The Little Lupin (Ivan x OC)

by AussieWallabyFanfics

Ten years after the death of his mother and twin sister, both the Lupins and Ivan Beowulf's lives are flipped upside-down when the crazily paranoid Freyda Lupin joins famed Howlington Academy. Will it be for better or worse? Follow the Little Lupin and her friends on their journey through Howlington, and find out how everything unfolds...

4. 3)) The Accountant

"Sit still, Miss Lupin," Mrs Opal, the head school nurse, began, "I can't get this cast off if you keep squirming."

"Sorry, Mrs," Freyda apologised, her voice full of excitement, "I just can't wait to be able to warf again!"

Ivan glared at Leo as he laughed. Admittedly, Freyda just kinda had that personality where pretty much everyone liked her… maybe except Thyella, but why did it have to be him?

"There. See? It didn't ta-."

Freyda sprang out of her chair, cutting Mrs Opal off with a tight embrace.

"Aw, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Taken aback a little, Mrs Opal hesitantly patted her on the head.

"That's okay," she chuckled, "Just, don't come back with another broken bone."

"Aw! But it's fun!"

Mrs Opal blinked a few times before turning to the two boys. Ivan face-palmed with a groan.

"Should I be concerned," the nurse questioned.

Leo waved his hand dismissively, "Nah."

"It's okay, Mrs," Ivan began as he slung an arm over the black-haired girl's shoulder, "I'll keep an eye on her."

"You mean 'we'll' keep an eye on her," Leo corrected.

Ivan gave a huff and a fake laugh as he turned and walked out the door.

"Yeah. That's exactly what I meant," he shot back sarcastically.

Leo crossed his arms, shaking his head, "I honestly don't know why she's friends with that guy, but-."

Leo's eyes darted to the ceiling as the school bell rang. With a gasp, he ran out the door. He was not about to be late for class.

"I can't wait to be able to warf again," Freyda exclaimed.

Ivan chuckled and ruffled her hair, "You've really missed it that much, huh?"

"Are you kidding?! If I was never able to transform again, I'd have a heart attack!"

"Well, luckily that'll never happen," Ivan stated.

Hearing heavy panting behind them, the pair turned to see the purple-clad teen racing toward them. Ivan growled under his breath as Freyda squirmed from his grasp and gave Leo a bone-crushing hug.

"Freyda," he wheezed, "Air. Please!"

The black-haired girl let go and stepped back. With a sheepish grin, she scratched the back of her head.

"Sorry, Leo," she said, then gasped, "Did we leave you behind?! I'm so sorry! I thought you were right behind us!"

Leo shrugged, "That's okay. Let's just get to class before I'm late… again."

"That'll be the third time this week," Ivan laughed.

Freyda crossed her arms and gave him a look that you'd normally see on a librarian. He gave a blank stare. Leo glanced between the two; he smirked. She raised a brow at the pink-shirted boy. Ivan groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Let's get going already," Ivan huffed as he walked off, "And wipe that smirk off your face, Nguyen."

The smile on Leo's face grew. Freyda gave him a weird look, unsure of why he was being so odd. Shrugging it off, she linked her left arm with his and zoomed over to Ivan. The blonde looked down as Freyda linked her other arm with his, pulling one of her silly faces. With a roll of his green-blue eyes, Ivan laughed. Leo winked at him.

"What," Ivan questioned in frustration.

Leo's smirk broadened, "You two are adorable. I totally ship you."

Freyda glanced between the two boys. Leo still had his smirk plastered on his face that seemingly grew when Ivan's cheeks flushed red. She raised a brow, completely and utterly confused.

"Pst," she began, "What's a 'ship'?"

Leo was about to reply, when Ivan quickly cut in.

"Nothing. It's nothing! He's just… joking! Right, Leo?"

Leo facepalmed.

"My other besties!"

As the black-haired girl ran over to her brother as he came out of the science classroom, the purple-clad teen looked at Ivan. The blonde let out a sigh of relief.

"I knew it," Leo exclaimed quietly, "You totally like her, don't you!"

Ivan covered his mouth, eyes wide.

"Sh! Not so loud," he hissed, then rolled his eyes, "Of course I like her. Who doesn't."

Leo gave him a look as if to say "seriously". Ivan sighed again, this time in defeat.

"Yes," Leo whisper-shouted, fistpumping the air.

Ivan shoved a finger into Leo's chest, "Don't. Tell. Anyone. Especially Freyda!"

"Chill, man! I'm not gonna tell her," Leo huffed as he walked off.

**Meanwhile, with the Lupins**

"Freyda," Batty whined.

"Let go," Freddy & Thyella squeaked.

Freyda let go of them. With a sigh, she looked down and rubbed her arm.

"So… no one besides Leo and Ivan like me anymore," she sniffled.

Freddy's light blue eyes widened as he patted his sister's head.

"What? Of course we do! You're just-."

"A pain in the neck who needs to learn a little something called… geeze, I dunno… personal space," Thyella exclaimed, "You hyper-nuthead!"

"Aw! Thanks, bestie!"

Thyella groaned and facepalmed, Leo laughing as he joined them, "Why do I even bother?"

As the five began walking off, they stopped as Leo ran into someone. The stranger had a rather messy head of short black hair, with icy blue eyes that glared through the glasses that sat on the bridge of his large nose, wearing an old, patched up, worn-out jacket. Freyda eyed the man suspiciously.

"Oh. Sorry," Leo grinned.

The man sneezed, the spray going right in the germaphobe's face. Leo blinked a few times as the stranger walked away without a word. No sooner he left, Leo flopped all over the place, gagging at the fact some random dude just literally sneezed all over him as he ran to the bathroom.

"Uh, what did I miss," Ivan chuckled.

Freyda crossed her arms and glared at the man.

"That rando just sneezed his gross germs in Leo's face! NOT COOL, YOU DISGUSTING OLD MAN!"

At the sound of the angry girl's voice, the guy sped up. Freyda growled.

"Calm down, vicious poodle," Ivan said, giving her a side hug as he messed up her hair.

"Who's that," Batty questioned.

Freddy shrugged and shook his head.

"How are we supposed to know, woman," Thyella asked loudly as she made her way to the Announcement Hall, "Good grief!"

"You may have heard the school is in grave danger," Principal Pincus began as she walked across the stage.

All the kids sitting in the chairs gasped.

"Of bankruptcy," the pink-clad woman continued.

The students looked at each other in confusion, "Huh?"

"Well, I don't think any of us were worried about that," Freyda chuckled.

"Miss Lupin, no money means we can't afford updated equipment," Pincus began in a bored tone, "No updated equipment means no more potentially harmful classes, like chemistry, PE, or-."

Freyda shot up from her spot next to Ivan. Her hands flew to the sides of her face as she gasped dramatically.

"NO MORE PE," she exclaimed before grabbing Ivan by the shoulders and shaking him, "THIS IS A DISASTER!"

"A disaster? Are you kidding? How do you like Mrs Afeaki's class," Freddy questioned, causing the teacher to give a blank expression.

Freyda gasped again, this time being quite offended, "Whaaaaaaaat?! Mrs Afeaki has the best class in the whole school! You should be ashamed of yourself, Freddy!"

Afeaki smiled; Pincus facepalmed.

"Alright, Miss Lupin. Sit down, please," the principal said.

Freyda did as she was told, eyeing her older twin as she sat. Pincus sighed and shook her head, wondering how on Earth a girl like her survived 10yrs on her own.

"But, not to worry," she continued, "Mr Shminch is here to help with the school accounts."

The 'disgusting old man' from earlier walked up next to Pincus as she continued.

"He will be conducting a thorough inspection of the premises to see if we can make any cutbacks."

Ivan yawned, "Boring!"

"Speaking of which! School security are on temporary unpaid leave-."

"While there's a-?!"

"STOP INTERRUPTING, MISS LUPIN!"

The children, even Afeaki and Mr Gunolf, stared at their pink-clad principal. Saying they were shocked was an understatement. Hearing a sniffling from the second row, everyone turned. Freyda wiped a tear from her face; Freddy facepalmed.

"Sh-she y-yelled at me," the black-haired girl stuttered.

Ivan stared at her, not quite sure of what to do. He felt the urge to comfort her, however, that wasn't quite something he was good at doing. The blonde found himself looking over at Leo. From the other side of the girl, he gave him a discreet thumbs-up. Ivan put an arm over her shoulder, to which Freyda immediately wrapped her arms around his torso. Ivan stiffened for a moment before a smile formed on his face as he relaxed and hugged her a little closer.

"I'm a genius," Leo thought to himself as he dusted off his hands with a smirk.

Pincus cleared her throat, getting everyone's attention once again.

"Not the best timing, as Flashheart has some bothersome news."

At the sight of the High Howler waltzing onto the wooden platform beside the older woman, Freyda perked up and waved. Seeing his daughter hugging his so-called rival's son raised his brow in confusion. Ivan gulped, grinning nervously. Flashheart looked at his son who mouthed, "don't ask!". Mentally shaking himself out of his confuzzled state, the High Howler cleared his throat.

"That's right, Principal Pincus," he began, "Last night, the Night Patrol encountered a Wilderwolf."

Kitty turned to Aggie.

"I told you," she exclaimed quietly.

"So, until further notice, we have implemented a ban on leaving school grounds and a strict curfew at sundown," Pincus announced.

"Aw, what," Freyda groaned as she slid off the chair, "Just when I can warf again, I can't go anywhere! Totally uncool!"

Leo and Ivan snickered as they each grabbed one of her arms, pulling her back up onto the wooden seat.

"Wilderwolves are wild and dangerous beasts at night. But during the day, they hide their true identity so they can walk amongst us," Flashheart said, more so directing his statement at the little Lupin.

"Indeed," Pincus agreed, "And with security absent, we all need to stay alert and informed, which is why we have enlisted a new volunteer Wolf Lore teacher."

"And the Night Patrol's second in charge. Please welcome Mr Ric Rawls," Flashheart added, gesturing to the side.

A burgundy-haired male dressed in a purple, red and blue, long-sleeved flannelette shirt & a pair of jeans walked up to stand beside the High Howler as the room applauded.

Freyda eyed him suspiciously. She definitely did not get a good vibe about this 'Ric Raw-'.

"Wait a second… Rawls?!"

"He's dreamy," Wendy swooned, Winslow giving her an odd look.

Thyella growled, slapping the blonde girl on the arm.

"Hey! That's my dad," she shouted, "You daft creep!"

"Oh, hey there, kiddo," Ric waved, "And be nice to your friends."

Thyella rolled her eyes, "Hi, Dad… wait! They're not my friends!"

"Wow - it is such an honour to teach at this school that taught me everything I know. Which, uh, according to my grades, wasn't very much," Ric said, ignoring his daughter.

The students laughed, while Pincus growled and Thyella rolled her eyes and facepalmed.

Ric cleared his throat, "No. But, seriously. I was there last night, and I can tell you, we need to stay focused and look out for anything unusual."

"Like Freddy," Ivan snorted.

Freyda elbowed him in the ribs with a stern glare, causing him to yelp, which made the other kids laugh.

"I think you mean like Freyda," Thyella chuckled.

"Aw," Freyda squeaked, "Thanks, bestie!"

Thyella groaned in annoyance.

"Keep your eyes peeled, everyone," Ric stated.

Freyda gasped and shot up out of her chair.

"I don't want my eyes peeled! He's gonna kill us all! WHY WOULD YOU ENLIST HIM?! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES EVERYONE!"

Freyda bolted out of the Hall, screaming at the top of her lungs. The kids sighed, facepalmed, or both. Ric raised a brow and looked at Flashheart, who shrugged and shook his head.

All the students except for Ivan, Wendy and Winslow huddled behind a few bushes while Freddy spied through a pair of binoculars. Kitty and Leo exchanged concerned glances. Omar gittered uneasily behind them.

"Is this really necessary," Aggie questioned.

"You heard what Pincus said," Freddy replied, "We can't trust anyone. Look!"

Freddy handed the binoculars to the self-proclaimed geek. She stood and looked in the direction Freddy had been examining not a few seconds ago. You could practically see her roll her eyes through the equipment.

"Mrs Afeaki?! Really," she asked doubtfully.

"Come on" was his response as he snatched the binoculars from her and ran off.

Hiding behind the garden shed, Freddy again looked through the binoculars, though he didn't really need them now the group was closer.

"Look," he exclaimed in a hushed tone, "I heard Wilderwolves hunt sheep!"

Everyone watched as Afeaki crept up behind the Golden Horned ram. Grabbing him by his woolly white tail, she pulled him. The sheep looked at her blankly.

"Stop munching my lettuces, you mongrel," she shouted.

The ram let out a bleat before kicking the PE teacher with both his back legs. Everyone watched as she soared through the air, screaming.

Thyella facepalmed, "You do realise that you eat sheep when you're eating lamb, right, Freddy?"

"Yeah, but I'm not hunting them, am I," he shot back.

Thyella made a groaning sigh as she slid a hand down her face.

The ram then turned around. Freyda gulped before running off.

"You guys are on your own!"

"Hey! Where're you going," Freddy asked.

Everyone followed the black-haired girl up one of the trees. As soon as Freddy reached the top, he popped his head out of the leaves, searching for his next target.

"Okay," he breathed, "Maybe not Afeaki."

Freyda popped up beside him, crossing her arms.

"Of course she's not a Wilderwolf, you drongo! I think I'd know if my favourite teacher was a fearsome beast."

The kids stared at her, wide-eyed, to which she took no notice.

"But, look," the male Werepoodle said, handing Batty the binoculars.

"Mr Gunolf," she questioned.

"Wild animals are always scratching around in the dirt," Freddy stated, trying to defend his case.

"So," Batty drawled out, "Your sister is one, then?"

Freddy's light blue eyes widened, "What?! Of course not! I think I'd know if my own twin was a Wilderwolf."

"No, I mean that she's a wild animal!"

Thyella snorted, "Well, I'd agree with you on that one."

Freddy's face fell into a blank expression as the others quietly laughed. When Gunolf moved away, a bright orange flower stood in the garden that wasn't there before. The others raised their brows.

"Aspidistra botanica," Aggie exclaimed.

Kitty growled, "Ugh! He's no Wilderwolf! He's a flower-lover!"

"I like flowers, too," Omar defended.

Suddenly, the tree began creaking. Under all the weight in the top branches - not that Kitty or Leo weighed a whole lot -, everyone screamed as the tree fell. Everyone groaned as they stood, dusting the leaves off themselves - or, in Kitty's case, spitting them out of her mouth.

Freddy groaned and rubbed his head, glaring at his sister who was doing the same.

"Some plan, sis, going up in that tree," he grumbled.

Freyda slapped him, "Well, hey! I wasn't expecting anyone to follow me! I did say: you guys are on your own."

"Well," Aggie coughed, "She has got a point."

"Ugh," Freddy grunted, rolling his eyes as he rushed over to the edge of the school building.

"Okay. What about this guy?"

Everyone peaked around the corner to find Mr Sminch talking to himself as he wrote numbers into a small notepad.

"He's shifty-looking," Omar said shakily.

Kitty nodded, "He's creepy-looking."

"And, not to mention he sneezed in my face," Leo added, then shuddered at the gross memory.

"He's clearly up to something," Freddy concluded.

Freyda nodded, "I agree, however, I don't think he's our Wilderwolf, guys."

"And here I thought Freyda was the paranoid one of the twins," Thyella commented.

"She still is," Aggie stated.

"True."

Freddy rolled his eyes and grabbed his younger twin by the collar of the shirt, pulling her after him.

"Come on!"

The students crept after the newcomer, keeping at a safe distance. Instead of going up the stairs like a normal person, Freddy jumped up to grab the railing and pulled himself over. The group scurried behind a wall. Freddy put his hand back, signalling for them to stop, smacking Batty in the face. As she was running on her hands and feet, she looked up and growled at him as he went 'round the corner.

Thyella facepalmed, "Why are you Lupins so weird?"

"And you're not," Freyda asked genuinely.

"Well, yeah. Of course I am," she replied, "But your family is, like, weird."

"Thanks!"

With a sigh, Thyella rolled her eyes, "Honestly…"

Freddy gasped, running back to the others as Sminch strode out of Pincus' office. He crouched beside Batty and stared after the stranger while he walked into the room next door.

"Come on," Freddy ordered, gesturing for them to follow.

"You know, Freddy," Thyella began, "You don't have to tell us to 'come on' everytime we move, right?"

Ignoring the blue-haired girl's words, said boy continued on his way creeping down the hall. Thyella huffed, her face falling into a blank expression. After making sure Pincus wasn't looking, Freddy rolled past the principal's door. Batty & Leo ran past - the first on her fours, the second like a normal human being. Kitty and Aggie jumped past. Pincus looked up from her book. Seeing there was nothing there, she shrugged it off and went back to reading. Thyella rolled her eyes and casually walked past, thinking to herself "why did I let Freyda drag me into this". Freyda did a very graceful cartwheel. Leo quietly clapped, to which she did a swooping bow.

"Don't encourage it," Thyella and Freddy snapped.

Freyda pulled one of her funny faces. Leo covered his mouth, trying not to laugh, while Freddy and Thyella rolled their eyes and facepalmed.

Everyone looked over to find Omar still at the other side. Trembling like a leaf, he glanced between the slightly open door and his friends. Kitty gestured for him to follow. He tucked and rolled, going faster than he probably should have been. The kids screamed as he ran into them, knocking them flat. The wooden flower stand rocked side to side. Freyda looked up to find the blue vase of pink flowers about to crash on her brother's face. She quickly got up and grabbed the vase just as it fell from its stand.

"Freddy and Freyda Lupin," Principal Pincus began, standing in front of them, "What is the meaning of this?"

"We're just here to welcome the new guy," Freyda answered, grinning innocently.

Pincus smiled, "How thoughtful."

"Mr Sminch," the pink-clad teacher said as she opened the wooden door.

Sminch tapping on the wall between his and Pincus' room. A startled expression crossed his face, seeing the woman enter.

"Ah! Principal Pincus," Sminch greeted.

Said woman gestured to the outside of the door with a bright smile.

"The children have something for you."

The Lupins, Batty and the Nguyen's stood in the doorway. Freyda stood at the front of the group holding the vase with a smile.

"Ah! Children," Sminch said, not sounding very impressed.

Remembering what happened to Leo, the female Werepoodle shoved the flowers between the man and herself.

Sminch took the vase with what looked to be a fake smile.

"A… pleasure."

Before Freyda could react, Sminch sneezed in her face. Putting a hand to his face to stop himself from gagging publicly, Leo ran out the door. Freddy cringed. Shoving a hand into her jeans pocket, the little Lupin grabbed out a packet of tissues and held it toward the 'accountant'.

"And you may need these, too, sir," Freyda commented, keeping her cool for the time being.

Sminch gave a nervous laugh, taking the packet. Pincus moved in front of the kids and shut the door, beginning to speak with the man once again.

"Really scary, Freyda. Come on," Kitty said, rolling her eyes.

Freyda's eye twitched before jumping around, flapping her hands about.

"Ew, ew, ew! Gross, disgusting! Yck! Gah," she exclaimed.

Grabbing Freddy's arm, she wiped the spray off her face and onto his long white sleeve.

"Ew, hey," Freddy growled, yanking his arm away, "So gross!"

"Hundreds of years ago," Ric began, looking over his class, "Wilderwolves and Werewolves were the same thing. Until a split! A philosophical divide. Wilderwolves believed they could hunt freely and do as they pleased. They ran completely wild!"

Leo patted Omar on the shoulder as the tan-skinned boy whimpered fearfully. Thyella groaned and slumped her forehead on her desk, hiding her embarrassed face with her arms. The black-haired girl eyed their new teacher. Ivan raised a brow. Seeing the little Lupin glaring at him, Ric froze and glanced between the Werepoodle twins.

"W-why is she looking at me like that, Freddy," Ric questioned worriedly.

Freddy looked back at his sister. Freyda glanced over at him and raised a brow.

"What," she asked loudly, making Ivan jump, "Can't I look at people anymore?!"

Freddy quickly turned back to facing the front. He chuckled before clearing his throat and shrugging. He was about to speak to their teacher, when Thyella cut in.

"No! You can't look at people if you're gonna be looking at them like that," the blue-haired girl stated.

Freyda threw her arms up in the air, confused as to what she was talking about.

"Like what?"

"Like they're up to something!"

Ivan rolled his eyes and placed a hand on Freyda's shoulder.

"Just… calm down. But, you are kinda looking at him suspiciously."

"Well, at least I'm not looking at him like Wendy is," Freyda commented.

All who were present looked over at said blonde girl. With her elbow propped up on her wooden desk, her head rested in her hand. She sighed dreamily while staring starry-eyed at Ric. Leo, Batty and Kitty gagged. Freddy, Freyda and Ivan shuddered. As soon as they looked at her, Aggie, Winslow and Omar looked elsewhere. Thyella growled and grabbed the closest thing - which was one of her thick textbooks - and pegged it at her. The book flew through the air and smacked her in the head.

"Ow," Wendy yelped, "What-?"

"Okay, okay, kids," Ric chuckled nervously, "That's enough of that."

He looked at his daughter with a sigh, "Very good throw, kiddo, but that's gonna put you in detention."

"But-!"

"Don't make me ground you as well," Ric said, giving her the signature 'dad look'.

Thyella growled and rolled her chrome eyes. She stood from her desk, making the chair squeak as it slowly slid backwards; the kids cringed while Ric facepalmed. Making her way past Wendy, the angry girl shoved a finger into her face.

"If I catch you a second time, that book will be the least of your worries," she growled before storming out.

Ric cleared his throat, "Now. Where was I?"

"You said that the Wilderwolves ran completely wild," Aggie replied.

"Ah, yes. Thank you," he cleared his throat again before continuing, "And they brought so much attention to themselves that humans began exterminating all forms of wolf."

Omar slid off his chair and peeked over his desk with a frightful moan.

"Are Wilderwolves evil," Freddy asked.

Freyda crossed her arms and raised a brow.

"Yeah, Mr Rawls. Are Wilderwolves… evil," she asked in an interrogating tone.

Ric gave her a side look of confusion before answering Freddy's question.

"Is a lioness evil when she hunts down a zebra? An eagle when he snatches a mouse in his razor-sharp talons? Or was Thyella evil when she threw the book at, uh," he paused to look through the list of names, "Miss Wendy Smersh?"

The kids glanced around at each other, unsure of what he meant.

Freyda smirked, and wrote down in her notebook, "So, I'll take that as a no, sir. But, at the beginning of the class, you said that - and I quote: Wilderwolves believed they could hunt freely and do as they pleased. Doesn't that make them evil?"

"No," Freddy laughed, "That makes them Ivan."

Freyda growled as the others laughed. Ric stared at her with wide eyes, noting that it looked as though she was about to leap out of her chair and tackle her brother to the ground. Hearing another laugh join in, everyone whipped around to see Ivan half awake.

"That's funny," the blonde chuckled.

After a few moments of confused silence, it finally clicked in Ivan's head what his 'enemy' said. He shot up in his chair and glared at the male Werepoodle.

"Hey!"

"But, why do they have red eyes," Batty asked.

Ric turned to her, glad for the change of subject.

"When you fully give in to your wild side," he began, "You literally see red."

Freyda raised a hand, to which her brother rolled his eyes and facepalmed.

"And, how do you know this, sir? How do you know you 'literally see red' unless… you yourself have been, or are one?"

"Uh… I… knew someone who was cured from the curse of the Wilderwolf," Ric replied awkwardly.

"Cool," Ivan smiled.

"I see," she said aloud, furiously writing on her paper, then turned to the boy on her right, "And, no! IT'S NOT COOL! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, IVAN!"

Ivan blinked a few times, unsure of how to react.

"Why did I have to wind up with a kid like this in my class," Ric thought to himself.

Aggie raised her hand, "Well. What do we do if we see a Wilderwolf?"

"Our ancestors had a pack howl to warn of intruders," Ric replied.

"Can you show us," Freddy asked.

"Sure!"

Freyda clasped her hands together and chuckled darkly as she rubbed them together.

"Yes. Do show us… Mr Rawls."

Everyone stared at her. Ric gulped. Though he'd never admit it aloud, he found himself feeling quite scared right now.

"What? What'd I do wrong this time," Freyda exclaimed, then began crying.

Freddy rolled his light blue eyes, "Ugh! Not again! Freyda, why do you have to cry all the time?"

"Why've you gotta be so mean, Freddy," she sobbed, "You bully of a big brother!"

"Yeah, Freddy," Ivan began as he wrapped his arm around her in a side hug, "Why do you bully her all the time?"

Freddy's face fell into a blank expression as he rolled his eyes. All Ric found himself able to do at this point was stare as Leo and Ivan hugged the crying girl. He breathed out awkwardly while they waited for her to stop.

"Can we start again, Miss Freyda Lupin," Ric asked.

Freyda nodded, back to her normal, cheery self.

"Yup! You were about to show us the," she paused to read through her notes, "The pack howl for intruders, sir."

"Okay, then. Let's imagine half the class are Wilderwolves who are ready to attack."

"Huh," the students replied.

"Come on, Wilderwolves," he encouraged, "Don't be shy! Let yourself go! Free your inner animal!"

Batty turned to Freddy, growling and yapping not-so-ferociously as she jumped onto her table.

Freddy laughed nervously, "Hey. Hey, Bats, come on. You wouldn't hurt your best pal, right?"

"Wilderwolves don't have pals, pal," Batty replied with narrowed eyes.

Suddenly, all the kids ran around the classroom - except Omar, who hid under his desk. Leo backed Freyda into a corner, a playful yet sinister growl coming from deep in his throat. Freyda gasped and pointed to one of the walls. Before she could even say anything, the purple-clad boy spun around. Freyda shrugged and ran past him.

"Hey," Leo called, "Get back here!"

"Not a chance, you-!"

Freyda cut herself off by yelping in surprise as something ran into her. Leo cracked up laughing as she and Ivan fell to the floor. Her dark blue eyes looked up to see green-blue ones staring back, accompanied by the blonde's blushing face.

"Oh, hi, Ivan," Freyda laughed, before squirming out from under him and running off, "Bye, Ivan!"

The pink-shirted boy stared after her as he stood. Catching something moving out of the corner of his eye, he looked over. Leo smirked and wiggled his brows. Ivan growled, feeling his cheeks redden.

"Sound the intruder alarm," Ric called, before howling, "How-wa-wa-woo!"

The students not acting as Wilderwolves - Freyda, Aggie, Freddy and Omar - looked at each other in confusion before they shrugged and followed suit.

"Wilderwolves rock," Ivan exclaimed as he jumped on Omar's desk.

"STOP!"

Everyone stopped in their tracks - except for Freyda. She looked over at the furious principal while still running, earning her to run into a wall. With an 'oof!' and a loud thud, she flopped onto her back. Before Leo, Freddy or Ivan could rush over to her, she sprung up as though nothing happened. The three glanced at each other.

"I'm okay," Freyda declared happily, to which Freddy facepalmed.

"Mr Rawls," Pincus continued, "I do believe this class is over!"

"Hypothetically, if we cut the meal budget by 50%," Pincus began as she wrote on the black chalkboard, boring the class to death, "That would free up enough money to cover our overheads, taking into account deductibles on taxable items."

She turned around and frowned.

"Lupin! Beefcheek!"

"Ah," the two brown-haired kids exclaimed in unison as they shot up in their seats.

"This is the proper way to teach a class," Pincus stated.

Freyda sighed boredly.

"Well, this way stinks," she whispered.

"Ugh. Tell me about it," Ivan replied.

"And if we halved the sports equipment budget," Pincus continued, "Does that give us enough wiggle room to avoid dipping into the school reserves?"

"Proof!"

Everyone turned as Freddy flipped over his desk, laying on the floor. Everyone laughed; Freyda gasped and rushed over to him.

"Freddy," Pincus hollered as Freyda helped him up, "Detention!"

"Stop," Omar laughed, laying on his back as Batty tickled him.

"You're at my mercy," Batty chuckled.

Freyda warfed into her poodle-form. She jumped up on one of the small wooden tables in front of the window. She peered out the glass, staring into the starry night sky. Her furiously wagging tail slowly stopped as her happy demeanor drooped. She slumped down to rest her furry chin on the windowsill with a sigh. Ivan looked over from his phone. About to ask a question, the blonde was interrupted by the Common Room's door burst open.

"Come with me if you want to save the school," Freddy announced.

Freyda jumped off the table and trotted over to him as everyone went back to what they were doing. She cocked her head to the side and looked up at him.

"I thought you were still in detention?"

"Yeah, Freddy," Thyella began, not looking up from her book, "You're gonna get into trouble."

"Forget detention! I know who the Wilderwolf is," Freddy declared.

Freyda jumped, doing a backflip in excitement.

"So do I! It's Ric!"

"What," everyone squeaked.

"What," Freyda questioned, then looked at Freddy, "Ohhh! You don't think it's him, huh?"

"Uh, pft, no! Ric's awesome," Freddy replied.

Ivan nodded, "And you were totally into the whole game thing."

"This is true, until I realised that he wasn't actually getting us to do some sort of fun exercise," Freyda said, an intense seriousness about her, "He was trying to get us to turn to the Wilder-side! I mean, considering Ivan was scared of them, and now he thinks they 'rock', I don't see it as coincidence."

"Frey," Ivan whined, "I thought you said you wouldn't tell anyone?"

Freyda grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, Ivan."

"My dad? Seriously?! I think I'd know if my dad's a Wilderwolf, you black fur ball," Thyella growled.

"Okay, fine! But don't come crying to me when he mortally wounds everyone," Freyda huffed.

Freddy facepalmed; Thyella raised a brow. Freyda was about to trot off, when Aggie asked "Well, who's the Wilderwolf, Freddy?".

Freyda turned to him and sat.

"Yeah, Freddy?"

"Come on," he exclaimed excitedly as he ran out, "I'll show you!"

Thyella snorted a laugh.

"How long do you think it'll take him to realise we're not following?"

"I estimate about ten seconds," Aggie stated matter-of-factly.

Batty nodded, "Yeah. That sounds about right."

Ten seconds later, Freddy poked his head into the room with a frown.

"Really," he sighed.

"Are you sure, Freddy," Batty asked as everyone followed after him.

Kitty growled. She plopped one of her cookies back into its packet.

"Oh, this better be for real."

"We're not climbing any trees, are we," Omar whimpered.

"I'm just coming along to watch you stuff up, poodle pants," Ivan remarked as he passed Freddy, earning Freyda to slap him up the side of the head.

Freyda put an arm around her twin's shoulder, "Don't worry, Freddy. I think he's up to something, too… but, I definitely don't get the vibe that he's a Wilderwolf."

"Thanks, sis."

The kids sneaked through the school. The bright light of the moon stretched their shadows up the walls and doors as they scurried passed. Freyda could tell that everyone else's doubtfulness was beginning to get to her older twin as they reached Sminch's door.

"Really, Lupin," Ivan questioned with a scoff, "This is getting desperate."

Freyda growled. She whipped around and shoved a finger into the blonde's chest; everyone's eyes widened.

"You really need to quit being so mean to him, Ivan. I really, really don't want to have to stop being friends with you if you keep picking on him. But, believe me when I say I'll do it, mister! Don't make me do that, please."

With teary eyes, she turned back to Freddy. She sniffled and wiped away a tear. Freyda smiled as she placed a reassuring hand on her twin's shoulder. His blue eyes looked up at her. She nodded.

"You better listen to her, Ivan," Leo whispered.

"Trust me, guys," Freddy began, gaining everyone's attention, "We need to gather as much evidence as possible. Wendy, do you have the camera?"

Wendy held up the device and snapped a photo of the two Werepoodles, unaware the flash was on. The pair yelped and covered their eyes, though they had already been temporarily blinded. Hearing an odd noise coming from down the hallway, everyone looked over.

"What was that," Ivan asked, jumping behind Freyda.

Freddy gave him a blank expression. Freyda looked back at him with a smile. Ivan blushed and chuckled awkwardly.

"Does he like her or something," Thyella whispered to Leo.

Leo nodded rapidly, "Yeah! They'd make a cute couple, right?"

"Ugh, I guess."

"It is kind of obvious," Aggie remarked quietly, "How has Freyda not seen this yet?"

"This is Freyda Lupin we're talking about, here," Thyella began with an eye roll, "Even the things slapping her in the face are hardly obvious to her."

The kids chuckled.

Freddy sighed with relief from the other side of the hallway.

"It's just Pincus," he stated, "Come on!"

"What do you mean, 'just Pincus'," Omar asked.

Kitty frowned, "There's no such thing as 'just Pincus'."

Freddy ignored his friends and went back to Sminch's room. He opened the door, causing it to creak loudly. As the kids crept in, Wendy took photos.

Aggie gasped, "Down here!"

Batty went up to the white substance and sniffed it.

"Sheep's wool," she confirmed.

"Bingo," Freddy began, "He's been hunting sheep!"

Ivan glued himself to Freyda's side. She looked about the room and laughed.

"What's so funny," Ivan whispered.

"Oh, this just reminds me of a movie Dad and I watched," she replied, "There was this group of kids who snuck into school to find this guy who they thought was the town's killer. They went into this room, then the dude came up behind them. Oh! And, when they had gone in the room, they found this corkboard with their pictures and names on it - it was wicked creepy. He had a hook for a hand and carried this sick-looking chainsaw. He shut the door behind him and lunged at the kids. The guy killed one of them; his blood went everywhere - it was awesome. Then, everyone else ran out. They tried to get out of the school building, but the killer locked all the doors. One by one, the kids died until none of them remained."

Freyda looked up. Everyone stared at her wide-eyed, looking quite scared for their lives. She cocked her head to the side and raised a brow.

"What?"

"Please stop," Ivan said shakily.

Omar nodded, the poor boy frightened out of his wits.

"You're scaring me!"

Freyda chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Sorry, guys," she replied, smiling innocently.

"Uh, guys," Batty began worriedly.

Everyone turned to face her. A corkboard hung on the wall with their pictures and other information about them pinned up. They all gasped. Omar whimpered and joined Ivan, who again took 'shelter' behind the lanky female Werepoodle.

"You were right, Freddy," Batty stated, narrowing her eyes at the board, "He really is a-!"

Batty was cut short by Wendy snapping yet another photo. Seeing the light flash off something in the doorway, everyone whipped around toward it. Sminch stood, his icy eyes glaring at them.

"Wilderwolf," everyone, except Freyda and Thyella, gasped as they jumped backwards.

"Ah. So frightening," Thyella said, crossing her arms with an eye roll.

Before Freyda could tell them otherwise, the others leaped at Sminch. He yelped in surprise as they forced him to the floor. Suddenly, the room's ceiling light flicked on. Everyone looked up in confusion.

Thyella chuckled, "Guess we know who's in big trouble."

"Yeah," Freyda agreed.

She turned to her, "It's them, right?"

"Ugh," Thyella sighed, "Yes, Freyda. It's them."

Wendy snapped a picture of the Principal, blinding her for a few seconds. When her vision cleared, she looked over the students with a frown.

"Get off him at once," Pincus ordered.

Kitty and Ivan dropped their hold on Sminch's arms as Freddy hopped off his back. The 'accountant' rolled onto his side. He curled up into a ball and shivered fearfully.

"Too frightening," he whimpered, "Too frightening."

"Wimp," Thyella huffed.

"What's going on," Ric questioned, coming into the doorway beside Pincus.

"Help him up," was the Principal's reply.

"I assume there's a logical reason why you've all barfed in here to assault the school accountant," she exclaimed, turning to the kids.

"You bet there is," Freddy began confidently, stepping up to her, "We saved the school from a Wilderwolf attack!"

"Look," he pointed at Sminch, "Wilderwolves have red eyes."

Sminch shook his head.

"I got hay fever from all these flowers!"

To add to his statement, the man sneezed.

"Okay, then… but look at all this wool on the floor. Clearly, he's been hunting poor, innocent sheep," Freddy said, trying to defend his case.

"What? Sheep aren't innocent," Freyda exclaimed.

Everyone rolled their eyes, "Shh!"

With a huff, Freyda crossed her arms and sat on the corner of Sminch's desk.

"My old, mmm, cardigan is falling to bits," Sminch stated, "So what? It's… it's very comfortable."

"Okay… that's enough," Pincus said, placing her hands on her hips.

"No! Look at these creepy photos," Freyda began, pointing at the corkboard, "He's targeting us!"

Sminch nodded, "That's right. I am!"

All the students gasped - except Thyella, who rolled her eyes. Freyda face-palmed with a shake of her head.

"Wait, what," Winslow questioned.

"Targeting those of you who haven't paid their fees," Sminch continued.

"I said that's enough," Pincus repeated, "Whose idea was this?"

"But… I…"

"It was my fault," Ric began, stepping up beside Freddy, "The students told me they thought there was a Wilderwolf at the school, and I instructed them to follow their instincts and gather proof. It… it… it got out of hand. I'm sorry."

Pincus put her hands on her hips again.

"Students, to your dorms. Freddy, back to detention. Mr Rawls, my office. Now!"

"Man, I really hope Ric doesn't get kicked out," Ivan said aloud.

"Yeah," Leo nodded, "His class is by far the best."

Freyda shrugged, "Well. At least we wouldn't have to worry about him leaking information about us to his Wilderwolf pack."

"For the last time," Thyella growled, "My dad ain't a stinking Wilderwolf!"

Freyda's face fell blank.

Hearing Mrs Afeaki's signature whistle, everyone ran over. The students stood in a line. Freyda gittered in excitement. Ivan crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. The others stood to a fearful attention.

"Here at Howlington, we will train your feeble bodies as well as your feeble minds," Afeaki stated as she paced back and forth in front of them, "If you expect to join the Night Patrol, you'll need to be prepared for action! So, feast your eyes on," Afeaki paused as she turned toward the yard, "The Punisher."

Freyda grabbed Ivan and shook him.

"It looks so awesome!"

"This bad boy is designed to push you to your physical limits," Afeaki continued, "Freyda, you're up first."

"Yes," the girl exclaimed.

Ivan laughed, "This should be hilarious!"

Ignoring him, Freyda got into a crouch position (like you would before starting a race). She smirked at the course ahead of her. Afeaki blew the whistle, simultaneously starting the timer. Freyda sped off. She easily flipped over the first obstacle, beginning to climb the next in a matter of seconds. Everyone's jaws dropped. Next, the female Werepoodle leaped over hurdles and a stack of straw. Like an arrow, she shot through the large hanging hoops. By the time everything had registered to the bystanders, she finished the last of the course in a flash.

"Yes! Best. Obstacle course. EVER," she shouted, not even a bit out of breath.

Afeaki stopped the timer. With a smile on her face, she gave a nod of approval.

"New record! Great work, Freyda. Nice form and enthusiasm."

"Thanks, Mrs Afeaki," she beamed.

"Whoa," Batty breathed, "How did you do that?"

"I pretended I was chasing a Wilderwolf," she replied excitedly.

Thyella rolled her eyes with a frustrated groan.

"And, I guess, you could say I'm self taught," Freyda added.

Leo clapped, "That was awesome, Freyda!"

"Aw! Thanks, bestie!"

Ivan was about to comment when Freddy screeched around the corner to join them.

"Sorry I'm late," the male Werepoodle panted.

"How kind of you to join us, Mr Lupin. Next time, try to be more punctual and enthusiastic like your sister," Afeaki said, "Winslow, you're up next."

Winslow limped forward; everyone raised their brows.

"I'm, sorry, miss, but I've got this ankle thing and-."

Mrs Afeaki blew her whistle. Winslow tensed at the noise before stumbling and running off.

"Winslow! You're going… the wrong… way," Freyda said, then sighed as her warning came too late.

"They fired Ric," Freddy whisper-shouted.

"Oh no," Aggie gasped.

Ivan put his hands on his hips.

"Good work, poodle. You got the only cool teacher at this school fired."

"Well, last I checked, Ivan, my brother wasn't the only one holding Mr Sminch down on the floor of his office," Freyda shot back with a growl.

Leo chuckled. He whispered "they're starting to fight like a married couple already" in his sister's ear, causing her to laugh.

"It wasn't even my fault," Freddy exclaimed.

Everyone stared at him blankly.

"Well… uh… maybe… just a tiny bit my fault."

"Oh well. It's not like he won't come and visit me, anyway, so you guys can always say hi," Thyella observed.

"Oh, you should tell Pincus," Kitty said, directing her statement at Freddy.

"But she'll expel him," Aggie warned.

"Better he-!"

Ivan paused his bullying remark, when Freyda crossed her arms. Giving the blonde a death glare, she growled.

"Uh… um… yeah," he stammered, clearing his throat, "Better not tell the Principal."

Freyda snapped back to her normal, cheery self. A bright smile spread onto her face. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. The others laughed at the startled expression on the blonde's face.

Everyone looked over at a weak groaning. Winslow crawled across the finish - or rather, the start - line, Mrs Afeaki by his side.

"Also a new record," the PE teacher began.

"Really," Winslow asked hopefully.

Freyda gasped.

"In the wrong direction," Afeaki continued.

Winslow let out a groaning sigh, letting himself flop to the track.

"Maybe he's not the only one who's going in the wrong direction," Batty suggested, looking at Freddy.

"Lupin! You're next."

"Yay," Freyda squealed.

Afeaki face-palmed, "Not you. You're brother."

"Aw, man!"

With a chuckle, Ivan put the black-haired girl in a headlock and ruffled her hair.

"See," Leo questioned, "The perfect couple!"

Kitty face-palmed.

"Scissors, paper, Moonstone," Wendy and Winslow chanted in unison.

Winslow clenched his fist - Moonstone; Wendy poked out two of her fingers - scissors. The orange-haired boy laughed victoriously. At a squeaky scream, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up.

"What was that," Freyda questioned as she flopped off the couch.

Thyella face-palmed, "Only one person in history has a squeal like that. Freddy Lupin the Pink-Stink."

"Well, come on!"

Before anyone could react, Freyda was already down the hallway. Hearing a smash, the black-haired girl screeched to a halt, earning the others to run into her. She opened the wooden door just as Sminch turned to them and let out an almighty sneeze.

Leo fainted while the remaining kids gagged. Thyella growled, warfing into a wolf.

"Don't you know to cover your mouth when you sneeze," she raged, "You disgusting old daft stink!"

Sminch gulped. He turned. He grabbed a brown bag and leaped out the window.

"Hey! Get back here! I ain't done with you," Thyella ordered, jumping out the window after him.

"Hey! Thief," Freddy exclaimed.

Freyda cocked her head to the side, "Thyella's a theif?"

"Yea-... wait, what? No! Sminch," Freddy sighed, "Come on! We've gotta go after him!"

With a yelp of surprise, Freddy covered his eyes from the flash of Wendy's camera.

"I think we have enough evidence now, Wendy," he growled.

"I'll stay here with Leo," Kitty stated, "You go get that no good stealer!"

Everyone nodded. Pressing the blue stone on their Moonbands, they warfed into their canine forms. They bolted past Kitty and Leo.

Freddy looked into an open office as they ran down the hall.

"Don't worry, Principal Pincus! We'll get him!"

"Come on! This way," Freddy shouted as they got to the school building's main doors.

One by one - except the three dogs, who went together - the students jumped down into the sewers. Whimpering Omar looked into the dark abyss.

Freddy rolled his eyes, "Come on, Omar!"

Letting out a scream, the big poofy wolf cub leaped into the hole.

Everyone followed as Batty sniffed the ground for any trace of the theif. She stopped as they came to a T-intersection.

"Oh," she growled, "It's so musty down here. I'm not sure which way…"

Hearing the sound of clanging tin, Freyda and Ivan looked down the left tunnel.

"Maybe…" Batty mumbled aloud.

A large black shadow appeared on the wall down the left, only to vanish again. Before anyone could react, Freyda shot off in a black, pink and grey-silver blur.

"We see him," Ivan called, running after her, "This way!"

"Guys, wait," Freddy yelled.

Batty nodded in the opposite direction.

"This way."

Freddy sighed and shook his head before running after his friend.

Seeing a giant black blob of a shadow on the back wall, standing out against the red glow of a light, everyone slid to a stop. All except Freyda, of course.

"Freyda, wait," Ivan called.

Freyda stopped. However, due to her speed and momentum, she zipped across the concrete floor. The thing that stopped her was the brick wall she smacked into. With a groan, she got up and shook herself off. She looked over to the others, wagging her tail.

"I'm okay," she declared.

Omar whimpered, "What's over there, Freyda?"

Freyda looked over to a movement caught by the corner of her eye.

She laughed.

"Aw! It's just a cute little rat, guys!"

"Ha. I knew that," Ivan boasted, trotting over to the female Lupin.

As soon as the rat saw the blonde wolf, it hissed. Ivan screamed and ducked as it jumped at his face. Once the rat landed on the floor, it scurried off into the darkness.

"Ivan," Freyda whined, "You scared him!"

"I don't think he was the only one," Aggie chuckled, gesturing to Ivan, who still laid on the floor, screaming.

Ivan stopped. He shot up and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I, uh, don't know what you're talking about. I wasn't scared."

"Sure you weren't, Ivan," Aggie rolled her eyes, continuing their search elsewhere, "Come on, guys."

Once the others were out of earshot, Ivan sighed. A mixture of embarrassment and disappointment covered his face. At the feeling of something watching him, he looked down to see dark blue orbs sparkling up at him.

"It's okay to be scared, you know," Freyda smiled.

Ivan looked at her, confused, before pretending not to be.

"I told you. I wasn't scared."

"I like it when you show your real feelings," Freyda stated, "It makes you not seem like such a jerk."

"Uh…"

"How-wa-wa-woo!"

Freyda's attention shot in the direction of the strange howl. She looked up at Ivan, her tail wagging like a helicopter.

"That's Freddy," she confirmed before jumping onto the blonde's back, "Let's go bag us a theif, bestie!"

Within no time, the pair were joined by a few of the others as they ran toward the howls. They themselves howled also, letting Freddy and Batty know support was on the way.

Seeing Sminch about to attack the two dogs, Ivan threw himself at the larger wolf. He knocked him to the side. Freyda - who had still been on Ivan's back - grabbed one of Sminch's ears in her sharp little teeth and bit down. With a yelp, the tan and brown wolf shook his head, flinging her into a wall. Winslow and Aggie ran from the other side. Using her companion as leverage, Aggie leaped onto Winslow, then sprung toward Sminch to boot him in the gut. The burglar flew backwards to be stopped by Omar, who howled in his face.

"Stop that racket," Sminch squeaked.

As the kids backed him into a corner, a big blur of blue dropped down from the ceiling. With a growl, Sminch threw Thyella off and scurried up the sewer toward the surface.

THWACK!

"Huh," the students questioned in unison as they looked up.

"You guys alright?"

"Dad/Ric," Thyella and the other exclaimed.

"Ah," Freyda screamed, "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Ric raised a brow.

"FREYDA," they all sighed.

Taking turns, the cubs - and pups - made it back to the surface. To make sure Sminch wasn't getting away, Ric stood on him.

"Bad Wilderwolf," Ivan growled.

"He's not a Wilderwolf," Ric and Freyda said in unison, the latter's voice filled with more expression.

Sminch sneezed, earning Freddy to chuckle.

"Nope," he said, "Just a theif with hay fever."

"Hey… how did you know how to find us, anyway," Freyda questioned, eyeing the wolf of different shades of blue.

Ric raised a brow, "Uh."

"He followed the howls, duh," Thyella face-pawed.

Freyda hummed in thought. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. Ric stiffened uncomfortably, glancing between her and the others.

"Now, I know I don't work here anymore," Ric began, shrugging it off, "But we should tell Pincus about our sneaky intruder."

Freddy gasped, "Pincus!"

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