was sure they’d heard the end of the argument and that Corbin had been filled in to the rest.

Lunch time Mickey didn’t even join them out in the courtyard. Braylee sat with Xavier and Emily but neither really said much.

“So I heard about your spat with the bestie…” Emily started and Braylee looked at Xavier expecting it to have come from him.

“I didn’t know till she told me” Xavier said throwing up his hands in mock surrender with an innocent smile.

“Do I even want to know?” Braylee tried not to show her overwhelming annoyance, knowing it would have to come from either Mickey herself or one of the boys.

“Mickey might have slipped me…. Caden’s number…” Emily didn’t even look at her face.

“Of course she did” Braylee sighed.

“I’m not talking to him like that. Just so you know” Emily still didn’t look up.

“See why don’t you have an older; hot, ex-military brother who’s secretly in the closet but would very much enjoy me” Xavier added in dreamily and both girls started to chuckle.

“Mickey is being selfish. There’s no reason she can’t just tone it down” Braylee growled angrily. “I don’t care that they are together. I just don’t want anymore unnecessary drama and stress”

“We’ll I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say there’s way more coming your way” Xavier was looking at the doorway with his mouth hanging open.

Of course as Braylee turned her attention that way she quickly noticed why. Her annoying bratty older half sister had a huge smile on her face. As she pulled Shay by her arm roughly, nearly dragging her across the cafeteria by the looks of it.

Shay looked horrified, trying desperately to rip her hands away. Behind her was Mickey and the twins seemingly pleading with Leah to stop this madness. Until two of Bruno’s friends opened the doors so Leah could toss Shay into the dirt.

“Hey sis” She chuckled. “Found your girlfriend eating her lunch in the bathroom. Figured she was hiding from you so you wouldn’t go ape shit on her”

“She’s not my girlfriend! You bitch!” Braylee growled and started to get up off her chair, rage starting to blur her vision.

“Ohhh I’m sorry. Should I say crush instead?” She smiled a bit, her voice cracking with excitement over the drama she was causing. “Guess paybacks a bitch”

“Not payback. Just you” Mickey added in but Leah completely ignored it.

“Did you even know my sister had a thing for you?” Her attention fell to Shay.

Shay didn’t say anything, how could she. She’d just been outed in front of pretty much the entire school. Dragged across the cafeteria like a dog, and now Leah had the stones to stand there gloating.

“I didn’t know…” Shay choked out, without looking at Braylee, her tears rolling down her face.

“Your a monster” Xavier quickly moved to Shay’s aide but Braylee was stuck.

Everything just seemed to be happening all at once aground her without a seconds chance to breathe. All the anger pulsed through her body.

“I’m glad your not actually my sister” Braylee said coldly and started to take a step forward as Emily silently stood between her and the mess.

“This is so low. Even for you.” Mickey’s voice caused Leah to turn around, just as she smacked her clear across her face. “That’s because I know your sister won’t do it.”

Leah staggered for a second and Braylee could only watch as Mickey smiled at her.

“How’s that for payback?” Mickey moved past Leah and started helping Shay up.