Katie and Rhydian walked to their lockers. It was the night before the full moon and they had both agreed to spend it with Maddy. After the events of last month, Maddy's parents were worried. Tonight they were joining Maddy and her family for a practice run. The bell rang, school was over for the day.
"So are you two ready for the practice run?" Maddy asked as walked over to the twins lockers.
"No," Rhydian and Katie said at the same time.
"Do we have to be locked in?" Rhydian asked.
"Yeah. If you can't cope as a human, then you will never cope as a wolf" Maddy said.
"I hate the idea of being locked up during a full moon," Katie said.
"It won't be that bad, Katie," Maddy said. "Trust me, both of you will enjoy this"
"What happens if we don't?" Rhydian asked.
"Stay away tomorrow night. We can't force you" Maddy said.
Katie closed her locker and followed Maddy out of the school building. On the way out they met Tom and Shannon.
"So, what's everyone doing tonight?" Shannon asked.
"Rhydian and I are staying at Maddy's house tonight," Katie said.
"Yeah. Mr. Vaughan's Dad's not well so they've gone to stay with him" Rhydian said.
"Stay at mine then, Rhydian. My mum's on night shifts. It will great fun" Tom said. Katie was sure that Rhydian would have gone if it wasn't the night before a full moon.
"Sorry it's already been arranged with their social worker and my parents," Maddy said.
"Yeah. Maybe another time" Rhydian said as the followed Maddy back to her house.
Later on, Katie and Rhydian help Maddy's parents move bedsheets and pillows into the den. Daniel started telling the twins some tips for living near humans and protecting their Wolfblood secret. Katie wasn't listening until Rhydian mentioned money issues.
"I don't think that I can afford a country mansion out of my weekly allowance," Rhydian said.
"You have a talent, Rhydian," Daniel said.
"Yeah, most Wolfblood's do," Emma added. Katie was also good at drawing like her brother but she enjoyed painting more and hoped to study Fine Art in the future.
"So you could live anywhere you wanted to," Maddy said.
"Yeah, as long as there's a dungeon in the caller" Rhydian added.
"It's not a dungeon. It's a precaution, think of it as an initiation into our pack" Daniel told the twins.
"That's what every Wolfblood wants. It's greater than the instinct to be free" Emma said.
"They do have a point Rhydian," Katie said.
"I thought you were up for running wild" Rhydian questioned. Katie didn't answer.
"Race you, Rhydian" Katie called out to Rhydian. It was the day of the full moon and Katie was full of energy. Katie stopped running when they got closer to the school grounds. Rhydian and Maddy caught up with her.
"I win," Katie said.
"Do you smell that?" Rhydian asked.
"No," Maddy said as she sniffed the air. Katie did the same.
"Did the army come here to train?" Katie asked after she picked up the faint smell of humans.
"I don't think so," Maddy said. Rhydian walked over to a pile of leaves.
"Rhydian!" Katie and Maddy said at the same time.
"I'm just having a look," Rhydian said as he pushed the leaves and plastic bags out of the way.
"Sinclair," Maddy said. Rhydian opened the box and found lots of hoodies, t-shirts, and items from the company. "Why would anyone hide Sinclair in the woods?"
"because its stolen" Rhydian answered.
"It could be fake" Katie added.
"It looks real to me," Rhydian said.
"Rhydian, you don't have any Sinclair items," Katie said. Rhydian ignored Katie and started to help himself to some of the items.
"I have now," Rhydian said.
"Rhydian, you can't take it. It's not ours" Katie said.
"Why can't we take it?" Rhydian asked
"Because we're supposed to be keeping our heads down. Being responsible." Maddy answered.
"So we call the police?" Rhydian asked, "Yes officer, we were running four miles to school, as you do on the day of the full moon."
"Taking from thieves isn't really stealing is it?" Maddy asked.
"Exactly" Rhydian answered. Maddy and Rhydian chose some T-Shirts from the pile.
"Katie, why don't you take something," Rhydian said.
"I don't want to," Katie said as she started to walk in the direction of the school.
Katie followed Rhydian and Maddy into the Art classroom and sat down at her desk. Katie turned around.
"Rhydian, you can't do this," Katie said.
"Why not? I will just go and get more at lunch time" Rhydian said.
"Well, it's wrong. What happens if you get caught by a teacher or the thieves coming back for their things" Katie said.
Maddy joined in the conversation.
"I agree with Katie, Rhydian. It's too risky" Maddy said.
"Do you remember what your dad said. Wolfblood's have limited options." Rhydian said.
"That doesn't mean that you can take stolen goods and sell them to make money Rhydian" Katie whispered.
"I'm a Wolfblood in the care system. I have to think about my future." Rhydian said.
"So am I, but you don't see me selling stolen goods" Katie whispered and then she turned back to her work.
Rhydian didn't listen to his sister or Maddy.
Katie stood with Tom, Shannon, and Maddy. Rhydian was trying to sell the Sinclair items. Everyone crowded around him.
"Wheres he getting all the items from?" Tom asked.
"He's going to get in big trouble" Shannon added.
"I will try and talk to him," Katie said as she walked over to Rhydian.
"Look, you've had you fun and games but it's time to stop now," Katie said.
"I offered you and Maddy some of the money," Rhydian said.
"Maddy said 'no'," Katie told Rhydian.
"I'm talking about the money. It's a full moon tonight Rhydian and I don't think that you want to be locked in a prison cell" Katie said. "You know that we can't take these risks"
Katie walked away and joined Maddy.
"I tired. Maybe you could talk some sense into him" Katie said.
"Alright. I can try" Maddy said.
After school, Kate followed Rhydian into the woods and watched as he took more things from the box, only this time Rhydian found himself running from the police. Katie waited until Rhydian and the police offers were out of sight and then she followed Rhydian's scent. It leads her to Bernie's.
When Katie arrived at Bernie's she found Rhydian being dragged in a to a police car.
"Wait" Katie called.
"What do you want?" the offer asked.
"He's my brother," Katie said. "Why are you taking him?"
"He's been caught handling stolen goods." the offer said.
Katie sighed and watched as the offer got into the car and drove off.
Katie did the only thing that she could think of, she called Maddy.
"Maddy, Rhydian's been arrested. I'm going to need some help" Katie said.
"Alright. I will talk to my parents. Where are you?" Maddy asked.
"Outside Bernie's Cafe," Katie said.
"Were coming to get you," Maddy said after a short pause.
"Ok. See you," Katie said.
(Time Skip)
There was just under an hour until moonrise and Katie were still at the police station with Maddy and Emma. Emma was on the phone talking to Daniel. The police planned on keeping Rhydian overnight.
"We have less than an hour till moonrise. If you two run then you can make it to the Moore" Emma said.
"I'm not leaving Rhydian on his own," Katie said.
"Rhydian's going to be in that cell when the moon rises. At lease you two stand a chance at getting away" Emma said.
"I think that I know a way to get Rhydian out the cell. Let me speak to Dad" Maddy said. Emma gave the phone to Maddy.
Katie looked down at her hands, small black veins were starting to creep up her arms. She put her hands in her pockets to hide them.
Maddy's idea worked and they found themselves back in the Smith's car. Katie could feel herself starting to change. Her eyes changed colour. Maddy, Rhydian, and Maddy's parents were starting to change as well.
"Take the road through the woods," Maddy said.
"It's longer that way," Daniel said.
"Were not going to make it home anyway?" Maddy said.
"We can't change in the open," Daniel said.
"We don't have a choice," Maddy said.
Daniel pulled the car over and they all got out.
Katie let her wolf take over. and soon she was standing on four paws. Katie follows Rhydian and Maddy into the woods.
Katie and Rhydian walked into the playground with Maddy.
"Last night was amazing," Katie said.
"Yeah. Your parents loved it out there. Let's do it next full moon" Rhydian added.
"I don't think that it will make any difference," Maddy said. They had to end the conversation, a crowd of students gathered around them.
"What happened then?" Jimi asked.
"Nothing. They let me go" Rhydian said.
"No charge?" Jimi asked.
"No charge, no drama, nothing happened. We went home" Rhydian said.
"Nice to know you all care so much" Rhydian added as he walked into the school building. Katie and Maddy followed.
Next time.
A face from Rhydian and Katie's past shows up and they have a choice to make.