The family-like structure of packlife gave Hunter and his friends a different set of boundaries. Often he would wake up in someone else's bed or living room. There was no need to go 'home' at the end of the day, as 'home' extended to every house on Canis Drive.

For that reason, he woke up in Grayson's bed, embarrassed and confused.

This was not Syracuse. This was Redwood.

Neither Arif or Grayson were around, the TV was off and he could smell someone's breakfast from down the hallway. Well, this is weird. He looked down at twisted sheets. I might have overstayed my welcome.

After stretching and straightening out the sheets he checked his phone. Professor Garou had sent him an email the previous night requesting that he stop by the Grimwald office at 2.

He probably wants to talk about Ashley, or the passing moon. He thought. The lack of information regarding her condition was unsettling, but he was sure it had something to do with her wolf side. Perhaps she shifted prematurely and went on a rampage in the woods. Maybe she even crossed paths with an actual wolf.

Redwood was among the very few colleges designated for Lycankind. Government intervention would most likely occur to prevent scandal and protect secrecy. But with the sudden presence of government officials and police involvement, He worried that the school's image would become priority instead of Ashley's wellbeing.

He glanced through his inbox. The next thing under Garou's message was a student newsletter. Hunter scanned through it quickly, hoping for an update on Ashley. Instead, there was an events calendar, an ad for the bookstore's current sales, a study prep course for midterms--

He froze. Midterms? Already? In the midst of his moon madness, he had forgotten all about his upcoming exams. He was glad that his teachers all adopted the use of a digital syllabus. Not only did he have midterms to study for, he also had two papers to write. The stress hit him like a ton of bricks.

Grayson returned then, back from his morning run. "Good Morning."

"Morning." Hunter rubbed his hands together, a nervous habit. "Uh, thanks for letting me crash here. I'm sorry for taking your bed. You could have kicked me out if you wanted to."

Grayson shrugged."It wasn't a problem. You seemed really tired."

"I should get going..." Hunter slid out of bed and reached for his crutches. Between the pleasant company, free food, and calm atmosphere he was way too comfortable.

"Oh." Grayson was surprised to see him leave so soon. "At least have breakfast first."

"If I stay here any longer, I'm not gonna wanna leave. I wasted too much time already. Oh! Not here. I mean, l-last week when I was uh, running around and uh, kind of out of it. I didn't realize midterms were so close." He admitted. "I'll be cramming all week now."

He felt a slight pressure in his legs, but he ignored it and crossed the room.

Grayson walked him back down and out of the dormhouse. The grounds were damp from an earlier rain shower. The walk looked a lot longer with crutches.

"Are you going to be okay?" Grayson asked. From the look on Hunter's face it seemed more like he was leaving for a lifelong journey rather than heading back to Howard.

"Y-Yeah." He carried the crutches under his arm. "Uh, anyway. I want to thank you for everything you've done for me for the past few days. I don't think I would have been able to make it through the shift without you. I think I was so focused on getting away from my problems that I didn't prepare myself for living on my own. So, thanks."

Grayson smiled. "I'm happy to help. I'm not all that used to being away from home either." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Maybe we could talk about it over dinner?"

Smooth operator. Hunter couldn't help but smile. "Sure."

"In town? I heard there's a diner."

One last outing before descending into study hell? "Sounds great."

"Awesome. Meet me by the vans at six."

"Great."

"But first, let's get you a ride." Grayson gave him a look. "Because there was no way I was letting you go back like that."

"Why do you think I called you here today, Mr. Reeds?"

In the empty Grimwald building, Hunter's senses were on overload. Every sound was louder than normal, ever scent more pungent. He could smell the rain outside. He could hear the faint hum from the light fixture above, the faint clinking of the hallway's radiator. Somewhere a mouse was scurrying across the floor. Most annoying of all he could hear the high-pitched whine of his own brain as it processed information.

"Um.." His voice cracked and he swallowed. "I guess...post-moon check up?"

Garou sat composed at his desk, with his fingers interlocked. Even sitting down he towered over Hunter. Something in his blood-red eyes made Hunter feel inferior.

"I'll be frank." He looked Hunter in the eye. "I need you to describe in detail your whereabouts for the past 48 hours."

"Wh..." Hunter's eyes narrowed in understanding. "This is about Ashley, isn't it?"

"It has been determined that her attacker was not human...Nor animal."

Hunter felt a chill."Is she alive?"

"Barely."

Hunter felt the anger rising. "And you think that I did that? Me, the guy who can barely get across campus with these crutches?"
"Out of all the Lycanthropes in the area you are the only one with unusual activity."

"Like what?" Hunter snapped.

Garou began his recount. "On September 20th an object was launched from your window onto the school grounds. Testimony from maintenance staff states you broke your window. This passing Monday you were spotted running with great speed from the Rosewood building. The next day you were seen muttering yourself outside the Howard dormitory. The following day the same activity occurred. On the night of the full moon, you were spotted wandering around in disheveled clothing, and rolling around outside the Howard dormitory. Normally I would contribute this to moon madness, however." He paused. "There is no record of your whereabouts from Thursday night, to Saturday morning."

"That's because I couldn't move! I was inside the whole time!"

"Is there anyone who can validate that claim?"

"Tom! He was the one who bound me."

Garou's eyebrow twitched. "Mr. Martinez gave me a different story altogether, stating that he returned to his dormitory after his last class."

"And you believe him instead of me?"

"I believe in facts. Do you know why Redwood is designated as a Lycanthrope-friendly establishment?"

"Why?" Hunter asked, his throat dry.

"The blind spots. As an ordinary college it is average. As a hiding place, it excels. It would not be unheard of for someone to use those blind spots to their advantage. I do not know you, Hunter Reeds." He said bluntly. "I do not know what you are capable of."

Hunter could feel himself shaking. Wasn't this the same Garou he had come to for advice before? The same one who promised a network of support?

"I will say this. If you truly are the culprit, I will give you a day of immunity to slip off campus. An investigation has launched. After 24 hours, I will hand everything over to the investigators. Given your background, I'm sure you are already aware of their methods. If you are hiding something, you know they will find out. Choose your actions wisely."

Hunter wasn't sure how he made it to his room after that. Garou's words had cut him deeply. He chugged one of the nutrition drinks Grayson left him and tried to study, but nothing stuck.

Around five, Grayson called.

"Would you be super upset if I rescheduled dinner? My cousin is sick."

"O-Oh. No, that's okay." It wasn't as if I've been looking forward to it all day.

"I'm sorry. I really wanted to get out of the dorm too. Arif's been getting on my nerves since yesterday. He asked me if we did anything while he was asleep."

Hunter was quiet.

"Hey, are you there?"

"...." He was being childish right? Still...

"Hunter, talk to me."

"I uh...." Hunter felt tears on the way. He felt weak, and he hated it. This goddamn moon is making me a sap. "Garou uh...He thinks I'm the one who attacked Ashley Smith."

"What!?"

"Y-Yeah...But y'know, whatever." He squeezed the phone. "Good night."

"No,wait a sec--"

Hunter hung up and stared at his textbook. When the phone rang he immediately felt bad and went to answer it, but after seeing Colton's name on the screen he snapped and threw the phone at the wall.