AN: Another chapter for you guys! Time for the introduction of an OC! We also learn a lot more about how werewolves work in this chapter :D

I really enjoyed writing this one and I hope you all enjoy it!

Roy felt exhausted. For the past three days he had been making the rounds apologising for his behaviour previous to his change. Most had been extremely surprised at the sudden change within him. One or two had brushed him off, not accepting the apology. That hurt him, but it was no less than he deserved. Clearly he had done too much damage. You reap what you sow, Roy.

He truly didn't think he accepted the forgiveness of the majority. He hadn't set out aiming to get forgiveness, he simply wanted to make things right.

"I'm proud of you man," Hughes congratulated him as he handed his old friend a tennis racket. "You've really changed."

"Thanks Hughes, but I shouldn't have done it in the first place." Roy muttered the last part to himself, not expecting Hughes to reply.

However, Hughes sighed loudly. "You're right," he replied, frustration clear in his voice. "You were a shitty person." Roy stopped walking, not expecting that response from Hughes. It wasn't like him. "But what have you done about it?" he asked. "Hm? Have you realised you were a piece of shit and done nothing about it?"

"No," Roy replied after a moment's hesitation.

"No, you realised it wasn't right and have set out to make it right. So," Hughes tossed a tennis ball at him. Roy caught it effortlessly, despite how quick the other man's throw was. He surprised himself. "Stop moping about and realise that you have done everything in your power to make it right. Sure, some people still won't like you. But I bet they sure as hell appreciated the apology."

Hughes was right. He had done everything he could to make it up to those he had wronged. He had hoped it would be enough, but only time would tell in regards to that.

"You're right."

"Damn right I am."

Roy smiled at Hughes' response. That was more like him. "Thanks Hughes."

The other man grinned. "Anytime. Are we going to start this game or what?"

Riza trudged through the thick snowdrifts atop the mountain. It was a struggle to move, but the blonde didn't suffer from any fatigue. She was way off the track at this point, but Riza could manage. The power from her wolf helped her big time. As a human she had always tried to keep herself fit, but this was on a whole other level.

She had been used to lifting heavy weights at her old gym, but now she would be able to lift five times that weight with no problem. Her cardio fitness was incredible. As a wolf she could run for a whole day if she pushed herself. It translated over to her human form, except at a reduced length of time. Running in her human form sapped her energy quicker, which was a pain. However, it was still a big improvement from being only human.

Reaching the summit of the mountain, Riza looked out onto the landscape in awe. The Rocky Mountains were incredibly beautiful, especially at this time of year. Snow-capped mountains stretched out for miles. The valleys below were also covered in a blanket of snow. Everything was muffled as the snow fell around her. Riza felt like the only person in the world at that moment.

Sitting on a rocky outcrop, Riza rested and ate a protein bar to replenish her energy stores. A sense of achievement flooded over her while looking down into the valleys below.

"Aren't you cold?" someone asked from behind her.

Riza froze momentarily, before whipping around and into a crouch. In this weather no human would have been able to make it up here. The current weather wasn't an issue, but Riza had picked out storms rolling over towards them in the distance. The snow was simply too deep to get up here safely. They would be exhausted before they reached halfway.

"Whoa, easy!" A man stood before her, his hands raised in defence. "Easy. I didn't mean to startle you. I thought you would have heard me coming."

The man had sandy blonde hair which was cut short. His eyes were bright blue and they held no threat within them. In fact, they were wide with surprise. He clearly hadn't expected this reaction. He was handsome, Riza had to give him that. He was tall, about half a head taller than her. His most distinct feature was his high cheekbones. And he was muscular. Very much so. The man was built like a bodybuilder.

Riza narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"

He lowered his hands and smiled. That caught her off guard. "The name is Sam. Nice to meet you."

Riza studied his face carefully, trying to determine if he was a threat or not. His smile remained as he waited patiently. Riza straightened slowly, satisfied.

"I understand the need to be careful," Sam stated as he approached her seat. "But truly, I mean no harm. I'm a friend." He stopped in front of her and Riza made sure she was ready to run. He could say he was her long lost brother and Riza still wouldn't trust him.

"Prove it," Riza stated, leaving the edge of the plateau where she had previously sat. If she needed to fight, she would prefer to be on level ground and away from the edge of a cliff.

There was a crack as he changed into a wolf before her. He grinned at her, his tongue lolling from his mouth. Dipping his head in a show of submission, Riza was satisfied he wouldn't hurt her.

"I guess that does prove it," Riza conceded. Sam changed back with a grin. He held out his hand for her to shake. Riza took it hesitantly, but returned the gesture nonetheless. "How did you know I'm a wolf?"

"I took a wild guess based on the fact you are up on top of this mountain wearing nothing but a pair of leggings and a t-shirt."

Looking down at her clothes, she nodded. "Yeah, that was a good guess." She glanced over at Sam, noticing he had at least tried to blend in. He wore a grey North Face fleece which was currently unzipped, showing his t-shirt underneath. His jacket was tied around his waist and he carried a large backpack with him. "Aren't you hot?" Riza asked, echoing the opposite of Sam's earlier question.

"Extremely." He set his backpack on the ground and proceeded to remove his jacket and fleece. Riza noticed the sweat pouring off of him.

"Isn't it uncomfortable to wear all that?"

Sam shrugged. "Not extremely so. If it means blending in then I just have to."

Riza couldn't help but stare as Sam removed his fleece. His muscles flexed underneath his t-shirt and it was fascinating to watch. His shoulders were so large it seemed the t-shirt would tear when he pulled his arm out the sleeve of his fleece.

"Are you travelling?" she asked, the first thing that popped into her mind. Riza blurted it out suddenly after realising she had been staring. She moved her gaze away and focussed on moving her backpack to the side so Sam could join her where she was sitting if he wanted to.

"Yeah. Not quite sure where I am going. Just wandering really."

Riza's gaze returned to him now he had stopped undressing. Sam sighed in relief as the cold air bit at his bare skin. Riza also noticed he had kicked his hiking boots off and stood barefoot in the snow. Raising an eyebrow in question, Riza looked at Sam. He simply shrugged.

"It cools me down quickly."

"Fair enough." Riza offered him a protein bar.

Surprised, Sam took it with a grin. "Thanks."

Riza found herself warming to him quickly. His easy smile and grin was contagious. Riza felt inclined to return it herself. He was a strange one, but if he was a wolf then they could possibly be allies. She was always on the lookout for more of those.

Also, if Sam is travelling by himself she didn't think he could afford to make enemies. Werewolves were strong, but one against even three or four other wolves, they wouldn't stand a chance.

"Are you part of any pack?"

Sam shook his head while he ate. "I used to be, but I left."

"Why?" Riza found herself asking. They had both moved away from the edge of the cliff and had sat down on a relatively dry piece of ground, taking shelter behind a boulder from the cold breeze which had picked up.

Sam screwed his face up. "It's complicated. Well, not for me, but for them it was. I couldn't be bothered putting up with it anymore."

Riza nodded in understanding. It was a struggle for her to remain in the same house with her father. As soon as she could leave she did. She had been tired of being ignored and forgotten about. That was partly why she had latched onto Roy and Rebecca so easily. She didn't want to be ignored anymore.

"That is really shitty. I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thanks."

"So where are you off to next?" Riza scrunched up the finished wrapper and shoved it in her small backpack. She took a drink of water to wash the dry snack down.

"I'm going to head west. I've always wanted to see LA. I figure now is as good a time as any."

"I won't keep you then." Riza stood and offered him a hand to stand. "I wish you a safe journey."

"Thanks. I didn't catch your name," he smiled.

Riza briefly considered giving him a fake name, but decided against it. These thoughts popped into her head more frequently nowadays, but Sam had trusted her by showing his true colours. The least she could do is show him the same courtesy.

"It's Riza."

Sam grinned. "Nice to meet you Riza."

"Same to you Sam. If you are ever in the area, look us up. We are staying near the Central Hotel." Sam continued to layer up again and donned his large backpack.

"I will do. Thank you." Sam turned to leave and Riza felt a strong urge to make him stay. There could be so much she could learn from him. Starting with being a werewolf. She would kick herself later if she let this opportunity escape.

"Sam wait," Riza called, collecting her own backpack from the ground. The blonde man turned expectantly. "I am heading this way too. I'll walk you down the mountain."

He grinned and fell into step with Riza as she caught up with him.

"I wanted to ask you a few things as well, if you wouldn't mind?"

"Of course, ask away."

"If it's too personal, you don't need to answer. How did you become a werewolf?"

"My parents were both werewolves. I was born into it."

Riza was surprised. She didn't know why, but she hadn't expected people to be born with these powers. She could only imagine the trouble werewolf children would cause in a school setting. Riza also didn't miss the way he referred to his parents in the past tense. She knew better than to ask, especially after seeing the haunted look that overtook his face.

"You look surprised," Sam commented with a low laugh.

"I am, I hadn't expected people to be born into it."

"Why not? Although were a two species combined, we're still human. Reproduction is still the same."

"Huh, interesting."

"You're a new werewolf aren't you?" Riza expected his look to hold pity, but instead she found amusement. This man was full of surprises.

"Six months."

Sam whistled in response. "That is new. Is that why you want to ask me questions?"

Riza nodded. "Yes. My friends and I were dropped in it with no guidance or help available. We have determined the majority of things ourselves, but we still feel unsure. It is incredibly frustrating."

"I hear you," Sam nodded, sympathy in his voice. "I was lucky and had my parents. I can't imagine being left to face this alone."

"Tell me about it."

Sam turned to look at Riza after catching her tone. "Sorry, I know that wasn't helpful. If there is anything I can help with, let me know. I wouldn't want to leave you guys struggling if I could help."

"We're managing fine," Riza explained, irritated Sam seemed to think they were struggling. "Although some extra information would be appreciated."

"Of course. What can I help with?"

"Can the change ever be forced upon us? Or is it always voluntary."

"Someone can never force you to change, only you can do that. However, if you don't change for a long time you become very restless, often becoming aggressive. The wolf needs to be freed from time to time. It keeps the mind healthy."

"How often are we talking?"

"It is nothing to really worry about. Once a month should keep you going. However, everyone is different. It can vary, but not by much."

Riza nodded, making a mental note to pass that on to Rebecca and Roy.

"One of my friends has recently changed. For a few months beforehand he became very aggressive and rude to those around him. Would that because the wolf within him "woke up", so to speak."

Sam considered her question for a moment. She asked merely out of curiosity. No doubt, Roy would like to know. "Yeah, it definitely could be. The lead up to the change, if someone was bitten, makes the person's hormones go crazy. They get mixed up with the wolf and everything becomes muddled. Is your friend male?" Riza nodded. "Then yes, definitely. Increases in testosterone can increase aggressiveness in people. It can happen in woman as well, depending on how much testosterone they have within their body. Like I said, everyone is different. The change affects everyone differently."

Riza contemplated Sam's words, processing this information. This answered so many things for her. Riza felt relieved. It was nice to get some help for once.

"How does the pack structure work?" Riza asked, moving onto her next question. She had always wondered. Rebecca had told her that after she had changed for the first time she felt the need to stay near Riza. It was an unexplainable pull, but it was there. Riza had felt it too. They both instinctively knew they needed to stick together.

"Unless an alpha is chosen within the pack, the oldest werewolf will become the pack leader. The rest are all equals beneath them. The only way the pack can be broken is if a member is driven out or if someone willingly ends the connection."

"Will that end telepathic communication?"

Sam nodded. "Yes, it ends everything. The ability to communicate while in wolf form, as well as breaking the ties that connect everyone. Have you noticed you are able to sense your friends as a wolf?"

Riza had noticed. When Riza and Rebecca had moved together as wolves she was distinctly aware of Rebecca's position next to her. While human, it was more difficult, but it was still there. They could sense if something was wrong with the other.

"That disappears too," Sam continued. "All ties are broken. You can still follow a scent of course, but the physical feeling drawing you towards one another is gone."

"Interesting," Riza commented.

"It is all very fascinating," Sam agreed excitedly. "I grew up learning all about it and still to this day I am still learning. The pack hierarchy can get very complicated within families. It is all based on bloodlines and ties to each other. In smaller packs it is easier, but the one I left was huge. There were over one hundred of us…"

Sam continued to tell Riza about his pack, which she was fascinated to learn about. However, it also showed her how unprepared she really was for the real world. The three of them were relatively safe in their small bubble here in the forest, but if they were to venture out they would be grossly uninformed.

"If we were to venture out of the valley," Riza proposed hypothetically. "Would we be accepted into another pack easily?"

Sam's face strained or a moment. "Not within all packs. Some are very family orientated. They are tied by blood and wouldn't welcome anyone openly unless they were the significant other of a pack member. Even then, it would be difficult to prove themselves. Other packs are very open and will accept and help everyone." Sam paused for a moment, a frown overcoming his features. "There is a small minority who are very independent and will attack anyone who comes near their territory, regardless of reason."

"That is not encouraging."

Sam smiled in sympathy. "I agree. Then you get others like me who aren't part of any pack. Some prefer the independence, others have been driven out from their packs. The latter are the most dangerous, so watch out for them."

"Does that mean I have to watch out for you?" Riza joked.

"Oh absolutely," Sam grinned, happy to have lifted the mood momentarily. "I have being helping you to fulfil my own selfish ways. It was all a distraction," he winked.

Riza found herself laughing at his antics. Sam wasn't serious, but he knew when the situation required it. Riza could appreciate that. He seemed a very happy-go-lucky guy. Ever since Riza had found out she was a werewolf her life had been nothing but worry and fear. Worry about how this would affect those around her, worry if her father had gotten to anyone else, and worry for Rebecca and Roy. She was scared for them all. The lack of information available to them fuelled these fears, leaving the future uncertain. Riza would admit, it was nice to be able to laugh freely like this. It had been a long time since that had happened.

Of course, Rebecca always knew how to cheer Riza up, but there was always an underlying fear. Both Rebecca and Roy were a reminder of her own failing to notice what her father was doing right under her nose. It was a large burden to bear.

However, after speaking with Sam, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Throughout their descent he filled her in on life as a werewolf. They were all things Riza and Rebecca had figured out themselves, but it was nice to have it confirmed. When they reached the bottom of the mountain, Riza felt lighter. An excitement had built within her as she thought about explaining all of this to Rebecca. There was also pride. She was proud of them both for being able to figure out a lot about their new condition themselves.

"This is where we part ways, Riza," Sam announced as they re-joined one of the trails within the forest. The snow was thinner in the tress, the canopy above sheltering the ground from the brunt of it. As the pair had descended, the snowfall had gotten thicker. It was almost a blizzard by the time they reached the trees, so the conversation had been paused momentarily.

"It was good to talk with you Sam," Riza told him truthfully. "Thank you for all your help. I owe you."

"Don't be silly," he grinned. "It was the least I could do. If you ever need to call about anything else, here is my number." Riza took the small card from his outstretched hand.

"You have a business card?" Riza asked, amusement clear in her voice. This man was full of surprises.

He chuckled. "It is from my old job. The number hasn't changed and being a "lone wolf"," he grinned at the term he coined for himself. "It can be difficult to keep in touch. This is the easiest way I've found."

Riza laughed to herself, pocketing the card. "If you say so."

"If you are ever in any trouble, just hit me up. I'd be happy to help."

"Thank you Sam, truly."

"I'll see you around Riza." Sam grinned one last time with a wave before he turned around and headed west.

Riza smiled after him. He had been so helpful and happy that Riza found herself missing his company already. Happiness was something they needed around them more often. Setting off east, Riza broke into a jog so she would make it home quickly. She couldn't wait to tell Rebecca all she had found out.