The three wolves were stealthily walking back to the school the next morning after spending the night on the very edge of the woods near Seabrook. They were perfectly home anywhere in the forest so it was no problem for them, as they neared the school once more Willa was continuing to argue with her brother.
"Why would we want to join their school?"
"It will allow us to get to know the town better, and so that our new friends can know us better so when we do tell them about the Moonstone they'll want to help us. Although I'm pretty sure Eliza would be willing to help us already, monster to monster."
"I'm sure that's the only reason you want to get to know her Wyatt." Willa rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, she obviously cares about zombie rights, I think she'll fight for us when we reveal the truth."
"And that's the only reason you so gallantly offered to help her save her little power plant?"
"Yeah, the zombies deserve to have their territory protected, just like we want to keep our territory safe."
"Keep telling yourself that Wyatt, but I still doubt this principal will just accept us."
"It sounds like she must be fine with the zombies already. And if nothing else we can search their library to find where they put the Moonstone. Unless you have any better ideas?"
Willa growled under her breath, "I hate it when you're right. But we should still hide until Zed and Addison show up again. I still don't like the look of those Z-Patrol that keep driving by."
"Fine, we'll hide here." Wyatt said as they ducked behind some bushes, only their eyes resting above the leaves to keep watch.
"Well, I for one am super excited." Wynter joined in a whisper, "Just imagine how cool it will be to really see humans and zombies in high school, we'll be able to learn so much about them, and we'll show them how awesome we are."
"I know right? Willa, you worry too much, maybe all it will take is just opening a book on when the humans first attacked us and stole the Moonstone to tell us when they hid it. Plus if they think we're friendly they won't freak out when we ask for it back."
"Really?" Willa asked as students started to make their way through the doors. "I agree that for humans Addison and Bree aren't that bad so far. Look at them all, all dressed the same, You really think these sheep are just going to let us in? Much less give us the Moonstone they stole from us."
"Yes, if we play nice."
Willa's eyes kept scanning the crowd. "Alright then come on, this is me playing nice." Willa jumped up over the hedge and Wyatt and Wynter quickly followed her until all three were confidently strutting through the crowd like they owned the place towards where Zed and Addison were walking up hand in hand.
They definitely got some stares and whispers as students started to notice them, with their leather and fur-covered jackets and dark purple markings and white streaked hair they all stood out from the crowd of humans and zombies that paused to give them second glances as they passed.
"Oh, hi. We were wondering where you guys were." Addison waved.
"Good morning, did you guys have a good night last night?" Zed asked.
"Yeah, we had a restful night in our woods." Willa smiled.
"Are you ready to see Principal Lee? We can meet her right away since I sent her an email last night." Addison explained.
"Sure, there's no use waiting." Willa nodded.
"Yeah, I'm so excited for my first day of school!" Wynter howled out, before catching Willa's eye and the stares of the students surrounding them. "I mean, it's cool." Wynter tried to play it more nonchalant.
"Cool, we just have to wait for Bree, Bonzo, and Eliza and then we'll head inside." Zed said, looking around. "There they are."
Eliza and Bonzo walked up from the left and Bree joined with the group from the right, Bree and Bonzo simultaneously reached out to give the other's hand a squeeze in greeting.
"Good morning you two, and you three." Eliza said with a smile.
"You seem excited today." Zed noticed.
"Yeah, today's a day we can fight more for monster rights."
"We aren't fighting anyone Eliza."
"Yeah, but if there are more of us out in the woods somewhere, there's more of us to fight for the powerplant, or wherever the wolves originally came from. We'll be working together and stronger than ever. At least assuming there are more than three of you."
"Don't worry about that. There are a lot more than just us." Wyatt reassured her,
"Well OK then let's go see Principal Lee." Addison and Zed led the way inside. The whole group could hear the surprised murmuring as they made their way through the hallways to the principal's office.
"Good Morning Principal Lee." Addison said as she walked in, with Zed, Bree, Bonzo, and Eliza fanning out around her.
"Good Morning everyone, what can I do for you?"
"We have some new students that want to join the school." Zed explained.
"OK? Are they here with you?"
"Yep, the group of humans and zombies parted, revealing the wolves standing behind them."
"Oh! Hello. You look…different." Principal Lee said slowly as she took in their fierce appearance.
"Principal Lee don't worry, but they look different because they're werewolves. But different isn't a bad thing. Right?"
"Of course not Zed, you've all proven that time and again since school started this year. So can you introduce me?"
"I'm Willa, this is Wynter, and my brother Wyatt. I'm the Alpha, and we met Zed and Addison in the woods and we decided it was time to come out of the shadows and join Seabrook now that the town has changed, at least from what they've told us so far."
"Well Willa, I have no problem with that. I would be happy to let you join our school. Are there more of you?"
"It's just us three for now. Think of this as a trial run, and soon I'm sure more of us will be happy to join."
"OK then, let me be the first to welcome you to Seabrook High. Now if you can wait a few more minutes I can make schedules for the three of you, and I'm assuming all of you will help them get acquainted?"
"Yes, we would love too." Addison and the rest of her friends nodded along.
"OK then, I'll make sure you can share classes with at least some of this group here…" Principal Lee broke off to focus on her computer for a few moments. "Are there any specific classes you'd like to take?"
"We'd love to learn more about Seabrook's history." Wyatt supplied.
OK then, I'll put you in Mr. Clevenger's 6th period US History class, I know he teaches a lot of Seabrook history too. Eliza and Bonzo are both in there and Eliza I know you're an expert so you can show them the ropes."
"Gladly."
"OK then, here are your schedules," Principal Lee quickly printed them off, "feel free to come to me with any questions you have about Seabrook or anything, and I expect all of you will watch out for our new students, right?"
"Of course Principal Lee, we're all friends here." Zed smiled.
"Alright then looks like you should all get going to class, enjoy your first day." Principal Lee waved goodbye.
"Thank you, Principal Lee." Everyone chorused together as they walked back into the hallways.
"So wolves, what's your first class?" Zed asked.
"Um…" Wynter looked at her new schedule, "Chemistry."
"Me too." Willa said.
"Looks like I have algebra."
"Come with us Wyatt, we'll show you to the classroom, but no guarantees I can help you with math." Zed joked.
"Sounds good Zed. See you two later."
"Come get us if you need something Wyatt." Willa reminded him.
"Don't worry I've got Zed and Bonzo with me." Wyatt said as he turned around to follow his tall, green-haired escorts.
"Great, then you can come with us." Addison said, leading the way with Bree and Eliza down the halls that were mostly empty at this point, only a few stragglers making their way to the classrooms.
"Have you done much chemistry before?" Bree asked.
"Can't say we have, this should be…interesting." Willa conceded.
"Honestly with Mr. Schwiesow, he'll probably get off topic once he sees you, I wouldn't be surprised if he starts asking all about you." Eliza laughed.
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, he's a science teacher so he's a nerd for literally anything. Once he gets over werewolves are real he'll probably have a million questions so we won't have to do chemistry."
"Or just mention baseball." Addison laughed.
"Yeah, that totally works too." Bree chimed in.
"Alright, if I get bored enough I'm sure I'll try it." Willa promised.
"Do you ever get to make things explode?" Wynter asked.
"No" Addison said, the same time Eliza said "Yes."
"Well if you want to have a little fun and know what you're doing you can, but it's probably pretty unlikely. Right now we're working on balancing chemical equations."
"Yeah, whatever that means, maybe I will show off some wolf skills, how long is this class again?" Willa asked.
"About an hour." Bree answered.
"Sounds Perfect." Willa plastered a fake smile on her face as she entered the room and took a seat after Addison introduced her and Wynter to the teacher.
Yeah, she had almost zero interest in chemistry since she had never even heard most of the stuff the teacher was talking about up front. Who needs to know how to balance Silver Nitrate when she couldn't even touch it? She spent most of the class watching the class, waiting for a class that might actually be useful for finding the Moonstone.
Everyone met up at lunch again after several fun-filled, and boredom-filled classes. Eliza was talking to the three wolves as they made their way through the lunch line. "I really think you'll like history next, I even helped rewrite the book myself. So people can actually learn about zombie history and not just stupid monster propaganda.'
"Wow that sounds impressive. So what's on the menu?" Wyatt asked, as he picked up his tray.
"Well, for the zombies, we've got plenty of fruit, vegetables, fro-yo, I'm thinking a salad today."
"What do you mean for the zombies?" Wynter asked.
"Zombies are all vegetarians."
"Really? No meat, not even brains?" Wyatt joked.
"Hey, that is so offensive." Eliza's reaction was immediate.
"I'm sorry," Wyatt was immediately apologetic.
"Zombies are legally required to be vegetarians so we don't start to crave human flesh." Eliza said mockingly. "Which is ridiculous, but most of us are so used to it now it's fine."
"So you never eaten any meat?" Wynter asked.
"Nope, I'll probably get around to changing that eventually but after so long it's just part of us, and I don't even know if us second generation would be even to digest it since we've literally never had anything meat-related other than eggs and fake brains in a can."
"I could never live without meat." Wynter declared as she looked over the vegetarian selections.
"So I'm assuming you guys are total carnivores?" Eliza asked.
"Mostly, but we also gather nuts, berries, and other things, but yeah, most of our food we have to hunt or fish." Wyatt explained.
"Well then, the humans usually have something meaty as an option over there if you want." Eliza pointed further down the line.
"Sure, let's go Wyatt."
"I'll try some of this amazing froyo I've heard so much about." Wyatt smiled, licking his lips in anticipation.
"Its good, but you really should try Coach's he has many better flavors than just vanilla," Eliza advised.
Wyatt picked up a bowl and stuck a spoonful in his mouth. "It's good, but I'll have to take you up on your offer to show me the really good stuff sometime."
"Sure," Eliza said as she led the way to her friends' usual table that most of them were already sitting at. "Are you still interested in helping me fight for the powerplant?"
"Of course."
"Alright, after school I'll show you around Zombietown and there's probably a fifty-fifty chance Coach will be there pushing his cart around."
"Sounds good."
"Hey, how's your day going so far?" Zed asked as Eliza and wolves sat down at the table.
"Pretty good, although there has been plenty of staring." Wynter observed.
"At least until we smile and show them our teeth." Willa laughed.
"Yeah, it can be hard being different." Addison sighed.
"You are perfect." Zed leaned over to press a tender kiss on her cheek.
"I know Zed." Addison smiled. "I'm sure once people get to know you the stares will go down. Eventually. But are you enjoying your classes?"
"Yeah, but to be perfectly honest I have no clue idea what cosine means." Wyatt joked.
"Oh don't worry, no one does." Zed laughed, "I think it has something to do with triangles."
"Come on Zed, don't act like a brainless zombie." Eliza
"Oh I'm sure it's just a Zed thing Eliza, I can already tell you're smarter than he looks." Willa laughed.
"Ouch." Zed said sarcastically.
"Gra Ha Ha," Bonzo laughed out loud. Bree had her hand raised her hand over her mouth to try to hide her giggles.
"Thanks, although given your comparison I don't know how much of a compliment that is." Eliza shot back.
"What are your next classes?" Addison asked, even she had a smile on her face.
"You all have history with me right?" Eliza asked.
"I believe so. I can't wait." Wyatt was genuinely excited.
"Why are you so interested in history?" Bree asked.
"We just want to see what Seabrook has been like from the past and present since the humans settled here. Plus I can tell it's your favorite class." Wyatt said, turning his gaze on Eliza.
"Naw, it's just my favorite class to argue in."
"And you love arguing and it is your favorite class." Zed supplied.
"No I don't, I'm just passionate for what I believe and don't take no for an answer to stupid rules."
"See, I rest my case."
"Then you three all have study hall in the library after right? You'll be able to come find me and Bree while we work on homework." Addison offered.
"OK, we'll see you then." Willa agreed. Everyone quieted down as they started to dig into their food, still letting occasionally jokes fly back and forth across the table, and they were definitely the loudest table in the cafeteria as everyone else was making darting glances at them and whispering about the new students. Both the zombies and wolves could hear it but they were ignoring it in favor of their new friends.
After the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, Eliza led the wolves away towards history class while Zed and Addison walked off in the other direction.
"Hey, are you doing anything after school today?"
"Just cheer practice like normal."
"Do you want to come with me to help pick out my tux so it matches your dress? Oh, wait do you have a dress yet?"
"Yeah of course I do, it took forever for you to ask me but I always knew I would be going with you, Bree and I bought our dresses the week before Cheer Camp."
"Oh good then, so anyway do you want to grab a bite at Cheery on Top before we go to the mall to look for tux?"
"Well, even though I already know you look totally dashing in Seabrook pink, when we talked about dresses with Eliza she said she was getting hers in Zombietown, there's a formalwear store there somewhere. Right?"
"Yeah, Zinnia's Zombie Chic Boutique. But you really want me to get a zombie-style suit? I want to look just as perfect with you as I know you'll be that night."
"Absolutely, you are always perfect. I really think we should look at Zombietown first to see if there's anything we both like, and if there isn't then we'll look in Seabrook. You don't have to be Seabrook perfect Zed, you are my perfect." Addison looked up and met his gaze with a smile.
"How can I ever say no to those eyes? Alright, I'll still grab Froyo from somewhere, or maybe hang out with Eliza and the wolves until you're done and then we'll go."
"I can't wait."
"So, will I get to see your dress before our big night?"
"If you really want to, but I'd like to keep it a surprise."
"Fine by me, just one more reason for me to look forward to Prawn Night."
About an hour later Addison was grabbing a book in the library during her study hall. As she walked back to her desk she could see Wyatt standing between two shelves with his nose buried in a book. That she could have sworn he was reading upside down for some reason.
"Reading anything interesting?" Addison asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not really," Wyatt chuckled. "History class was interesting, but this book is pretty lackluster."
"It might help if you read it like this." Addison laughed, flipping the book over right side up.
"Thanks for the help, I was…just trying to get myself to snap back into focus."
"Sure whatever works for you." Addison replied still kind of confused as she walked back to the table she was sharing with Bree.
Willa slammed her books on the table in front of Addison, making both her and Bree flinch. "Lies! These history books claim werewolves attacked Seabrook settlers! But they struck first and stole our Moonstone!"
"I'm sorry I didn't know that." Addison gave a genuine apology. She wasn't sure what Willa was talking about, but she knew from experience Seabrook liked to write its own history when it came to monsters. She was constantly learning new things about her friends' pasts from Zed and Eliza.
"There's a lot you don't know." Willa answered her, slightly calmer. She grabbed the books and turned around, marching away.
"I know the alarm's going to go off if you don't check out those books." Addison warned her.
In response, Willa ripped off her necklace and launched it at the security gate without pausing for breath. The necklace stuck to the gate and created glowing blue sparks. Willa marched through without the alarm going off, deftly grabbing her necklace and returning it to her neck.
"Our necklaces have a way with electronics." Wyatt explained.
"How exactly? Are they magic or something?" asked Bree.
"It's…complicated, maybe I'll explain someday. But I can't right now."
"Why not?" Addison asked.
"Things are a bit tense right now. Don't blame Willa for her outburst, we're under a bit of pressure."
"For what? Can I help?"
"I think you will be able to help us, but Willa's my Alpha, her word is law, so until she gives me permission I can't tell you."
"I understand." Addison said, lightly playing with a strand of her hair. "Some secrets can be difficult to share. Don't worry, we can be patient, and I know all of us will help you out with whatever you need."
"Thanks Addison. So, by chance what do you know about Seabrook's history?"
"Well, most of the stuff I know is only since the zombie outbreak, thanks to my parents always drilling everything into my head. Oh wait, I think Bucky told us a ghost story at Cheer Camp. What was it Bree? Just that the first Seabrook settlers were attacked by monsters, so the monsters and the humans fought over the land, and the humans won and built the city. OMZ did that actually happen?"
"Not quite how we were taught." Wynter growled.
"We didn't attack the humans, the humans attacked us, and they did win the fight. They took over the coastal areas obviously and built the city, we were forced to go into hiding deep in the woods, and at some point, they put up a big fence topped with silver barbed wire to keep us away from the Seabrook. Not that we had any interest in attacking them."
"I'm sorry. Eliza is right, humans can totally be monsters sometimes."
"That sounds so sad, we took your home from you." Bree sighed.
"That's not all you took." Wynter started to growl.
"Wynter." Wyatt calmly cautioned.
"Oh bad wolf, I'm sorry. We don't blame you guys obviously. All that stuff happened a hundred years ago and it's all water under the bridge. Better?" Wynter asked Wyatt.
"Better Wynter."
"Good, well I'd love to keep chatting, but I also really need to read this chapter." Addison opened her book to resume studying as Bree was working on homework beside her.
Wyatt opened his own book to keep reading, but the more he read, the less he expected to find anything actually useful to their mission. The wolves were only mentioned in a single chapter as mysterious monsters who attacked the first settlers but were beaten by the town's first mayor Bartholomew Buchanan. He wondered if Willa had any more luck at wherever she stormed off to. Wyatt thought she must be really upset if she was the first one to slip up and share details about the Moonstone.
After school let out, the wolves decided to head to Zombietown to search for any clues they could find and also hang out with their new friends. Still, they had nothing to show for their efforts except for a couple more books they were all taking turns reading.
"Useless! None of these history books say where the Moonstone is hidden." Willa growled.
"Relax Willa, I know these haven't been much help but I'm sure in a few more days they'll trust us enough that we can tell them. Addison and Bree already said they'd help with anything we need."
"Did you tell them? Did he tell them?" Willa turned to Wynter, who was sleepily staring off into space.
"What? No, Wyatt just told the two cheerleaders a little bit of wolf history about how the humans took our land, but he never mentioned the Moonstone."
"Good then, make sure it stays that way."
"Willa I promise I won't say anything about the Moonstone or the pack or anything specific until you give the word. Besides, you're the one that said accused them of lying about the Moonstone in the library."
"I know you will Wyatt, you're my brother. And arrrgh. I'm just...every day we spend here is time we may not have again."
Wynter spotted Zed and Eliza walking up the table where the group was sitting, and let out a wave to get their attention, even though the wolves were the only ones sitting outside the shop.
"Hello wolves, this is my little sister Zoey, she's really wanted to meet you."
"Hi!" Zoey waved excitedly. "Are you all really werewolves?"
"Shh Zoey, we don't want the whole town to know about them yet." Zed advised her.
"OK I can keep a secret. Do any of you want to be my werefriend?"
"Excuse me?" Willa asked, amusement sparkling in her eyes, seems like not even big bad Willa could resist Zoey's adorableness.
"I've been looking for a werefriend since we heard you in the woods. See?" Zoey pulled out one of her wanted posters she had been taping up all over Zombietown. "I promise to feed you and walk you every day, and you can play with Puppy, he really likes playing fetch and tug of war."
Willa denied her with the slightest of growls in her voice. "Sorry kid, but we're wolves, not puppy dogs. Plus we have way better hair than that. It's a good drawing but I think it could use some more realism. And you're cute but we aren't here to make friends with little girls. Even if you are a cute little pup."
"Who doesn't want more friends?" Zoey asked her. "Beneath all that fluffy hair I bet you're a real softie."
Wynter kneeled down to Zoey's level and fixed her with her fiercest glare. "I am a mean, mean werewolf, kid. I am tough, and rough."
Zoey was completely nonplussed. "Awe you said ruff, like a sweet little puppy dog. Ruff ruff."
"We are beasts of the forest. We will never be tamed!" Wynter growled.
Zoey reached up behind Wynter's ear and started scratching, interrupting her train of thought.
"Awwe. Oh boy, Oh wow that's great. Oh wow." Wynter sighed as she sat back down in her chair. "That's enough." Wynter whispered to Zoey when she noticed Willa glaring at her.
Willa stood up. "We're nothing like you Zombies."
"You sort of are." Eliza insisted. "Your necklace is powered right? Kind of like an organic Z-Band?"
Willa nodded slightly. "You're smarter than he looks."
Zed frowned as Eliza let out a laugh. "OK I like you. Thanks."
"That necklace keeps you from fully wolfing out?" Zed asked, reaching to touch it.
Willa slapped his hand away, and Zed pulled back quickly. "Sorry I get it, personal space."
"The opposite. Our moonstones make us our true werewolf selves." Willa revealed.
"So without it, you'd be human?" Zed guessed.
"No. We die. We'd be nothing."
"Imagine how alive you'd feel if you didn't have to tamp things down. No longer holding back your true selves." Wyatt added.
"Actually I've got this theory that Zombies may have evolved beyond the need for Z-bands." Eliza revealed.
"Ha ha ha." Zed interrupted her. "Z-bands are great. They help you fit in.
"Zed what are you talking about? You know my theory makes some sense. Just look at how you act whenever you're zombie around Addison."
"No don't be ridiculous. Every time I'm zombie around her something goes wrong or almost does, and you remember the homecoming game? That was a complete disaster."
So how exactly do the Z-bands work? Wynter asked.
"I'd be happy to explain, every few seconds they send out pulses of electromagnetic radiation from our wrist that travels throughout our body, but specifically to our heart and brain. As long as the dosage remains constant and at a specific level given our height, weight, heart rate, etc they tamp down our zombie instincts. And track us, and they used to have so many restrictions and…"
"OK Eliza I think they get it."
"So why do you still wear them if they stop you from being the real you?" Wyatt asked.
"Because we have to. Even as much as I would love to try, I know there is no way any humans will want to change anything with the Z-bands."
"The main thing is that they keep us calm and not brain-eating monsters. So we can be safe around humans, and not do anything to hurt ourselves." Zed elaborated/
"So Zed, have you gone without your Z-band before?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, and every time it's a complicated accident"
"Or sabotage." Eliza reminded him.
"Or sabotage, or hacking. But I don't like it. Addison says she always trusts me, and I really don't think I can possibly hurt her ever, but around other people, there's no telling what I'd do. Like all my emotions just rise to the surface at once, but mostly anger, and hunger."
"Normally our heart rates are a lot slower than normal, but when we go full zom, our heart rate speeds up superfast, like so fast that if you tried to listen to it, you can't find it, and we lose all conscious motor and impulse control, which is why our movements are so jerky and what gives us our strength because it's impossible for us to hold anything back. That's why we get so aggressive and hungry. Our primal instincts fear starvation more than anything, and so we'll try to eat anything that moves."
"It's like a whole other person living inside us, and when they get the chance to break out, they take total control." Zed picked up the explanation as Eliza took a breath.
"So how do you wolves feel when you wolf out? Do you change with the full moon or something like the movies?" Zed asked.
"No." Willa growled, just enough to let her eyes glow yellow. "We're always wolves. But our moonstones grant us our powers when we want to access them, just like when you tell your body to run fast or slow, the moonstone activates and makes our senses, muscles, teeth, and claws stronger. But we're always in control."
"Cool, so what powers do you exactly have?" Zoey asked.
"We have great night vision, sense of smell and hearing, superhuman strength and speed."
"Interesting, you sound a lot like us then, although our hearing is better, but usually the only thing we hear when we're full zom are the heartbeats around us. You know I would love to compare our powers and write a study about them."
"Eliza you can't do that, how would you control a zombie?"
"Well obviously I use you and make sure Addison's there so that you'll listen to me for once. And we have three potential wolf candidates right here."
"Yeah as much as I'd love to see who's better, I'm gonna pass."
"So Wyatt, another project, do you still want to help me with the powerplant?" Eliza asked with a nervous smile as she brushed a few strands of hair out her face.
"Of course." Wyatt smiled back.
"OK. Do you want a tour? I think all the workers should be done for the day soon."
"Sounds great." Wyatt jumped up and followed Eliza as she marched towards the powerplant.
Zed looked after Eliza, feeling really confused. "What?"
"I know, my brother's ridiculous isn't he?"
"Wait you see it too then? Or am I just sleep deprived or something from missing Addison so much?"
"Nope, sorry Zombie."
"What is it Zed?" Zoey asked.
"Just, I don't know, Eliza and Wyatt are acting weird, especially Eliza."
"Weird how?"
"I'll explain when you're older. We better you back home, I have to meet Addison in a little bit." Zed said, checking the time on his phone.
"OK Bye Willa, Bye Wynter." Zoey jumped up and gave each of the girls a scratch behind the ear. Willa flinched away, but Wynter allowed herself to enjoy it for a few moments with a smile.
"See ya!" Zed waved.
"Bye Zoey." Wynter called out as Zed and Zoey walked away. "I really think we can trust them all too. Bree and Addison and now Zed and Eliza sound like they'd be on board."
"Fine, I'll think about it for a few more days. For now, while Wyatt's mooning after his zombie, we should keep reading these dumb history books. Maybe I missed something the first time." Willa sighed as she turned the page.