"I thank you for whatever you can offer," said Karen, with a genuine smile, as she reached out to hold Peter's hands in hers. "Despite the fact we just started dating, you already agreed to come with me to the wedding as my date. But considering we haven't known each other for that long, I wouldn't have asked for something so major if the circumstances weren't dire."
"I understand. If these Harpers and this other guy are as toxic to your friend's health as you say, I'm sure the Skulk are already rallying to her cause even as we speak. The werefoxes are even more clannish than some of the other were groups in Moon Lake," Peter said to reassure her. "I will talk to my father, but that's the most I can promise. If he and any other werelions say yes, we shall offer our services to the Skulk cause in their hour of need."
"Thank you!" said Karen, reaching across the college cafeteria table to kiss her boyfriend.
Their lips touched, and soon tongues were dancing together in an exotic expression of joy and love.
When their lips finally parted, they smiled at each other.
Peter thought to himself Down boy. It's too soon!
Karen thought to herself Other lionesses be damned. You're MINE! as they both resumed eating.
MEANWHILE...
Ben Twist joined his friends Nate Anderson and Alex Ramsey for Junior Class lunch at Moon Lake High School. Nate and his boyfriend didn't know they were sitting basically in the same spot his younger brother Eric Anderson occupied with his girlfriend Julie Stovall practically every day, just that it was a nice and quiet area toward the middle of the lunch room where they could have some time together; since most students preferred to be towards the various exits so they could either be seen by others or leave quickly for their next class when lunch was over.
The three of them weren't talking about much in general when the cellphone in Ben's pocket vibrated that it was receiving an incoming phone call.
One look at the Caller ID, and Ben was all smiles as he answered it.
"Hello Ben," he heard Kenya's voice say on the other end. While it might of sounded like an average female voice to anyone else, to Ben, it was a song of exotic mystery and romance. "How has your day been so far?"
"Fine. Yours?" he asked in return.
"Good. I stopped by the legal counselor here at the college between classes this morning. He said that despite our age differences, because of the higher libidos weres possess, the laws of Moon Lake allow for... physical romantic encounters between consenting weres from the age of 14 on. If one or both of us were normals, then the regular laws of the land would prevail."
"So that means..." began Ben, not wanting to get his hopes up.
"When the time is right my werewolf, after I meet your mothers and get their consent to our possible relationship," promised Kenya.
"Well, I don't foresee any reason why they wouldn't give us that, but as to meeting them, how does dinner at our house sound? About 6:30 tonight? Although we probably won't start eating until closer till seven."
"That is agreeable with my schedule. Should I bring anything?" asked Kenya.
"No. I've got that all covered. See you then Kenya," said Ben. Then she broke the connection.
I'm HER werewolf! Ben happily thought to himself, as he finally took note of his friends again.
Alex and Nate looked across the table at him with smiles on their faces almost as big as the one Ben had on his face. Given a were's better hearing, they had overheard everything.
"Gentlemen. You have your romance, and I have mine," was all Ben said in response as he started typing out a text message.
MOMS:
Friendly reminder. Kenya coming for dinner at 6:30. All you have to do is be there. I'm cooking.
Ben.
Then he sent it to both Samantha and Frances Twist.
"I hope you guys don't mind a brief stop at the grocery store on the way home this afternoon," announced Ben, who was already mentally composing a shopping list and the dinner menu for tonight as the bell rang, signalling the end of their lunch period.