Zed walked down the steps of Addison's front porch, definitely not pouting. So what if his plans for tonight had been unwound? Its not like he had anything specific planned anyway, all he needed was Addison but it looks like he couldn't spend time with her tonight. He didn't even get a chance to give her a kiss before Eliza and the others forced him to leave.
"Oh well." Zed sighed and pulled out his phone to start texting Bonzo and Wyatt, hopefully, they were in the mood to go do something, Zed had no clue what, but it was Friday night and he didn't want to just lounge around at home all alone.
Wyatt and Bonzo both soon answered, and they agreed to all meet at Zed's house first, so Zed just continued on his way, wracking his brain for something they could do. They could go bowling, it had been a while since the last time Zed and Bonzo had gone, and they always had fun together.
When Zed got to his house, he was surprised for a moment to see he was the last one to arrive, but then again since Bonzo lived across the street and Wyatt had his wolf speed he realized he shouldn't be surprised.
"So Zed, what do you have planned?"
"Actually Wyatt, I'm not really sure, all I know is that we have to make this the most epic guys' night ever."
"Y arrg?"
"Because Bonzo, the girls are having a girls' night and if they are determined to have a great time without us, we have to prove we can have a great time without them. so we need ideas, stat. I was thinking bowling."
"Gra." Bonzo enthusiastically nodded.
"Are you sure? Wyatt scratched his head. "I swear Eliza mentioned something about you two and bowling, but I can't remember what it is, and obviously I've never played before."
"Don't worry its easy, Bonzo and I will show you the ropes, right Bonzo?"
"Gra." Bonzo nodded again.
"OK then, what else?"
"I don't know, we can bowl a few games and then head somewhere to eat whenever we finish," Zed suggested.
"Sure, I'm fine going with the flow, but I would like to request we eat somewhere in Seabrook, no offense to any of you guys, but a wolf needs meat." Wyatt flashed his fangs at them with a grin.
"Don't worry Wyatt, we'll find something for all of us," Zed promised him. "So let's go."
They walked over to the bowling alley in Zombietown, but the night didn't get off to the greatest start. They tried to show Wyatt the ropes, but he was having a problem none of them had foreseen, his claws kept getting stuck in the bowling ball. In his first few practice frames, he almost flew down the lane himself when he couldn't let the ball go.
After he finally got the hang of it enough to send the ball down the lane, his night wasn't really improving, he understood the goal was to try to knock down all the pins, he managed to get all of them once or twice, he knew it was more from luck rather than any skill he possessed.
But he was getting blown out of the water by Zed and Bonzo, literally, every time they sent the ball down the lane, it ended with a thunderous strike, again, and again, and again.
After their first game was finally over, Wyatt looked at their scores. Zed 296, Bonzo 298, himself, 101.
"You know what? I think I remembered what Eliza said about you two and bowling. That I should never go bowling with you." Wyatt pointed at them in accusation.
"Makes sense, I don't think Eliza's come with us in years, this always sort of was our guys' night tradition if we weren't doing something with her." Zed shrugged his shoulders.
"Addiska arg Breeska moonz ago."
"Yeah, they had fun, but Addison hasn't wanted to come back since, when we hang at her house, we can't play her Wii Sports game either because each of us is either way too good at one thing or completely sucks at it and it takes out all the fun."
"Breezka grom argui. Divertidaz."
"Oh, you've brought her a lot Bonzo?" Zed asked.
"And she's fine with you kicking her butt every time if you always play like that?" Wyatt joked.
"Noz handicarp makez interezting. Pluz noz tienez divertidaz zo competar."
"Whatever works for you guys, Addison and I always have fun together, but we can get pretty fired up sometimes, especially if there are stakes involved."
"What kind of stakes?"
"Usually just choosing dinner, or what our next date is going to be, hence why I'm not allowed to pick this place." Zed grinned.
"Well, how about we go eat somewhere, and Bonzo, I guess you get to choose since obviously you've sent me packing with my tail between my legs and you beat Zed." Wyatt suggested.
"OKZ." Bonzo nodded for a moment but then grinned. "Rivalz? Hamburgezas?"
"Sounds great Bonzo."
"Rivals? What's that." Wyatt asked.
"It's where we got those burgers after the powerplant was destroyed remember?"
"Oh yeah, that was good, well I mean the burgers were good. I'm in."
"Letz gro!" Bonzo cheered excitedly.
They sat down in a booth at the restaurant and soon after placed their orders and just sat around chatting as they waited for their food.
Zed was in the middle of telling a story. "Oh yeah, at practice this morning, Wynter was super scary. I had the ball and Coach told her to try to take me down, no matter what. So you can probably guess how that turned out, I got the ball and just started running all out, I could hear her excited heartbeat on my tail so of course I tried to go even faster, and even tapped into my powers a little bit, but obviously, she caught me, made me eat dirt, and then took off with the ball in the other direction howling like mad. It was crazy, amazing but crazy. I thought I was dead meat for sure."
"So are Wynter and the other wolves fitting in with the team so far?" Wyatt asked, Wynter always says she has so much fun at practice, but I hope she isn't just going wild."
"Yeah, tryouts of course won't actually happen until school starts, but we're already shaping up to be an awesome team, all of us. All the new wolf recruits fit right in, and well there was some discontent among the guys about having a girl on the team, but after Wynter ripped apart a tackling dummy on her first day, all the haters changed their tune. Now it's like Wynter is another one of the guys."
"That's good to hear. Bonzo, how's cheerleading during the summer?" Wyatt asked.
"Grreat. Moztly juz divertaz y grr ztunz arg zertain trikz. Zo rroutinez yet. Lotz bailarrg."
"Sounds fun Bonzo, and Wyatt, how's cross country?"
"Great, I know we have a small team, but that just makes it feel even closer like a hunting byrrgis. Everyone has their own pace of course, but we always work together so we're all improving. Everyone on the team is so great. We all know we're crazy since we all think there's nothing as fun as running."
"And I heard Willa's already been voted captain for next year, you think you'll be captain too?"
"No, I think Ryan has that taken care of, plus we've got to let the humans be in charge of something don't we? I mean, Eliza rules the computer club, you still have a good chance to be president again I'm sure, and Bonzo's the king of the art room and band from what I heard before we finished school for the summer."
"Yeah, next year is going to be so awesome," Zed said as their waitress brought their order to them.
"Two veggie burgers and one bacon cheeseburger." Their waitress Rebecca smiled happily at them, Zed recognized her from school, but they hadn't shared any classes last year, he just knew her enough to recognize her face.
"Thanks so much." Zed smiled at her.
"It was my pleasure, do you need anything else right now?" She asked.
"No, I, oh could you refill my soda?" Zed asked, holding his glass up.
"Of course Zed."
"Thanks." Zed began digging into his fries like Bonzo was doing the same, and Wyatt attacked his burger.
Three hungry, teenage monsters like them, it didn't take them very long to finish off their meals, and Zed sat back and started staring off into space a little bit while Bonzo and Wyatt finished off the last of their fries.
"Zedski?" Bonzo asked, nudging his shoulder from beside him. "Zomething wrrong?"
"No, of course not, it's nothing Bonzo." Zed shook his head.
"Come on Zed, it's guys' night, you can tell us." Wyatt reminded him.
"Alright." Zed sighed. "So you know how I told you about how the girls all kicked me out of Addison's house?"
"Yeah." Wyatt and Bonzo both nodded.
"I know I might be crazy, and I know what Eliza would say to me, but since this summer started I just can't see Addison as much as I was used to. I've been getting up extra early so we can still walk to school together in the mornings, and that is of course always great, but then that's it. We both have to run home to shower and then go to our jobs all day, and then Cheery on Top and Coach's place are on like the opposite ends of Seabrook so I can't walk her home after work, so then while a lot of the weekdays I'll still come over for an hour or two, it still isn't enough for me. And now this weekend may be mostly shot. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the girls having their girls' night, but. Do you think I'm overreacting?"
"Of courz not Zedski." Bonzo shook his head.
"Yeah, now I'm sure it's a bit different for us since I'm with Eliza all day, and Bonzo has Cheer practice to spend with Bree. But Zed, I know we all tease you two a lot for being attached at the hip, but you and Addison are far from the ordinary couple. In fact, I can tell right now."
"Tell what?"
"Yeah, just being around you right now it's so obvious."
"What's so obvious?"
"Dude, you can't tell?"
"Tellr grat?"
"Neither of you can tell?" Wyatt asked again, looking back and forth between their confused faces.
"No, we have no clue what you're talking about Wyatt."
"No matter what you two are doing or wearing, ever since I met you, you've always had Bree and Addison's scent on you, and the same for them and vice versa. You really can't tell?"
"No? I know when I use my zombie powers, I can lock onto her heartbeat better, and of course, my nose is better then too, but I don't think I've smelled her on me. But what are you talking about?"
"Well with wolves, beyond just handholding and stuff, one of the signs we have of a strong relationship is when a couple spends so much time together that they always leave a trace with each other. And of course, once they're mates they spend so much time together that their scent becomes a symbol of their new family. Our noses never lie. Way back when we first found you and Addison in the woods, I could tell immediately that you and Addison were a couple, just from your smell alone."
"Really? That sounds super cool, kind of gross, but also really romantic." Zed shrugged his shoulders. "What do you think buddy?"
Bonzo shrugged his shoulders too but nodded in agreement. "I zo, ez zweet, perro grozz. Zo telz Breezka."
"Yeah, I feel like Addison would just start making me shower like ten times a day or something." Zed laughed.
"Zo Wyatzki." Bonzo grinned, "Elizika zmell?"
"Um," now it was Wyatt's turn to blush. "I think she's starting to smell like me, but absolutely don't tell her that, but I don't smell her on me yet. But also usually the one person that can't tell is the mate because nothing but the real deal will smell like their partner to them, So I don't know, but seriously do not tell Eliza, she'd probably turn me into a fur coat."
"Our lips are sealed," Zed promised.
"Gra. Zo keyz." Bonzo mimed tossing a key.
"Anyway, back to my original point Zed, even now I can how close you are to Addison just from your scent alone. My nose never lies, and I know a bond like that never fades. But if this is really bothering you, you should talk to Addison about this."
"Ellaz no tellr hide." Bonzo reminded him.
"I know, but as I said, the time we do get together, I don't want to make her worried that I'm worried about us."
"Zed whatever you do it's your decision, but if you don't, you know it'll just eat you up inside."
"I know Wyatt, Bonzo, thank you."
"Anyr ahorra Zedski." Bonzo gave him a pat on the back.
Rebecca interrupted them. "Here's your checks, I hope you enjoyed your meal."
"Oh we did it was delicious". Zed said, Bonzo and Wyatt nodding along in agreement.
"Well, I hope you come again sometime."
"You can keep the change, you've been great," Zed said.
"Thank you so much, and you can keep that second copy. Have a goodnight,"
"Thank you," Zed said.
They all walked outside the restaurant, breathing in the night air that was just barely starting to cool off from the summer sun."
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm in the mood to let off some steam." Wyatt stretched his arms above his head.
"I totally agree Wyatt, what do you have in mind?"
Wyatt just grinned at them. "Follow me, I hope you guys aren't afraid to get wet." He started jogging ahead, thankfully without using all his powers, so Zed and Bonzo could still keep up easily enough as he led them through Seabrook and back to the Forbidden Forest.
About a half hour later and the half moon and stars were all sparkling brightly in the night sky when Wyatt finally stopped his jog through the woods beneath a large cliff, the ground below covered in boulders, Zed could only see a little bit, but he definitely heard the trickling of water somewhere.
"So what's this place called Wyatt?" Zed asked as he glanced around trying to take everything in as the light was quickly fading from the sunset.
"This is another one of our special places, only pack members are allowed. Obviously, you can tell our friends, but no one else."
"Of courz." Bonzo nodded solemnly.
"Come with me you two," Wyatt led them up the rocky path beside the stream running down from the hill. It was a bit slower glowing, after the first few dozen feet, they had to start climbing over some of the large boulders in their way until they entered a pitch black cave.
Zed and Bonzo stopped instinctively a few feet into the entrance but they could hear Wyatt moving ahead. "Don't worry guys, I'll just be a moment." He promised his two zombie friends. Indeed just a few heartbeats later, since they could both track his heartbeat, Wyatt's steps returned.
"OK, Bonzo, will you be OK if I just make a little fire so you guys can see? It's not going to hurt you, I promise."
"OKZ." Bonzo said, but Zed could tell by his voice he was still a bit nervous, so Zed reached out in the dark to throw his arm around Bonzo's shoulder.
They could hear the scraping of stone and could see a few sparks fly before suddenly, an orange burst of flame appeared right before them. Zed and Bonzo both jumped back instinctively but they could both hear their friend's heartbeats fighting to remain calm.
"It's OK you guys, are you good?" Wyatt asked, slowly lifting the torch above his head, and holding his other hand out in a placating gesture.
Zed and Bonzo shared a look for a moment and they could feel themselves calming down. "Yeah, we're good." Zed nodded
"OK, just let me know," Wyatt said, he led them further into a cave, until their footsteps echoed in a larger space, and another light source seemed to be shining in addition to Wyatt's torch, this one a ghostly blue.
After turning one more corner, both Zed and Bonzo shared gasps of awe, the ceiling up above them looked like a hundreds of giant stone teeth as stalactites pointed down from the ceiling, but what was really amazing was the millions of blue pinpricks of light that allowed them to see everything around them.
After staring at the ceiling for several moments, Zed and Bonzo were able to tear their attention away to look around the rest of the cave, the space was dominated by two large pools, one seemed to be bubbling up from below, while the other had a small waterfall flowing into if from higher up in the cave.
"Welcome to the Starlight Pools." Wyatt spread his hands in a grand, welcoming gesture.
"What is this place Wyatt?" Zed asked again.
"Simply put, this is our bathroom." Wyatt grinned at them, shoving his torch in a cleft in the rock by the tunnel they walked in from. "This is where we get clean and stuff, plus it's pretty relaxing."
"Ztars?" Bonzo asked, pointing at the ceiling.
"No, they're not really stars, they're glowworms." Wyatt laughed. "See, think of them like a big caterpillar or worm that lives up on the ceiling in a sort of spider web kind of thing. They use their lights to attract their prey to them, and as a bonus, they light up the whole cave for us. Plus they keep any bugs that do get in here out of our fur, which is great."
"So what are we doing in here?"
"Trust me guys, there is nothing more relaxing than this place. Just jump in the water." Wyatt said, "If you guys want."
"Yeah sounds cool. So is there anything special about the two pools?" Zed asked. "Is one for guys, one for girls?"
Wyatt shook his head, "No, one's hot, and one's cold, and this is some of the freshest water in our territory, second only to the spring near our den that's our drinking water. There are certain times of the day for males, and certain times for females, plus if you guys could see in the dark like I can, you would have noticed the sign that we flip for guys or girls. But obviously, no sane wolf is taking a bath right now, so its free for us to use."
"Well, I'm sold, but are we really here to take a bath?"
"Of course not. Trust me the water itself is so relaxing. Let's just jump right in. But you have to do the cold pool first."
"Why?"
"Come on, it's been a hot day, we've just been running, you know how good ice baths are after a workout right?"
"Maybe for wolves and humans but not zombies." Zed shook his head. "I hate ice baths."
"You guys have your moonstones, and the hot pool is literally ten feet away. Plus I know both of your girlfriends would skin me alive if anything happened to you. You're my packmates, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
"OK, Wyatt." Zed sighed, "I trust you. "But no arguments when I decide to get out."
"Gra." Bonzo nodded in agreement.
The three guys stripped down to their shorts, and while Wyatt waded right in and sat down, acting like he didn't have a care in the world, Zed and Bonzo moved a bit more slowly.
"OMZ ez colger." Bonzo shivered as he walked steadily deeper into the cold water.
"You weren't kidding about this being the cold pool. How are you so calm?" Zed was already shivering.
"You guys are such puppies." Wyatt laughed at them. "You act like this is torture. Can't you feel the cold sinking into your muscles and bones, doesn't it feel great?"
After a few more moments, Zed started to feel his arms and legs slowly going numb from the cold and he was able to relax more. "OK Wyatt I see what you mean, I still hate this, but I think I can feel it, and no worries, I don't feel like that one track meet."
"I'z grood too." Bonzo nodded. "I harg you, perro feelz grood." Bonzo admitted as he and Zed both found stone ledges to sit on under the water.
"See, all the cheerleading, running, and football we do, our bodies can use a break. Just imagine all the little stresses freezing up so that they'll melt away once we hit the hot water."
"Speaking of, when can we swap?"
"Come on, can't you guys go at least five minutes? Normally I spend at least fifteen in here after a long day."
"Oh, are you challenging me Lykenson?" Determination returned to Zed's eyes at the thought of competition.
"Sure, I am Necodopolis." Wyatt grinned back, letting his eyes glow for a moment in the darkness.
"It's on now. But if I do get sick, I am not saving you from Addison's wrath."
"Orr Breezka's. Orr Elizika's." Bonzo added.
"Gee, thanks you guys, I know I can always count on you." Wyatt rolled his eyes then leaned back and closed his eyes, enjoying the quiet sound of the water flowing around them. Until, just as he was pretty sure the five minutes passed, he could hear his friends' teeth chattering.
"Alright you guys, you made it." Wyatt stood up and stretched his arms above his head out of the water. "You can get out now."
Without a word, Bonzo and Zed both ran out of the water, pounded their way across the smooth stone floor, and splashed into the hot pool. When they did they released matching awes of relief.
"OMZ this is so much better." Zed sighed, now his body could actually relax instead of feeling like a popsicle.
"Gra." Bonzo nodded his head beside him.
"Was it really that bad you two?" Wyatt walked over and calmly waded into the hot pool.
"Yes it was. I know I am never doing that again!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'll even tell Addie about it so she won't let me." Zed threatened, but it just made Wyatt laugh.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Willa or Wynter bring them up here eventually."
"That may be, I'm already predicting this winter she'll be reminding me to wear a parka everywhere just cause I got sick once."
"Gru panic Addiska zick." Bonzo reminded him.
"I know, obviously I know we both do it because we love each other, and would both do anything for each other."
"Is there anything you don't let Addison do?"
"Well, not really I guess, besides our promise to not use the M or F words."
"What?" Wyatt raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Monzter orr Frrreak." Bonzo supplied.
"Yep, I can't call myself a monster and Addie can't call herself a freak. We don't have to think about that rule to often thankfully, but its helped both of us a lot this past year. Oh my gosh, it's almost been a year, I can't believe it." Zed laughed out loud and ran his hand over his hair.
"Planig zurprize?"
"Well, yeah, the first day of school, or would it be two days later when we promised each other someday? Or on that Friday when I asked her to be my girlfriend after the football game? Or our first date when I invited her to the zombie mash? Dang it, can I ask her when our anniversary is?"
"I zo conozco." Bonzo shrugged his shoulders.
"I think you're good Zed. Heck, as Eliza would probably say, just go crazy when it comes to Addison like you normally do. Do every day, no one would expect anything less from you two."
"You know what, Wyatt, that's a good idea. But that can wait for some other night. Right now I just want to relax now that we got in the good pool."
"I think both of the pools are great."
"Aggree zo dizagreee." Bonzo shook his head.
So the three guys just sat in the water for a while, talking a lot about their girlfriends, sports and jobs, until all three started to feel a little wrinkly after a while.
"I don't know about you boys but I'm ready to get out." Wyatt was even panting a little bit, but Zed and Bonzo were still enjoying the heat.
"You're probably right." Zed agreed, they followed Wyatt out and he brought them a few towels to dry off with.
"Oh hey Wyatt, if there's always water coming in, where does it come out?"
"That stream we passed on the way in, both pools drain down into it, so the water is always perfectly clean for everyone."
"Wow, and you just found it like this?"
"Yep, this place, like the rest of the woods is perfect, you have no idea how many secrets like this we wolves have."
"We'll get to learn them though, right?"
"Eventually."
Zed pulled his clothes on and checked his watch, seeing it was close to midnight already. "Its getting pretty late," Zed yawned. "What should we do next, I'm game if you guys want to stay at my house since the girls will be busy all day tomorrow too."
"I'm good with that, let's continue this guys' night." Wyatt nodded.
"Abzolutely." Bonzo nodded.
So once everyone was fully dried and clothed once again Wyatt led them out of the woods, and then Zed took the lead once they made it to Zombietown. But once they got to Zed's house, their eyes were all so heavy that after grabbing everyone a blanket, Zed stretched out on the couch, and Bonzo and Wyatt each took a recliner. They turned on a movie wo watch, but none of them lasted very long. They were all out like lights before Zevon even had a chance to check up on them. He just chuckled and headed back to bed himself.
The next morning all three guys were still so tired, that not even Zoey and Puppy could wake them up before Zevon got a hold of her and got her settled down again. But when Zoey took Puppy out for his morning walk, the slam of the door was enough to finally wake Zed up.
He stretched himself out, raising his arms above his head, and glanced around the living room to see Bonzo and Wyatt blinking the sleep out of their eyes as well.
"Good morning Bonzo, Wyatt."
"Grood Morrning Zedski." Bonzo replied back.
"Wyatt you were right about the pool. I slept like a baby last night."
"I know it's great isn't it?"
Just then all three of their stomachs started roaring like two hungry zombies and one hungry wolf.
"I don't know about you, but it sounds like we're all in agreement about what to do next." Zed smiled.
"Desayunar?"
"Yep. What time is it anyway? If Pops isn't up yet I'll start making some eggs and brains." Zed promised and led the way to the kitchen, and to his surprise, Zevon was indeed up and standing at the stove.
"Oh hey Pops, what are you doing up this early on a Saturday?"
"Early? You guys do know it's already nine o'clock? Do I want to know what you three got up to last night?"
"Don't worry Pops, nothing bad, just having fun and it kind of turned into a long night, I promise."
"Don't worry Zevon, I just took them out to the forest."
"I know, I trust you three, and I also know there are three other people who would let you have it a lot more than me if you did anything too stupid. But I also have zombie hearing so I know you three sound like you could use some breakfast, so eat up."
Zevon pointed them to the table and after they sat down he brought over three plates of eggs, two with caulibrains, and one without.
"Grazias Zevonski!"
"Thank you Zevon."
"Pops, Gar Gar Gaza." That was all any of them said before they started wolfing down their breakfast. Zevon just laughed at them in response.
After they finished eating, they just sat around the table, sipping on some orange juice and discussing anything else they could do today.
"Well, we've hit up the forest, Seabrook, and Zombietown, I don't know for sure what the girls are all doing but they all put the fear of a zombie, cheerleader, and werewolves in me saying that I'm not allowed to interrupt their girls' day." Zed joked.
"Grat doin?"
"I think Addison said something about shopping, I can't imagine where they could go that they all agree on." Zed joked. "For one, I think Eliza would literally die if she wore anything pink. I can't imagine Willa would be much better."
"Who knows, I agree, I would pay to see either Eliza or my sister's faces in something Seabrooky." Wyatt laughed along.
"Trrak em down?"
"No, we can have fun on our own still, I have no idea what we should do now though." Zed shrugged his shoulders.
"Caminar arground Zeabrook? Find zomething?" Bonzo suggested.
"Sure let's just see what we can find, maybe grab lunch from somewhere?"
"Lunch? You just ate!" Zevon laughed from where he was just finishing up putting away the dishes.
"Pops you should know by now, that a zombie is never really full, and I'm pretty sure werewolves are the same."
"You got that right."
"Well, you better get out of here soon if you don't want Zoey trying to tag along with you guys." Zevon warned them.
"OK let's head out." Zed stood up and led the way out the door.
They spent the rest of the day just wandering around downtown Seabrook, occasionally stepping into stores to check out a few things, they did eventually hit the mall, but by then not even Wyatt could track any sign the girls had been there from all the other scents surrounding him. They played a bunch of games at the arcade for at least an hour before demolishing some more food at the food court, but that was it, just joking around, enjoying spending some time together without any worries crowding their brains.
It was nearing dinner time again, and by now they felt like they had done literally anything interesting they could find to do in Seabrook when Zed had sent Addison a text message a while ago, but his phone finally pinged with a message.
Zed took it out and his eyes lit up in excitement when he read it.
"Grat Zedski?"
"It's Addison. She says the girls are all at the Den and if we want to come join them, we can. Their girls' day is over and they're already to see us again. So are you guys interested?"
"Gra! Of courz." Bonzo nodded.
"Well yeah, let's go. Why aren't you excited? I mean this has been great, but the Den is always the best place, and I want to see the rest of our pack again. Plus we know how you were last night.
"Gra." Bonzo said nodding his head.
"Of course I'm excited, I just wanted you guys to admit you guys miss your girlfriends first for once. Letz go!" Zed started jogging to the nearest path through the woods. "Last one to the den is a rotten brain!"