“That’s going to leave a handprint on my ass!” I shout at Kylie, rubbing the sore spot she just smacked. She doubles over, laughing, while I squirm over Aaron’s shoulder, trying to see where she ran off to.

Aaron slowly sets me down, and just as I’m steady on my feet, I realize the mood has shifted. The guys aren’t laughing anymore.

“Uh… I gotta run. See you guys at training tomorrow,” Ethan says quickly, his voice strangely tight, before the boys all scatter like they’re late for an emergency. Devin smirks, Leo looks annoyed, and Ethan, Aaron, and Ryan seem… uncomfortable? Blushing, maybe? What the hell was that?

I turn to Kylie, thoroughly confused. “What was that all about?”

“You’re kidding, right?” she asks, hands on her hips.

I blink at her, utterly lost. Even for those idiots, that was weird. But she’s giving me this look—eyebrows raised, like I just missed the world’s most obvious joke.

“They just realized you’re a girl,” she says smugly, folding her arms.

I stare blankly at her. “Uh, I’ve always been a girl, thanks. What does that even mean?”

Kylie rolls her eyes with the exaggerated patience of someone talking to a toddler. “Oh, you sweet, oblivious thing. They’ve always treated you like one of the guys. But something just clicked, and now it’s dawning on them that you’re not just a girl—you’re a hot girl.”

“That makes no sense,” I scoff, sarcasm thick in my voice. “I’ve been training with them for years. What’s changed now?”

“Just wait until we go dress shopping this weekend,” Kylie smirks. “They’re totally coming ‘to give opinions.’ And if your brother doesn’t try to knock one of them out for making some inappropriate but accurate comment, I’ll be shocked.”

I snort. “Leo? Fight them? No way. They say inappropriate things all the time. Why would a dress make any difference?”

“Wanna bet?” Kylie grins mischievously.

“You sound like Ethan and Devin,” I laugh, shaking my head. “But fine. You’re crazy, and there’s no way all of them are voluntarily going dress shopping. That’s actual torture.”

“Deal. And when they do show up—and your brother throws a fit—you owe me lunch,” she says with a triumphant smirk, flipping her damp hair off her shoulder.

I roll my eyes. “I swear, every time I turn around, I’m making deals with someone.”

“It’s the price of hanging out with competitive idiots.” Kylie grins, glancing toward the parking lot.

Her smirk deepens. “And speaking of idiots... They left without us.”

I groan as I realize she’s right. “Unbelievable. I mess them up one time, and now they’re scared of me?”

Kylie laughs as we start the long walk toward our street. “You might’ve broken them.”

When we finally make it to her house, the twins’ truck is sitting in the driveway at the pack house. No sign of the guys, though. Not surprising. With a wave, I leave Kylie at her door and head back to my own house, making a beeline for my room.

The silence hits me the moment I walk inside, and for the first time, it doesn’t feel comforting—it feels stifling. I’ve gotten too used to being around these obnoxiously loud people. Now the stillness makes me restless.

I can hear the soft hum of music from Leo’s room, which usually means one of two things: homework or… company. And if it’s the latter, the last thing I want is to walk in on something I’ll need years of therapy to forget.

Instead, I retreat to my own room, mentally shaking off the weird encounter with the guys. I take a long shower, letting the hot water rinse away the tension. As I towel off and brush out my sandy brown hair, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

For the first time in a long while, I really look at myself.

I’m not ugly—I know that much. My hair is long, with a soft wave that falls past the middle of my back. I’ve started filling out a little, though my curves are still subtle. The constant training has defined my muscles—my arms, my legs, even my abs—and eating properly with the guys has made me stronger than ever.

But no matter how much muscle I build, I still feel small, invisible. Even though I’ve stopped hiding in oversized clothes and wear more fitted workout gear, I haven’t figured out how to see myself as anything other than ordinary. I sigh, tugging on some pajamas and settling in with my homework. I know Kylie is going to dominate the entire weekend with shopping, so I might as well get ahead now.

Saturday: The Calm Before the Chaos

Saturday morning arrives too early, and I can’t sleep. So, I lace up my shoes and head out for a run. I let my wolf out too, relishing the freedom as we fly across the pack’s territory. The cool pre-dawn air feels like a balm, and the dark woods are my sanctuary.

We complete the border patrol route in record time, running faster than I ever do with the others. Just two hours later, I slip back into the house, shower off, and head to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Our place has unofficially become the Saturday morning hangout before training, and even Alpha and Luna Ava show up sometimes. I was worried the first time Leo brought the guys over, thinking Dad would have a fit—but surprisingly, he didn’t care.

In fact, after a few weeks, Dad even asked Leo if there was anything specific we needed to keep stocked in the kitchen. That conversation had gone south fast when Leo told him to ask me.

The disapproving look Dad shot me still stings.

“I’ll have Gretchen handle the grocery list,” he’d muttered before stalking out of the room.

I shake off the memory as I crack eggs into a bowl and start frying bacon. The smell of food fills the house, and for a brief moment, the silence feels warm again, like it belongs here.

But it’s not long before the guys arrive, filling the house with their usual noise and chaos. I roll my eyes as Devin bursts in, complaining loudly about being hungry.

“Food’s almost ready,” I call from the kitchen, flipping pancakes onto a plate.

Leo grins as he leans in the doorway, looking far too pleased with himself. “You know, you might be the only reason any of us show up to training on time.”

I snort. “Don’t flatter yourself. You guys just want free food.”

He laughs, but I can tell he’s thinking about something. Before I can ask what’s on his mind, the rest of the guys pile in, making themselves at home. Ryan, Aaron, and Ethan exchange knowing looks, like they’re still recovering from whatever weird epiphany hit them yesterday.

And just like that, the weekend kicks off, dragging me deeper into the strange, complicated world of guys who suddenly see me as something more than just one of them.

This is going to be a long day.