Artemis Lyall shifted into human form to answer the phone. "Yes?" she asked. "This is Artemis Lyall."
"Just who I was hoping to reach," said the voice on the other end. "I'm Kim Hamilton, Beck and Renata's mother. My kids go to school in the same grade as your youngest."
"That'd be Selena," said Artemis. "What's this about, exactly?"
"Well," Kim began, "Beck and Selena have been spending an awful lot of time together for almost a week now, and they've been staying out pretty late."
Artemis smiled wryly as she listened to the call. "We do tend to be night owls in this family."
"And lately..." Kim went on. "...well... I have to ask, have you noticed anything strange or weird about Selena?"
Artemis tried her best not to laugh, failing miserably. "You could say that, Kim, but I doubt it's the kind of weird thing you're looking for. Strictly in-family."
"Well, something's weird!" said Kim. "My kid's been putting on muscle like you wouldn't believe, and once I thought I caught a glimpse of FUR on them! Fur! What's worse, I found semen on their mirror with no clear source! What do you make of all that?"
"I'm gonna make you a promise," said Artemis. "Of all my daughters, Selena is the least likely to be involved in something like this. She just isn't capable of it. I'll call you back if I have anything to tell you. Bye."
Artemis hung up and shifted back into her wolfwoman form. She turned to Diana, who was busy raiding the fridge. "Diana, have you been getting up to something crazy with Beck Hamilton?"
"No freaking way, Mom!" Diana said with conviction, her unclothed breasts bouncing as she swerved to face Artemis. "I'm a senior and they're a junior. Why would I be hanging out with a kid like that? I got an image to keep up."
"Just asking," said Artemis. "It sounds like Beck's been flirting with therianthropy, and Mrs. Hamilton seems to be under the impression that Selena did it to them."
"Selena?!" Diana choked. "The family wolfborn?! Little Miss Human?! Where'd she get a dumb idea like that?!"
"I don't know," Aremis answered, her tail beginning to wag nervously. "I'm a little troubled she connected it to our family, though."
Now it was Diana's tail's turn to nervously twitch. "My Moon, does she know what we are?!"
"I can't say for sure," said Artemis, "but I think her maiden name was Vordenburg. As in the family of 'monster' hunters. I only hope we aren't in for far too interesting times, Di."
"COULD it be Selena, by the way?" asked Diana. "Who knows? Maybe she finally found a way to shift."
Artemis scoffed. "Oh, don't be ridiculous, Diana. Selena was a dud, and that's that. I know you find her a bit endearing, but don't let that trick you into overestimating her."
Diana shrugged. "Whatever, Mom. Gotta go; it's past time for my morning jog before school. I'm already late for both. Again." With that, Diana Lyall sprinted out of the kitchen.