I felt warmth throughout my body as I woke. I opened my eyes and saw an all too familiar place. Laine's bedroom. I quietly got up seeing Laine asleep next to me and to my surprise, Mason was sitting on the floor.
"Hey." He said in a whisper. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess. What are you doing here?" I silently got up and sat next to him on the floor.
He pointed over at Laine. "She said I could stay the night until I knew you were okay."
"What about her parents?"
"Her dad left for work before we came home and she distracted her mom so I could sneak us in."
"Oh."
"So are you at least feeling better now?"
"Yeah." I looked at my hands and saw they were in bandages.
Yet somehow they didn't hurt at all.
"Thank you." I continued.
"For what?"
"Wanting to help me and for doing so."
He placed his hand on my head.
"No problem." He said with a smile.
"That's what friends are for." He ruffled my hair.
"I guess now there's no need to leave huh?"
"Nope. James was long gone when I was done with him." He paused for a moment.
"Are you going to keep staying with her?"
I looked over at Laine and smiled.
"Yeah. I have no doubt she'll help keep my sanity in check."
"That's good. I should probably get going." He stood up as I followed.
"Where are you going?"
"The woods." He smiled. "My pack needs me."
"Right." I nodded.
"Don't forget to visit me alright? I don't expect her to keep you out of all the trouble. I'll still keep my eyes on you. I can always help you out with things she can't as well." With that, he smiled and left.
I heard Laine stir in her bed.
"Good morning." I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Morning." She yawned while rubbing her eyes.
"Where's Mason?"
"He left after I got up."
"Oh, okay. Well, are you ready?" She sat up.
"Ready for what?" I looked at her in confusion.
"Well since you're going to be staying we're going to have to tell my mom about you silly." She smiled.
"Uh, I don't think..."
"Come on you can't be a dog in this house forever." She was right.
Even so, how will her mother react? I can't imagine it'd be something to take in so simply.
"What about your dad?" I asked.
"He's gone most of the time anyway. It's fine if he doesn't know." I saw a twinkle of sadness in her eyes but it quickly went away.
"Come on let's get it over with now." She grabbed my hand excitedly dragging me downstairs.
We were halfway down the stairs when she told me to wait for a moment.
After a few minutes she called me over and I met them in the kitchen. Her mom looked at me for a good minute and said. "Well, umm... I'm sorry about the dog food?"
I could tell she was still unsure about the whole ordeal. I couldn't blame her. I didn't think werewolves were real myself until I became one.
"No worries. I can get how it sounds insane so I'll just prove it to you."
I transformed instantly and as you could guess she freaked out. To ease her fear I went into the most unthreatening position I could think of... I laid on my back belly up.
After a few minutes of Laine trying to calm her down, she eventually relaxed.
I went upstairs for a change of clothes and came back down to tell her a summary of my story. It was obvious she felt bad for all I'd gone through.
Surprisingly, she allowed me to continue staying in her home. The best mom award goes to her without a doubt.
"Now that things are settled I think it's time we go out and do some shopping since you've just been tearing through my daughter's clothes. Literally."
I laughed at Laine's relieved expression at the thought her clothes will now be spared.
We all went out and got some shopping done. I did feel bad her mom was wasting money on me but she kept insisting it was fine.
When we got back Laine's mom told me I could stay in the guest room. I didn't mind continuing to share with Laine but this was probably a better call.
I unloaded the clothes and arranged the room to my liking. I got a few room decorations as well with the money I happened to steal from James after the rescue.
"Wow, it looks so homey," Laine said analyzing the room.
"This is the best room I have ever had the luxury of sleeping in," I said with a smile.
"Hey what about my room?" Laine pouted.
I laughed. "Okay, this is a solid second."
"Alright girls." Laine's mom came in.
Her name was Grace but I didn't really feel comfortable calling her that yet.
"Get ready for bed, you two have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"You girls have school tomorrow."
"Yes! You get to go to school with me!" Laine beamed.
"Oh. No, that's okay. I think I'm good." I said scratching the back of my head.
I've been complaining about how my parents never let me go to high school but now that I'm given the opportunity I really don't want to.
"Well, if you're going to be living under my roof you're going to be attending school," Grace said and she left.
"I guess I'll have to move out then," I said in a serious tone.
"Oh, come on it's not that bad. You'll have me around to make things less daunting as well." Laine smiled and sat next to me.
I suppose I wouldn't mind trying it out, but if I am going to be attending I certainly won't be doing so alone.
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"School? No way!"
"Come on Mason! If I have to go you do too!"
No way was I going to be the only newbie.
"Well, that's your fault for staying with them! You should've just lived in the woods like me."
"Mason come on!"
"No shot."
"Do it for me! You can't be out here forever."
"Yes, I can wolves don't need to attend human school now do they?"
"No, but you aren't a wolf remember? You're a werewolf, half wolf half human and humans do need to go to school."
"You're only forcing me because you have to go!"
"Exactly! So come on!"
"No. I don't even have any clothes and my pack will need me out here." He pawed at the ground.
"So what? They can survive a few hours on their own. As for the clothes, I'll buy you some with my leftover money. Problem solved."
"You know what? Fine. It's not like I have a family to nag me about grades nor do I need a job. So I'll just be there for the participation points and to be your emotional support."
"Yes! Thank you!"
He laughed at my enthusiasm.
"Just leave my clothes by the cabin I'll go there to change." He said.
Mason ended up giving me some of the money he stole from James himself for his clothes. With the money and forged signatures, we were able to sign him up easily. After all that I finally headed back home.
"There you are. Let's go." Laine said as I came through the door.
"Where?"
"You'll see." She smirked.
She had led me down to the dock a fair distance from her house. The scenery her lake house had was always striking. She sat on the edge as did I. She rested her head on my shoulder as we enjoyed the sound of the water. After a while, we began light conversations that would last through the rest of the evening.