We were leaving Aspen Creek. Yesterday's confrontation with the large, white werewolf had scared me more than I'd let Nicolás know. Sure, I'd researched all about werewolves – but never had I seen one who wasn't my little son. And even though the Other didn't hurt us, I got the message loud and clear as he followed us out of the field: we were being watched.

And having some werewolf watching our every move was the last thing I wanted. So I woke up Nicolás early, and stuffed all our stuff in his backpack, having left mine back in the field during our hasty retreat. Oh well, it had to be done.

As we paid for our stay, the same woman who gave us the room suggested we grab a bite to eat before our trip back. Nicolás definitely needed to eat, so I figured a quick stop wouldn't hurt. She directed us to a tiny hole-in-the-wall diner just down the street. The doorbell jingled above as we entered. The diner was small but homey, with bright orange booth seats and warm brown table tops. There were a couple of patrons scattered at other tables, with a waitress pouring a cup of coffee for one.

"Sit anywhere, hun," she said, not once looking up from her task.

Nicolás picked out a booth and I took a seat opposite him as he played with his stuffed animal. It didn't pass my notice that Nicolás sniffled twice.

"Hey," I said, getting his attention. "You okay?"

He nodded but kept sniffling. "It's my nose. It itches."

"Like you're going to sneeze?" I asked, already grabbing a napkin from underneath my utensils.

He shook his head no, and I desperately hoped he wasn't getting sick. Even though I'd never once seen him ill it would be horrible timing for his first bout of sickness to occur when we were in the middle of nowhere.

"Now what can I—Oh, hello!" Said the waitress as she approached our table at took a look at Nicolás and I.

I must have looked confused because in the next second she quickly composed herself. "I'm sorry, we don't get very many new faces in here." She explained. "What can I get for you?"

I looked over at Nico who was still sniffling and looking up at the waitress as if trying to figure her out. She was tall and beautiful and looked like something out of a runway magazine. Definitely not like anyone Nicolás had ever seen.

"You smell funny," he said abruptly.

Shocked at my son's lack of manners, I quickly looked to the waitress and sputtered out my apologies. "Please forgive us, I don't know what's gotten into him. Nico, please apologize."

The waitress laughed as if it didn't faze her, and maybe it didn't. "Oh that's alright. It must be this new perfume I'm trying out. Guess I'll have to throw that one out once I get home."

"Oh, no I'm sure you don't have to do that. Really."

She let out a full hearty laugh, and flipped her gold highlighted brown hair. "No harm done."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely!" She said as she turned her attention back to Nicolás. "Now how about I get you a big stack of smiley faced pancakes and a side of sausage links. Would you like that?"

Nicolás nodded.

"And for you hun?" She asked.

"Oh, I'll just have the same please."

Once the waitress left to put our orders in, I bent forward to whisper to my son. "Nico, we do not tell people they smell funny. That is very rude. You're going to have to apologize to her yourself before we leave. Okay?"

"Yes, mama." He said, as he turned back to play with his stuffed animal. At least he'd finally stopped sniffling.

With Nicolás occupied, I needed to come up with a new plan. All the money I had saved to get us here was now dangerously low, and we weren't any closer to finding answers. Even the library books I had taken were still in the field tucked away in my backpack. Maybe I could get a map at the gas station before leaving and figure out where we should go next. Wherever it be, I needed to earn some cash.

As I tried coming up with easy jobs I should look for in the next town, the door bell jingled, signaling a new patron. All the jobs I could come up with were extremely limited. There were only so many vacancies for a single mother who could bring her kid along with her to work.

Food was set down before us, but I hardly noticed it. I needed to find work fast and come up with a plan. Suddenly, I was brought out of my reverie by Nicolás' rapid sneezing. It was only then I realized that the guy who had served our food was still standing there. Had he asked a question that I didn't hear?

Nicolás kept sneezing.

Quickly grabbing another napkin and handing it to Nicolás, I turned to the server. He had sandy brown hair and looked to be around my age. He looked away from Nicolás and to me.

"We're fine here, thanks," I said, excusing the server.

"You look a little young to have a son," the man observed cooly.

"Excuse me?" I said, not entirely sure if he was trying to give me a compliment or not. Nicolás' sneezing fit was dying down.

The man took in a deep inhale. "He smells like he's your son."

Eyes widened and my back ramrod straight, my gaze snapped back to the man and his bright yellow eyes.

Werewolf.

"Your son shouldn't be alive." The werewolf said in a low, gravelly voice. "What have you done."

Ice flooded my veins, and I felt rooted to the spot. "N-nothing. I-I," was all I could stammer out before he cut me off.

"Your son is a werewolf!" The man spit out, and fear stilled my tongue.

It was only then I noticed how quiet everything around us was. I didn't dare look away from this man's gaze for fear that he would turn his attention to my son. But it seemed that my gaze only made the werewolf angrier. His breathing was labored, as if each breath caused him pain. His body was tense, as if wanting to strike out at us or in an attempt to refrain from doing just that. Either way, this man was beyond dangerous and I needed to get Nicolás out of here.

"That was you in the field," I said, trying to gain control of the situation by making some sense of it.

"No," he growled. "It was one of my wolves."

One of his wolves? How many more werewolves were there in Aspen Creek? I finally took a chance to glance at the other patrons and could see them staring at the exchange, eyes just as bright as the werewolf in front of me.

"Make no mistake, if it had been me in that field, I would have killed you right then." He said. And I knew he was telling the truth. This man was more than capable of killing me.

A low growl emitted from across the table, and I snapped my gaze to see Nico – no, Wolfie's blue eyes- staring at the werewolf in front of us. The Other looked at my son and growled, and Wolfie whined and physically shrank back but would not release his gaze. I had to do something fast.

"Please," I begged. "Don't hurt my son."

"You've hurt him far worse than I ever could," the Other exploded.

"No!"

"Yes! You've put this on a child—"

"Please!" I tried to interject.

"-and for that you must be punished—"

"He was born this way!" I finally burst out.

The Other abruptly stopped his tirade and looked at me.

"I'm telling the truth." I whispered.

The werewolf took a deep inhale and looked to my son for a long moment. Finally, he shut his eyes as he let out a deep breath. His shoulders slouched forward and his right hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

After another tense moment passed, he returned his now hazel gaze to me and said, "Tell me everything."