AN: Happy Halloween! Enjoy!

Maureen ushered the two girls down the stairs and towards the fireplace.

The girls held on to each other, like if they let go, they may float away and never be seen again.

Maureen halted the girls in front of the rows of chairs and where the light coming from the flames in the fireplace danced. She knelt so she was at the girl's level. "Alright girls. They are going to give you some names from our collection of books. You both get to pick the name that you feel is yours. Do you understand?"

Both girls bobbed their heads.

"Alright, let it all start."

Alice's hand shot up.

"Yes Alice, what is it?"

"Wait how is this going to work? There are two of them?"

"Whoever claims the name first is the one that gets the name," Bert replied for his place at the top of the steps.

"But what if they say it at the same time?" Theodore asked.

"Too, many questions let's start."

Burt pointed at Caesar, "You go."

"I pick Viola the name from Twelfth Night, I picked her because she is brave and loves adventure."

The room fell into an awkward silence, and the girls began to fidget.

"Do either of you like that name?"

They both stared silently back at Bert.

"You need to say if you want the name or not."

"No," they both said in unison.

Burt pointed at Ron.

Ron held up his book. "I pick the name, Catherine, from Withering Heights. I pick this name because both Catherines in the book are strong and get what they both want."

"That's the name I want!" the twin in the Lavender dress yelled.

Her sister looked at her. "Are you sure that's the name you want..."

"It's my name."

Maureen smiled down her, "Okay Catherine, have a seat with the others."

Catherine let go of twin's hand somewhat reluctantly and sat down in an empty chair between Cherry and Sawyer. The remaining twins nervously rubbed at the skin next to her mole, while she did her best to avoid the eyes of everyone in the crowded room.

Bert pointer to Hucks, "Alright, what name do you pick?"

Hucks thrust his book into the air with a trumpet smile. "I pick the name, Diana, from Anne of Green Gables. I picked this name because Diana was a good friend."

"Is that your name?" Bert asked.

"No, I don't think so.."

"Alright, you go Theodore."

Theodore stood. "I pick the name, Lucy, from The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. Lucy is kind but brave."

Is this your name?" Burt repeated?

Again the girl shook her head.

"Aurelia, it's your turn."

"For you, I choose the name Julia from this history book because many strong women have -."

I stopped mid-sentence. The girl's eyes had widened and there was a slight quivering in her hands.

"Is that your name?" Bert asked, not seeming to notice the girl's sudden distress or my unfinished sentence. I glanced over at the newly named Catherine. Her small face was full of concern. She abruptly jerked her head toward me, and I quickly averted my gaze.

"That is not my name!" she said softly.

"Cherry."

Cherry tucked stray pieces of her red hair behind her ear and opened her book.

"Wait!" the unnamed twin said abruptly. "What was the name he said first?" She pointed at Caesar.

"Viola," Caesar repeated.

"I'll take that name," she said.

"Are you sure?"

Viola bobbed her head.

"Alright Viola, you may have a seat."

She promptly took a seat in a chair near me.

"Well that was no fun," Ron mumbled from the chair next to mine. "That had to be the quickest naming ceremony ever, and there was two of them to name!"

Maureen clapped her hands together. Alright, everyone! Since we got done so quickly with the naming ceremony, we can go ahead with today's lessons!"

There was a collective groan from the room. Maureen ignored the sounds of displeasure and walked over and pulled out the blackboard from its place behind the bookcase. She prompted it against the wall and started to write on it with a piece of white chalk.

I stood from my chair replaced my book on the bookshelf before returning to the staircase. There was no need for me to stay for the lessons. I had my own school work from the human high school to do, plus I wanted to check on Beatrice.

I heard Caesar right behind me on the staircase. Maureen did not say anything at his departure and I wondered if she knew he would be joining me at the human school, and would not be needing her lessons anymore. When I stepped into our room, Beatrice was sitting up in bed, while Benedick sat by her side at the head of the bed... I smiled at her, glad to see my friend was awake. Two empty bowls sat beside the bed.

"Hey, you're awake!? How are you feeling?"

"I just have a little headache and my leg is killing me. But I'm fine, sorry to have worried everyone..."Beatrice trailed off. "Was I dreaming or did the Alpha's son and the two visiting Alpha's come to our house?"

"No, they were here."

Beatrice let out a loud groan. "And I passed out in front of them!? I'm so embarrassed!"

"There were more worried about going to drink beer, than you passing out."'

"Beatrice," Caesar lowed his voice to a whisper. "Do you remember what happened?"

A look of sadness crossed her face. "I do for the most part, and Benedict told me you know what happened to me in the woods. And he also told me what happened at the Alpha's mansion last night." She looked over at me. "No wonder you were acting so weird. I wouldn't worry about me too much, you have bigger problems to deal with."

"What did she say in your ear that made you want to run away from her?" Caesar asked.

Beatrice knitted her eyebrows together. "To be honest, that part I forget. The moments right before and everything that happened after is a blur once she shifted. I just remember the need to get away and the pain. But I'm still glad I got to meet her, my mom, I wish I could do more to help her. She's hurting, I could see it in her eyes. She has been hurting for a long time."

Benedick placed a hand on her shoulder. "Beatrice, we will do everything we can to help. I think it's obvious that you shouldn't go outside for a while. At least not until the other packs have left. I'll talk to Bert. And make sure that all of the chores you get are inside, we can all rotate taking your place outside."

"I think it's a given that we will be staying inside, at least for a couple of days," I said.

"I agree, but who knows how long these Alpha's will be here for? They brought their families and  pack members." Benedict said. "Remember all the rooms we had to prepare last Sunday at the Alpha's mansion ?"

"Don't remind me, we are going to have to clean all of them this Sunday," I groaned.

"We have enough flour and can goods to last us a couple of weeks, but we only have so much meat. Not to mention firewood to heat the house. We will all have to go back into the woods within a few days."

"Unless Alpha Luka gives us what we need."

Caesar let out a short laugh "Yeah I wish! We might be able to convince him to supply us, his precious experimental students, but what about everyone else?"

I think I might be able to help. I can ask Grayson if the Alpha could provide us with some meat and wood, or at least a little bit of security."

"No way!" Caesar said.

"Why not?"

"You need to avoid that guy at all costs until he finds himself a new mate! "

"That isn't going to be for a while. Why should I get all the negatives and none of the positives?"

Beatrice nodded. "I agree with Caesar. It's better to stay away, not to tempt fate."

"I second Beatrice," Benedict said.

"We'll see," I said quietly. Deep down I knew they were right, but the thought of having no contact with Grayson left an empty ache in my chest. And I didn't even allow myself to think of him finding another mate.

"Hey Aurelia, can I ask you a favor?" Beatrice asked.

"Sure," I said.

"Can you show us some of your school stuff? Like all the books and stuff?"

"I mean I guess you can, but you'll be getting your own stuff pretty soon. We all start after winter break. Plus a lot of it isn't that interesting..."

Both boy's faces lit up.

"I'm just too excited! I want to see what we will be learning. I mean, I've peaked in your school stuff before, but I want to see the exact place you are currently at in school!"

"Alright," I said and went to retrieve my black backpack from the corner of my room.

We spent the next two hours talking about what school was like at Schuylkill high school. Then, it was time for afternoon chores, except for Beatrice that stayed in bed. It came as no surprise that all the afternoon chores involved things that needed to be done in the house. After chores were dinner and after the diner was afternoon lessons, which again we did not attend and instead gathered around Beatrice's bed. And it was finally time for bed. The boys wished us a good night before returning to the room.

I had a hard time falling asleep that night. My mind was on Grayson and my emotions were pulling me in all kinds of directions. Even though I had made up my mind the night before to stop seeing him even in my dreams, I hoped he would be the first thing I saw when I closed my eyes.

What I should have hoped for was to wake up to an ordinary day at Pine Ridge, and not the day full of death and despair that awaited me instead.