AN: So, long time no see. For those who don't know I lost my house to flooding in late October, and while I am staying somewhere with an internet connection, I haven't really felt like writing. Then when I'm about to start writing again my dog runs away. So it's been a crappy month, but now I'm in the mood to write and I have to time so expect new chapters soonish.

AN2: Also this is the last summer chapter, the next one will start with the Hogwarts Express.

Chapter 31:

Patience

Part 2

Alex

My questions, significantly politer than the 'What the hell' I wanted to go with, were answered quickly. As I surmised, the menial labor was intended to get under my skin. It gave me a chance to practice my breathing techniques to help combat the rage that all werewolves suffer from. Everyone has a temper, but a werewolf's temper is particularly short, and when they lose control people die. So the point of the exercise wasn't to stop yourself from blowing up so much as it was to find the point at which you would blow up.

Finding that point, that line in the sand where you simply could not take it anymore, was of vital importance. If you didn't know where that line was you couldn't extend it. Most importantly, knowing where it was let you know when to get away from a situation before the bodies started hitting the floor.

I got that. I understood that. Hell, looking at it objectively I even supported it.

At the moment though, I wasn't feeling very objective.

Ellie and I were currently walking back towards the house. We were side by side because she refused to walk ahead of me—smart move on her part—and I refused to walk ahead of her. She took this time to enlighten me about the purpose of the last few days and I fingered my knives through the sleeves of my shirt.

"You attacked a Tierwechsler with a stick. Not even a sharp stick, a blunt stick," Dragon said, disgusted. "Unless you can suddenly hit with enough power to dust concrete pillars, blunt damage is the worst way to try and kill a Tierwechsler." In my mind's eye Dragon shook her head. "Honestly it's like I don't even know you!" Even though she didn't speak I could feel Wolf's agreement.

I rolled my eyes, trust them to be upset by the ineptitude of my murder attempt rather than by the murder attempt. The fact that I'm the moral center of our—is gestalt the word?—was worrying on a multitude of levels.

"Gestalt works," Dragon said. "If you're going to kill someone, do it right the first time. Botching it just gets us more enemies, and worse makes us look incompetent!"

Yes, because that was all that needed considering when deciding whether or not to kill someone. Not if it's right or wrong, just how their death benefits us.

"Neither Wolf nor I am human. Why should we care about human morals?" Dragon said.

We live with humans, humans dominate the world. Taking their morals into account is simply the smart thing to do.

"That's simply part of the cost vs benefits that must be considered before we choose to kill. Not a reason for us to actually care about the morals themselves," Dragon said dismissively.

Uncle Vernon is human. Aunt Petunia is human. Dudley is human. It's true we may have to do things they may not agree with, but acting without a care for human morals, for their morals, will hurt them.

I could feel Wolf mulling that over, but Dragon's emotions were harder to place. It felt like she couldn't quite decide what to feel about my point. There was frustration, concern, and a strong urge to simply dismiss my claim, but before I could really make sense of it Dragon faded away.

She leave the house?

"She walked out and turned full lizard as soon as she was out the door," Wolf said. "It's not really a house if it only has the front room though, is it?"

Just the front room? Didn't she see the hallway? I hadn't had time to go there yet, but I was sure it had many interesting things. Things that I would get to at some point in the future.

"Alex?" Ellie asked.

"Hmm?" I said, turning my attention to our surroundings. While I had been talking with Wolf, Ellie and I had managed to make our way to the hallway outside Rachel's office.

"Are you okay? I know I was a little harsh but that's how it has to be done," Ellie said, a worried frown on her face.

"I'm fine, just thinking," I said, trying to reassure her.

"What are you thinking about?" Ellie asked, as she opened the door to Rachel's office.

"Phil…" I started to say only to get cut off mid word.

"Alex!" Aunt Petunia said as she jumped off the sofa, ran over and drew me into a bone crushing hug. My ribs groaned in protest even as my shoulders loosened.

"Aunty," I whispered into her shoulder as I returned her hug in kind.

888

I'm not sure how long we held onto each other but before long the sound of a clearing throat interrupted our reunion. I rearranged myself on Aunt Petunia's lap—at some-point we had made it to the couch were Uncle Vernon was sitting—to see the rest of the room and finally noticed Rachel and Adam were also here.

"I hate to interrupt, but we didn't ask you to come just so you could see Alex," Adam said apologetically.

I furrowed my brow, and my shoulders slumped. If they weren't here for me why were they here?

"So why did you ask us to come over today? When we talked yesterday you said for us to wait until tomorrow to drop in," Uncle Vernon said. Aunt Petunia's arms tightened around me.

Adam exchanged looks with Rachel before she took over. "We received a video that seems to detail Alex's escape from the ghouls."

For a moment what Rachel said failed to compute. It simply didn't make sense. Who would even have video of my escape? For that matter why the hell would they, whoever they are, send it here? It's not like my association with the White Cliffs pack was well known, was it?

Belatedly it occurred to me what this meant right now. Rachel had video of my escape. The escape that was only made possible by me threatening to commit suicide and the timely intervention of my cloak.

Oh shit.