Chapter 5 Five

I rolled out of bed and walked to the window, the hardwood floor cool under my bare feet. Gal's house stood just across the yard. It had been over two hours since I shifted in front of her...right in this room. My heart felt like it had been thudding nonstop ever since that moment.

"What was she thinking now? Did I scare her? Did I make a terrible mistake?"

Different questions ran through my mind."

"Shit...Milo," I muttered to myself. "I hope you haven't done something you are going to regret." I told myself loudly, my hands trembled slightly. Not from fear, but from uncertainty. I had never shown anyone outside my family my other part. And now....

I rested my forehead against the glass and exhaled, fogging it up. Part of me felt like I'd dropped a weight I'd been dragging for years. No more pretending around her. No more dodging questions or acting like I wasn't hiding something. I should feel relieved, right?

What if she never wanted to speak to me again? What if she told someone in school? School would be a nightmare. My life would be over.

A knot formed in my chest, and I rubbed my chest slightly.

"No," I said, shaking my head. I didn't think she'd do that... but still. The thought hovered in my head like a storm cloud.

Gal. The girl who used to challenge me on everything from who got the last slice of pizza at our childhood birthday parties to who answered more questions correctly in science class. The same girl I used to tease just to watch her roll her eyes and mutter "idiot" under her breath. Somehow, somewhere, she stopped being just "Gal from next door" and became... something else in the last twenty-four hours or so.

"Gal...what are you doing to me?" I asked loudly as I pulled away from the window and sat on the edge of my bed, rubbing my hands together to calm myself. The silence in the room was thick. Usually, I liked being alone. Tonight, it was unbearable.

I wanted to text her, but what would I even say?

"Hey, sorry I turned into a giant wolf in front of you."

Yeah. That wouldn't work.

Still, I picked up my phone and opened our chat. I typed something. Deleted it. Typed again. Deleted again. Eventually, I just locked the screen and dropped the phone on the nightstand.

But I knew one thing for sure.

I didn't regret it.

Not even for a second. I was glad she had known who I really 'am.

*********

GAL

Dinner was quiet. Too quiet.

And I knew why.

I was always the one filling the room with noise. I joked. I asked a hundred questions. I made faces at my dad when Mom wasn't looking.

But tonight, I just poked at my Mac and cheese.

"You okay, sweetheart?" Mom asked gently. I had barely touched my food.

"I'm fine," I mumbled. "Just tired." I shrugged my shoulders.

"You cleaned the entire pantry and kitchen," she praised me.

I looked into face and nodded.

"Did an alien abduct my daughter and replace her with a polite, responsible clone?" I heard her say.

I gave a weak smile. "I just needed something to do."

"Well, thank you," she said. "It looks amazing."

I nodded, feeling that gnawing sensation again in my gut.

Then Dad jumped in and started saying, "Oh, by the way! I told Tom you'd be back at the law office this summer again."

Ugh.

"Dad," I said, "I told you...I don't want to go back there."

"You've gone every summer since sophomore year."

"Yeah. And I've hated it every summer since sophomore year."

"It builds character," he said with a pointed look.

"I'd rather build sand castles," I muttered under my breath.

Before he could argue further, our backdoor doorbell. The one only family, friends and close neighbors used.

Then Dad said, "come on in!" The door opened and it was him; Mr. Wolf.

My spine went rigid.

What is he doing here?

I turned just in time to see him step inside. Shirt intact, hair neat, expression irritatingly casual, like he hadn't just turned into a freaking beast a few hours ago.

My heart dropped to my stomach. My fork froze halfway to my mouth.

"Good evening, Mrs. Rivera. Mr. Rivera," he said easily, his voice smooth as always. "Sorry to drop in late. I want to borrow Gal's biology notebook."

"Milo!" Mom beamed. "You're just in time. Sit down and eat. I made plenty. Gal will give you the note later."

Of course that wasn't unusual.Milo had eaten dinner with us more times than I could count. This was nothing new and I had done the same several times in their house too.

But I didn't want him to be here now.

He sat down across from me.

And smirked.

I glared at him.

Then I kicked him under the table.

He didn't even flinch. Just kept that silly smirk on his face.

Unbelievable.

Dinner went on like nothing had happened. My parents talked about a neighbor's new car and whether or not the school district budget was getting cut again.

Milo made small talk like a pro. Like he hadn't growled at me to "get out" with glowing eyes and claws. Like I hadn't seen him shift.

I didn't say a word.

But every time our eyes met, I felt it. A weird current of something I couldn't name.

Tension?

Danger?

I kicked him again just for the fun of it.

********

Later that night, I was lying curled up on my bed, freshly showered, teeth brushed, wrapped in my favorite sleep hoodie. And ready to sleep.

I started scrolling absently through messages, trying to ignore the leftover adrenaline in my veins, when a new notification buzzed at the top of my screen.

Milo Landry: 1 New Photo

I frowned.

Curiosity tickled the back of my mind.

I quickly tapped the thread open.

My eyes widened, and I nearly dropped my phone.