Night had settled over Theo's house. The portal was long gone, leaving only the soft hum of electricity fading into memory.
Papers and tools were scattered across the floor, and the room smelled faintly of burnt circuits.
Eliot and Theo sat on the floor, still in their pajamas—Eliot in plain dark sweats, Theo in striped ones that made him look like a tiny, anxious scientist.
Cassian had joined them earlier, trying to act mature while also tapping his foot nervously.
They were debating what clothing would make Lunara comfortable.
Theo fussed, tugging at his glasses. "No, that one is too scratchy… maybe the cotton blend… no wait, the sleeves—ugh!"
Eliot mirrored the motions, sighing. "Just pick something already…"
Cassian, trying to stay composed, held up a large, oversized shirt. "Here. This should work. Soft, minimal constriction, probably big enough for her."
Lunara, crouched in the corner of the bathroom, peeked out. The bathroom was tiny, the tiles cold beneath her knees, but it gave her privacy.
She slipped into the oversized shirt, the sleeves swamping her hands.
The bottom trailed like a dress to the floor, and she adjusted it once, tail flicking irritably, ears twitching as she muttered under her breath.
Finally satisfied, she stepped out, hair still slightly messy but ears perked, tail swaying lazily.
Eliot blinked. "I thought werewolves were strict, sharp, dangerous…"
"Mostly the males," she said, voice calm but firm.
"I'm… not. But I'm still fierce." Her golden eyes scanned the room, tail swishing with quiet authority.
Theo's eyes went wide. "Wow… she's… cute. And fierce. Like… wow."
"Thanks," Lunara said, flicking her ears. "I'll manage."
Theo tugged the blanket off the bed. "Here. You can take the bed. Sleep comfortably."
Lunara glanced at the floor, then back at him, and finally nodded. She stretched a little, settling in.
Theo flopped down on the floor beside Eliot, glasses crooked and hands fidgeting, already half-asleep.
Eliot lay next to him, staring at the ceiling. A wolf in pajamas… a ruined portal… a science club… this is like a dream.
Cassian had already left after handing over the shirt, muttering something about
"my contribution is done," leaving the three of them in a calm, strange little bubble.
Lunara curled slightly on the bed, tail flicking lazily, ears relaxed, but eyes still alert—fierce, sharp, and quietly amused.
Theo snored softly. Eliot's eyes stayed open, mind buzzing with disbelief. A wolf, pajamas, a ruined portal… and somehow, it was all real.
--
Morning light filtered through the blinds. Lunara blinked, golden eyes narrowing as she took in the room.
Theo was in front of the mirror, fussing with his tie, glasses slipping constantly down his nose. His striped pajamas were wrinkled, sleeves half-rolled. Eliot, sitting on the edge of the bed, was awkwardly pulling on socks that barely matched.
Lunara lifted a brow. These humans… what are they doing?
"Morning," Eliot muttered nervously. "Time to… get ready."
She hissed softly, tail flicking. "I do not… need this."
Theo, straightening his tie like it was a life-or-death mission, shook his head. "Yes, you do. Bath first. Hair, tail… all of it."
Eliot gently guided her to the bathroom, while Theo hovered, glasses constantly sliding down his nose.
Water hit her tail and hair. She hissed at the cold tiles, ears flattening.
"Patience," Eliot said, holding a towel and carefully drying her tail.
Theo, awkwardly wielding the hairdryer, muttered, "Don't fry the ears… or anything else."
Finally, they handed her a black beanie to cover her ears and a long coat for the tail. She swished her tail in protest but let them adjust it.
"Okay… all done," Eliot said, stepping back.
Lunara spun around, tail flicking like a whip. "Do not mistake appearances!"
Theo adjusted his glasses nervously. "Uh… yes. Definitely."
Then came the uniforms.
Eliot, since he wasn't going to school that day, ended up wearing Theo's uniform—the blazer hung off his shoulders, sleeves nearly dragging past his hands, and the tie was comically long.
He shuffled around like a tiny overgrown child.
Theo, of course, wore his own uniform, slightly rumpled but properly tied, looking like the little scientist he was.
Lunara, still in her oversized coat and beanie, looked… undeniably cute. But the sharp flick of her ears and twitching tail under the fabric reminded everyone she was not to be trifled with.
They all paused to look at each other.
Theo snorted, adjusting his glasses. "Eliot… you look ridiculous."
"I… I know," Eliot muttered, tugging at the sleeves. "I didn't exactly have a choice."
Lunara flicked her ears out from under the beanie, tail swishing. "Humans are… amusing. But I tolerate this."
Theo grinned. "See? Even she thinks it's funny!"
Lunara's tail gave an exaggerated flick. "I do not."
Downstairs, the smell of pancakes and toast filled the kitchen.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, catching dust motes in the air.
Mrs. Groove looked up from her coffee as they entered. Her eyes immediately went to Lunara.
"And… who is this?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
Eliot shuffled awkwardly, blazer sleeves hanging past his hands. Theo tugged at his tie nervously, glasses sliding down his nose.
Lunara's golden eyes gleamed from under the black beanie, tail swishing slightly beneath the long coat, ears twitching with impatience.
"He's… um… our friend," Eliot said quickly. "His parents… traveled. He's staying here today. Saw him with me yesterday, and we decided—uh—that it was better he stayed."
Mrs. Groove's brow furrowed. "Your friend… you said He but I can see they are a.....She?"
Theo swallowed, cheeks pink. "Y-yes! Totally a girl. Friend. Uh… nothing suspicious!"
Lunara's tail flicked once, brushing against the edge of the chair, ears flat.
She hissed softly under her breath. Terrible humans, terrible liars.
Eliot muttered, "Shh… don't growl…"
She rolled her eyes dramatically but remained seated, clearly observing every movement in the kitchen.
Cassian, who had wandered in for breakfast, stared at her coat and beanie, whispering,
"She… she looks kind of cute like that."
Lunara shot him a glare sharp enough to make him step back. "Again. Do not mistake appearances for weakness."
Mrs. Groove blinked, clearly still suspicious. "And… Eliot stayed here too??"
"Uh… yes," Eliot said quickly, tugging at the sleeves of Theo's blazer. "Just… staying to help Theo with… science stuff. Very important."
Maris's eyes softened slightly. "Alright, well… breakfast first. Let's eat before you start experimenting."
Theo whispered to Eliot, "We actually have to be careful with this lie."
Eliot nodded, taking a bite of pancake while keeping a wary eye on Lunara.
She was nibbling at a piece of toast, ears twitching, tail swishing, looking cute but radiating alertness.
The breakfast continued smoothly, with casual conversation about pancakes, syrup, and which cereal was best, while the wolf-girl sat stiffly but obediently.
Mrs. Groove never pressed further, and Eliot's oversized blazer and Theo's nervous adjustments distracted her enough to keep the story plausible.
The front door creaked open.
Cold morning air rushed in, tugging at Lunara's coat. She froze on the doorstep, golden eyes widening as she took in the outside world—open sky, distant cars, too many sounds. Her tail twitched nervously beneath the coat.
"Okay," Eliot whispered, adjusting Theo's oversized blazer again, "just… stay close."
Theo nodded, already fixing his glasses for the fifth time. "Very close."
A car idled at the curb.
Elara leaned against it, arms crossed, sunglasses on, chewing gum like she owned the morning. The moment she saw Lunara, her mouth dropped open.
"Oh my gosh," Elara hissed. "You actually brought her out."
Lunara narrowed her eyes. "Is this human hostile?"
Elara grinned. "Depends. You bite?"
"Only when necessary."
"I like her already."