"The evil werewolf is in D&D club?" Macy's face twisted in confusion. "Was he neutered?"

  ?Adam just gave her a look as Kim and Sarah walked with them and Shannon to school. The sky was overcast, heavy and grey; you could smell the April shower about to burst.

  ?"So, another man-eater in the school," Macy sighed.

  ?"Probably," Sarah said, kicking a pebble.

  ?"Two in one year... where were these in grade school?" Macy joked, deflecting the discomfort. "We're turning into Sunnydale High!"

  ?"Does this mean I have to become a witch?" Shannon complained. "Because Buffy witches are Lesbians. Which would be fine if ours weren't all super evil."

  ?"Did you just make a Buffy reference? Good job," Macy said, making a thoughtful face. "Is there like a whole show available for us to binge-watch that I was unaware of? In this scenario, is Kim Buffy or am I? Like, because I have all the weapons, but she's clearly got the superpowers."

  ?Kim let the entertaining rant die before she anything. "He's actually been coming to school here for years. I don't think he's much to worry about."

  ?"For the record, I like Sam," Adam said. "He's solid. Shows up every session. Always plays Paladins. Which is a bit annoying for the rest of the party, but whatever."

  ?"What's a Paladin?" Sarah asked.

  ?Macy jumped in. "Well, take all the worst things about Church, cram it into one guy who hits things with a hammer, and bazinga-you're the Eeyore of the game."

  ?Adam gave her a look.

  ?"Oh, what? I pay attention to you," Macy said, kissing him playfully as the school doors approached. "It's D&D I don't like. I'm a big Adam fan."

  ?Adam's face flushed red.

  ?Macy looked at Kim and gave her a reassuring smile. "Look, whatever it is, we'll deal."

  ?"That's very Buffy of you," Kim said.

  ?"See? I'm Buffy," she immediately said to Shannon.

  ?"Only because Buffy told you you were!" Shannon teased as the school door closed behind them.

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  ?"Who's Buffy?" Sarah asked, looking between them.

  ?"We could find out together," Kim offered. "Wanna watch some TV?"

  ?Sarah looked around at the emptying sidewalk. "TV isn't fun without Macy."

  ?"I get that." Kim hated TV too. Macy's commentary was the only thing that made it bearable. It gave her something to focus on besides the hideous electronic lights and sounds that hurt her enhanced senses.

  ?"Well, your mom wants you to spend more time as a human while you're here. So pick something. And then we will hunt with the Grey Wolves."

  ?Sarah's face took on a serious look. "Why didn't we kill the Dog Man?"

  "So you're picking deep talk?"

  ?Kim knew the question wasn't Sarah beating a dead horse. Sarah was a wolf. They didn't play games. They dealt in absolutes. And talking out complexity was something they had always done. Now Kim realized that it wasn't just because Sarah had super ADHD; it was because she spent eight months of the year as a wolf. Nuance was a human skill she had to practice.

  ?"Can we go somewhere where we can sit, that's dry?" Kim asked.

  ?Sarah nodded. Kim put her hands on both of Sarah's shoulders-the pre-talking ritual. "I love you, you know."

  ?Sarah smiled, a genuine, wolfish grin. Putting her forehead on Kim's. "I know."

  ?She did love Sarah, deeply. She pulled her close as they made their way to the local teenager community center: McDonald's.

  ?Sarah sat with a pile of eggs and sausage patties with packs of honey on the side. It was the "Werewolf Happy Meal." Kim had black coffee she wouldn't finish, but it made them look normal enough to the other patrons.

  ?"So look. I get that this stuff with the Dog Man is tough. But I told Mary and Daniel," Kim said. She found herself a bit haunted by the conversation, still processing the weight of it.

  ?"What did they say?" Sarah asked, tearing open a honey packet with her teeth.

  ?"I wish they had said to kill him. Your Dad offered to. But they told me I had to make the decision. Do you want to know why?"

  ?"Because Dad doesn't like to make decisions," Sarah said back with a little snark and sass that came from having to deal with this family dynamic for thirteen years.

  ?"Your dad is like... super werewolf baby," Kim laughed. "Everyone wants him to make all the decisions. But, like Samuel, he didn't choose this life."

  ?"And like you," Sarah said meekly.

  ?"Hey, no. Not like me," Kim corrected firmly. "I wouldn't trade this life. I love being a werewolf." She wasn't lying. She stroked Sarah's cheek. "Look, they told me to make the decision because I have feelings for this wolf. Protective ones. When I told your mom that... well, she said, and I quote, 'Then you'll have to make the decision'." She curled her nose a little bit before finishing. "I wish they hadn't."

  ?"If he hurts our friends or our wolves..." Sarah began, her eyes darkening.

  ?Kim put her finger up. "If he hurts anyone. We put him down."

  ?Sarah nodded. That was a rule she could understand. "I don't like having that little bag with me when I'm a wolf!" Sarah said, abruptly changing the subject to her clothes. "And I think I want to mate with Jack."

  ?Kim choked on her coffee.

  ?"Okay, wow, that's a lot! First off, Jack is fifteen and you are thirteen—don't make me rip that boy's throat out!" Kim growled, leaning across the table. "And you cannot keep walking around like a wild child in front of the humans."

  ?"I think Jack might like that," Sarah mused.

  ?"Remember the 'Throat Ripping Out' discussion?" Kim warned.

  ?"What? He just turned fifteen!" Sarah said defensively. "And we don't know exactly how old I am. It's not like we have calendars in the woods!"

  ?Kim growled.