Alex' jaw went slack as her eyes shot from the older couple to her werewolf … No, not hers! Bad Alex. she thought. Remember, you're angry at him!

Mason drew a deep breath and stepped towards his parents. "How'd you find me here?"

Mr. Grayback drew himself up to full height. "I followed my nose." he said, tapping his upturned honker.

"Of course, I should have known." he shook his head despairingly. "Why are you here?"

Mrs. Grayback sighed softly. "Mason, son, you are sixteen, well on your way to manhood. I… your father… we worry. You have rebelled, you have run away from a responsibility you have brought on yourself. It was you who decided to date Juliet, and it is you who must marry her."

Alex rolled her eyes. "There's no reason he should marry her if he doesn't wanna," Alex argued.

Mr. Grayback glowered at Alex. "There is the curse!" he huffed.

Alex waved her hand dismissively. "Phhh, no such thing."

Mr. Grayback moved towards her. "And maybe there is no such thing as monsters. Care to find out?"

Justin held his hands out placatingly, moving between Mr. Grayback and Alex. "Wait, wait and wait. We need not fret, there's an easy way to fix this," he turned to his sister. "Alex, we're wizards, I can do a simple spell to prove there's no curse about to befall Mason's family."

Mr. Grayback's eyebrows shot up. "You're wizards?"

Alex nodded. "Yup, powerful ones too, so I wouldn't threaten me if I were you… But wait, if I were you we wouldn't be in this mess, so I wouldn't threaten me anyway. Did Justin say he'd do the spell?"

She turned on him.

Justin furrowed his brow. "And why wouldn't I? I'm the best wizard in the family."
"You are, right next to me that is, the best wizard in the family," Alex scoffed.

Justin clenched his jaw. "I'll do the spell." he hissed through his teeth.

Justin whipped out his wand, swishing it around he muttered. "Dipody doo, dipody dee, if there is no curse, then let us see." He ended the spell by pointing his wand at Mason and then at Juliet.

A whoosh of white light shot from Justin's wand taking form in the middle of the room.

A tall and handsome man turned around in a circle, looking from person to person. "What in the name of magic do you want?" he ordered.

Justin smirked at Alex. "See? Best wizard." He turned to the man. "Kind sir, I have summoned your help, for you see a tragic this has—"

The man interrupted Justin. "Is this guy for real?" He looked at Alex for an answer.

"Amazing, isn't it? That's how he talks to everyone… excepted me. Thank God." she breathed.

The light man interrupted Justin before he could retort. "Then why don't you tell me why I'm here cutie?" he asked.

"Okay," she stuck her tongue at Justin. "We want to know if Mason," she pointed at the boy. "has to marry Juliet," she gestured towards the fidgeting girl. "to escape some dumb curse."

"Why didn't he just say that?" The man flicked his head at Justin. He tsked and motioned for the two nervous teens to come to him.

The two took hesitant steps and stood before the man. Was it their imagination, or was his glowing?

"Okay, hold still." He placed his hands on top of their heads. "Uh, okay. Uh."

He pulled his hands back. "No curse. You two crazy teens never have to marry. But you," he tapped Mason. "you are a wolf. And you," he touched Juliet's shoulder. "are a vampire."

They nodded in slow in concert.

The light man sighed. "So don't go biting each other, you won't like what happens."

Alex quirked her head. "Why would they bite each other?"

"I don't know. Maybe it becomes a big thing with teens, it doesn't matter. You two don't go getting toothy, got it?"

Again they nodded.

"Good. Now if you don't mind, I think I'll be leaving." he turned to Justin. "You don't summon me again. I don't care much for you." He twisted around to Alex, winking. "You, you summon me whenever you want sweetie. Names William, William Masters."

Mason growled, shaking off the intimidation he felt towards the man earlier.

"And that's my queue to leave." In an instant his form shot back into Justin's wand.

Justin crossed his arms over his chest, pursing his lips. "I didn't like him. He was a…" he thought for a minute. "butthead," he finished lamely.

Mason nodded furiously. "I very much agree. He was quite a jerk."

"No, I believe my mature, adult bother called him a 'butthead.' Right Justin?"

Mr. Grayback spoke before Justin could respond. "In light of current events, I suppose I can allow you to marry, or date whomever you choose." He smiled gently at his son. "Choose wisely my son, but follow your heart."

Mr. Grey back straightened himself out, once again looking every bit the English gentleman he was. "Come Dear, let us leave Mason to the rest of his night."

With that the older couple strolled out.

"What'd I miss?" Teresa asked, coming out of the kitchen holding a hoagie and chewing thoughtfully.

Alex ignored her mom, concentrating solely on Mason. "So you're free to date freely?"

Mason took her hands in his. "Even if I weren't, I wouldn't leave your side. I'm a loyal sort of dog you know."

A smile tugged at Alex' lips. "Yeah, and don't think it's easy to get rid of me. I'm a loyal sort of wizard."
Mason bent his head, moving to kiss Alex.

"Hey, wait a darn minute here," Justin said, getting their attention. "There's no kissing my sister while I'm around. And furthermore-"

Juliet cut in. "Oh shut up Justin." She took the back of his head and pulled his down in to a kiss.

Alex giggled, turning back to Mason. "Now where were we?"

"Right," he leaned down. "about here." He pressed his lips to hers.

Jerry Russo stepped up next to his wife. "What'd I miss?" he asked, surveying his children and their dates.

Teresa shrugged. "Don't ask me. I'm as lost as everyone who's been reading this."

THE

END