CHAPTER 2
Rori exited the bathroom in a black t-shirt and blue sweats. Her hair was a mess of damp brunette curls as he had not yet put a comb to it. She walked past Isaac, who was sitting against the headboard of his bed with a pillow in his lap looking insanely bored.
Rori collected her toiletries as he said out of the blue, "Beta."
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"You asked me if I was beta or omega. I'm a beta."
"I knew there was something wolfish going on." She commented, "I just never thought there was an actual pack in Beacon Hills."
Isaac seemed amused. "And then some," He quipped like it was an inside joke.
"Anyone I'd know?" She prodded teasingly.
He shook his head. "That would be their choice to tell you, not mine."
"Loyal and protective. You're good beta material." She noted.
"Thanks… I think."
Rori didn't reply, only sat herself on her own bed, facing him, and started running the brush through her hair. Every so often she'd catch his gaze drifting to her, and, noticing she was already blatantly watching him, looked away awkwardly. It amused her that her stare made a beta werewolf fidget in his spot.
"So, Lahey," she leisurely started after a few moments of silence, "How long have you been a moon howler?"
He scoffed light-heartedly. "'Moon howler'? Really?"
The brunette laughed and set down her comb. "Yes, really. You can't tell me you've never done it."
He stared at her and said nothing.
She grinned devilishly, knowingly. "Not even once? Not even during your first full moon?"
Isaac sighed in defeat and embarrassment, looking away from her to the pillow in his lap. "Okay, yeah. My first full moon… It wasn't pretty."
Rori smirked and leaned closer to the edge of her bed. "Do tell me more."
Isaac gave her a hesitant look and continued. "I escaped the police station before any officers saw me. I ran out of town and into the woods and I… I…" He put a face over his face and muffled something unintelligible to her human ears.
He teetered over the edge of the cheap mattress and slightly turned her left ear to him. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that last part."
Isaac removed the hand from his face. "I ran naked through the woods, howling like a lunatic."
The room was still for pregnant pause; him waiting for her reaction and her processing this new information. Then as soon as the silence settled it was shattered.
Rori threw her head back and laughed louder than she had since she moved away from her parents. She clutched the pillow to her chest as the giddy sound escaped her. After a couple of moments, she calmed herself and wiped at her wet eyes. She glanced at Isaac to see his face was flushed red in embarrassment, but as he watched her laugh, a smile forced his lips to tilt upwards.
"Wow," she remarked, exhaling another laugh. "That's almost as bad as Rupert."
"Rupert?" Isaac's head tilted like a curious puppy.
"Rupert is one of my stepmom's beta. His first full moon was four years ago. It took three members of the pack to pull him, butt naked, off a streetlamp. He was humping it. Like crazy, not to mention."
A sudden chuckle escaped Isaac, and Rori smiled at the sound. "Yeah, I guess my first time could've been a lot more embarrassing…" He trailed off for a moment. "Or dangerous."
Rori's face fell for a fraction of a section as she was reminded that werewolves weren't the best company when out of their human mind. Determined to keep the mood light, she perked upright on the bed and folded her legs beneath her. "Lucky that didn't happen then, huh?"
Isaac nodded slowly in agreement. "Yeah, I… I guess so."
Rori snatched her toiletry bag up and headed to the bathroom so clean up before bed.
The room was dark. The only source of light was emanating from the television. Isaac was sitting on the end of his bed, holding the remote in front of him.
"Why'd you turn out the lights? It's not even that late yet," Rori asked as she sat on her own bed, flicking on the lamp.
Isaac ignored her. He stared intently at the static.
"Hey," She tried again, "Isaac?"
Again, he didn't respond. The remote was still held out before him and he was still as a statue. Rori, becoming concerned, got up and walked over to him. She bent down in front of him but he only seemed to stare right through her.
What on Earth?
She grabbed his shoulder and gave it a harsh shake. "Isaac!"
The boy started with a blink, dropping his remote hand and looking at Rori, confused. "When did you get out of the bathroom?"
"Like, a minute ago." She answered, moving back to her own bed. "You kind of spaced out and went all googly-eyed at the TV. You didn't even realise I was right in front of you."
Isaac swallowed deeply. "Yeah, sorry. I just got a lot on my plate right now. It's probably stress or something."
"Or something." Rori mumbled unbelievingly.
"I heard that, you know." He told her with a raised brow. "My hearing is superhuman."
"I know, you were meant to." She flashed an unapologetic smile at him.
Rori sat on top of her bed as silence fell between them. She looked over to see Isaac still sitting on the end of his bed, his knee bouncing lightly.
"I can tell you have a lot of questions for me."
Isaac's mouth opened. "What? No, I just-"
"Oh, come on, Lahey! I can basically see them all whirring around in that head of yours," Rori teased playfully, "Just go ahead and ask."
He seemed hesitant. "I can ask you anything?"
Rori grinned and nodded. "Anything."
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