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“No. I don’t want to come.” Alex huffed. “Like I would want to hang out with you two.”

“Fine. Whatever. I offered,” I shot back at him. I really didn’t like his tone.

“Night, Ace,” I threw over my shoulder and skipped down the stairs behind Dan. When he reached the bottom step, I launched myself onto his back.

He took a moment to adjust to my weight. But once he got his balance, he placed his hands on my legs as they wrapped around his torso.

“Mom, Dad, Chloe and I are going for a run,” Dan sung in no particular direction. We both knew they would hear us wherever they were in the house.

“Ok. Have fun!” His mom’s voice floated from the kitchen.

See, these were the positives of being a werewolf. Going for a night run wasn’t frowned upon. In fact your parents encouraged it. Though sometimes they would pipe up and say something if it was a school night. Well, my parents would. But not Alice and Brett. They were awesome like that.

“So where do you want to run?” Dan asked as I lowered myself off his back and stood on his front porch.

“Back into the town? We could do a few laps, run along the forest line?” I offered.

“Sounds thrilling.” Dan grinned. Nodding my head we walked to the tree line.

“Hey, Chloe?”

“Yeah, Dan?”

“Your mate, do you still speak to him?”

I picked up my pace and kept my eyes on the trees we were nearing.

“Yeah, sometimes.” I muttered. “So, you ready?”

I began to undo the cord of my shorts and walked behind a tree, slightly out of his view, as I ripped my clothes off.

Dan didn’t bring it up again. Nor did he ask why I changed the subject so quickly. Arching my back, I transformed into my little grey wolf. Dan’s large tan wolf had his back to me, his tail flicking.

I pushed his side as I sprinted off, and he chased after me.

Grinning my wolf grin, I lowered my head and the trees began to blur as our speed picked up.

***

Puffing, I feel to my stomach in the forest line, near a park. I was wrecked, had it, completely worn out. Whatever line meant I was stuffed. Yeah, insert that.

I could hear Dan’s laughter rumbling around my mind’s walls. He nudged his head into my side and wagged his tail.

“I’m dying,” I huffed into his mind and a small howl of laughter left his large mouth.

“What was that?”

Dan’s body dropped to the ground next to mine and we remained hidden in the forest shadows, listening to the human’s voice.

Dan and I now both took in the family playing in the park under the glow of the streetlights.

If I were in human form, I would hit my forehead. If I were in human form, I would curse nonstop. Because this wasn’t just any human family. No. It was Xavier’s family.

Dan’s eyes snapped to mine full of surprise. “That’s Mr. Clark.” His voice floated in my mind and I nodded my head.

The boys were kicking the ball to each other, while Xavier was walking hand in hand with Emily. Both were smiling at their children. Who took night strolls?

There he was, holding her hand, laughing with her, walking in the fresh night air with their children. When they came to a stop, Emily turned around and stood on her toes to kiss him. I watched Xavier pull her tighter into his chest.