We came home quite late again and again through the windows.

I stayed quiet, when I heard Deryl and Tiffany arguing behind the door.

,,You can't just go alone! That's too dangerous! Please take me too."

,,No, as you said it's too dangerous."

,,I'm strong enough- I'm a alpha longer than you. Don't leave me behind again!"

Both growled deeply.

,,We need to keep the pack in one piece; if they'll lose both in one day, what do you think will happen?"

,,Please…"

Again growling, this time more like grieving one. I heard the door slam and then Tiff sobbed. I left her alone and just sneaked into the bathroom.

I woke up to a very hot day the next morning. I almost couldn't open my eyes from the heat… With yawning I looked out of the window.

Damnit. First summer day! –my brain finally kicked in.

Summer heat again… oh no.

I growled and went to the bathroom to take a cold shower.

After the first drops I found out with a shriek it was a bit too cold. It was ICY!

,,What's up?" I heard behind the door. It was Luke, sounding a tad worried.

,,No-nothing!" I stuttered. ,,Turned on too cold water, that's all."

,,Ooh, okay."

I grabbed the thermometer and sticked it under my arm. After a few minutes I pulled it out; 38.

It's here. Mating season!

SHIT!

During breakfast it seemed Luke had a raised temperature too, since he had the same as me (we accidentally touched when both grabbing sugar). Tiffany didn't seem to be affected- she calmly took care of the pup. Ellie made a flapper out of paper and waved herself.

,,Gosh, it's sure bright out today."

,,Yeah," I sighed.

I caught Luke was starring on me, but quickly looked away then.

,,So, it's summer break for humans now, kids! What about going out?"

,,Will we hunt?" Luke asked. Exactly my thought.

,,Oh, kids," Ellie snorted. ,,all you care for is hunting and having fun! How about learning about humans?"

I raised a eyebrow.

,,How about I get a summer job?" I smiled.

,See! That's good words!" the eldest wolf female nodded.

,,Let's go to the city then," Luke suggested.

,,Yeah! And let's take the other guys too!"

…..

Mike was cheerful about the human girls adoring him. Seems he doesn't need a wolf mate – he can have as much mating as he wants with any human girl.

I quite envied him…

Jason was calm, calmer than me and Luke. He seemed he didn't really need anything more than usually. Although- his temperature was high too.

But Luke was on the same level as me. It could be seen on him clearly that he was badly in heat.

,,Let's go have ice cream," Jason poked my side. With a surprise I saw he was grinning, which wasn't something often seen.

And there was the reason, standing in all her white wolf beauty, selling the ice cream. She looked over to us, sniffed, then quickly turned her gaze elsewhere.

,,Are we going?" Luke asked.

I was getting used to them asking my opinion every time.

,,Yup, some cold stuff will do good to our summer heated bodies."

They all smirked.

When we ordered, it seemed the wolfie there had a slight crush on Jason as well. He noticed it, but said nothing.

,,You never said your name," Luke said to her.

,,Oh," she twitched. She had a nice voice, high and melodic. ,,I… forgot."

,,Well then?" he raised a eyebrow.

,,Amalie."

,,Nice," Jason constated with a slight smile, which gained him a faint blush from the one with the name.

,,I'd say," we heard a sharper voice.

I growled, when seeing the red fur– Seraphine.

,,Hello," I said with a blank face.

She held her chin high, but not showing her neck. She didn't trust and respect me. I didn't blame her- it was from me the same.

,,Hi," Luke murmured.

,,Hellooooo," she said in a seductive voice. Sure… summer hits every werewolf.

,,and you're Luke, I suppose."

,,Yes," he smirked. I saw his fangs, they were longer and sharper than usually.

,,Cute. Here's the bag," she handled it over to Amalie, then almost danced away, leaving only her scent here.

,,Quite a chick," Luke constated, poking Mike's shoulder. He grinned.

,,A bitch. But yeah, if you're into that kind of girl."

,,Better than nothing," Jason constated calmly, but also with a smirk.

I said nothing.

,,Well you still have that one," I pointed on Amalie's back.

,,True," Jason's smirk widened.

Mike poked my side. I looked up and saw he's looking on his mobile.

,,What?"

,,I got a message from Tiff," he frowned. ,,we should immediately go home. Everyone is already there."

,,Did something happen?"

,,I don't know. She just wrote this." He showed me the message.

We caught Luke also looking on his phone. He was dead pale.

,,D-Deryl…" he got out.

We looked on him, then got up and sprinted home as fast as possible.

We found Tiffany pissed off, desperate and in tears.

,,The alpha is dead," she said with a dead calm voice.

We just stared, alike Felix and Sally, and Ellie had a dropped head. The pup whined.

,,Although I do not want to, I have to avenge his death. That's the rule."

,,Do you need someone to go with you?" Luke asked.

,,No. Some matters have to be dealt with alone." She raised her chin.

,,Felix, Carol."

,,Yes?" we both said.

,Take care of the pack while I'm gone."

She went out of the door.

There was a uncomfortable silence. Luke sat down heavily on the chair, then the pup started to howl.

I felt the responsibility drop on my shoulders- at least half of it. Deryl's gone, so… what now?

We needed a new leader, it was clear. Tiffany had a pup, she couldn't take care of everything alone. I looked on Felix, then on Luke. Jason seemed quite nervous too.

Felix could be the beta, but that didn't mean he'll get the position leader of the pack without complains. Without fights too, probably…

I sighed heavily.

At that point everyone got on their own ways. Mike poked my side.

,,I still owe you the rabbit," he whispered into my ear.

,,Sure," I smiled.

….

It was the first time I went to hunt animals with someone else.

First we tried to go after small mice for practice. It was so much fun, jumping after them! They were so fast and agile, it was almost impossible. I caught one, but I let it go, mice are just bones anywais. Mike caught two.

,,Seems you're a better hunter than me," I had to admit. He snorted.

,,I'll share, don't worry," he bit my neck and ran to one direction.

,,Wait up!" I barked and ran after him.

Rabbits weren't much of a prey, but they did made me a bit bloodthirsty. I turned back to human and sat down on a fallen tree, tired and slightly hungry, and waited for the prize I got days ago.

Just then the bunny fell to my lap.

I snapped and caught it, it was still alive and wanted to get away.

,,Bon appetite, beta-girl," I heard above, where Mike was sitting, also in human form. I grinned.

,,Thank you."

I bit gently into the rabbit's neck and to not let it suffer, right away killed it. I might drink from humans when they're alive, but not from animals. Never.

It tasted very fresh and quite like grass, it was healthier than human blood. And quite tasty. I found I liked it.

Mike watched me from above with content I liked the prey.

,,How was it?"

,,Have yourself," I put it above my head to him. He took it and also tasted a bit.

,,Good."

,,Like vegetables."

,,Thanks."

After a minute he leaned closer, so he was above my head, just inches.

,,Should we bring it home for dinner?" he asked with a grin.

,,Why not, at least we'll have something human," I grinned too. ,,maybe it will make us look like them too.

,, Yup, you definitely don't look human now, geez. It's all over your face."

He leaned closer and licked my cheek.

,,I-I can do that myself…"

,,You don't see yourself."

I stayed still, while he licked my cheek, then a bit of forehead -with a smirk- then right beside the right side of my lips.

When he got there, he hesitated.

,,Am I clean?" I asked and looked up.

,,Quite…"

We stared on each other for a while.

,,Well," he straightened, then with a jump down turned into a wolf. ,,I think it's about time we go back."

I jumped beside him also in that form, and took the rabbit.

The moon was half full.