The forest was dark, Addison felt like she could barely see beyond ten feet in front of her beneath the shadowed trees. The moon was near full, but almost no light was reaching the ground. The wolves were moving at a brisk confident pace, it was obvious that they owned the forest and the night.

"Where are we going?" Addison asked after they had been hiking for at least a half-hour.

Willa and Wyatt turned to face her, but Wynter spoke up beside Addison before they could. "It's a wolf secret. If we told you we'd have to kill you."

Willa and Wyatt both shook their heads at Wynter, while Addison stepped away from her out of fear.

"Too much too much I knew it! Sorry." Wynter apologized. "Welcome!" Wynter said, spreading her arms wide.

Willa rolled her eyes in the shadows.

"But not too welcome!" Wynter growled again. But when she did, her eyes and necklace glowed green again and she started coughing, trying to catch her breath.

"Are you OK?" Addison asked, placing a hand on her back in comfort and support.

"My necklace is losing its charge." Wynter revealed.

Wyatt started to explain. "Every day, more and more of our pack are getting sick. Because their moonstones are losing power. All our elders are too sick to travel. Which leaves-"

"Which leaves taking care of the pack to us. To me. You'll be fine Wynter. I promise." Willa reassured her packmate.

"You better be right about this." She told Wyatt. "We need to find the Moonstone soon."

Willa continued to lead the way through the dark woods.

"Follow us Addison. Please." Wyatt asked her, walking by her side.

"What do you need to be right about?" Addison asked.

"Just wait a little longer, and we'll explain everything, but I think you are the one we've been looking for, that I've been looking for." Wyatt took Addison's hand again and led her deeper into the woods.

After another ten minutes of travel, she followed the wolves underneath a large cliff and into a cavern lit by moonlight.

"Welcome to the Wolf Den!" Wynter announced as Addison entered.

"Wow." Addison tried to take it all in, the cave was mostly dark, but lit by the moon in the center, with many smaller tunnels leading off the main cave lit by firelight. As more and more wolves noticed the new arrival, she was surprised at just how many wolves there actually were.

"Our language. Awooo Addison!" Wyatt led the way deeper into the cave. "That means welcome."

"Aaawwooo!" Addison howled in greeting. But she was met with a den filled with laughter in response.

"Ostrich Boots?" Wynter asked confused.

"No, I think Addison meant Awoooo!"

"Awoo!" Addison tried again

More laughter filled the cave.

"Polka dot unicorn?" Wyatt asked.

"Really? Where?" Wynter asked, scanning the den and looking for her prey.

"Oh no sorry um…" Addison decided to try one more time. "Aawoo!"

"Woah, language! There are werepups around." Wyatt playfully warned her.

"She needs to put a pebble in the swearwolf jar." Wynter demanded.

"Awwooo!" All the wolves howled in unison. Slightly freaking Addison out.

"I am so sorry." Addison whispered. She had no clue if she was being a terrible guest or not. For all she knew she just insulted all their mothers.

"Enough. This is not why we brought her here." Willa reminded everyone.

"Why am I here?" She asked Wyatt.

Wyatt reached behind him and pulled out a glowing blue stone from a hole in the rock, its glow illuminating one of the wolves' many cave paintings. All the wolves turned to the cave and were mesmerized by the story depicted.

All it showed was a spinning full moon, and in its shadow was a howling figure with long flowing locks of snow-white hair.

Addison caught her breath. "That can't be me. Right?"

Wyatt whispered in her ear. "I believe that you will lead us to the Moonstone. I believe that you are the Great Alpha. I believe that you are a werewolf!"

Addison's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Wyatt led Addison up a ledge higher above the rest of the cave, closer to the image and the moon shining down from above. The rest of the werewolves gathered below and let out growls of excitement.

"Turn up expand our history. Pull back the veil of mystery. What's written on the cave is prophecy. The Great Alpha is our destiny. Show us the power of chemistry. Lead us to the source of our energy. No one knows her identity, but she looks like you identically." Wyatt started to hurriedly explain to her.

Addison let out a smile as she witnessed the rest of the wolves begin their dance, that picture looked like her, was she about to find her missing piece?

Wyatt continued to explain. "This is how we're living our lives. Can you feel the call to the wild? We are the call, we are the call, we are the call to the wild!"

Addison slowly walked down from the ledge to join the wolves in the center. "I see a full community, unique, but you have unity. You know who you're supposed to be." That was one thing Zed had told her, the wolves weren't going to change for anyone, and that wasn't a bad thing. Even this small awkward reception was better than she had ever been treated in Seabrook.

"I knew if I could get you close to me. You could feel it too or hopefully. Look up and tell me what you really see. A bunch of stray wolves or a family?" Wyatt said, happily playing with one of the young werepups that joined the impromptu party.

By now all the wolves were dancing around, howling, and having an amazing time. For the first time in hundred years, they had something they could give them hope.

A few wolves brought out long wooden poles and others took turns dancing around them as they shifted position, opening and closing in a definite pattern to give the celebration a beat. After watching for a few moments Addison happily joined in, hopping and dancing along to the rhythm.

"Awooo!" Addison howled out. She slid under the poles and accepted Wyatt's hand to lift her back up, and continued to dance with him.

"Now you're getting it. The call to the wild." Wyatt told her.

But up on the ledge. Willa let out a howl to grab everyone's attention. "Hold up, before you do let me interrupt. She's a cheerleader, not an Alpha. You're in the den, but you need to earn my trust." Willa marched down to meet Addison in the center of the cave, all of the wolves giving them plenty of space. "Now show me what you got if you're one of us." Willa challenged Addison, mere inches separating them.

Addison nodded her head in acceptance. She had no clue what this challenge was, but she could face it head-on.

Willa and all the wolves behind her started clapping and stomping their feet in unison.

Addison quickly led her side in the same rhythm, mimicking it perfectly.

Willa led her side one more time, and again Addison hit every beat without breaking a sweat.

"Awwwoooo!" Willa led her side in a howl.

"Awwwoooo!" Addison responded, her side following suit.

Pretty soon everyone was howling out loud. Addison had no idea what any of it meant, but for the first time in a long while, she found a group that she felt like she truly belonged with. No stares or whispers, no lies of acceptance, no need to hide her true self.

Taking a breath, Willa smiled at her, and they shared a handshake of congratulations before Willa and Wynter pulled her into one of the side caves.

"What is it? Did I say something bad again?" Addison asked.

"No." Willa told her, still smiling. "You've proved you're a werewolf. How would you like to look like one?" Willa held up a purple vest, bordered with gray fur, and Wynter held up a tan leather top and pants.

"I would love too." Addison said. Before she knew it she was all decked out in her new threads. Willa even quickly restyled her hair while Wynter darkened her nails to look like claws. After only a few minutes she was done.

Willa held up a shard of stone polished to a mirror finish. "How does it feel?"

Addison studied her reflection for a moment. "It looks so amazing, and…" Addison took a deep breath in. "It feels right. Thank you so much Willa." Addison hugged her tightly.

"You're welcome. Just wait till Wyatt sees you."

"Why?" Addison asked as she returned to the main cave. Willa led her to the very center and with all the wolves surrounding her, part of the stone floor lifted her above the rest so she was the center of the pack.

She found Wyatt's eyes and he looked up at her with absolute awe and happiness on his face.

This is how we're living our lives, living our lives. Can you feel the call to the wild? Call to the Wild. Call to the Wild. We are the call, we are the call. We are the Call to the Wild! We are the Call, we are the call. We are the call to the wild!

A chorus of howls filled the cave as Addison breathed deeply, and tried to catch her breath. "Awoo!" She howled out.

Zed and his friends were running through the woods, following Eliza's map. But a little while ago, Addison had stopped moving and they were finally getting closer. They could see a giant cliff with a cave hidden beneath that was glowing orange with firelight.

"Fire." Bonzo muttered under his breath, but a squeeze of Bree's hand in his and her calming smile helped calm his nerves.

"Zed hold up we need a plan." Eliza reminded him.

"Fine." Zed turned back around and they all huddled up. "We go in stealthy, and when we find Addison we run in and do whatever it takes to get her back. Then we run as fast as possible back to Seabrook."

"Zed when you say whatever it takes?" Bree asked nervously.

"I don't care, if those monsters hurt her, I'll show them what a monster can really do."

A loud chorus of howls interrupted them. Giving them all shivers of fright, Bree and Bonzo clutched each other closer.

"Come on, we could be running out of time." Zed led the way into the cave.

There were a few torches in the entrance tunnel, and Bree made sure to hold onto Bonzo's hand and pull him past as quickly as possible.

They finally found the main cave and they all hid just behind the entrance, only poking their heads out. Zed had no clue what he was looking at. Were the wolves dancing? It almost looked like a Zombie Mash in here. There he was. Zed's eyes bored into Wyatt, but he couldn't find Addison anywhere. Were they having a party after they ate her or something?

There she was, standing in the center, completely surrounded, but wait a minute. She was dancing with them, and what was she wearing? Had they brainwashed her into becoming one of them with their stink powers?

They finally stopped dancing and all crowded closer to her. Letting out howls. They must be getting ready to attack.

Zed didn't care anymore, and both he and his Zombie were in agreement. He smashed his Z-band on the cave wall, loosening the clasp, and sprinted out to the center of the cave.

"Addison!" He shouted out. The wolves turned to him, surprised and he pushed himself to the center like he was in football.

"Zed!" Addison said in his ear.

He put his back to her, his hand holding the Z-band on his other wrist. "Don't make me take this off. You don't want to see me zombie out." Zed growled.

Several of the wolves growled back, and that was all Zed needed to rip his Z-Band off and throw it across the cave. He had always been terrified of his Zombie, but now he was grateful for it. He needed to save Addison, no matter the cost. That was his last coherent thought as black veins started crawling up his arms and face, his eyes turning red, and his skin paling even more grayer than normal. He twitched his whole body, and let out a "ROAARRRR. PROTEG ADDISKA!"

Behind him, Addison was just as shocked as the rest of the wolves. And then Zed had broken his promise to not mess with his Z-band. She couldn't do anything but watch.

"Wolves!" Willa called out, Wyatt crouching beside her ready to pounce, both their eyes glowing yellow.

"STAY BACK!" Zed roared.

"Now!" Willa yelled.

Addison jumped out of the way as the first wolves tried to leap on Zed. She had to stop this. Either Zed would get himself torn to pieces, or he would rip the wolves apart with his bare hands.

Addison looked around in panic for the glow of the Z-Band in the dark cave. There, in one of the corners, a flash of red light in the dark. Addison sprinted towards it and clasped it in her hands. She turned back to the fight, horrified.

Two of the wolves had latched onto Zed's back, while he had another one trapped in his arms, he threw him through the air over twenty feet away. More kept coming closer, trying to drag him down.

But nothing could stop Zed, he kept grabbing them and throwing them away like rag dolls. He continued to roar with all his might.

Addison tried to get closer, but all the wolves were so focused on Zed, that she couldn't get near him, and no one would listen to her over all the roars and growls.

Finally, Wyatt jumped down from a higher ledge and tried once more to push Zed to the ground.

Zed's dark eyes flashed in rage, meeting Wyatt's yellowed irises. "YOU!"

Wyatt only snarled in response.

The two of them were locked in combat, neither giving an inch, both of them were too fast for each other, and neither could land a punch or a slash or a bite. They finally both met each other head-on, arms extended trying to push the other to the ground.

The other wolves had momentarily paused in their attacks, giving Addison the chance she needed to jump back up on the platform and clasp the Z-band back around Zed's wrist.

Zed quickly lost his strength, Wyatt pushed him away, but seconds later his eyes and moonstone glowed green as he too lost his strength as his moonstone failed. He sent Addison a gaze of gratitude. If she had been five seconds later, Zed probably would have killed him.

Zed looked around confused before popping back up and placing his hand around Addison's waist. "Come on let's get out of here."

"No!" Addison yelled. "Zed I want to be here!"

"What?"

Bree, Bonzo, and Eliza ran into the cave as the rest of the wolves slowly relaxed.

"But you texted that you needed help!" Bree shouted.

"I needed help on the chemistry homework. Didn't you see the beaker emoji?"

Bree looked down again and looked up with an embarrassed smile. "Well, I do now. By the way, I love this new look. New hair stylist?"

"Werewolves. They know hair."

"And manicures." Wynter presented her claws to Bree.

"They think I may be a werewolf too." Addison explained to Zed.

"What? How?" Zed asked in complete disbelief.

"Maybe a grandparent? My hair means something. Addison said, grabbing a strand of it in emphasis. This could be my pack."

Willa came back to the central cave she checked on Wyatt who nodded he was fine, and after glaring at Zed, turned to Addison with a smile on her face. "For centuries, this has been set aside for the Great Alpha."

Willa opened a carved wooden box to reveal a glowing blue moonstone necklace held within.

"A fully charged moonstone is priceless to us Addison." Wyatt explained.

"If you're truly one of us, when you put it on you'll be transformed into a werewolf. Part of our pack. Forever." Willa promised.

"Forever?" Addison asked nervously.

"What? No!" Zed shouted. "Addison, please wait." His voice softened.

"Can I think about it?" Addison asked.

Willa turned to Wyatt and Wynter, who both nodded. "For a day."

"Thank you." Addison said, taking the box.

"Once you've joined us you can lead us to the hidden Moonstone." Wyatt told the pack.

"But she doesn't know where it is." Wynter reminded everyone.

Just then a loud booming sound shook the ground, everyone looked around in panic. Willa and Wyatt led the way out of the cave and many of the wolves and the intruders followed them. Zed carefully held his Z-band on his wrist, but he wasn't going to let Addison leave his sight.

When they left the cave, they had a clear view all the way to Seabrook, Zombietown, and the ocean. They could see flashes of light coming from the darkened powerplant.

"Gooot Zagrada." Bonzo pointed.

"Yeah, the explosion came from Seabrook Power." Zed tried to calm everyone.

"They must be testing charges for the demolition tomorrow." Addison guessed.

"Seabrook Power is the birthplace of Zombies." Eliza explained to the wolves.

"A little lime soda mixed with some mysterious energy and BAMM! Zombies." Zed explained but ended with a shout right in Wynter's ear.

"Grrr." Wynter growled back at Zed.

"Nice story but it doesn't concern us." Willa scoffed.

"But it does concern you, Willa." Addison realized. "Seabrook Power was fueled by a mysterious energy source. That could be your Moonstone. Right?"

"She figured it out." Wyatt whispered to Willa. "She found the Moonstone. She's amazing."

Zed and Willa both glared at Wyatt for his abject praise.

"If she's right…wow." Bree said.

Everyone paused for a moment, taking in this new information. "We'll see you at school tomorrow Addison." Willa promised.

"OK, tomorrow." Addison nodded. "Big day."

Addison and her friends began walking off into the forest back towards the city. While most of the wolves returned to the den.

"If they destroy that building it will crush the Moonstone beneath it. We can't let that happen." Willa informed Wyatt.

"Addison can help."

"Maybe." Willa interrupted. "Once she's one of us, but until then I lead this pack." Willa turned back to the wolves still down in the den, the news had spread quickly and all were looking up at her with expressions she hadn't seen in a long time. Hope.

"We need to stop them from destroying the Moonstone. Whatever it takes. Awoooo!"

Willa turned back to Wyatt, "You should go lead them out of our territory and back to Seabrook. Or else they'll be wandering the woods all night.

"You got it."

Wyatt quickly caught up to the friends, and they were already lost. "Need some help?"

"No, we're fine." Zed insisted.

"Yes, Wyatt, thank you, your help is very appreciated." Addison interrupted. "Lead the way."

"You got it Addison." Wyatt and Addison shared a smile as he sped up to walk by Eliza up ahead.

Bree and Bonzo were together in the middle of the group, nervously conversing back and forth in zombietongue and holding hands.

With nothing better to do Wyatt started a conversation with Eliza as he took the lead. "So should I assume you're the brains of this outfit?"

"Excuse me dog biscuit?"

"Well not just anyone can track us to our den, and at night too. I'm assuming it wasn't Mr. Big Shot back there, or the other two that look scared of the dark. How did you find us?"

"I tracked Addison's phone."

"And that is?"

"It's…do you have anything electronic?"

"Nope."

"Well, a phone is this." Eliza said, pulling it out, "It's powered by electricity and you can talk to people, send messages, download apps and games? Is that too much caveboy?"

"Naw it's fine zombie girl. And we aren't completely stone age, we just have our own way of doing things."

"Yeah, we do too, even though some people think we should be trying to fit in with the humans, I think we should be proud of who we are. So what if we growl sometimes, as long as we have our Z-bands we aren't dangerous. Um sorry about Zed tonight, when we have our Z-bands and aren't brainless like Zed whenever Addison's involved in something. We aren't dangerous."

"It's fine, werewolves are fast healers. Although I'm sure Willa would give you a different answer."

"So are Zombies. Although now it sounds like we could be related."

"Really?"

"Well if Addison is right about the powerplant, it must have been the Moonstone that created Zombies just like it created the wolves right?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm sorry but I can't tell you much more about the Moonstone than you already know. Wolf Secret."

"I get it. You should have seen all the work I had to do to fix Seabrook's zombie history, but now I suppose if you guys are a part of our crazy school we should rewrite the book again. What will you do after you find the Moonstone?"

"I don't know that's the Alpha's decision. But personally, I would love to come to school, Seabrook has its flaws, many, many flaws, but I'd still like to be a part of it."

"Don't get me started, beyond this Prawn campaign, I've been fighting my entire life trying to fix things for Zombies, we had lots of success in the past year, but when you showed up, it all went away."

"When this is all over when we save the pack, I would love to help you make those changes, starting with those dumb monster laws. Especially if more of us want to join the community."

"Thank you, I could use all the help I could get." Eliza's face was being annoying, she was glad it was dark so no one could see her weird smile. And why was her heart racing? And her palms were so sweaty she almost dropped her phone.

Zed and Addison brought up the rear and left plenty of space between themselves. Neither speaking. Zed just looked at the ground for a few minutes, trying to get all his thoughts in order. He looked back over at her, but she kept her gaze fixed ahead, not sparing him a glance.

"Addison," he began, slowly and nervously. "I am so sorry, I shouldn't have said that earlier. I swore I would never hurt you, and I hurt you the worst way I could possibly think of. I know you hate me now, and I don't expect you to ever forgive me, but please just hear me out."

"Yes, Zed you did hurt me. I…and it hurts me to say, but I can't trust you right now. How do I know you aren't just like everyone else in Seabrook? So scared of anything different that their first reaction is to build a wall around everything. Do you really hate me too?"

"No Addison, I can never hate you, you are the most amazing, beautiful, talented, kind person I have ever met, and you don't deserve to be with a monster like me."

"I know you aren't a monster, but you sure acted like it today. Multiple times. Why did you attack the wolves?"

"I was going to your house to apologize, but Bree found us and said you texted her help and wouldn't pick up your phone, and then you weren't at home so Eliza tracked you by your phone. I…you're right, I am like Seabrook, I jumped to conclusions and assumed they kidnapped you. I thought the only way I could save you was to go Zombie and fight them all off."

"They asked me to come with them, and I agreed. Because you have been my rock the past few months. But your words cut me deep. Zed I don't…When they came to my house, at first I thought it was you and my heart hoped it was you, even though every other part of me was ready to tell you to scram back to Zombietown. So I was happy to see them instead of you, they can be a little aggressive sure, but they have treated me with nothing but respect. Unlike you."

"I'm so sorry, I want more than anything to turn back time and slap myself in the face, I would even take a punch for old time's sake."

"Zed." Addison finally stopped walking to face him. "To be perfectly honest…part of me does hate you right now. You've hurt me, and you've hurt my new friends, but you're you and I don't want to give you up."

"Is Wyatt one of your new friends?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I've seen the way he looks at you because I see that exact expression in the mirror every single morning when I'm thinking about you as I'm brushing my teeth. Eliza even agrees with me. He likes you. That's why I was so angry when I saw you at cheer and why I… Oh my god, I almost actually killed him. I wanted to kill him. I am a monster." Zed looked away from Addison, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Zed. Stop it. How many times have I told you. You've been a massive jerk today sure, and you did a few very stupid things, but you are not a monster."

"Yes I am, you should be with him, I don't deserve you."

"Zed what is all of this about Wyatt, do you doubt me that much?"

"No! I mean, everyone hates me because I'm a monster, and they should. And he's obviously treated you better than I have this week."

"Wyatt is just a friend, and he's only interested in me to save his pack because they all think I'm the Great Alpha."

"I disagree with that, he is definitely into you and he absolutely deserves to hate me now. So what exactly is the Great Alpha thing anyway?"

"I finally remembered a history lesson. A hundred years ago, the first people came to settle Seabrook, but they had to fight off the monsters that attacked them in the woods. After all the monsters were driven away, they found a mysterious energy source and used it to build the powerplant."

"But the wolves have a different version. The wolves have lived here for generations, and the settlers attacked them, settled the land, forced them to live in the Forbidden Forest, and stole the Moonstone, the source of their power and what makes them werewolves. Now all their necklaces are running out of power and most of their pack is sick. Only the Great Alpha can help them find it and they think its me because of my hair."

"You have to admit that's kind of ridiculous right? How can you be a werewolf?"

"I don't know, but it's better than being a freak or a weird genetic thing."

"Are you really going to do it?"

"I don't know, I have to think about it. But I already feel like I belong with them, and look, they've already accepted me. More than anyone else ever has."

"Addison I'm so sorry, please, believe me, I have never thought anything but that you are absolutely perfect from the moment we met in the saferoom, and every single day since my love for you has grown even stronger. So don't make this decision for me. Do it for you, but I can't imagine you as any different. You are perfect just the way you are."

"Zed…I can't lie to you. I can't hate you…even as much as I want to, my heart won't let me. And I don't want to throw you away if you still love me."

"Yes, please don't doubt that ever, I will always love you. And I will do anything to prove it to you."

"I don't need grand gestures, but if anything, can you try to respect the wolves, just like you want zombies to be respected?"

"Of course anything!"

"But also if you have problems or worries with anything, about me, about you, about life. Don't bottle it up to explode. Talk to me, and I'll talk to you. Just like we always have. We-"

"We Belong Together." Zed finished for her, fishing the taped-up note out of his pocket.

"Zed I can't read this in the dark."

"It's what I just said, and what you wrote. We Belong Together. I never want to ever again do anything to risk changing that."

"And one more thing. Is your Z-Band OK?"

"Yeah it will be fine, I don't have any sports right now so it will be totally fine at home and school until Eliza can fix it."

"Good, now promise me you won't ever do that again. The wolves could have shredded you like…like I don't even know what, and I honestly wouldn't blame them. Don't you ever use your Z-Band to attack anyone ever!"

"I promise Addison. I know, I was a monster."

"You weren't you will never be a monster, but I don't know, I'll tell Eliza to hack your band or something so you can never do anything so stupid again."

"I won't let it happen again. I promise you Addison. But speaking of which are you sure about this? So say the wolves are right and you're one of them, think about what happens next. Everyone will hate you just as much as they hate zombies and werewolves, you may have to follow the curfew or be watched by the Z-Patrol or anything."

"I want to. If the wolves are right, than this is my destiny, and I'll finally belong somewhere."

"But like you said, we belong together, and not just us, what about Bree, Bonzo, Eliza, Zoey?"

"If I am a werewolf and join the pack for good I'll still come to school, I'll still come to see you every day. Everything will be fine, just different, and different isn't bad."

"Of course it won't," Zed tried to convince himself, "but are you absolutely sure?"

"Maybe not, I'll think about it and make my decision tomorrow when I help the wolves save the Moonstone."

"I will accept your decision, but I will still probably try to talk you out of it."

"That's fine, I want to hear your worries just like I said. Although I'm sure my parents will give me an earful, I will not be telling them everything yet, they'd probably lock me up in containment if they knew what the wolves are planning. That is if they don't hate me anymore like they hate you for no reason."

"That is actually one thing I learned tonight, it turns out your parents don't completely hate me. At least until you tell them the truth about me."

"What are you talking about?"

"When I was at your house, your mom told me, her and Dale had actually voted against all the monster laws, but they had to follow it because it was the City Council's final decision."

"Really?" Addison was stunned into disbelief. If she wasn't possibly a werewolf, that would be the most shocking thing she heard all night.

"Your mom said they trusted me with you. For now at least."

"Really? Well, now I have some questions to ask them tomorrow then."

"Oh speaking of I was supposed to tell them we found you." Zed said, pulling out his phone and shooting out a text.

"So are we good? I just want to be sure, do you want to break up? I understand if you do."

"No Zed, We belong together. But this conversation isn't over, we still have plenty to talk about, but its getting late and we're almost home." Addison finally reached over and grasped his hand.

"Good. Thank you, Addison, for giving me a second chance."

"I always will."