All four of us were standing in a line in the living room, like prisoners on death row as my parents paced around the room yelling. Mason was by my side but he hadn't said a word yet. It was hard to read his face and tell what he was thinking. Justin looked livid that I had got him into trouble, and was now back to shooting death stares at Christian who he been warming up to.

Christian…well Christian was just Christian; cool, calm and collected. It seemed even the angriest mortal parents didn't scare him.

My ears were starting to ring and my head was hurting. After all, we'd been standing here for ten minutes and I didn't think either my Mom or Dad had taken a breath yet. I was surprised Max hadn't woken up from all the commotion; I was sure China could hear us.

"I can't believe you could be so irresponsible Alex – well actually I can believe it," Mom said, steam almost literally bellowing out of her ears.

"Am I allowed to speak?" I piped up finally. All heads turned to me and I felt almost overawed by all the attention. "Can I explain myself at all?"

My parents surprised me by sitting down and staring expectantly up at me. "This should be good," muttered Dad.

"Look, the wizard world is after werewolves and we were just trying to protect Mason and Christian so we said they could stay here." They looked confused so I pointed to Christian. "That's Christian, Mason's older brother."

"Do you really expect us to believe you Alex?"

"She's telling the truth Dad," said Justin wearily.

"Okay then, we believe you," Mom said, standing up.

"What!" I yelled. "That is so not fair that you believe-"

Mason at that point clamped my mouth shut with his hand and shot me a message loud and clear; don't push it.

"They still doesn't explain why this boy," – Dad threw Christian a dirty look – "was in your room?"

"If I may Mr and Mrs Russo," interrupted Christian, all swagger and charm. "Your son was kind enough to let us sleep on his floor. I went to the bathroom and got lost. I accidentally went into Alex's room when she mistook me for an intruder and proceeded to attack me."

He said the lie so smoothly, I almost believed him. And I knew the truth.

My parents were still skeptical but I could tell they were swaying. "Alright," my Dad said, stepping up to face Mason and Christian. "You can sleep in Justin's room tonight but tomorrow we'll discuss what to do with you."

"Thank you sir, we really appreciate it," Christian said, holding his hand out to shake my father's.

Dad just ignored it and I had to stifle a laugh at Christian's rejection. My parents disappeared to bed but not before making sure we were all in our beds.

An hour later, when I was sure both of them were asleep, I snuck into Justin's room where the three of them were alert and ready.

"Took you long enough Russo," Christian remarked as I sat down next to Mason. He still looked strangely calm and hadn't said anything the whole time but I wondered again what he was thinking.

"As I was saying," Christian continued in a hushed whisper. "I told them Mase and I had been cornered by wizards just as we were preparing for the raid, and that Mason had been so badly injured, I'd told him to go home instead of coming."

"They bought it?"

Christian nodded. "Yep, hook, line and sinker."

"Did they wonder why the place had been blown up?" Justin asked curiously.

"Yeah, but they were more angry that no one was there. They're going back to the drawing board for a new plan."

"Does anyone know where the wizards are or if they've discovered Mason's disappearance?"

"Apparently they've set up a temporary spot that can't be found by anyone but a wizard. As for Mason, they'll be hoping he died in the chaos and will probably forget about him for now."

Justin looked at his watch. "It's getting late. We could have avoided all this madness if you'd come in through our window," he said, glaring at Christian.

"It's hard to see whose window was whose, I chanced it," he said, staring at me.

So he'd told them he was just trying to get in and had accidentally used my window instead of Justin's. What a load of bull. He'd known exactly what he was doing.

He wouldn't stop staring at me and I wondered if he was reliving that kiss. How long had he been lying next to me? I shivered and Mason put his arm around me.

"I'll walk you to your room," he said quietly.

Together we got up and left, without looking back at Christian looking enviously on, and Justin who looked as though he was ready to have a heart attack.

"I'm glad you're not mad at me," I whispered to him as he tucked me in.

"I trust you Alex; it's just Christian I don't trust. I know nothing happened."

Nothing. Could you call that faint kiss nothing? Or what about him in my room, watching me sleep, stroking my hair and cheeks?

"He kissed me," I blurted out and in the darkness, I could see him stop breathing. Then his chest resumed its normal pace and I relaxed.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "It's okay."

"Really?"

His head bobbed up and down. "As long as your heart lies with me, I don't care. It meant nothing, right?"

"Of course," I replied, snaking my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

"I should go," he said reluctantly, as though he'd very much like to stay wrapped in my arms.

"You don't have to," I said, my fingertips tapping against his jaw.

He looked sorely tempted. "After the way your parents nearly scalped you tonight, I don't think it's a very good idea."

"Okay, fine," I said, pushing my head up to kiss him and watching as he vanished from the room.