I stared at the moon ,it looked so full hanging high in the sky. I stretched and laid back on the grass ,this hill had the best view of the night sky . There was no City lights to block out the stars and they were scattered across the night sky like diamonds . The harvest moon was definitely bright and beautiful . It was times like this that I loved being a lycanthrope. The moon just calls to me. " Calliope where are you . you were supposed to be home an hour ago " my mom mindlinks me . "crap I lost track of time .I'm sorry mom "I think back to her . I was supposed to get home by 7 we have a dinner with a prospective mate . mom has been trying to help me find my mate so she been setting up dinners with all the single eligible men in our pack . honestly if my mate was in our pack I would have met him already, but mom is determined and won't give up she thinks I'm gonna be lonely for rest of my life ugh. I stand up and shift feeling the bones in my body shift . it only takes a few minutes .I stretch my front paws and start running to the house . mmmmm I love the feel of the wind in my fur. I got lucky I have beautiful auburn fur. I Dodge through the trees and reach a small clearing before my house . I'm so glad my parents decide to get a house in the edge of the woods and not in the center of the village . I quickly grab the clothes tied to my ankle and change behind a tree . I check to make sure there are no twigs in my curly hair and walk in the back door . I'm in so much trouble . I try to sneak upstairs to my bedroom , but my mom catches me three steps up the stairs . "Calliope Rae Estes what are you doing "she whispers yells at me . I look at her . "I was gonna go freshen up mom" I whisper ."no time let's go " she says . I walk back down stairs . I have no idea who she had dragged in now but as I head to the dining room I smell a familiar scent fresh coffee and parchment . oh Lord I know who she dragged in . My best friend Rory James Watts . Thank God this is gonna be fun. I strut in and see him dressed in jeans and a button down hair nicely combed and chuckled . he never wears a button down it's always band shirts . His mom is sitting next to him dressed nice . I plop down in the chair across from him . I smile ,he rolls his eyes . I know that he is hating this as much i am . there in the center of the table is an appetizer of chips and dip ugh I'm starving . I immediately grub down and his mom chuckles . she knows I'm always hungry after a run . " so, I take it you were late because you were out exploring again miss Cali ." she says . I swallow and chuckle . "yes Mrs Helen . I was running in the woods again" she chuckles . " well as long as you were being safe and staying inside the border " she huffs . " of course helen " I say .Rory rolls his eyes " we both know you were just out side the limits at the hill again " he mindlinks to me " shut up " I think back and laugh in my mind . Just then my mom walks in and sets down some briskets in the middle of the table and goes back to get the potatoes . my mouth waters . she walked back in with a big bowl of mash potatoes and gravy . she takes her seat beside me . "So Helen . how is Robert doing ?"my mother asks I take that as my cue and pile brisket and potatoes on my plate and Rory follows my lead . we both know where this is heading . They are gonna spend the whole time talking and we are gonna Chow down and mindlink each other .

"oh my moon goddess .I love your mom's food ." I can practically hear him moan in my mind . I chuckle

" I know . she is the best cook in the world "

"so how many of the guys in the pack has she roped into doing this " he teases

"only all of them. thank God your the last . " I roll my eyes . We both chuckle. This goes on for about 30 minutes . we both end up stuffed when our mothers finally stop chatting . we both excuse ourselves and take our dishes to the sink . I turn on the faucet and wash our dishes while he dries them . I was turning off the faucet when we heard the screams .

"ROGUES. " I run to the door and push it open as I heard a blood curdling scream . I shift and run towards the screaming . I make it maybe 10 feet when I hear my mother scream "CALLIOPE , NOOOOOOOOOOO " I just know that Rory is right behind me . he always has my back . it was then that I see a rogue heading for a little girl . I push myself and slam into his side sending him flying .I'm in front of the little girl growling at the mutt that dared step foot on our territory and tried harming a LITTLE GIRL . ugh they disgust me . "Take her to the house and keep her safe" I mindlink to Rory .

"what about you ? " I can feel the worry and fear in his mind .

" I'll BE FINE . NOW GO" he grabs her and sprints .I face off with the stupid mutt . I growl and lunge at him . I miss him and he lunges at me I drop low and he misses . I spin around before he can turn around and jump on his back my teeth latching down on the back of his neck . I taste his warm blood fill my mouth something about it is sour . I clamp down harder . I hear him whimper as I snap his neck . He goes limp ,all of a sudden I hear dead silence as I stand up . The rogues were run off and standing in front of me is my dad,the alpha , with a grin along with a couple of the guys in the pack ." that was a good kill Cali .proud of you " he mind links me . I got my dad's fur and right now both of our coats are laced with blood not ours of course .

"thanks Dad " i grin

" take care of these . "he orders to his beta and with that we head back to the house