Ben is absolutely fascinated by Berry, but the feeling isn’t mutual.

“When did you get her?” He’s been following my cat around the yard for twenty minutes now, like a toddler watching a bubble float for the first time.

“She showed up a couple years ago.” I narrow my eyes on Berry as she stomps her paw on something in the grass. “She was hiding under the shed and scared the shit out of me while I was working.”

“I’ve never gotten this close to one before.” Ben beams down at her. “Cats don’t typically like...us.” He motions to himself before crouching in the lawn.

“So if Ella Jo’s your grandma…she’s a werewolf, too?” I’m breaking sticks near the fire pit to prepare separate piles of wood for each stage of the fire.

“Ah...not exactly.” Ben tears his eyes away from Berry and turns towards me. “Jojo’s not my grandma.” He approaches one of the bigger piles. “She’s not a werewolf, either.”

The logs are no match for Ben’s freckled legs. His wolf strength breaks through branches I’d need a saw to separate. “Jojo’s the healer of our pack,” he explains as he works. “She’s got some magic about her and she just...knows things. She took me in when I showed up about seven years ago.”

“Thanks.” I take a log from his outstretched arm and toss it in the designated stack. “So you’re not from here?”

“Nah.” Ben goes back to breaking tree parts. “I’m not sure where I came from. She had to wipe some of my memories when I was first living here.” He shrugs like that’s not a fucking wild thing to say. “I was pretty bad off I guess.”

Oh. I merely blink at him as I mull over how the hell to respond to that. I decide on snapping a stick against my thigh to buy myself some time, but he beats me to it.

“I know I was an orphan, though,” Ben mutters, stepping in front of me to meet my eyes. “Just like you.”

I freeze with a piece of the successfully broken stick in each hand.

“Sam doesn’t know the stuff about your family, I mean...unless you’ve told him already.” He waves his arms a bit to reassure me. “I only just learned you’re the one he imprinted on when we...when the pack came here the other night. He didn’t even tell me he’d imprinted. I found out from his…from Emma.” He scratches his hair nervously. 

“Ah.” I bring my attention back to the sticks and toss them in the pile. The girlfriend.

“So...you guys just met, huh,” Ben offers with a low sigh.

I nod, even though I’m not sure if he’s looking at me.

“I’ve been friends with Sam since I got here.” He takes a deep breath. “We’ll be juniors at Silver Birch Community College in the fall. We’re getting an apartment...at least, we were going to.” He’s mumbling.

They’re in college…? Sam looks old enough, but Ben seems like he’s in high school still. Maybe.

“What’re you studying?” I try to keep my voice level as my chest tightens. Sam had a normal life before he imprinted on me.

“I’m a bio major.” Ben perks up suddenly. “Sam’s a math nerd. He’s into business and economics...you know, the boring stuff.” He chuckles and shakes his head slightly.

I smile to myself. Sounds about right.

Ben ends up helping me build the biggest fire I’ve ever had. We aren’t really sure what else to do, so we get kind of obsessive about finding every stick and fallen log we can in the woods surrounding my house. It’s already been burning for hours by the time the sun sets behind the lake.

We roast chicken breasts on sticks over the flames, dipping them into a bowl of cherry barbeque sauce I got as a gift from one of my regulars in town. Ben chews so loudly I can hear him over the crackling logs. It ticks me off when I realize he sounds just like my obnoxious little brother, and I become even more annoyed at the thought that maybe he knew Bryan somehow. How the hell does this kid know about my family?

Ben distracts me by inquiring about dessert. When he follows me inside only to discover I don’t have anything for s’mores but the chocolate, his face falls and he slumps his way back to the fire. He’s just a kid. 

Less than a minute later, he’s giggling while Berry rubs against his leg. I watch in amusement as my asshole of a cat pulls at his heartstrings. She’s done with him in seconds, bounding up the deck and waiting expectantly by the door to be let inside for dinner. Such a tease.

I hear the gravel churning in the driveway while I’m feeding Berry. My hand is already trembling as I set the container of cat food on it’s shelf, and I can feel my pulse quicken when the headlights to the green truck appear in my kitchen window. They move towards me at a painfully slow pace, like some newbie driving through snow. He's back.

Ben is already waiting by the garage when Sam pulls in. They don't appear to exchange any words while I watch them interact. The redhead seems to be...sniffing Sam, who just gives him a quick pat on the chest before walking straight towards my front door. Is that a normal greeting between wolfboys?

I wait by the front door, watching Sam approach through the glass windows framing the side. He’s wearing a black shirt and sneakers, and I realize I’ve never seen him fully clothed. It isn’t quite right.

I open the door and Sam immediately enters, hovering over my shoulder while I close up. He checks it even after I’ve latched everything in place. “Uh…” I gulp and immediately give up on trying to start a conversation like this in the entryway. He’s making me nervous. 

Sam’s face dips slightly as he slowly follows me to the living room. I peek back at him every few steps, but his eyes stay on the floor. When I flick on the ladybug lamp next to the couch, Sam lingers by the window, peering between the curtains at the embers dancing in the pit outside. Something’s off for sure.