This is the last chapter

Hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it

On instinct, I flung myself off the bed, ignoring the pain and stiffness of my body to throw myself at Daniel.

The syringe was in but the dose hadn't been administered yet. I pushed Daniel away and left it sticking out of Mason's chest. He stared up at me oddly, wondering why I'd stopped him. I reached over and pulled it out, throwing it across the room.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yelled at him.

He sat up. "Why are you freaking out? Alex, I'm doing this for you. So we can grow old together."

His sweet words almost melted me but I had a point to make. "Don't you get it? I don't want you to do this for me."

"You don't?"

I took his hand. "Mason, if you want to be human, that's fine. But I don't want you to do it because you're afraid you'll lose me if you don't."

He looked embarrassed. He stared at our hands. "I just thought now that Christian's human…he could give you things I can't."

I almost slapped him but I thought that would ruin the moment. "Don't ever think that."

Mason looked slightly happier. I turned my glare to Daniel who was looking sheepishly at us.

I growled. "You are-"

"Leaving," he finished in a high voice, scurrying out of the room.

Mason grinned. "He was only helping."

Something was still bothering me. "What would you have done if the virus didn't work? The way it works, you have to die as a werewolf first and be revived as a human. What if you'd just died and not come back?"

"You would have married Christian," he replied simply with a grin.

I elbowed him playfully and accidentally put more force into it than I'd expected. He grimaced. "Only joking," he spluttered out.

To my surprise, no one yelled at me when we got home. My parents simply hugged me and told me they were glad I was alright. Then they told me I was grounded for all eternity. I guess you can't win every battle.

But the grounding didn't stop me sneaking out the night we got home. I met Mason and Christian downstairs where they were waiting for me. Christian swept me up in a hug before I went into Mason's arms and he kissed me joyfully. It was strange seeing them standing together without fighting or bickering. It seemed they were finally over everything that had been keeping them apart. Namely me.

"Just thought I'd let you know I'm leaving," Christian told me, and for the first time, I noticed the suitcases by his feet.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, still in Mason's embrace.

"Don't know," he replied, ruffling his dark hair. "Just want a fresh start."

"How are you? You know, how do you feel?" Mason asked.

"Free," Christian answered and I could see it in his face. He seemed happier than I'd ever seen him, almost glowing. Like a huge weight had been lifted off of him. "I had a good run as a werewolf. I got to see and learn more than anyone could possibly imagine over a century. Now it's time for me to really live. Take my chances because I'm not going to get any more."

I saw Mason studying his brother intently. I wondered if he was still thinking about that whole human thing. The growing up together thing really did sound appealing.

"I'll miss you Christian," I said, removing myself from Mason's arms to hug his older brother.

"I'll miss you too," he whispered in my ear. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For making me realise that there's still a real human being in me. I'd forgotten until you came around."

His words made me blush. "Goodbye Christian," I murmured, moving away.

Mason and Christian moved towards each other, awkwardly. "Good luck," Mason said stoically, holding out his hand.

Christian smiled and pulled his brother into a bear hug, almost suffocating him. Mason ducked out quickly and pulled Christian's arm behind his back. "Can't beat me now," Mason said with a grin.

"Okay, I give," Christian said and Mason let go.

Christian bent down to pick up his suitcases and started to walk off. But being Christian, he couldn't resist adding his own piece.

"By the time I visit next, I expect there to be puppies running around, got it?"

I laughed. "He's not serious, right?" I said to Mason, lowering my voice. "We won't actually have puppies, will we?"

Mason just chuckled and put his arm around me as he led me back inside. "We'll see."

The next day when my parents went out, Mason came over. We were sitting on the couch, watching TV. I snuggled into his side more but I felt something sharp in his jacket pocket. I reached in before he could protest and pulled out a familiar looking syringe.

"Care to explain?" I said, waving it in front of his face.

He sighed. "I took it just in case."

"Are you still thinking about it?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed. "Can you honestly tell me you aren't?"

"Maybe," I admitted. "Look, there's nothing I want more than to grow old with you but not at the cost of you losing who you are." I took a deep breath. "To be honest, when I first heard about it, I was disgusted. Being a werewolf is a part of who you are, it's not something you can cure. Sure, it helped Christian, but in totally different circumstances."

"Yeah and look how happy he is."

"Are you happy?" I asked him.

"Yeah, but-"

"No butts," I told him, putting a finger on his lips. "Unless it's yours," I added, trying to lighten the mood.

He laughed before worries creased his face. "But what happens when you turn eighteen next year, you'll be the same age as me and that's as old as I'll get."

"We'll worry about it then. If you're still sure this is what you want," I held up the needle, "then we can always talk about this option next year. Right now, let's just enjoy this. Enjoy being us." I swung my legs across his lap and cupped his chin.

He leaned and kissed me. I almost grew wings, took off and flew. This is how it's supposed to be, I realised. How it used to be. Without all the worries to bog us down, his kisses had me all aflutter like they used to. How they always would.

"Maybe we should try to see if we can make a puppy," he said, tongue poking out.

I giggled as his lips made a trail of kisses down my neck. "Easy there tiger, I mean wolf."

The door swung open and I almost jumped away, afraid my parents had come back early. But the sight of a red-haired person made my heart swell even further.

"Harper!" I yelled happily. I jumped off the couch and upended Mason while I was at it. He landed on the ground with a thump while I ran to my best friend and hugged her. I'd missed her more than she could imagine.

"Wow, you seem quite happy Alex. Did I miss anything while I was gone?" she asked.

The question made me want to burst out laughing. I caught eyes with Mason who was picking himself off the floor. He grinned at me.

"Nope, nothing much," I said with a smile.

Ah, if only she knew.