It's For the Pack

2. You Are the One

Michelle had come to The Next Step Dance Studio to escape her undesired life and pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. Being a werewolf, she was naturally agile and talented in anything physical. She felt quite content with her life: besides winning Regionals with the team just last week, she had made plenty of friends, and had even secured a promising relationship with a cute boy. Of course, being at The Next Step offered some problems, such as keeping her history a secret, and the fact that some people just couldn’t stand her, for some reason, but Michelle liked a little challenge in her life.
   
At the moment, she was standing in Ms. Kate’s office with Phoebe, the head choreographer, and Emily as they mentally prepared themselves for A-troupe auditions. As dance captains, Michelle and Emily had the important job of not only overseeing the auditions, and actually giving their input as to who they thought was the best fit for the team.
  
“Remember, just because some auditionees are also your friends, does not give you permission to justify treating them any better. They have to earn their spot on the team, same as everyone else,” Ms. Kate reminded the two of them.
   
“Yes, Ms. Kate,” they chorused. Emily knew the drill- after all, she had been dance captain for the last two years. As a result, she was barely listening to what Ms. Kate was saying. Instead, she was wondering if Hunter had spoken with Michelle yet. It didn’t seem likely. Michelle was still dating Eldon, and she hadn’t given any indication that a friend from her past had shown up. It was strange, Emily thought, that she knew almost nothing about where Michelle had come from. It wasn’t like it really mattered, but Emily liked to keep her friends close, and her enemies closer.
   
“Are you ready?” asked Michelle, breaking into Emily’s line of thought.
   
“Yeah,” answered Emily. They all went out into Studio A, where the auditionees were already waiting. They milled around for a while, greeting both friends and newcomers with the same amount of enthusiasm.
   

“You’re going to kill it,” Michelle encouraged, smiling at Eldon, “Like you always do!”
   
“Thanks!” said Eldon, smiling warmly back at her.
   
Emily rolled her eyes at them, and turned away, disgusted.
   
“Are you okay?” her younger sister, Riley asked.
   
“Who, me? I’m good. Fine. Never been better.”
   
“Okay…”
   
Suddenly, a hush fell over the room, and people pointed and turned towards the door.
   
“What’s going on?” someone whispered. Emily craned her neck to see over the heads of the people in front of her.
   
“It’s just some guy,” concluded James, who was tall enough to see over everyone.
   
“Some last minute auditioner, probably,” said Daniel judgmentally.
   
Everyone went back to their conversations upon hearing that it was nothing unusual.

Someone suddenly tapped Michelle on the shoulder, and spoke to her loudly. “Hey! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Michelle instantly recognized that voice. She turned around in horror. She thought she had left her past life behind in Wisconsin.
Apparently not.

“What- what are you doing here?” stammered Michelle, uncertainly.

Hunter sighed. “You have to come back with me immediately.”

“Michelle doesn’t have to do anything!” asserted Eldon. “Who are you, anyway?”

“Me? I’m her partner,” said Hunter. Then, remembering his conversation with Emily, he added, “Her boyfriend.”
   
“Oh, this is good,” murmured Emily, smiling at Eldon’s dumbstruck expression. “Really good.”