“I figured t’was high time I introduced you to the rest of us,” Bane said taking gentle strides. “You ready?”

“I guess,” Natasha replied hands in her sweater, vapor emitting from her mouth as she spoke. “What are they like?”

“Ah, good lads and lasses those ones,” he answered with an accent. He was a bald man with scruffy black beards. “You’ll get to like them. Not that you have a choice.”

“Have you always been a werewolf?” Bane asked inquisitively after a brief moment of quietness.

“No. I don’t know,” Natasha answered not sure. “Why?”

“For your first transformation, you were stronger and faster than most,” he paused looking her in the eye. “You sort of had control of yourself to an extent.”

She looked at him not sure what to say.

“My mother once told me I was taken by something when I was born,” she said finally. She exposed her neck to reveal a scar that ran across to her shoulder.

“Did she tell you what exactly took you?” Bane asked again trying to hide his awe as he continued walking.

“No. She didn’t speak of it again since then,” she replied arranging her sweater properly.

“You are special kid. I’ll give you that,” Bane said. “A thousand times I’ve seen new werewolves transform and none handled it the way you did.”

“Does that mean I’m alpha?” she asked with restraint.

“Easy now kiddo,” Bane said. “You may be a special lycan but you’ll still have to earn your place as alpha.”

“So it means I’m beta,” she concluded.

“Most likely.”

He stopped, hands in his leather jacket waiting for her as she watched her steps on rocks and wet grass. She stopped beside Bane looking at the people before her.

“Meet the pack. There’s Maccon, Lulu, Bleidd, Cara, and Fabrizio,” he pointed, his voice baritone.

Maccon looked buff as he was wearing a tank top. Lulu was like your regular goth girl with short dark hair having strips of purple and heavy makeup. Bleidd was just an average looking guy except he had dark circles around his eyes making him look like a raccoon. Cara smirked at Natasha her arm wrapped round Fabrizio’s abdomen who was smiling.

“Hi everyone,” Natasha greeted trying to hide her shock seeing the most popular Edgewater High couple.

“She’s the one you spoke about,” Cara said tossing her blonde hair on her shoulder. “Wouldn’t have guessed.”

“Y’all should show and teach her everything you know,” Bane said. “She’s one of us now.”

“Any questions?” he turned to Natasha who noticed the scar on his left eye.

She looked at Cara who still had a mischievous smirk on her face then at Fabrizio who was still quiet smiling. She turned back to Bane nodding sideways.

“Okay then. We good aye?” Bane said to no one in particular as he turned around walking away. “We done here people.”

The love duo left first leaving Lulu leaning on Maccon and Bleidd who leaned on a tree.

“What’s your name?” Lulu asked chewing gum.

“Natasha.”

“Welcome to the pack, Natasha,” she said blowing a bubble nudging Maccon to move as Bleidd wore his hoodie over his head leaving too.

***

She watched him joke and laugh around the people he sat with. His perfect teeth, she thought as she sipped her smoothie from a straw. There was something about his ruffled hair that always got her. Petyr waved from another table, she waved back.

“Hey,” Jessa said sitting at the table as she put down her tray of food. “D’you mind?”

“Nah,” Natasha said.

“So how do you like it at Edgewater High?” Jessa started.

“It’s nice,” Natasha replied bringing her cup up to her mouth for a sip.

“I see you like Ethan,” she said opening her bottle of water. “It’s hard not to see it.”

“Really?” Natasha asked eyes wide open. “Is it that obvious?”

“Everyone sees it girl,” Jessa chuckled. “You could just talk to him you know.”

“I did talk to him on several occasions,” she slurped on her drink. “He doesn’t always want to talk to me.”

“Sad,” Jessa said chewing. “He’ll come around.”

“I hope.”

“I’m hosting a party and I would like you to come,” Jessa invited.

“Err…” Natasha thought. “I’m not sure I want to.”

“Everyone’s coming. You should too,” Jessa added.

“Okay,” Natasha grinned. “I’ll be there.”

“Great,” Jessa squeaked with delight.

***

Natasha roamed the forest breezing past trees rapidly. She felt so powerful and she loved it until something attacked her with a pounce pinning her to ground. Growling at her face, it got kicked away as she took swipes with her sharp claws leaving fur flying all over. She was fast as she dodged swiping attacks that it had to swiftly pin her again sinking fangs into her neck. Natasha was bleeding hurt as she tried shaking it off.

“You’re off limits,” it said but Natasha didn’t know what it meant as they prowled in circles. She launched another attack but wasn’t fast enough as it struck her to the floor biting and clawing her relentlessly.

It was tackled as another werewolf jumped on it. They both stood snarling as chill breeze blew. It began barking then struck with a powerful leap sending themselves tumbling on the grass. They broke free circling until it received a claw on its face. The tackler fought hard and more aggressively forcing the retreat of its opponent.

“Are you okay?” it asked approaching wounded Natasha.

“Do I know you?” Natasha asked still down.

“It’s Fabrizio,” it said.

“Oh. How did you know I was here?” she asked standing up.

“Someone had to keep an eye,” he answered. “You shouldn’t really wander alone here.”

Natasha didn’t say anything as she paced round trying to recover.

“You’re welcome?” Fabrizio said disappointed that he didn’t get a thank you. “I dunno if Bane told you, but you should try avoiding these parts.”

“Wouldn’t Cara be mad when she finds out you’re keeping an eye?” Natasha asked ignoring what he said.

“Does it matter? I’ve always had an eye,” Fabrizio smiled. “You should know that.”

“So now you’re saying Cara doesn’t matter anymore,” Natasha scoffed.

“Maybe. Maybe not,” he said calmly. “It’s you I want now Natasha.”