Another year went off without any big changes, well maybe… one.

It was on my eleventh birthday, and I planned big – to go celebrate at night out.

We went out every second day now, exactly on half past midnight and without any fear. It was a routine, far better one than I had when I was seven.

All that was to it was- be careful, careful, careful. Besides that we had absolutely nothing to fear.

Although… past few weeks, he seemed more… I don't know. Tensed prehaps? Aware?

Or how to call it. I wasn't exactly sure, but he just shrugged and said it's some scents, with a stiff smile. But he trained all the same, and we did things we normally did, so I didn't ask about it again. Maybe he put more effort into it, but I might have imagined as well.

But on that day, I felt specially worn out. I was tired the whole day, didn't want to do nothing, just lie around in bed.

When I woke up in the morning, it was still dark.

,,What's the time?" I asked quietly.

,,Around half past six," he answered in the same tone, and strangely tensed, alike when we were in the forest last time together.

I snapped.

,,I OVERSLEPT?"

,,No… I just didn't want to wake you up. You seemed tired."

I groaned and shifted in bed, which made me feel more uncomfortable than I was before. I wondered, why was that, but couldn't think of anything.

,,Well, thanks," I said to the pillow. ,,actually… I still feel like a corpse. I'm gonna be sick, probably."

There was a short silence.

,,I don't think you're sick, Gwen," he half cought.

,,If I'm not, then I can get up."

When I did so, a single drop of dark red liquid fell to the ground.

,,What on Earth!"

…..

And from this point, things became more different than I ever expected.

Well, after mom explained, what is with me.

I had mixed feelings about it.

First, I was angry on my mom for not telling me earlier, but could I tell to her? Of course not. And I was embarrassed, because a boy – on top one of different species – knew sooner than me. And it wasn't like anyone told him anything!

Oh, how I sometimes wished to have his instincts.

The next night was awkward, although we didn't want to go anywhere. More awkward than our first one sharing a bed.

,,Uhm," I finally said. It sounded terribly loudly.

,,Yes?"

,,Sorry."

,,For what…?"

,,For… making you feel uncomfortable with my scent."

,,That's okay, it's not like it's your fault."

,,Well… yeah. But still. Makes me feel guilty."

,,No, really. It's fine. I'll just have to get used you're not a kid anymore, that's all."

,,Hmm… yes. I still have to get used as well."

He exhaled and from how well I knew him I knew he was smiling.

,,We might as well try together another night, what'cha say?"

,,Surely," I grinned.

,,Mhm… Gwen?"

,,Yup?"

,,You remember what I said last year?"

,,About that we can't be friends if you're grown up and I'm not?"

,,…Quite," he admitted.

I grinned again, and this time leaned down to stick a hand under the bed.

,,So, friends from now on? And I mean for real?"

I felt a claw slipping into my hand.

,,You bet."

His claws gotten fairly longer and stronger than they were before. And why they wouldn't! We worked really always half of a year to get them better. They still weren't as impressive as the adult's ones, but… he still had time. And I'd really try my best to cheer him on.

,,Well," he stated, slightly playful tone. ,,but we have a certain tradition about opposite genders befriending, you know."

,,Do you?"

,,Yup. But I'm not exactly sure if you'll like it."

,,Try," I shrugged and kneeled down.

I felt him shrug too, then he pulled himself out (I don't know, how to better call this movement) and pulled me down into something…

I jumped right up on the bed again.

,,You- you just… kissed me!"

,,Oh, so that's how it's called?" he chuckled.

,,Well… eh… yes."

,,Mhmmm."

A moment of silence.

,,Are you angry?"

,,Um, no."

I've been red from head to toes. From embarrassment.

….

The next training went well.

He tried rubbing his claws on a rock they found near a small lake – well, or a thing that resembled it – and it went out well. The rocks started to fall down instead of the material off the claws.

,,They got better," I constated.

He frowned.

,,No… it's still not enough. They'd broke on first using them."

,,But they've been a lot weaker, you weren't able to even make a scratch on the rocks."

He made something that resembled a smile.

,,You're right, it IS a certain improvement."

,,Sure," I grinned and poked his side. ,,if you were among yours, what would they do?"

,,I'd still be like a wolf omega, but they would poke me around less often…"

I sighed.

,,And how high do you want to be?"

,,An alpha!" he stated proudly. ,,Or at least a beta. So my paretns would be proud of me instead of wanting to get rid of me."

I gulped.

He said it in a absolutely careless tone, like it was someone else he talked about, not him.

Like he didn't even care, how will it all end…

But I knew better – he DID. Under that emotionless mask, he did care. He was afraid, what will he do, if he won't get at least as strong as a ordinary one of his kind.

He couldn't stay under my bed his whole life. I knew, he knew.

But if he was as weak… where would he go?

I puzzled about it, as we quietly sneaked past our back door, into the house, and to my room. He slid under my bed, I undressed and slid under the covers.

,,Good night," I heard a sigh.

,,Good night," I reached under the bed to touch his claw.

Before I drifted into sleep, I heard soft purring from there.