The post-renovation barbecue was set to happen this afternoon. I checked my watch. They should have come at 3. It was 3:05 pm. Was it a thing to be fashionably late to barbecues...?or had I sent out the wrong date? I checked the watch again. Dakota wrapped his long fingers around my wrist and kissed my palm. I felt his breath and stubble against my skin as he murmured,

"They'll be here. Don't worry."

I asked, looking at the picnic table covered with bowls of fruit, chips, and buns for hot dogs

"Did I make enough?"

He laughed, looking at my spread

"For a pack of werewolves? Absolutely not. But... you invited Sofia and Embry Noche. They're not only grocery store owners, but also the best cooks. They'll probably be bringing a whole cow, knowing them."

My eyes flickered up at his, "I don't know if you're joking."

He smirked, "I'm not."

I clarified,"Will... will everyone here be werewolves? Like, from your pack?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, probably. Although you said you invited a girl you met while gardening?"

I nodded, "Yeah, Nia. I'm surprised you don't know her. I thought everyone around here knew each other."

He shrugged

"I guess not. I haven't heard of a Nia from around here. So she'll probably be the only human then. I'll let the others know."

I wasn't sure if it sat well with me that I wasn't considered human, in Dakota's eyes at least. His thumb ran over my forearm, gently, and he observed

"Your scars... are healed."

Only four faint, blue-tinged scars lined my arm... completely healed, and no longer irritated.

I asked, "Do... do you know who that wolf was? The one who scratched me?"

He shook his head,"Honestly... no. I tried asking Amber... and even Ivy-- which didn't go well and involved her calling me a jackass-- but they didn't remember the incident. I'm sorry, Summer. It might just remain a mystery. I mean, it was probably not someone from our pack. We have a strict code of conduct regarding marking children. It's a huge 'no'. That's why we have Ritual, at 18. It was probably someone from the other pack."

I exclaimed, "Wait-- other pack? As in...there's more than one?"

He turned his head,"Hey, look who it is!"

Out of the thick forest near the property came two wolves. One had stunning blue eyes with shiny, umber fur. The other had a longer, thicker fur. Large dark eyes, and a smoky blond coat. I whispered, almost afraid that these majestic beings would disappear if I spoke too loud

"Who are they?"

Dakota commanded, "Alter!"

And the two beautiful beings shrunk and changed, the long fur sucking beneath clothes and into skin. The hair on their heads grew longer; and their bright, intense eyes subdued. My eyes were shocked. but I didn't recognize these people. Dakota introduced us

"Summer, meet Jasmine and Tyler Reed. They're great friends of mine and part of the pack, but they live farther from the lake, so they don't come out as much."

Jasmine shook my hand and said,

"It's so great to finally meet you, Summer. Dakota talks about you a lot."

Tyler nodded, pulling me into a hug

"I feel like I already know you! Well, I think we met a couple times when you were itty bitty. I'm a little older than you so you probably don't..."

I gasped

"Wait! Didn't you babysit me once? And... you were the one who tried to make me play fetch?"

He jokingly defended himself, "I was raised by wolves, okay? Wow, that's crazy you remember that. You must have been like four."

Jasmine turned her head of silky, long black hair and said

"Fox... Amber? You're both so big!"

They got out of Fox's truck and Amber came close and wrapped an elbow around my neck, pulling me in. She chuckled, saying to the boys and Jasmine

"Summer's so not used to this whole werewolf thing. I can see it in her eyes. Welcome to the pack, cousin!"

And then looked me in the eyes, and said, certainly

"It will get more normal. I promise. I'm glad you decided to stay."

I asked, embarrassed "Dakota told you I wanted to leave?"

She grinned, embarrassed, "No, Dakota told Fox, who told me."Three trucks pulled up, one after another, between the lake and the house. Sofia Noche came out of the passenger side of her truck, holding a large crock pot. Embry pulled a big red cooler out of the back of their truck, and their son, Jace pulled out a grill and a large bag of meat.

He waved to me, "Hey Summer... I don't know if you remember me but I came to Fox's birthday."

I grinned,"Of course I remember you, Jace. Get over here."

I gave him a hug, and Embry pushed a cold can of beer into my hand. Jace asked hopefully,"Hey dad, how about one for me?"

Embry rolled his eyes, "How old are you again?"

Fox signaled something to Jace that made them both laugh. I turned to see Ivy and Asher emerging from their truck. I stiffened, and so did Dakota. He whispered

"Did you invite them?"

I answered under my breath, "No."

Asher casually observed, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth,"Looks like you're throwing a party."

Surprisingly, Ivy held a few liter bottles of soda, like she just might share with the group. She stammered, suddenly trying to think of an excuse for crashing our barbecue-- other than reconciling. "Um... well Ezekiel was my grandpa too. So I wanted to see the house."

I helped her with a few more bottles of soda sitting in the passenger seat, and replied, "You're welcome here, I just don't want any drama."

She laughed sarcastically

"It's hard not to have drama at a time like this, Summer. You don't even know the half of it. I'm sure he hasn't told you."

She looked angrily at Dakota and lovingly at Asher, before continuing to tell me,"The pack is at war, sweetie. Ever since grandpa died. We all need our alpha but no one can decide..."

I cocked my head, "Grandpa was the leader?"

She nodded, and corrected, "Alpha, yes. He kept the peace, back then-- even with the other pack."

She twirled her cascading auburn hair with her free hand, and we walked to the crowded picnic table to set down the drinks.

I asked,"How many packs are there?"

Ivy answered,"It was two. When grandpa was alive. Now Asher and Dakota are at each others throats to be alpha."

I raised my eyebrows,"I thought Dakota already was alpha."

She rolled her eyes,"The bastard probably told you that. Didn't he?"

I cast my eyes down to my yellow sandals.

She lifted my chin up to meet her gaze,"But he isn't. Asher will be. He's stronger than Dakota, faster too. And he's a natural born leader. We think that by Ritual-- in just one full moon-- Asher and Dakota will have no choice but to fight to their deaths."

I gasped, and jumped back. Amber chimed in

"Unless David Teare becomes alpha. He's wanted that since grandpa's death, too."

I questioned, "Who is David Teare?"

Asher flung his cigarette into the dirt and ground it with the heel of his boot,"He's from the other pack. Has some silly idea that he'll be alpha of both our packs."

Dakota held up his hands,"This barbecue is turning hostile. Calm it down or leave. We'll settle this at Ritual."

Asher snarled. Ivy said, "You'll wish you had just backed down Dakota."

The beauty of running through the trees as a wolf, and seeing Fox and Amber as such majestic beings was being tainted by the hate between Asher and Dakota. I asked what might have been a stupid question, "So my grandpa didn't pick an alpha before he died?"

Sofia Noche answered my question while holding her youngest child on her hip

"Typically, the alpha chooses his son to lead, and scratches him... but Henry refused Ezekiel's scratch."

I blurted, "My dad?"

She nodded, "Yes-- Henry. He and your mother were destined to become werewolves. The alpha pair. Henry saw our gift as a curse, and moved to California to escape it. Ezekiel was so furious that he never scratched anyone. This hasn't ever happened before in any history we can find."

Fox signed, which Amber translated, "The pack is more important than having an alpha. No one should die over this!"

I nodded, "I agree."

Dakota's posture was stiff, and he seemed like he might turn into a wolf at any moment, each muscle flexed under his tight T-shirt."Summer, don't agree to things you still don't understand"

I argued, "I understand that you shouldn't have to DIE for this!"

He barked back, "So you don't believe in me? You don't think I can beat that grimy son of a bit--"

I shouted, louder than him, "I don't care! I don't care if you can beat him, I don't want you to die! I don't even want Asher to die."

Asher instigated, "Your girl doesn't think you'll win."

Ivy added, "Maybe she is smarter than I thought."

Sofia, still with her daughter on her hip, said

"Hey! Knock it off! This is NOT why I closed the store early today, and not why I brought all of this food! Now all of this alpha talk is getting on my last nerve. Burgers are ready and Jace brought floaties and rafts for the lake. Let's have the party we intended to, and celebrate Summer and Dakota's hard work on this old house!"

Sofia turned on a radio to upbeat pop music, Embry began passing around plates with with burgers and baked beans, and Fox dove into the lake with Amber in hot pursuit.

Sofia reminded her husband, "Remember what the doctor said-- no red meat. It's bad for your heart."

Embry pouted as he set down the burger, and grabbed a carrot instead. Sofia kissed his cheek and he smiled at her and said, taking a bite off the carrot with a loud snap, "This old wolf is feeling more and more like a rabbit."

Dakota kissed the top of my head and apologized

"We can talk about it more later. I just know Ezekiel would have wanted me as alpha. I'm sorry it's given the party a rocky start."

I looked up at him, overwhelmed, and said

"No more fighting. Okay? Let's just get through this party."

And I turned to grab a burger and scoop some of my fruit salad beside it. The party was going well, at last. Even Ivy was having fun. I watched as Asher, now only in swim trunks, held her on his shoulders and waded into the lake. She shrieked playfully, "I just got my hair done! Hey! I just got my hair--"

And then he dunked them both.

I noticed The Noche's little girls were cooing over Luna to my left, and Jace had challenged Embry to a planking contest on my right. The day was finally turning out the way I had intended it to, yet, when I envisioned this day I never thought I'd be a werewolf. Dakota walked a man with a baby over to the picnic table and said

"Summer, I don't think you've met Griffin yet. Right?"

I met eyes with him. He seemed uneasy somehow, his large green eyes flicking from left to right before looking at me directly. "Hi. Griffin Green. It's nice to meet you, Summer. This is my daughter, Izzy."

I shook his hand, and then tenderly touched the sweet baby's little head as she smiled at me. Her hair was whispy and blonde like her father's. I asked, "How old is she?"

Griffin answered proudly, "Four months."

Even Asher and Ivy towel off and seem genuinely excited to see Griffin's baby; and I start to wonder if maybe they do have a good side... somewhere deep deep down. Ivy coos at the baby, who responds with smiles. She states

"Griffin, you have a twin. You know that, right? Those gorgeous green eyes and blonde hair. And she has the same little freckles on her cheeks as you."

Asher cut in, playfully and said, "We get it, you dated my cousin in high school!"

I hadn't put it together that Griffin Green and Asher Green might be related, but now I saw the resemblance. Ivy rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, "Like for two weeks. It hardly counts."

Griffin feigned heartbreak, "Those were the best two weeks of my life!"

Ivy rolled her eyes again, a response I saw so frequently from her that it was starting to lose its intensity. She changed the subject, "So when do we get to meet your girl? Izzy has to have a mommy, right?"

Griffin's bright eyes shifted from left to right and he seemed nervous again. He shrugged, "Um, yeah. I'm sure you'll meet her sometime. It's not a big deal though... we're not serious."

Asher took his baby niece into his arms and said, "Well whoever Izzy's mom is, she's part of our family now. We should all meet her."

Ivy chimed in, "Does she know you're a wolf?"

He shook his head, now looking at his feet,

"We um... don't agree on that part."

Asher shook his head, "You mean you told her. She knows? You should have reported that to me. As alpha I am supposed to be asked before any humans are told about us. You could have put the whole pack in danger. Did you not realize?"

As I saw the veins bulging in Asher's neck, I swooped in to take the baby from his arms, and bring her to the lake to say hi to Fox and Amber who were swimming close to the dock. Ivy, Asher, and Griffin's arguing continued, but Dakota, keeping his promise to me, stayed out of the fight. I met eyes with him, sitting on the edge of the picnic table with Jace and Embry, and he winked at me and took a long sip of his beer.

The water felt cool on my toes as I sat with the baby and stared out into the lake. Izzy would grow up here, like I had, every summer at least, and enjoy swimming in this lake, making friends, and getting sno-cones. She'd catch tadpoles, count lightning bugs, and try so hard to see constellations in the stars. It was all I could wish for a child growing up here.

Sofia's little girls ran up to me on the dock, and said simultaneously, "Dessert is ready!"

I grinned, "Yummy, what are we having?"

The girls' voices overlapped, "Strawberry shortcake!"

I grinned, "My favorite!"

They ran back toward the picnic tables. As I stood, I felt a buzz from my pocket. I pulled out my phone and saw the message from Nia that read, "Sorry I'm late! Be there in 5. Bringing my brother and two friends along. See you soon :D"

I replied to the text with my one free hand, as the other held Izzy to my chest,

"You'll be here in time for dessert. See ya!"

I met Griffin halfway down the dock and he was eager to take Izzy back. He said,"I've gotta head out. I um, It's important."

I playfully begged, "Do you have to? Izzy and I just became friends-- and Sofia made strawberry shortcake. It probably has some Italian flair knowing her."

He looked at a message on his phone and said

"Yeah, I think I'll have to miss out on authentic Italian treats for today. And... I'm sure that Izzy will see you again soon. I'm glad she likes you, Summer."

He turned to leave, taking three steps, and then turned around and said in a very low voice, meant for only I to hear, "You're a nice girl. This whole alpha werewolf thing... I just think you should stay distant from it. If you ever feel in danger, Ezekiel has a crawl space under the rug in the art studio. He told me about it once. It will keep you safe."

His eyes flickered back to his cell phone and he said

"I have to go. Now."

He began quickly walking again. I was frozen in place. Did he... know something I didn't? My phone buzzed, and Nia texted, "Pulling up :)"

They had parked on the opposite side of the house, and I went through my garden to greet them. I saw the same car that had dropped me off from the airport, and sprinted over, trying to forget the intensity of Griffin's words. I greeted her and her friends before they even got out, "Hey! Thanks for coming!"

Nia gave me a hug and pulled a few pies out of the car. She handed them to me,"Hence why I was late. These apple pies didn't cook themselves. It's my grandma's recipe."

A man, whose overall facial structure was similar to Nia's held out his hand to shake, "Nice to meet you Summer. I've heard a lot about you."

He dropped my right hand and turned over my left arm, and then met eyes with me again

"You've completed the change, then?"

I raised my eyebrows, and took an unintentional step back

"You-- you guys are...?"

He smiled with brilliantly white teeth

"Werewolves? Yes."

From behind him, I saw a beautiful girl with makeup so perfect she could be a famous makeup artist. On his other side was a guy, leaning up against the car. Though he smiled at me, I felt hostility. Suddenly the mood shifted. Nia said to her brother,"David, don't freak her out."

And then pulled on my arm,

"Show me the house! I want to see everything you've done to it. The exterior looks great!"

I backtracked, and asked her brother, "Your name is David?"

He nodded, "David Teare."

The leader of the other pack. The one who wanted to be alpha of everyone. I felt a cold shiver down my spine despite the heat. He cocked his head,

"You seem afraid. I take it you have heard my name before?"

David's eyes flickered over toward the lake, where my friends were laughing and talking in the distance. He asked, "They've said bad things about me?"

Nia pushed on her brother's arm, "Hey, we said we weren't gonna do this today. I just wanted you guys to meet Summer. She's a friend."

The girl with lots of makeup lit a cigarette, and David was distracted for a moment. Since becoming a werewolf, I could smell even better. It felt like the cigarette was burning directly under my nose. I suppressed a cough. David turned to her, possibly annoyed with the smell. "Julia, I thought you quit for Izzy?"

She replied, sheepishly "I still smoke when she's with her dad."

I found myself blurting, "You're Griffin's mystery girl?"

The cigarette dropped out of her mouth, and her calm expression turned to fury. David raised his eyebrows,

"Are you kidding me? You and Griffin Green? From the other pack? God, no wonder you were so secretive about who the father is. We're talking about this later."

She looked away, and I wondered if she was crying.

The music stopped and a voice which may have been Dakota's asked, "Did you hear that?"

David's smile didn't reach his eyes, "I better go catch up with my childhood friends... Nice meeting you Summer. Come on Drake."

Nia ineffectively pulled on his arm

"David stop! Please don't start something."

He shook her off and the guy who'd been leaning silently on the car followed in suit.

Nia had tears in her eyes and said

"Summer, you'll have to believe me that I didn't think this would happen. David promised he was just gonna come and have fun. I really do like you."

I asked, holding onto her hands, which were shaking "What do you mean? What's about to happen?"

Nia wiped a tear from her eye, and stroked her fingers through her short, dark hair

"The fight. The fight for alpha."

She began running toward the lake. Julia's makeup had streaked down her face in twin black lines. She whispered

"You can't help who you fall for."

I asked

"How did Ezekiel keep the peace?"

She answered, "Nora"

I didn't expect that answer. I confirmed, "My grandmother, Nora? His wife?"