𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 || Liam Dunbar

- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 -

California, Beacon Hills

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Carmen stared down at the frayed pages of The Bestiary - obviously, she didn't own a real Bestiary, it was just a copy she was gifted. She tucked a strand of firey-red hair behind her ear as she turned the page with a flick. In bold writing, at the top of the page, was a title:

Lycanthropy.

Carmen read on, her hazel eyes scanning the page.

In folklore, a werewolf - or occasional lycanthrope - is an individual who can shape-shift into a wolf, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction, with the transformations occuring on the night of a full moon.

"What ya' readin'?" Mason's sing-song voice sounded from behind her. He peered over her pale shoulder, pausing for a moment. "Werewolves?" He snickered and Carmen huffed, closing her Bestiary and packing it away tightly in her backpack.

She rose from her seat, swinging her backpack over one shoulder and now fully turning to Mason. "I didn't know you were secretly a nerd." He teased, placing a soft jab to her arm. Carmen rolled her eyes, a dampened smile playing across her lips. "So... I got word from Liam that there was a party being thrown by some juniors tonight, you coming?" Mason began, looking at Carmen expectantly.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek in thought for a few moments, her eyebrows furrowing as she stared off into space.

Mason grinned as Carmen's head began to nod faintly. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there." She gave him one final, firm nod. "Great! See you later." Mason sent her a radiant smile before turning on his heels and exiting the library.

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"Where are you going?" Henrik observed as Carmen applied a thin layer of mascara to her dark eyelashes. "I've been invited to a party." She informed her Dad, her gaze fixated on him in her bedroom doorway through the mirror reflection as the mascara wand combed over her eyelashes. "Okay miss popular, don't forget me when your fame takes over." He teased and she breathed out a choked laugh.

Her phone buzzed against her vanity and she peered at the screen.

Mason

Outside!!

She smiled at his message, snatching up her things and running her fingers through Marmalade's apricot fur as she passed her.

"Bye Dad!" She beamed up at Henrik graciously before moving down the stairs and leaving with the slam of the door. "Be good!" Henrik called out just as it closed, hoping she caught his warning.

...

They arrived at the party, a crowd of teenagers approaching the front door of Lydia Martin's lake house. They piled onto the porch, Garrett, Violet, Mason and Carmen stood at the front of the hustle as the door pulled open.

"Hey, are we in the right place?" Mason asked sheepishly. "For the party," Garrett added. Lydia seemed to hesitate before a confident expression molded across her pale face, "Absolutely." She reassured with a tight smile.

Cheers sounded out through the crowd and Carmen's face scrunched into a grimace as ahe found herself being moved by the congregation inside the house.