Chocolate Deluxe with a side of Werewolf

Forty-three. Welcome to our World

Theo 09:35 PM: We got a MAJOR problem 

Theo 09:35 PM: Come to my place as soon as you get this

A lot of possibilities rushed through Dylan's mind as he sped to Theo's house. The usual ten-minute drive seemed to drag on excruciatingly slow as the dread build-up within the werewolf. He didn't question his best friend's urgency. There was not an ounce of hesitancy, despite only minutes arriving home from his tournament, tired and depleted. Dylan's mind kept wracking through Theo's text. The message was short and simple, but the lack of Theo's typical humour was what worried Dylan the most, making him drive twenty over the speed limit, even in the residential and school zones. 

The gates to Theo's drive-way were already wide open as Dylan neared. He drifted onto the drive-way, forcing his Jeep to a sudden halt, not caring that he was parked as if he were shooting a car commercial. The brakes screeched in protest but obeyed Dylan's command. There was something terribly wrong. He could feel it. 

He bolted out of his car, not bothering to lock it. No one in Theo's neighbourhood needed a Jeep, not when they all owned an array of luxurious vehicles of exotic brands around the world. He sped into the modern mansion, not bothering with mundane speed. The front door was already unlocked. 

The moment he entered the house, Dylan caught the scent of all the occupants: Theo, Billy, Theo's parents, his grandmother, and his three Chow Chows. However, there was another scent among them. He immediately slid into a stop across the foyer's tiled floor, eyes wide in shock. Dylan recognized the newcomer's scent, and he couldn't believe who he smelt. 

Without another thought, Dylan followed the scent, who Dylan could tell was with Theo. He slowed to a human pace when he neared, entering the kitchen. 

Theo and Billy were waiting for him, both leaning against Theo's restaurant-grade stove with his arms crossed over his chest. They stared at Dylan, but neither looked relieved. 

Dylan ignored Theo. He stared wide-eyed at the third individual who sat at the breakfast nook. 

"Lin?" So many questions raced through Dylan, but he didn't know which one to ask first.

Emily's best friend remained mute, simply glaring venomously across the island at Billy and Theo. 

That's when Dylan realized that Billy was in her true form, her bandaged and decay flesh left exposed, covered only by black sweatpants and a grey tank top. Dylan's immediate reaction was to feign ignorance. "Bills, you know Halloween is over," Dylan muttered, chuckling nervously, but Theo didn't join in on the laughter, and Lin didn't even budge from her position. 

Billy was the only one who reacted, smirking at Dylan. "You can drop the act. She knows." 

"She does?" Dylan asked hesitantly, glancing cautiously at Lin, waiting for her to explode any minute. The human remained unbothered, no screams of fear or historical tears. She didn't even try bolting for the front door, remaining seated in Theo's kitchen stool. The questions were so compiled in Dylan's head to the point where he couldn't take it anymore. "What happened?" That seemed like a good place to start. 

Theo shifted his weight to his other foot, never leaving his eyes off Lin. "Do you want the good or bad news first?" Despite the attempt at light humour, Theo couldn't bring himself to smile. 

"Does it matter at this point?" 

Theo shook his head, grimly. "We'll start with the good then. I found the grimoire. The bad news: Lin had it." 

"Lin had it," Dylan repeated more so for himself. Otherwise, he'd have a hard time processing the information. Lin, his mate's best friend, had Theo's grandmother's grimoire: a book containing magic spells and recipes.