Chapter One

“What did we learn today, class?” Mrs. Rade asked us.

I raised my hand.

“Melly?” She called on me.

“Uh… humans are naturally stupid and therefore that’s why werewolves run the world?” I said sweetly.

My best friend—who’s human—Lani Summers, whacked me in the arm.

“What?” I protested. “You are!”

Mrs. Rade shook her head and shot me a look. I sighed and hunkered down in my seat. Some species were just sensitive to the whole race issue.

Hi, my name’s Melly and I’m a werewolf. Please, keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times. Thank you.

It was fifth period and Lani and I had ten minutes left ‘till school let out. I mean, we’re seniors! Sixth period is so for freshmen.

“I’m just kidding, Rade,” I said. “Humans gained the official right to vote with the Voting Rights Act of 1965… right?”

“Correct,” she smiled and paused to the rest of the class. “I’m going to turn on the television to see the presidential primaries. Will that bother anyone?”

I started to raise my hand but Lani whacked it down. Dang, what a killjoy. Rade turned on the T.V. and two familiar faces looked back at me.

“Do you think Rilay’s going to win the presidential election?” I asked Lani.

She shrugged. “I’m definitely rooting for Carab.”

I poked her teasingly. “Because he’s human?”

“No! Because he’s all about… hope… and… ah, who am I kidding? Of course I’m rooting for the underdog!” Lani exclaimed. She paused and added, “Uh… not literally of course; underdog as in the little guy.”

“Speaking of dogs,” I snickered, “Rilay’s an Alpha Female, and she’s the first female to ever run for president. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”

“Hello? First human!” Lani shot back at me.

“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes.

We turned back into our seats, feigning to be mad at each other but I soon turned to her, a question lingering in my mind.

“Hey, you know how you and Lus are like… doing it?” I say bluntly, my cheeks turning red a bit.

Lus’s full name is Aeolus and he was our best friend. However, this year, Lani and Lus started going out and now they’re a couple and get all mushy sometimes when I’m around. It’s like, ‘Hey, don’t mind me; I’m not totally turned off by PDA or anything.’

She gave me the best “What the fuck?” look she could muster. Lani’s face started to turn as red as mine and she said, “Why are you asking for?”

The bell rang. We got up and slung our backpacks over our backs—already packed, of course—and started to walk to the student parking lot.

“You know how we sometimes Shift when we get all excited?” I said.

She cast me a look. “No, I don’t know how you guys Shift, but no, Lus has never Shifted while we were… doing… stuff.” Lani suddenly whacked me in the arm. “Why would you even ask that?!”

This time, I was the one that gave her the look. “Lani, seriously,” I chuckled, “it’s me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right, you’re the perverted one.”

I giggled. “Say it loud, say it proud.”

“No thanks,” Lani grimaced.

We walked in silence, towards Lani’s black Honda Accord.

I bit my lip and fake yawned to put my arm around her shoulders. “So…” I said. “Can I drive?”

She looked back at me sweetly. “No way.”