The Normal Life
By Didi

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.

Summery: Life is hard enough as a teen without in the problems of being wolf. Sequel to "Eyes of Brown... or is it Green," kind of.

Timeline: Hum...this is a toughie. Okay, Eyes was written after the cancellation of Wolf Lake from CBS. I had assumed that it was never coming back again so I can do whatever I wanted with the story without interfering with the show's canon.

Note: For those of you that read my first Wolf Lake fan fic, this story will follow a similar but slightly altered format, you're get it when you read it. And for those of you that have not read my first, it's pretty easy to pick up once you start.

Acknowledgement: Hooray for the return of Wolf Lake!!! Thank you UPN for your wonderful taste in programming. And thanks to everyone that read my first Wolf Lake fan fiction. I hope you all like this one too.

Rating: R for restricted under 17.
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-Luke's POV-

I think my fascination with her eyes could be one of my down falls. When one looks into that liquid firry depth, one forgets even how to breathe. As romantic as that may sound, especially coming from a hardened cynic like me, I always have to remember one very important thing taught to me from the cradle: any kind of weakness can be used against me around here. And Sophia Donner was undoubtedly one of my bigger weaknesses.

I really shouldn't be irritating her right now, she's probably peeved at me as it is, but I couldn't help myself. When she's angry, she's alive and vibrant. How can anyone resist that combination of beauty, innocence and goodness? We see so little of it around here. It's good to see her laugh, happy with the world at large. I just wish it wasn't her little 'friend' that was the instigator of her pleasures.

Seeing her with that guy... Well, there isn't anything I could do about my little moments of jealousy. And now that I've committed myself to something, I'm going to have to see it through. "Dave, isn't it?"

Alarm entered those luminous eyes so quickly that I was startled for a moment. What did she think I was going to do? Go all primal on him right here and now? Does she really think I don't have the common sense of a three year old? Granted, I'm sorely tempted by the thought. It probably won't take more than glowing eyes to put the fear of whatever God he pray to in him, but that would be petty and would no doubt get me in serious trouble with my father.

"Yeah! Wow, you know my name," the kid had the look of a puppy that just got a pat on the head. I know that I'm popular but this is just embarrassing, for him that is. If it wasn't for the fact that he irritated me by hanging onto the girl of my choice, I'd probably be amused by the almost hero worship on that guy's face. It was going to be like taking candy from a baby.

Sean and Charlie were both grinning from ear to ear; they were both anticipating a little fun, no doubt picked up from my own sense of the impending...

"I think we should get to class now," Sophia reached over and tugged on Dave's arm, her eyes warning me. I swear, sometimes she's more protective of our secrets that we are. "I want to go over the history notes before class, Miss Meyers says that she may give a quiz."

Maybe, and that's a huge maybe, nothing would have happened had Sophia not chosen to touch him. But let's face it, when your woman - I have to remember not to call Sophia that to her face - touches another man, you tend to see red. She'll be carrying his scent for at least four or five hours now. That was simply unacceptable by any standards that I adhere to.

Reaching out, I jerked Sophia away with a little too much force. "Ouch!" I forget at times just how strong we really are, even when we aren't in our primal forms. Looking back on that, I'm not sure which one of us was more surprised: Sophia, Dave, or me. I simply couldn't believe that I lost control like that. I let go straight away, but the damage was already done.

"Hey," Dave's immediate reaction was expected, putting himself forward to protect Sophia; heck I probably would have taken offense if he hadn't reacted that way. Fortunately for him, Sophia decided to take control of the situation.

"Dave," she put herself between us, her back toward me and facing him. "It's okay, let's just go to class." She turned her head enough to slant me a glance, one that told me to watch myself that I was really pushing it. And as tempted as I was to do something I'd probably regret tomorrow, I was not completely out of my mind. "If that's all right with you, Mr. Cates."

I would have winced at the icicles that were no doubt at the end of my nose if I thought it would not get a reaction from everyone else. One of the things I hate getting from Sophia is that cold glance that can freeze me in my tracks. The look does not belong on her; she's too warm of a person for that particularly unattractive expression to stay long on her face.

I guess I could have created some trouble had I wanted to really piss off Sophia and mess with Dave's head, but that wasn't going to do me any good. Besides, I think my little dealings with Dave need to be away from Sophia's presence and sense of protective nature for the humans. Until then...

Stepping aside, I allowed them to pass without another word. But a part of me couldn't- wouldn't-let it go. *It isn't over, Sophia.*

Her head snapped back; she looked at me part startled and part afraid. I had to smile; I've just confirmed what I suspected. And now she knows that I know. The momentary fear in her eyes disappeared almost as soon as I recognized it. *You better believe it's not.*

The thought floated into my head without much effort on her part, which only makes me think that she did it completely unconsciously. She was moving along the path faster than I had expected, or maybe I hadn't noticed her progress fast enough. Either way, it was a good sign and she's just made my day and saved her little friend's head.

The fun is just about to begin.
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-Sherman's POV-

The young ones are impetuous, only to be expected. But I have to say that they're a lot wilder in this generation than the next. Even Ruby Cates and her gang weren't nearly as undomesticated as Luke Cates and his current following. That whole stupid thing with the radioactive waste truck, sheesh. But then, Ruby Cates has created more headaches for Willard that I suspect Luke ever well.

Poor sweet Ruby, her life caught between the razor-sharp edges of both sides of the coin. She would love to live one way, but her birth right and place within the pack would force her to live another. Very much like young Sophia Donner.

Now there's another child that will find life to be a series of challenges. Not one and certainly not the other. I suppose if I weren't who I was, I'd warn Matt the impending dangerous that faces both father and child. But being the Keeper means that I can only sit back and observe the events. Sure, every once in a while I need to step in; after all I am still part of this pack. But for most parts...

Then again, perhaps I owe Donner something for what happened all those years ago. Marie was a lovely woman, better suited for Donner than the then young Vivian ever could be. But I doubt anyone other than myself and Matt ever saw that.

Poor, poor Marie. Life never was so peaceful in Wolf Lake for you or your little girl. Sophia could really use your gentle guidance right about now. Poor sweet young innocent Sophia. Her life is about to take a dramatic turn for the hairy side.