Jerry stood inside the empty substation sweeping the floors. Theresa had dragged Max out shopping and Alex and Harper were upstairs having breakfast. As Jerry continued to sweep the floor Mason entered through the large oak green doors holding a large bouquet of pale pink roses. Jerry turned to see who it was and smiled in surprise "Mason! Hey, how's it going?"
Mason walked over to Jerry and sighed, "I've been better Mr. Russo."
Jerry pointed to the roses and smiled, "are those for Alex?"
Mason lifted them up and looked down in to the bouquet. He began to smile slightly as he gently touched one of the delicate soft petals with his finger tip. "Yeah, I need to make it up to her after last night. I hate fighting with her."
Jerry looked at Mason in interest and in a hushed tone he asked, "yeah what actually happened with you two?"
"I don't know," Mason sighed again, "everything was going so well and then she just started shouting and trying to cause an argument with me. I tried to ignore it as much as I could but I just couldn't help it she just made me angry."
Jerry stepped up to Mason in an intimidating manner, "you didn't wolf up did you?"
"Gosh no!" exclaimed Mason slightly offended, "I'd never get that angry with Alex. We just argued and now I've come to make it up to her."
"But why are you apologizing if she's the one who started it?"
"Because like I said I can't stand fighting with her. And if I'm being honest I think there's something wrong with her, she's been like this for a few weeks now and I'm really starting to worry about her. Plus, its Alex she'll probably be too stubborn to apologize to me."
Jerry laughed shaking his head, "well like you said this is classic Alex, I wouldn't worry it'll all be fine."
"But this isn't 'classic Alex'" exclaimed Mason putting the bouquet down on the side of the counter. Jerry stood looking at him in shock, "seriously I think there's something wrong. She might be like this with all of you sometimes but she's never like this with me. And I don't mean for that to sound disrespectful or anything, but she isn't. I'm usually the one she comes to when she is like that with all of you. Lately I feel like I can't do anything right, she's just shouting all the time and she's been really distant, in fact there's been times when she's tried to be violent towards me. I don't care what you all say about her. That isn't my Alex."
Jerry continued to look at Mason. Mason could see the concern that was crossing over Jerry's face by the second. Jerry remained silent for a moment as he looked towards the black metal spiral staircase. "Okay, fine, there's something wrong." He turned to look at Mason, "but like you said Alex is stubborn so she probably won't admit to it if we confront her. So, I think we should just wait it out a bit longer maybe well figure it out on our own or maybe she'll admit it to us when she's ready. But don't worry, she'll be okay," he placed one of his hands on to Mason's firm shoulders. "We'll look after her."
Mason nodded picking up the bouquet from the counter, "can I go up to her?"
"Sure, go ahead," Jerry pointed to the stairs indicating to Mason that he could go up to Alex. Mason gave a small smile to Jerry before making his way up the stairs. Jerry then continued to sweep the floor, pausing for a moment he took another look towards the stairs shaking his head sadly, "what are we going to do with you Alex?"
Upstairs in the loft Alex and Harper both sat at the kitchen counter eating a bowl of cereal. Alex stood up from her stool fixing her knee length navy dress as she walked over to the refrigerator. She opened the door and as the cold air hit her in the face she searched for a jar of pickles, when she found them she walked back to her stool and began to pour the pickles in to her cereal.
"Eww!" screamed Harper in disgust as she watched Alex begin to eat the weird mixture.
"What?" Alex asked as she rammed the spoon in to her mouth. The spoon held the runny lumpy liquid. The pickle juice had mixed with the milk to make a sickly green color. Alex continued to crunch on her breakfast despite the strange looks Harper was giving her.
"Alex that is disgusting!"
"No, it isn't!" Alex shook her head as she continued to eat, "what would be disgusting is if I put beef jerky in it," Alex paused for a moment in thought as a small smirk slowly spread across her face, "actually that sounds really good right now." She then dashed to the cupboard grabbing the small packet of beef jerky and began pouring it in to her breakfast. Harper gagged as she watched her friend begin to devour the repulsive meal. Mason then appeared at the top of the staircase with the large bouquet in his hands. He stood silently as he watched Alex eating at the counter.
Harper noticed Mason's attendance and looked over to him, "Mason tell your girlfriend how disgusting she is."
"Mas-uh!" squeaked Alex with her mouth so full the food was practically bursting out of her mouth. She turned around to look at Mason but she didn't speak to him. Instead, she sat their looking at him in panic not knowing how he'd be with her after last night despite the giant roses he had clutched in his hands.
"Hello love," he said quietly as he began to walk towards her slowly. He held out the bouquet towards Alex who was still sat on her stool, "these are for you, I'm sorry about last night darling. I promise I'll make it up to you."
Alex finally stood up from her seat while swallowing the thick consistency of food that she held in her mouth. Eventually after a slight pause she took the bouquet from Mason, "They're beautiful. Thank you."
The couple stood staring in to each other's eyes before Mason broke the silence, "I wasn't sure if you'd be in the mood to see me today."
"No, I wanted to," Alex said as she placed the roses on the kitchen counter, "I just didn't think you'd want to see me. And I should be the one apologizing, I know the argument was all my fault, I'm sorry."
Mason pulled Alex in for a hug and kissed her on the head, "its fine love, let's just forget about it now." Alex nodded in agreement and then lifted her head up to plant a kiss on Mason's plump lips. As she did Mason pulled a face in disgust. "What the blooming heck have you been eating?" he then began to wipe his mouth with his wrists.
"Just cereal… mixed with pickles and beef jerky," laughed Alex. Mason stared at Alex in disbelief, "What? I just had a craving for it." Mason just shook his head and pulled Alex in for another hug.
That evening Alex sat on the couch huddled up to Mason watching TV. Mason looked down at Alex who had her head lay on his chest, "are you sure you don't want to do anything tonight?" He asked stroking her hair, "we could go to watch a movie or-"
"No." Snapped Alex as she interrupted her boyfriend, "I'm not going out tonight."
"Okay then," sighed Mason as he rolled his eyes. He then proceeded to look at the watch on his wrist and very quickly he turned his head to look out of the window in the dining area. "Actually, love I better go."
"What why?" Alex snapped again sitting up and looking at Mason angrily.
Mason also sat up and moved closer to Alex, "I need to wolf up, I can come back if you want its just I need to go for a run and get rid of my wolf energy."
"Fine," Alex turned her back to Mason, "but I'm not waiting up for you if you are coming back."
"Well, should I just see you tomorrow then?" Alex ignored Mason. He stared at her sadly waiting for an answer, eventually he reached for Alex's hand which lay behind her on the couch. "Alex love please answer me." As Mason's hand made contact with Alex's she pulled it away in discomfort letting out a loud wail as she clutched her hand in pain. "What's wrong with your hand?" Mason asked panicked as he moved closer to Alex and attempted to gently move her hands towards him.
"Nothing!" yelled Alex hiding them away, "my hands are fine!"
"Yeah sounds like it! Come Alex please let me look." Mason held out his hands, Alex sighed and placed her sore hands in to his. Mason gasped, Alex's fingers were swollen and chapped, her nails were all broken, uneven and stained with dark patches of dried blood. "Oh my goodness! What happened?"
"Nothing," snapped Alex pulling them away quickly, "I trapped them in the door to the lair?"
"Really?" Mason asked suspiciously, "you trapped both of your hands?"
"Yes, I did! Now stop questioning me and go! I'll see you tomorrow."
Mason as he nodded slowly then he leant over to kiss Alex on the cheek, "bye love." He then got up and left quietly closing the door behind him.
Alex let out a sigh and leant back on the couch. After a moment she shot back up clutching her stomach in pain. Alex panted heavily and turned her head to look out of the window. Alex stared at the bright moon which once again was hidden behind dark clouds that slowly drifted past it. Alex leant her head back squeezing her eyes together, when she opened them they were glazed over with a soft orange tint. "please not now," Alex whispered as she grasped the couch with her hands as the claws again began to shoot out of her fingers. When Alex found the strength, she made her way to the window and dragged the drapes across the window when suddenly she collapsed on to the dining room table. Her back snapped as it arched in to the air, Alex began clawing at the table letting out loud moans in pain until she fell on to the floor behind the table out of sight.
Harper entered through the door, she looked around the loft to see that it was empty. She threw her keys down on the side table and turned off the light before heading toward the basement. Harper then abruptly paused after hearing a faint whimper behind the table. "Hello?" she called out, "who's there?"
"Harper?" whispered Alex.
"Alex is that you?" asked Harper as she approached the table.
"Don't come any closer!" Exclaimed Alex, "just hold on."
Alex slammed her two paws on to the table and slowly began to pull herself up. Harper covered her mouth trying to stop herself from screaming. "Oh, Alex," she cried as she stared at her friend in disbelief.
Alex stood leaning on one of the dining chairs using one of her hands to support her back. She was a werewolf, her smooth skin had been replaced with untidy tuffs of dark fur and her dark brown eyes were now luminous orange. Alex's posture had deteriorated badly, and her facial features now resembled more of a canine than they did human as her cheek bones became more defined, her ears were extremely pointed and she had a sharp set of teeth poking out of the sides of her mouth.
"What happened?" asked Harper as she rushed over to help her friend.
"I don't know!" wailed Alex as she fell in to Harpers embrace and sobbed in her shoulder. "it hurts so bad Harper, my back and stomach are killing me!"
"How long has this been happening?" Harper began to question Alex as she tried to carry her to the couch.
"I've been having some of the transformations for the past couple of weeks but this is the first night it's all happened at once. I'm really scared though, I mean what if I go full wolf? I don't think I could cope with that pain Harper," Alex began to cry again as she landed on the couch.
"Haven't you told anyone?" Alex shook her head in reply as more tears fell from her eyes and she clutched her stomach in pain. Closing her eyes she breathed heavily through the pain as Harper sighed watching her friend, "not even Mason?" Alex shook her head again. "You need to tell him Alex, he might be able to help."
"No!" cried Alex trying to sit up, "he'll just get too protective of me and panic. He's already began to realize there's something wrong, I can figure this out for myself… when I get my magic back."
Harpers eyes widened in fear, "what do you mean, when you get your magic back?"
"Well since this has been happening I haven't been able to use my magic but don't worry I'll look through some spell books tomorrow."
"Well if you're not going to tell Mason you need to tell your dad, or Justin. He's the principal of Wiztech, I'm sure he'll know how to help you."
"No!" snapped Alex as she winced in pain, "I'm doing this myself, please Harper you can't tell anyone! Please!"
"Fine," Harper said reluctantly. "But I'm taking you up to your bed and I'm staying with you tonight encase you do go full wolf, I don't want you to be alone. I don't want you going through any of this alone."
"But Harper," panted Alex who was now feeling exhausted. "my mood swings… what if I hurt you?"
"You won't, I know you won't. Now come on let's get you to bed maybe you can sleep this off."
"Thank you, Harper," said Alex as she held her friends hand, "you're a good friend."
"I know," smiled Harper, "that's why you love me."
