Note: For those readers who might not have realised yet Elizabeth (also Her Majesty) is Dru's mother.

Chapter Seven:

When I told the other Wulfen where I'd been they couldn't believe it.

'Was it a date?' Spencer asked gaping at me.

'No,' I snorted, 'I told you that she was in the cafeteria and I just invited her to go out, and not as in on a date,' I said as Spencer opened his mouth again.

'What the hell do you talk to a Svetocha about?' Wayne whistled.

'Stuff,' I shrugged. I wasn't about to tell them about my crush on Daisy, and that hadn't turned out well or at all anyway.

'What does stuff mean exactly?' Paul said.

I shrugged again, 'Just about the Schola and how she's sick of being guarded. I told her about my brothers and Allie, she was interested about that, I don't know really, I can't really remember.'

'It's so unfair, why do you of all Wulfen get to talk to her?' Spencer sulked.

I grinned at him, 'Obviously because of my charm,' I answered.

We pushed open the gym doors, the other Wulfen were waiting there already to play basketball. It was a Wulfen game, the Djamphir liked to play Polo and Lacrosse, if you asked me they just liked to look pretty while sitting on a horse. It was always like that with Djamphir. Wulfen don't give a shit about that type of thing, but the Djamphir are always trying to dress fashionably and to have the latest haircuts. Who honestly gives a crap about that? Anyhow I just hope it doesn't catch on to us. 'Alright ladies?' I said loudly. 'Who's ready to be thrashed?' I asked grinning.

We played for over an hour. Our side won, I managed to get the ball through the hope seven times thanks to the other guys. After that we all headed outside for the Run. I was looking forward to it as usual. I glanced at the guys, they grinned back. It always felt good to get out in the night air. The Run was liberating, it is like what flying is to the birds. The moon was shinning in the sky, but it wasn't full yet. Next week some Wulfen would be having their first transformation. I almost shuddered at the memory. The first few changes aren't pleasant. When you feel your body change like that… it feels wrong. Your body becomes something else entirely, and when you've been the one form for so long it almost repulses you. But after the few times of doing it you forget the pain and learn to love it, and soon your body can do it in seconds. I snorted internally, if my thoughts were said aloud to a human they might think I was talking about sex.

We all gathered. As I was Alpha when I arranged a Run at least a third of us turned up. So it was fair to say that there were a lot of us. No words were needed; we all felt our unity deep inside. It is our sixth sense. The change poured through all of us, our bodies turned freer and fiercer, a sense of calmness enveloped us all. As one we transformed to our true skin. We howled together, the sound was louder than a hundred sirens, it tore through the night, instilling everything that was us. To us the sound was sweet and beautiful but to humans it would make their skin prickle with fear, their ears would feel ready to burst or bleed; even some Djamphir couldn't stand it.

Our howl finished and then the natural Alpha in me began to run, they started behind me. We ran together, not raced. I lead but only at a narrow lead, my instincts knew to keep close to my group. For a long time we ran until naturally we drew to a stop, our bodies were tired. Our Wulfen forms peeled back quickly into our human selves. Most of the Wulfen coughed and spluttered as their bodies struggled to regain its equilibrium. I'd done enough runs to escape the urge to vomit my organs out of my mouth. I coughed twice and felt a little wheezy, but generally okay.

'Good show Boss,' Spencer said next to me coughing several times.

I laughed, 'The show went well Brother,' I answered grinning.

I clapped Joel on the back making him dry retch again. He straightened up, 'No matter how much we study this shit, I still don't understand how it's possible,' he said.

'Do we really need to understand?' I asked, 'Let it be what it will be,' I grinned at them and we started to walk back. The other Wulfen also began to move. A few of them passed and clapped me on the back and continued onwards.

'I could kill for some meat,' I said hungrily as my stomach rumbled.

'It really takes it out of me,' Wayne said he was still huffing a little. 'I could eat, too.'

'Well what are we waiting for then ladies,' I said, 'let's go and eat.'

We trooped into a cafeteria. Djamphir were already there beginning breakfast or dinner to the humans. They either ignored us or acknowledged us with a filthy sneer. We went up with our tray and through the steam I piled on half cooked meat. Joel pulled a face at my meat as he always did. His mom was a human and he'd been raised with 'well done' meat. But I could eat raw easily, but knowing how it repulsed Joel I always ate it a little more cooked. The things I did to be nice to my friends. We sat down on our usual table and were silent while we dug in. 'weshub-.'

'It's rude to talk with your mouth full,' Joel glared at Wayne who rolled his eyes.

He swallowed, 'As I was saying- we should challenge the Djamphir for a basketball match.'

'What and have them challenge us to ride ponies against them?' Paul said looking as though Wayne had suggested he play with a dolly and play dress up.

'Paul's right,' I nodded, 'I don't know how that constitutes as a sport,' I said.

We fell back into a natural comfortable silence. I glanced around at the Djamphir, I noted someone giving me a particularly dirty look. I saw that it was the Other Djamphir who made Eliza's guard. Then I realised that she was next to him; and looking particularly small between him and her other guard Duncan. She caught my eye and smiled, I smiled back at her. She looked left and then right pulled a silly face with her tongue stuck out. I laughed and then Duncan and the other dude looked at Elizabeth who quickly looked down at her plate. I frowned, I didn't like the way she went all quiet and miserable with them, perhaps if she asked for a new-

The siren wailed suddenly and I jumped in my seat in surprise. In an instant we were all getting up purposely. Everyone was flittering away to their stations. My glance fell back on Elizabeth but she was already up and being led away by Duncan and Other Dude, and another three guys had joined her. I figured she was okay and then I tore away to my station transforming as I ran there.