Chapter 19:

I woke up the next morning to the sound of pots and pans banging around just like every other morning. "At least, everything seems normal," I mumbled as I got ready in my old school shirt. This shirt is like a safety blanket for me. I wore this on the day Mom died and I left for Wisconsin.

Going downstairs for breakfast, Donny had the same meal as always ready for us… a mountain of food that will be gone in seconds. As everyone made their way down for food, everyone was quiet. I felt eyes on me and heard a low rumble from Marcus. I rolled my eyes and just ignored… just like every other time when it comes to Marcus.

After the food was gone and I helped with dishes, it was time for school. Just like any other day, Brian came up and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "I love you, Eve. I believe in you with all my heart, and I trust you. So just believe in what is right. I love you, dearie."

"Thanks, Dad," I whispered in his ear as I gave him a kiss and left out the door.

And with that, the boys and I were off to school. I ended up riding with John and Kenny. They did not seem to be happy with me today. "I am sorry you're mad at me, but I have to do what is right. Just trust me!" I yelled as we raced to school. Kenny was driving and he revved the engine and speed to school even faster. John did not say anything… did not do anything.

At school, Kenny and John just walked into the homeroom with nothing to say. "What is wrong with them?" Evan asked once we got to school.

"They are not happy with our decisions."

"You mean your decisions," Sly exaggerated.

"Thanks for making me feel worse," I said with a glare.

"You are welcome," Sly said with a huge smile.

I nudged him so hard that he ran into a wall. "Careful, kids," a teacher said.

"Sorry," I said, looking everywhere else and getting red in the face. As we kept walking to class, I kept getting these nasty looks. "Why is everyone looking at me?"

"You are wearing our rival's mascot and colors," Evan said with a chuckle.

"What?!"

"Yeah… the Bobcats are a school to the north of us. It is also a school with another beast and witch group," Sly said, with a smirk.

My mouth dropped open. I quickly took a jacket that Evan had in his arms and threw it on. "Thanks for telling me this earlier," I said.

"I thought it would be funny," Sly said.

I rolled my eyes at him as the school bell went off.

Homeroom time: we walked in. I was so embarrassed and instead of sitting with the boys, who seem to make me feel even more weirded out. I sat with Liam's group. I immediately felt eyes on me. Looking around, I saw Kenny's and John's eyes and reactions to what I did. I could also hear a low growl coming from them which made Liam and his group happy. I quickly used Quentura and told them, "It is okay. Nothing bad is going to happen. Just trust me."

And with that they glared at me and replied, "Okay, but be safe."

With that straightened out, it was time to tell Liam and his pack the game plan. They each had a look at me with a puzzled look except for Jeremy who was a little so happy with himself.

"Well, well, look who couldn't resist... the Jeremy," Jeremy said, while trying to put his arm around me.

"Eww," I said, removing his arm from being close to me. "That is not the reason I am here. I am here to tell you that I have a plan that benefits the Slechts and the Goeds. I am planning on staying with you guys for today to learn what you guys do and what for. That way I am not only focusing on the Goeds' side of things. What do you think?"

"Do you trust being alone with seven males?" Liam asked, sounding concerned.

"I am not going to be alone. I have Sly coming with me," I said, making sure that Jeremy would not do anything to me.

"Well, I will have to check with my dad and Uncle… But it should not be a problem," Liam said with a smirk.

"Good morning, class. Let us see who is all here," Miss Parman said in her annoyingly happy voice. As she started taking roll calls, Jeremy kept trying to make moves on me and I tried my best not to beat him up. Liam let out a low growl towards Jeremy and Jeremy instantly dropped his head. Miss Parman glared at us and continued with roll call. Once the roll call was over, Miss Parman extended her arms and exclaimed, "Everyone is here... homeroom is over. Now go to your classes and have a wolfy day."

I let out a low chuckle as John and I head to our classes. "She says that every day," John said as Max followed us to work. John glared at Max and let out a low growl.

I nudged him and said, "Be nice. Max is a nice guy."

"As you know," John snapped.

I rolled my eyes and went on with our day to school.

"See you around supper," I said to the boys as we reached outside to the four-wheelers.

"Take care of her," Kenny barked.

"I know how to take care of my sister. Don't tell me what to do," Sly barked back as he got onto the four-wheeler. "Go home!" Sly exclaimed.

Kenny glared back at Sly and looked as if he was challenging Sly. They were having a standoff but were interrupted by Evan dragging Kenny to the other four-wheeler. "Come on. See you at home, guys," Evan exclaimed as he turned the four-wheeler on and drove home.

After they left, Liam and his group pulled up in a dirty, old, rusty pickup truck and a man that looked like Liam drove up and exclaimed, "Follow me, Goeds!"

The man drove the ratty truck that spread out musty smoke. I ended up coughing the whole time following them home. They lived East of town toward a janky mismatch junkyard. Arriving at the house, it looked like a shabby shack that could maybe only hold a small family of two. Not a family of beasts.

Whispering into Sly's ear, "How can they live here?"

"It is hard to say," he whispered back.

"Welcome to our humble home. Make yourselves comfortable," said Jeffrey, giving me chills down my spine. "Please come in and let me introduce you to the gang."

Entering the house, I could see that they lived on the poor side of life. They had one coach and one chair that all looked like they could use a little care. "This is my brother, Lukas," Jeffrey said while slapping the back of the man who led us here. "Then this over here is Harry, Jeremy's dad." Harry is a long, skinny, dark brown-haired man. "And finally, this is David, Max's uncle." David is just a bigger form of Max.

"Nice to meet you all. I do not think I have to say this, but… I am Eve, and this is my brother Sly. And please call us that," I said, not wanting to be called Belle again.

"Okay, Eve. What brings you to our home today?" Lukas asked.

"We are here to learn about you. Since we are going to choose the fate of the whole supernatural, we would like to learn more about your group," I said, telling the truth.

"That seems pretty easy. Go ahead and ask any questions you have," Jeffrey said, taking control.

"Well, first.... was it one of you that is the legend werewolf around here?" I asked.

"Yes, that would be me," Jeffrey said. "I was a lone wolf just wandering around; I was just running from another territory and found Nevah Flow. I found my brother and his pack. Then I became alpha and turned my life from loner to family man."

"Okay, next question… what do you guys do exactly?" I asked, keeping my guard up.

"We do exactly the same thing as the Goeds, except a little differently," he said with a twitch in his right eye.

"Like what?" I asked.

"We serve others, but only when we need to. We don't start in the fight but join in when we need to," Jeffrey said proudly.

"Like when?" I asked, wanting the truth.

"Like when the fight involves us or what we are. We will engage when we see fit," he said, holding something back.

"What about your free time? I saw what Liam was doing with that girl that day. And I know that we must transform occasionally, or we cannot control it," I inquired.

"We go for… runs in the forest and hunt rabbits and other prey," he said, giving me chills.

"Well, okay. What type of animals do you mostly transform into? "I asked.

"What do you mean? We all can transform only into wolves, just like you," Jeffrey said with a raised eyebrow.

"...I know, but you never know. So, what kind of tricks can you do?" I asked with a little hesitation.

"We can do the same as you, but we tap into a little darker stuff. But that is only one difference," Jeffrey said, still making my hair stand on end.

"So, what Liam did with the girl was like convincing her to do something else? That is one of those differences?" I asked to make sure it was.

"Yes, we call that Denta. It is convincing the brain to do something else, and if they try not to do it, they get hurt and put into a coma," he said, still with his right eye twitching.

"Anything else?" I asked, wanting more.

"Nope. And if you will excuse me, I need to go to work. But feel free to stay here and keep talking," Jeffrey said.

"Where do you work?" I asked.

"I own the junkyard. We all work there, but it is my day to work," Jeffrey said and walked out the door.

"Could you guys teach us how to use the Denta?" I asked.

"You want to learn a Slecht's trick? You are a Goeds," Lukas said.

"Well, technically, I am not a Goeds. I just live with the Goeds," I informed him.

"And I am here to learn what it would be like to be a Slechts," Sly added.

"Sure, David will teach you. He is the best one we got," Lukas said.

"Let us go outside. I will take the kids out to learn. We will be right back," David said.

We went outside, then everything changed.

"I am going to teach you the Denta, but then you have to leave. If they learn about the other animals...well, God help us all. Everything Jeffrey told you is not the full truth. So, you need to leave and never come back," David half-yelled and whispered at us.

"What do you mean we have to leave? Are you on our side?" I asked with surprise.

"There are no sides. I am helping you so you can help Max and me. We want to go back into Marcus' good graces… everyone does. We are all scared of Jeffrey. But back on task. To do the Denta, you just need to focus on what you want to tell the person to do and look straight into their eyes and only the eyes," he said shortly.

"That is not that hard," I said, shocked and concerned.

"It is not, but to do it correctly you must have a true purpose. For some reason that is going to help keep our secret," he said in a whisper.

"Okay, is that it?" I asked.

"Yes, now leave… and tell Marcus I am sorry. Now leave!" he half growled at us.

I was a little scared and then we hopped back on the four-wheeled and drove away. After a few miles of getting away from the shack, a loud howl came over the air. Yelling out, "Was that David?"

"Most likely," Sly said, speeding home as the sound of another car squealing tires made me a little scared.