I didn't know what to tell my parents, and poor Mark was so stunned I think he convinced himself he was dreaming. I snuck out of the house with practiced motions, though I had never done it before and used to be such a klutz. I felt more in control of myself than ever. When I stood at the back of my house, I slipped out of my clothes and stashed them behind a bush. As soon as I felt safe, I phased. I trembled, and I felt my fur roll out from inside me. My body expanded, and soon I had four legs. I was expecting Lex and the others inside my head, but it was still a shock when her voice said, You learn pretty quickly, Amanda. I could feel the pride rippling through me. The only people who every said I was good at anything were teachers.

Don't get too cocky, she warned, but I knew she was joking.

Where to? I asked.

She laughed a throaty kind of bark and replied, Follow your nose.

Interesting. My nose had always been clogged up before, but now I could smell everything: the horses in the barn, my clothes behind the bush, the fuel emissions from our truck, the open sky, and something I recognized as my own scent. I sniffed more carefully now, and almost immediately discovered a scent I came to know as werewolf. I raced forward at a speed that should have made the forest a blur, but I could see everything with more precision than I ever had, even with glasses—that I no longer needed.

I came to a stop at the miles from the barn. I had arrived by following my nose; it was all pretty cool. Almost letting out a howl of the sheer joy of running, I listened cautiously to the sounds inside and outside my head.

Wow. You're a fast runner, someone thought absently.

Thanks...

Kim. That's my name, don't wear it out.

Wow, Kim, you think you're sooo funny, another voice cut it.

Shut up, Jen, Kim snarled.

Kidding! Sheesh, girl—get a sense of humor. Jen snorted

I already have one, incase you forgot, Jennifer, Kim sneered.

You're the one who needs a little fine tuning on what's funny and what's not.

You know what, Jen? You think you're so hilarious, but you're not. Not at—

Girls! Both of you shut up and listen! Lex mentally shouted. I wasn't the only one who winced.

Sorry, they both apologized meekly and scurried away from the Alpha.

Sam. Report, Lex ordered, still seething.

Nothing so far, Lex. Hunters out in the woods, but that's old news, no "mythical enemies", there are some loggers out— also old news—it should only take two of us to scare them away, and, of course, there's Amanda, but that's all. Sam finished and gave me a lopsided grin with an eye roll, all of which looked pretty weird in wolf form, but was probably meant to ease my tension.

You got that right. Sam's a suck-up to the newbies. It was the high-pitched voice from earlier today.

How I love to be know as the high-pitched voice. Should you ever want to call me something else, I'm Steph. The youngest, commonly referred to as "the baby". But we all love each other, don't we, girls? she asked sarcastically. It was becoming so hard to follow all these voices with their constant mood changed and joking.

YES! they all shouted. A chuckle escaped my lips. Even if they fought and were sarcastic about it, the pack obviously treated each like family.

You do catch on quick, Jen amended. But if nothing else is going to happen at this meeting, I'm going home. Cool as she seemed on the outside, we could all tell she was deeply troubled on the inside. Jen had problems in her life, and she was keeping them a secret from us. Although I hardly knew the girl, I felt offended that she wouldn't share.

Lex, however, was more sympathetic than me, since she let Jen go home early. Come on, Amanda. You come on patrol with me and Kim, and Sam and Steph can leave. If we get back early, we can get some sleep. Let's go.

Once again, I was off, into the woods. Along the way, I learned more about the pack and their families. It was then I began to worry about mine. Mark had seen me phase, but my parents hadn't and John was at camp. I conversed mentally with Lex about what to do.

I think you should tell them, she began. We only usually tell if it's important but we have to explain your sudden growth and weight loss, not to mention the fact that you have no allergies anymore and no need for glasses. We'll need to explain your temperature and sneaking out and all the rest. Oh, this is so hard! Everybody else had families who already knew the legends were real. I never thought I'd have to deal with this. Oh, well. There's a first time for everything.

But my parents don't believe in this. They'll think I've gotten even worse and send me to a mental institution.

How? You're stronger and faster than them.

But they're my parents.

Amanda. You're not little anymore. You get freedom with this, and you have to use it. Lex looked at me with puppy dog eyes, begging me to understand.

Okay. How do I break the news to them?

Simple, Lex replied, her Alpha/leader side taking over. Be all "Mom, Dad, I have to show you something." Then phase. When they recover from the shock, explain things to them. Get them to come meet me and I'll help.

You make it sound so simple. I sighed. My life was far from simple now.

Exactly, she agreed. Besides, as I said before: we're family. All of us will help you get through this.

Thanks so much Lex. You know I could never repay you.

All in a day's work. She laughed, but I could sense bitterness underneath that laugh. This time, I fought to keep my thoughts to myself.

Come on, kid. That's the end of patrol, and I'm sure Kim is waiting to chop our heads off.

I hesitated. Earlier today, Kim and Jen were fighting. Were they going to...

No. we don't fight—we just argue.

I felt better, but something was still bothering me. As we ran back to town together, I kept my thoughts to myself, or at least tried to. When at last Lex dropped me off at my house, I thought of one last question.

Hey Lex, what's your real name?

She grinned a cocky wolf grin before answering. I'll give you a hint. It's not Alexandra.

Alexis?

Nope. She grinned again. It's Farhannah