Maya was lost in his eyes, she was weak in the knees.
At that exact moment, Jack walked in. His eyes met theirs, and he turned away, face darkened. He stormed past Sofia and Steve downstairs.
"Jack?" Sofia called after him, but he was gone.
---
"I should take you back," Alex said gently. "Your friend's probably looking for you.
They went downstairs and met Sofia and Steve.
"Where were you?" Sofia asked.
"Are you okay, Maya? Did he..?" Steve started.
"No, no! I'm fine," Maya said quickly.
"Okay. You both stay here while I grab my keys."
"Top floor. Balcony. Watching the moon," Maya mumbled.
"Did you say anything to Jack?" Sofia asked.
"No... why?"
"He stormed off. I think he saw you. I'm pretty sure he did," she said, turned to look at Alex.
Alex walked toward them.
"What do you want?" Sofia snapped.
"It's okay, Sofia," Maya said gently.
Alex turned to Maya.
"I'd love to see you again."
"Too bad, she's not giving her address to a stranger," Sofia shot back.
"What's her deal?" Alex asked.
"She's just scared. When she di.."
"Shall we?" Steve interrupted, stepping in.
Sofia grabbed Maya's hand, urged her to leave.
"I'm sorry, I have to go now," Maya said softly.
Alex replied calmly, "I'll find you, Maya."
---
"Ahhhhhhh... arrrghhhhhhhh!"
Birds scattered from the treetops, wings flapping in a panic. Jack's eyes flashed a crescent blue and widened. His face twisted as hair sprouted rapidly, fangs jutting from his mouth. His body expanded, shredding his clothes. Within seconds, Jack stood as a towering brown wolf, lean and muscular, his skinny blue eyes glowing in the night. He roared into the darkness.
---
Steve parked in the driveway, headlights washing over the porch.
The lights in the house were on. He glanced at his sister and sighed.
"Now we're all in trouble."
They stepped out of the car just as Sofia's mom, Christine, swung open the front door.
"Where the hell are you girls coming from, huh?" she barked.
"Mum, calm down," Steve stepped forward, trying to defuse the tension.
Christine turned sharply toward him. "And how did you find them? It's 1 AM. I've been worried sick! I tried calling Sofia, but of course, you left with a flat battery."
"I'm sorry, Mum," Sofia said quietly.
"Sorry?" Christine repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. They walked into the house
"It was all my idea," Maya stepped in. "I convinced Sofia to come with me. I should be the one punished."
Sofia looked at Maya, stunned.
"Your mum and grandma are waiting for you," Christine snapped. "I only called them after Steve told me he was bringing you both home."
Sofia and Maya turned toward Steve, both clearly shocked. Steve avoided their gaze, especially Sofias'.
"You snitch! I hate you!" Sofia screamed before storming off to her room.
"You are grounded for two weeks, young lady!" Christine yelled after her.
"I'm really sorry, Mrs. Christine," Maya said softly.
"Go home, Maya," Christine replied coldly.
Maya opened the door and quietly stepped out.
Christine shook her head at Steve before walking back into her room.
---
Maya rang the doorbell.
Her mom opened the door, eyes filled with worry.
"Where have you been, Maya?"
"I... I went to a party, Mum."
"A party?" Wendy's voice sharpened. "You're grounded for a month."
"A month?!" Maya exclaimed.
"You snuck out from a sleepover to a party, Maya!" Wendy shouted.
Maya fired back, voice trembling with emotion, "Isn't that why we moved here? So I could have a normal life? I've been grounded my whole life, Mum!"
"All I've ever done is protect you," Wendy said firmly.
"No. You've caged me!" Maya's eyes welled with tears. "I've been having nightmares... of my father. I don't even remember what he looked like..why?"
Wendy fell silent.
"Why can't I remember?" Maya demanded. "I've never felt normal, Mum. You're holding on too tight."
"You don't tell me anything," Wendy said, voice quieter now.
"I can take care of myself... at some point, you'll have to let me go."
Maya ran upstairs.
Wendy collapsed onto the couch beside her mother, Olivia, who wrapped an arm around her.
---
"Why did you break me out, Shelbs?"
"Justice, Daren. Justice," Ms. Shelby said.
---
"You were right, Mum," Wendy whispered to Olivia.
She sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"We have to prepare... her transformation is going to be tough."
Olivia nodded and hugged her daughter.
---
"Hey, Gummy Bear."
Wendy turned as Maya came down the stairs.
"Good morning, Grams. Mum. I'll be in the car," Maya said.
Wendy watched her leave, then turned to Olivia, lifting her arm only to let it drop in frustration.
"Give it time," Olivia said gently.
Wendy sighed, grabbed her jacket, purse, Maya's lunch, and followed her out.
---
Outside, Sofia was talking to Maya.
"Can Sofia join us?" Maya asked.
"Of course," Wendy replied.
Steve approached. "Mum said I should take you to school," he told Sofia.
"I don't want to go with you. Maya's mum is taking me," Sofia said bluntly.
"Sofia, please. It's too early for this. Mum.."
"Mum what? It's not like I'm skipping school!" Sofia snapped as she got into Wendy's car.
Wendy turned to Steve. "It's okay. I'll take them. She's safe with me."
"Thanks, Miss Wendy," Steve said before walking to his car.
"You can run off to Mum and snitch about this too!" Sofia shouted as they drove off.
Maya gently touched Sofia's arm.
"I'm sure your brother is just trying to protect you."
"No," Sofia shook her head. "He's just protecting himself. He sells me out to cover his tracks."
The rest of the ride to school was quiet.
---
"We can't count on him," Conri muttered.
"He gets distracted too easily. We'll give him time. If he shows results, we'll know our next move."
---
At school:
"Okay girls, have a great day," Wendy said.
"Thanks, Ms. Wendy. You too," Sofia replied.
"Bye, Mum," Maya added, and the girls got out.
As they walked in, Maya confessed, "Mum grounded me for a month."
"I'm sorry, Maya. It's all my fault."
"No, it's fine..."
They opened their lockers just as the bell rang.
"Math," they said in unison.
In class, Maya scanned the room.
"Where's Jack?"
The teacher began the lesson. "Today we'll be working on simultaneous equations. Does anyone know why Jack is absent?"
Silence. Eyes turned toward Maya.
---
At home, Jack lay asleep in bed, covered head to toe.
His brother nudged him.
"Why aren't you in school? You've been out all night, back in the morning. Two days now."
"It's all your fault," Jack muttered.
His brother frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You invited your crazy college friends to my party..and now she may have marked him."
"She's a werewolf? Who's the guy?"
Jack sat up. "She doesn't know it yet. But I can feel her, her energy is strong... and rare. The guy's tall, blonde, and shirtless."
"Blonde? The only blonde wolf there was Alex." His brother's eyes widened. "That guy's involved with dangerous people. She shouldn't be near him."
Jack's eyes widened too.
---
Back at school:
"Back to the cage," Maya sighed as the bell rang again.
"I wonder why Jack missed school," she said.
"I think he's heartbroken."
"Why?"
"He saw you with that shirtless guy at the party."
"Alex?"
"Yeah. Did you guys kiss or something?"
Maya blushed. "No."
Sofia stood in front of her.
"You're blushing. Do you like him?"
"I'm not answering that."
Suddenly, Sofia's eyes widened.
"I was hoping for an answer," Alex said behind Maya, holding flowers.
"Alex?! What are you doing here?" Maya turned, shocked but excited.
"I told you I'd find you." Alex brushed his hair back and smirked.
---
Meanwhile...
"I need everything silver," Ms. Shelby told the salesman.
"Silver? For what?"
"A school project, for special students."
"Science students?" he asked disinterestedly.
"Exactly."
---
"Honk, honk!"
"Maya, your mum's here!"
"Here's my number," Maya handed Alex a note.
As they walked to the car, Wendy eyed Alex from the driver's seat.
"Who's that?" she asked.
"A guy I met at the party," Maya replied.
"He traced you to school with flowers?" Wendy's eyes narrowed.
They got in the car.
"What about Jack?" Wendy asked.
"He wasn't in school," Sofia answered quickly.
"Shouldn't you check on him?"
"We don't know where he lives," Maya said.
"I do," Sofia said softly. Maya stared at her.
"Great, we'll visit," Wendy smiled.
"Shouldn't we call first?" Maya asked.
"If you had his number, maybe."
"I don't..." Maya mumbled.
"Then it's settled," Wendy said.
"I'm sure he won't mind," Sofia added with a smirk.
---
At home, Olivia reached for a box of tissues in Wendy's closet.
She accidentally knocked down a smaller locked box.
The inscription read: "Reika."