Becoming Were

Chapter 1

A knock at my window catches my attention.

Piper sits in her little blue smart car, waiting for me to come down.

I move to the window carefully jumping down, being careful not to mess up my outfit. My foster mother, Judy, doesn't let me leave the house often, especially not for a party. Piper convinced me to live a little, to sneak out for the night. Derek convinced me too.

Derek is a wonderful brother. Despite the death of our parents from a car crash only two years ago, he has kept us strong. He has managed to take on his responsible brotherly role while remaining my partner in crime. We inherited the house and were able to remain living in it on our own after mom and dad died, since Derek was eighteen when the accident occurred. The accident hit us extremely hard and sometimes I still have nightmares of their motionless bodies.

My dad, Aaron, was the funniest person ever and incredibly tall. He was the kind of person that could light up a room with just his smile. Sometimes when I glance at Derek I'm struck by his resemblance to dad. Derek has the same big chocolate eyes and curly hair, tall height, and friendly smile that dad had.

My mother, Jen, was the most wonderful woman in the world. She was always the most caring lady you could ever meet. She was amazing and so compassionate and loving.

"Hey Bitch! How's it going babe?" Piper greets me when I enter her car.

"Someone's in a good mood," I comment.

"Well DUH! We're going to the most kick ass party of the year! The perfect way to start off summer vacation!" She yells excitedly. My ears suddenly feel much too sensitive for her loud voice.

"Where are we going anyways? I know you said yesterday that it was a surprise, but I hate surprises and you know that! I mean, wouldn't you rather stay home and read or watch Teen Wolf for the night? That sounds like a much better time to me." I ask rhetorically, already knowing the answer to my past question. I glance at Piper and notice she's speechless. Well, that's a first!

"What-but-I-they-there's-just-but-" Piper stutters, adorably. I raise my eyebrows and huff under my breath at her lack of an answer and suddenly wonder if I could convince her to turn around until she screams-

"ALICE! Are you joking me right now! I swear if you didn't have me your social life wouldn't exist." She states.

"I have Ashton," I whisper. She, of course, ignores my comment and continues speaking.

"You are WAY to obsessed with Teen Wolf . This is the Night's party we're going to! You know, those three smoking hot brothers that live in the huge mansion in the middle of nowhere? SURPRISE! That's where we're going!" She screams at the end, making my ears ring. I know I should be replying but all I can think about is, 'huh, my ears were never this sensitive before.'

"-ce! Alllliiiicccceee? Are you listening?" Piper's voice brings me out of my little world. Once she is sure that I am listening, she continues, "Don't worry babe, this will be the best time ever!"

"Don't you think reading would be funner than going to three stuck up jerks' party in the middle of a damn forest?" I ask. I expect to hear a lecture on how nerdy I am, or hear about how they are "Gods" as she has mentioned, oh so many times, but instead her brilliant mind says,

"Alice, funner isn't a word." I just grumble a response. I look out the window and notice how dark it has gotten and that we are on the highway, our little town long forgotten.

"For the record, you look a-mazing! That dress makes your eyes look incredible!" Piper states, excitedly.

I gaze down at my outfit, dissatisfied with the clothes that Piper bought me yesterday as an early birthday gift, demanding I wear it tonight. I have on a skin tight, gold dress that stops just above my knees and gives me curves I didn't even know I had. I'm wearing matching gold, strapped heels that will make my teeny size appear taller. I'm only wearing my usual makeup, mascara and lip gloss, with my blonde hair plain except for the hair pinned out of my face. I didn't look that spectacular. In fact, I would much rather be at home in my pajama pants and Derek's hoodie that's so big, it practically swallows me whole.

"Whatever you say, but P, you look beautiful!" Piper narrows her eyes at my unwanted nickname for her, but brightens just as quickly at my comment. She really does look stunning, she's wearing a light pink, ruffly, skin tight dress that stops mid thigh, and black heels to match. Her normally plain red hair is curled to perfection and her makeup is amazing, with just the right amount of silver eye shadow and black eye liner. She looks like she usually does, like a model.

"Thanks! Now are you ready to get your party on, birthday girl? Woohoo!" She turns on the radio to a Katy Perry song and starts horribly singing along, her question long forgotten.

Piper was always the party animal while I was the one that kept us grounded and levelheaded. She was extremely tough since her father left her mother and herself. She has put a guard around herself to keep away anyone who might leave and hurt her all over again. I am one of the lucky ones that she can be her complete self around. We have been best friends ever since kindergarten when she punched Becky Hudson in the face when Becky called me a loser. I was the nerdy kid no one spoke to, unless to taunt, and she was the tough girl no one provoked or dared talk to out of fear. We were a perfect match and we pinky-promised that day to be best friends forever, and we have been following our promise ever since.

I gaze out of Piper's car at the beautiful moon overhead and feel all my senses start to buzz. I hear a distinct howl in the distance and without thinking I immediately open my mouth and let out an involuntary, ear piercing howl of my own. The car sharply swerves to the right, then back to the left as Piper regains control. I can already feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment and my mind screaming at me to explain why I just did that.

"YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME! Stupid Allison!" Piper yells. Oh, did I mention she has an unhealthy obsession with Harry Potter?

"Sorry," I barely whisper.

"Allison! What the hell has gotten into you?" She screams, her last joke suddenly forgotten. "You almost killed us! Who the hell howls?"

I am about to reply with an answer I was going to have to make up, seeing how I had no idea myself why I had to howl back to the unknown wolf, when I hear an even louder and ear shattering replying howl, so intense it shakes the car. Piper looks ready to comment on the noise when we pass a sign saying, 'Night Territory'.

"What was th-" She tries to ask.

I cut her off saying, "Look we're here!" As I point to the many cars parked around a ginormous and beautiful house.

"Damn Alice." Piper whispers, sounding frightened. This immediately catches my attention, as it would usually be me using that tone, not her.

"What?" I ask, scared of the answer.

"Look," her voice is barely audible, and I'm surprised I can make it out. She lifts a shaky finger and points at something just ahead of us. I look out the window, to the forest edge and see a silhouette, shaded from the trees, staring at us. It has to be at least six feet tall, on all fours. Wait- on all fours? It steps into the moon light and Piper lets out a murmur that even in my petrified state I hear clearly as, "What the hell did you do?"

I know I should be terrified at seeing it clearly, but all I can make out is its utter beauty, and I am mesmerized by it.

"Is that?" Piper asks, timidly.

"Yes. It's a wolf."