The days following were rough. I dragged through the school day, feeling utterly rejected by the world. Andrew didn't hang around me anymore, and I sat at a table by myself for lunch. I was completely alone.

On Tuesday, Xavier didn't even bother to show up to school, which meant I didn't get a chance to apologize or set things right. I tried talking to his friends, but they had all but forgotten I existed.

I wanted to scream. I felt like they were being a bit overdramatic, but at the same time, I understood. I had lied to their faces, slowed down the process that would give their Alpha a mate and them a Luna. I was a fake and they wanted nothing to do with me.

I tried not to wallow, but it was hard. It felt like I was mourning the death of someone close to me. I knew Xavier wasn't dead, but he might as well be. He didn't bother to show up Wednesday either.

I wanted to ask Everleigh what was going on and if he was okay. But when I approached her during lunch period, she only shook her head and let Andrew drag her and her friend away. I closed my eyes to stop the tears threatening to spill as I turned and walked back to my empty table.

On Thursday, none of them were there. I didn't know what to make of that.

On Friday, Xavier finally showed up with the rest of them. I tried to give him a smile at Lunch, but he just glared at me, his bright blue eyes had gone cold. I choked back a sob and ran out of the building, ignoring the curious stares of the humans around me.

I was miserable. I wanted nothing more than my mate to come comfort me, to say everything was going to be okay. I wanted a chance to set things right, but none of them had any interest. Especially, it seemed, Xavier himself.

I collapsed on the grass, turning my emotions from tears to talking nonsense, both in my head and out loud. I knew I looked like a crazy woman lying in the yard screeching gibberish, but I didn't care.

I swore at the Moon Goddess, demanding answers to why I was a fox and not a normal wolf or even a freaking human at this point. Why a fox? Why was my life so complicated?

"Agh!" I screamed, ready to rip my hair out. I really hoped no one was watching the childish tantrum I was throwing in the back courtyard of the school. But, honestly, if anyone were, I didn't care; let them call me names and make fun of me. They didn't know anything.

By Saturday afternoon, I had cussed out Scarlet so bad, she retreated to the farthest corner of my mind where I couldn't reach her. Saddened, I curled in a ball in the middle of the floor until I fell asleep.

When I woke, I was utterly ashamed of the actions the past week had brought. This wasn't me. I was more responsible than this, I cared about Scarlet and about my friends too much to do this to them.

I slowly sat up and reached for my phone, knowing there wouldn't be any messages for me, like usual. All my friends had been ignoring me for five days.

When I turned my phone on, I nearly dropped it in shock. I had one message and it was from Xavier! I was almost afraid to read it, terrified it was something that would only upset me more right now. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked my phone.

I blinked. The time stamp on it read four fifteen, just after I had passed out on my bedroom floor.

I scrambled to reply to him, unsure what to say. I finally decided to be casual, but I added something I hoped he couldn't ignore.

It wasn't long before the reply came. My heart skipped a beat.

I smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever.

I blinked back tears.

I chuckled to myself, glad he hadn't seen that fit in the schoolyard the day before.

I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn't see it.

I grinned and turned off my phone, hurrying to the mirror, trying to fix the mess of myself I'd made since Monday. I brushed my hair out, wiped my face down, and brushed my teeth. Right as I finished, the doorbell rang.

I flew from my room, past a startled August standing in the hall, and scurried down the stairs. May had reached the door first and was swinging it open.

"Hi, May!" I heard Everleigh's voice exclaim. I was quietly relieved that Xavier had actually brought all of them over. "Can you go get April for us?"

"April is upset. She won't want to see you." She sounded way more mature than normal as she started to shut the door.

"Wait, May! I'm right here; it's okay."

She peeked over her shoulder at me. "But you don't like them right now."

I sighed and Andrew let out a chuckles from the other side of the door. I swung it back open and ushered them inside.

"What's going on?" Dads voice echoed down the hall. I turned to see Mom and him walking over to us. "Is everything okay, Xavier?"

Xavier nodded once at him before focusing on me. "April I'm so sorry I stormed off like that, I should've let you explain. And then I couldn't handle seeing you so I locked myself in my room and skipped school, telling my friends to shut you out too. That was a horrible thing to do and I don't think I deserve to be your mate."

I gamers at him as he spoke, jumping in right as he finished. "I should be the one apologizing, Xavier! It was a horrible thing to do, faking everything and pretending to be human. I've had to do it my whole life, but I never shouldn't done it to my mate!" I sobbed and angrily wiped the tears away, so sick of crying.

Xavier wasted no time pulling me into a tight embrace, smoothing down my hair and kissing the top of my head. "It's okay, April. I forgive you. We both messed up, but we can put it behind you. Don't let this beat you up anymore."

I smiled and gripped his t-shirt between my fingers. I looked up and he flashed me the wide smile I'd been missing all week. With no hesitation, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing our lips together.

I barely registered that it was my first kiss — not just between Xavier and I, but ever. I smiled as we broke apart, pure happiness coursing through new and spreading warm tingles to my fingers and toes.

Everleigh looked like she wanted to jump and shout with happiness, while Andrew looked proud for some reason. It was a moment of bliss after a long train wreck week.

Finally, it was Jacob who spoke up. "As touching and beautiful as that was, what did you mean you've had to hide yourself your whole life?"

I took a deep breath, still pressed against Xavier's side. "Alright, but what I'm about to tell you has to stay between the five of us for now, okay?"

Everyone's expressions turned serious as they all nodded. Mom came up and grabbed my arm gently. "April, are you sure?"

I nodded and pulled myself out of her grip. "I'm sure, Mom. I should've told the truth at the beginning. I should've come down for dinner with you guys. I couldn't prevented this entire mess. So now I'm cleaning it up."

Dad looked uncertain but nodded his agreement anyway. Mom gave me a huge smile at my decision and let me carry on.

I let out a breath. "I'm not human. But I'm not a werewolf, either. The truth is, I'm a fox shifter."

At first, only silence met my words as my friends stared at me in complete shock. When they finally processed what I said, they all spoke at once.

"Wait, what?"

"No way!"

"That's impossible!"

All four pairs of eyes were wide.

I nodded, "the entire society of werewolves doesn't know I exist, either. We've been told fox shifters are a legend unlikely to be true. When I shifted on my sixteenth birthday, we were all pretty horrified."

"But like, how?" Xavier asked cautiously.

I shrugged, "we're not sure. Both my parents are wolves, so you'd think I'd be one too. And I'm the oldest; neither August nor May have shifted yet so it's a mystery."

Xavier scratched his head. "Hm. That is a little strange. And you don't know why?"

"Nope," I said. I tilted my head as I noticed Jacob disappear off down the hall from the corner of my eye. I assumed he was heading for the bathroom, but it was an odd time to go. No one else seemed to notice.

Xavier folded his arms and shuffled his feet. He looked at his feet for a few seconds and then looked into my eyes. "I think it's great!" He finally said.

"Really?"

"Yeah! You can shift into a fox! I've never heard of someone doing that before! How come you haven't told anyone?"

"Because."

"Because why?" He put his hands on my shoulders. "You can tell me anything."

I sighed and hung my head. "Because if other wolves find out, the information can spread to rogues. They'll either find me unnatural and take me off the face of the earth or they'll use me for breeding purposes..." I shivered in disgust.

Xavier growled protectively and pulled me to his chest. "I won't let anything happen to you! Your secret is safe with us."

"Yup!" Everleigh confirmed. "So when are you going to move to our pack house?"

I gulped. I had forgotten about that part. But Dad beat me to an answer. "Never." He growled like the protective father he was.

I rolled my eyes. "Dad! I'm going to leave sometime and now that Xavier knows I'm not human, we can push that sooner."

Dad growled again, "No."

"Guys."

I growled back, "Yes!"

"No. It's safer here!"

"Guys!"

"He's my mate, Dad! Mom moved in with you when you found her so why is this different?"

"Guys!"

Dad rolled his eyes, "I can see that, April, but because of Scarlet, we need to keep you safe from rogues!"

"Guys!"

"Xavier can keep me safe to!" I defended.

"Guys!"

"But we don't really know him yet, Honey." Dad ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't feel safe sending you off on your own yet."

I groaned. "I'm nearly eighteen! If not now, then when?"

"GUYS!"

"What?" We all turned towards Everleigh.

She sighed, "I've been trying to get your attention for a while. Look!" She pointed out the window.

I looked out the window and saw dozens of pairs of eyes staring back from the woods. All red or a fire-like amber color. My eyes widened and my heartbeat sped, "what are those?"

Dad narrowed his eyes. "Rogues."