WHAT THE FUCK? THIS CANNOT BE FUCKING HAPPENING TO ME! WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS BULLSHIT?

I'm so sorry. I should have told you.

SO WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU, SETH? THIS IS KIND OF A HELL OF A LOT TO PROCESS! NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S THE KIND OF THING YOU TELL SOMEONE BEFORE THEY TURN INTO A WOLF.

Jimmy please. Listen to me. I'm –

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT SETH. AND I TAKE IT YOU'VE ALSO FORMED SOME KIND OF FREAKY LIFELONG ATTACHMENT TO ME THAT I HAD NO SAY IN WHATSOEVER. IS THAT THE ONLY REASON ANYTHING HAPPENED BETWEEN US? BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE? I CANNOT FUCKING BELIEVE THIS

Seth, out.

But Leah –

Seth, out, now.

Jimmy, I –

DON'T EVEN FUCKING TRY.

…

Ok, Jimmy. I know this is a lot to process, but you're going to have to go with it. First things first, let's cut the howling. It's a bit obvious… good. Now, this is not the way anyone wanted things to turn out, so why don't you just take this opportunity to vent whatever else was on your mind. But do it in your head.

That was pretty much it. So we're talking via thought?

Yep. Makes privacy more or less a pleasant memory. Of course it also means that when Seth says he's sorry, you know he's telling the truth.

As may be. This is the kind of shit you tell someone. Especially when it turns out that THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO TURN INTO A WOLF!

In your head, remember. The most important thing is that no-one finds out about us. Except for the people we tell. And we're pretty much limited to family on that one.

Shit. Sorry. I interrupted your telling John about all this.

It's not too bad. I left him with Jake, who's explaining everything I didn't have time to. We did kind of think you'd shift tonight so we had contingencies organised.

Good to know.

Well, we did what was necessary.

So why are you the one who gets to talk me through all this?

Because I'm a girl. Everyone thought I was a freak of nature when I shifted, and it sucked, because as far as anyone knew, I was the first girl to shift, ever. So now I get to impart all my girly wisdom.

Well, impart.

The first few months are going to suck. If you're anything like the rest of us, you'll be triggered every so often by something you can't control, and so don't go about wearing any clothing you're particularly attached to for the next while. Also, be ready to have half a dozen teenage boys talking inside your head. That shit is crazy, but you're going to have to live with it. Generally with the guys, they needed a couple of weeks away from school until they had things under control, but let's be honest, you've got more control over things than some of them did a year after they shifted. Who knows, you might even be able to go to school on Monday without any issues. Also, your temperature will now hover around 108, so under no circumstances should you allow your mom to take your temperature. Unless you want to tell her about the wolf thing. It's entirely your choice.

Hell no. I'll pass on that one.

Well in that case, we need to get you human and into your house before suspicions are raised. And then I have a boyfriend to finish talking to. I'm afraid you had a point when it comes to the whole that's one of the things you tell a person thing.

So how do I get myself human again?

Basically, what I've found works is to just picture you being a human again, what it feels like and stuff, and then you're back.

And how about clothing? Not to sound unbearably prosaic, but I do still need to get home.

I've got it covered. Let's get you all person shaped now, shall we?

Here goes…

…