three. origin point

"This is not how I visualized myself in the back of a cop car," Tatum murmured to himself, unknown to him that Blake heard his words.

"How did you visualize yourself in a cop car?" Blake inquired out of curiosity. Tatum glanced at her, alluding to the meaning behind his statement. "Don't tell me it's something you would find in a porn video."

"Okay, I won't tell you," Tatum responded, turning his focus back on what was outside the window. A sound of disgust eluded the girl beside him.

"Why are they here?" Everett questioned, his voice shaky from how anxious he was.

"I don't know," Blake answered, not taking her eyes off what was in front of her. "I don't care."

"They were at the hospital," Everett let out.

"Please shut up," Blake urged.

"Oh," Everett's quick breathing could be heard even more than it usually would by Tatum's ears. "W-what were they doing there?"

"Everett, you need to shut up," Blake advised, her tone as vicious as usual before her tone softened, which was a surprise to Tatum. In the few moments that he knew her, she seemed like a brutally honest person. But to see her talk softly to Everett let him know a lot about her feelings towards him. "Stop talking, stop moving, stop everything."

"Keep your fucking mouth shut," Harlan seethed after turning around in his seat, facing the three in the back.

"Harlan, stop being a d-" Tatum was interrupted when the cop driving slammed his fist against the cage in front of the twins. "No talking."

Tatum rolled his eyes in annoyance and, again, peered out the window. Everett's brawny breath could still be heard, no matter how hard Tatum made an effort to ignore it.

"It's still the full moon," Everett declared.

"What's his problem anyway?" Harlan asked his sister.

"I think he's got anxiety," Luna whispered.

"He's got something," Harlan muttered. Tatum reached forward and smacked the boy in the back of his head. Harlan jumped forward at the impact before whipping his head around to look at the boy who sat behind him. "The fuck is your problem?"

"I don't know," Tatum shrugged his shoulders with his lips pursed. "Maybe it's the fact that you're being an asshole to somebody who is clearly having a full-blown panic attack right now."

Harlan was about to say something when the cop repeated the action of slamming his fist against the cage. "Whispering is talking."

Tatum stuck up his middle finger, making sure that the officer was able to see it through his rear-view mirror.

"I'm sorry, but are we under arrest?" Luna asked.

"Don't say that," Harlan told.

"Why not?" challenged Luna.

"Because then they will arrest us," Harlan answered.

"You guys are horrible whisperers," Tatum informed. His arms were crossed over his chest and he slouched in the seat.

"It's a few questions, guys," the agent urged. "We're just trying to clear up timelines and stuff like that. Nobody's getting arrested."

"Well, then how about you call our parents?" Blake asked. Tatum's head turned as quickly as possible at the girl. His eyes widened in alarm. He got up from his slouching position and cleared his throat. He heard Everett mutter something about his parents.

"Once we get there, how about you call them yourselves?" she offered.

"They're gonna kill me," Everett let out with fright in his voice.

"Look, Everett, take this," Blake spoke out, taking something out of her pocket.

"Is it a pill?" Everett asked. Tatum glanced at the boy with a raised brow.

"No. Try it," Blake responded, putting the object in his hands. When she did, all that could be heard was the sound of erratic clicking, crunching, and panting. "No, no, no. No. Like this."

The irritating sounds were replaced with now quieter sounds as Everett's breathing slowed. The group of teens watched him, with the help of Blake, click and fidget with the two. But sadly, as soon as it became quiet, the officer banged his hand against the cage... Again. "We're here."

"I swear to God, if he does that one more time, I'm gonna slash his tires," Tatum mumbled as he let a breath escape him. He threw his head back and looked up at the ceiling of the car before closing them.

The car came to a stop and the officer and the FBI agent stepped out of the car. The officer let out Harlan and Luna while the agent let out Tatum, Everett, and Blake on the other side.

They walked into the station, which was also used as a shelter for those whose homes had been burned down in the fire. Tatum peeked at the people with saddened looks, understanding what they lost in order to wind up here.

"What's Tia doing here?" Everett let out. Blake and Tatum pursued his line of sight to the brunette girl being dragged past the group by her mother.

The group stepped up the many stairs that led to the police station. Tatum's heart beat faster at the sight of the many cops and FBI agents.

"Follow me," the officer that drive them told as he walked past them. Tatum swallowed the lump in his throat before following him. As he walked to a seat in the waiting area, he locked eyes with a kid who went to school with them. Cyrus. Tatum had to confess, he found him attractive. Like extremely attractive. But every time they spoke, he would freeze up and not know how to operate. So when their eyes met, he immediately looked away and rushed to an available seat. He sat down in one of the empty seats, making sure to leave space between himself and Luna. Harlan did the same. "Tatum Noble, come with me."

Tatum sighed before glimpsing at Luna, who had a worried look, and Harlan, who gave him an encouraging gaze. He got up and followed the officer to an office that had the agent from before in it.

"Tatum Noble. I'm Agent Kristin Ramsey," she spoke as she got up from her chair. She held out a hand for the boy to shake, which he did, hesitantly. "Please, have a seat." Tatum nodded his head before taking a seat. His right leg bounced as he waited for her to ask questions. "You seem like a nice kid, Tatum. But the problem is, we don't have a record of a "Tatum Noble" in our system."

"Probably because I don't have a criminal record," Tatum replied. "Never been arrested and never want to be."

Agent Ramsey chuckled at his statement. She looked down at the open file in front of her and pushed it in front of him. Tatum looked down at the papers, his picture on them.

"I mean that there are no records, or documentation, of a "Tatum Noble" anywhere until about a year ago," Ramsey told. "But Tatum Torres... He's been missing for that same amount of time." Tatum looked up from the papers and at the agent in front of him. Her relaxed utterance still intact. "But what I wanna know, Tatum, is why? Why did you disappear and change your name?"

"Personal issues," Tatum answered as he slumped in the chair. Ramsey glanced at the boy. His body language, the shift in tone, everything seemed to change at the mention of his actual name. "It has absolutely nothing to do with the fires."

The agent nodded her head. She glanced at her computer screen, grabbed the other files on her desk, and got up from her chair. Slow nods escaped her. Tatum watched as the woman walked to the door. She held it open and motioned for him to leave. He got up from the chair and walked out, evading any eye contact that could be produced with him walking by. "Now, it's time to ask some questions about the fires."

"Oh my God, mátame ahora," Tatum mumbled before he sighed. He sat in a room unattended, waiting for the cops to walk in and ask more questions. Getting bored of being alone. His stomach thundered loudly out of hunger. "Can somebody get me a fucking burrito!"

"Tatum, let's go," Garret told as he opened the door. Tatum didn't hesitate before following him and the twins toward the exit of the station.

"Mr. Briggs. Mr. Briggs," Ramsey called out, making an effort to stop him. Garrett turned to face her. "Are you the one in charge?" he questioned.

"Kristin Ramsey," Ramsey introduced herself. "We're very glad you're okay."

"You're not talking to my kids without a lawyer present," Garrett told. "My lawyer."

"That doesn't go for Tatum," Ramsey informed. "He's not your kid... Adopted or biological."

"Fine," Officer Jang challenged. "Call him in."

"Her," Garrett responded. "And unless you're charging someone with a crime, they are free to go, right?"

"Not if we arrest them," another officer spoke up.

"Well, we can blame that on your... Urges," Tatum piped up, looking the man up and down with a knowing expression.

"Uh, Mr. Briggs, we were just asking the kids a couple questions," Ramsey notified. "They were kind enough to volunteer."

"Not me," Blake's voice spoke out. Ramsey glanced to where she and Everett stood. "I didn't volunteer for shit."

"Me neither," Tatum piped up. Luna crept over to where Garrett stood. Whispering something into his ear.

"Mr. Briggs," Ramsey called out, snapping Harlan and Tatum's attention back to the scene in front of them. Garrett held a solemn look before turning to look at Blake and Everett as Luna glanced at her brother and friend.

"What took you guys so long?" Tatum asked as he leaned against the kitchen counter. No one replied. The eldest Briggs locked the window in the kitchen before stirring his finger in the air. Harlan nodded and looked outside the window as Luna grabbed a water bottle for Garrett.

"You know, we have questions too," Everett told.

"I wish I had the answers," Garrett responded. "To be honest, we don't know much more about this than you."

"Well, what about them?" Blake questioned, referring to Luna, Harlan, and Tatum. "Haven't they been, like..."

"You can say it," Everett said.

"I'm not saying it," Blake declared.

"You're gonna have to say it eventually," Harlan asserted.

"You're like us now," Luna proclaimed as she handed Garrett the large water bottle.

"I'm definitely not like you," Blake let out after a scoff escaped her.

"I need to talk to these guys alone for a minute," said Garrett to the two pristine werewolves. "Don't go anywhere. Okay? Guys."

The twins and Tatum followed Garrett inside the office. Tatum leaned against the bookcase not too far from the desk. Garrett closed the door while coughing, sniffling, and groaning. "Are you sure you should be out of the hospital?"

"I agree," Luna contended. "You shouldn't have checked yourself out of the hospital."

Garrett let out a final cough. "I'm fine. Listen to me. Blake's right. They're not like you. They were bitten. The rules could be completely different for them."

"I said the same thing," Harlan said with his arms crossed.

"Don't start up with that again," Tatum scoffed and rolled his eyes, stepping closer to the desk.

"We don't know what's gonna happen to them on the night of a full moon," Harlan continued, providing his intense glare at Tatum.

"But nothing's ever happened to us on a full moon," Luna reminded.

"I wouldn't say nothing," Garrett stated. "It was a full moon the night I found you. What are you guys feeling right now? Anything different?"

"Besides Harlan being even more of a dick than the norm... No," Tatum taunted with a gigantic smile on his lips. Harlan showed the boy his middle finger.

"When Everett was being questioned, we were in separate rooms, but we could hear each other," Luna informed. "Like, we could all hear each other."

"I couldn't hear you guys," Tatum spoke up as he raised his hand. "Just in case you wanted to know."

"You mean the way Harlan can hear?" Garrett asked.

"It's like we were sharing it," Harlan continued.

"It's because we're a pack," Luna told, looking at her brother. "We're connected."

"We're not connected," Harlan argued. "Okay? We barely even know them."

"Was it just the hearing?" Garrett questioned. "Did you guys see anything or sense anything else about them?"

"Our eyes," Luna stated. "When we were together for the first time in the woods, our eyes were glowing."

"Glowing?" Garrett reiterated with a questioning tone. "Jesus. Okay. Anything else?"

"Like what?" Luna inquired, glancing from her brother to Tatum.

"I don't know," Garrett remarked as he got up from the chair.

"Are you trying to ask us if we think they're gonna turn into actual werewolves?" Harlan queried. "Like, grow fangs and hair and run around in the woods and kill some fucking deer?"

"If they do, let's hope that's all they kill," Garrett whispered harshly as he whipped his head around to face his son.

"We have never killed anyone before," Luna notified.

"You've never been in a pack before."

"Tell that bitch, I just drove three miles on rims," Phoebe's threatening message departed from Harlan's phone. "She thinks she can slash my tires and just walk away? Absolutely not. I am gonna fucking ruin her."

"Why is she calling me?" Harlan asked, looking at Everett and Blake.

"Because she doesn't have a phone," Everett answered.

"You didn't really slash her tires, did you?" Luna questioned. Blake put on a familiar facial expression to Tatum.

"How could she? She's been here the whole time," Everett pointed out.

"Does anyone have Phoebe's address?" Garrett asked as he carried his utility belt on his shoulder.

"I do," Harlan replied.

"Text me," Garrett told.

Harlan let out an "okay" before looking down at his phone screen. Luna looked at him with a curious look and Tatum gave him a knowing one. "Don't ask."

"You slept with her boyfriend in her own house?" Luna judged.

"He said don't ask," Blake affirmed.

"I would've too," Tatum admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "That man is so fine. And Phoebe's a total... bitch."

"Now, Everett, Blake, I want you two to call your parents and tell them you're staying with us tonight," Garrett instructed.

"But-" "I'm grounded," "I'm supposed to watch my brother," The two informed.

"Okay, then give me 20 minutes. Just gotta check if this girl's okay," Garrett commented before stepping through the door but not leaving as he ducked his head back in the house and looked at his kids. "Lock everything behind me."

"What about Connor?" Everett asked.

"What about us?" Luna questioned.

"20 minutes," Garrett merely declared before closing the door behind him as he left the house.

"Sorry, but I have another question. The voice on the phone said it had to kill us before the next full moon," Everett rambled to Harlan, who stood in front of him with a slightly annoyed expression. "Does that mean we're okay now? Is it supposed to kill us before the full moon, during the full moon, or when the sun rises?"

"How are we supposed to know?" Harlan inquired.

"Because you're-"

"Twins?" Harlan stated. Tatum rummaged through the fridge, trying to find something to eat, but no such luck.

"Our senses are turned up during the full moon," Luna informed as she moved to the couch. "I'm the morning, we're back to normal."

"So we're not safe yet?" Blake asked. "We've still got the rest of the night?"

"To die."

"Well, fuck that," Tatum let out as he shut the fridge and presided to the windows in the room. "Let's start locking shit down."

After shutting and locking everything that had a latch or lock, the group of teens met in front of the door. "It's okay. Nothing's out there."

"You sure?" Blake inquired.

"Hey, how much can you actually hear?" Everett asked out of interest.

"It depends," Harlan responded. "It's better on a full moon."

"What else can you do?"

"What do you mean?" Harlan queried.

"Like, your hearing," Everett gestured toward his ears. "Is there anything else you can do? She can run fast. Like, really fast."

"Good for her," Harlan let out.

"You should join track and field," Tatum told with a little hitch of excitement. "We need more sprinters-" "Tatum, focus."

"He's strong," Blake pointed at the boy standing next to her. "How strong?" Harlan asked. "I kind of put my fist through a support beam. It was big," Everett explained.

"Yeah. What about you?" Blake questioned, referring to Luna, who stood at the other window near Tatum.

"Smell," Luna announced. "That's kinda gross," Blake declared. "Yeah," Luna agreed. "Can be."

"Wait, so is it like we each have one ability?" Everett asked.

"I don't get it," Harlan let out. "When we were with the cops, you could all hear like me."

"Maybe it's like when we're together we sync up," Everett suggested.

"It's because we're connected. We're a pack," Luna clarified.

"All of you, not me," Tatum commented from his spot against the wall.

"Enough of the pack shit, Luna," Harlan advised. "Can you two still hear like me?"

Everett dug his hand into his pocket, bringing out his phone. "Wait, let me try something." It chimed as he held it in the air before playing a highly disquieting sound. "I put on a high-frequency tone. I don't hear anything. Do you?"

Blake and Luna shook their head. Tatum snickered as he watched Harlan cover his ears. "Turn it off, please."

"Oh," Everett murmured before deactivating the high-pitched ringing.

"Wait," Luna let out.

"You hear something?" Blake asked. "No." Luna shook her head. "You smell something?"

"There's something out there," Luna told. The teens went silent as they looked at the door.

"I got that too," Harlan informed. Blake stepped closer to the door to see if she could smell it too. Tatum stepped closer, not wanting to be by himself.

"It smells like..." "Acid," Everett finished her sentence.

"That's exactly what it smells like," Luna carried a nervous expression on her face.

"What?" Everett asked.

"Anger," Luna claimed.

Tatum grew anxious as Luna's words were met with silence, until strong and piercing pounding on the door made the group flinch, pant, and gasp. "Don't open it."

"Why?" Harlan asked.

"Because it could be a killer, the cops, how about the fucking werewolf that's trying to kill you guys?" Tatum blathered on. "Countless things could be out there."

"I'm pretty sure the werewolf wouldn't bother knocking before he comes to rip us apart," Blake enunciated.

"You said "werewolf"," Everett let out.

"Go fuck yourself," Blake sighed.

Another round of knocking came upon the door. "This is Officer Trent Miller with the LAPD. I need to ask a few follow-up questions."

"Isn't that the guy you assaulted?" Luna whispered.

"He assaulted me," Harlan seethed.

"His name's Trent?" Blake remarked. More pounding came to the door. "I know you're in there," Miller told. "I can see you through the windows. Just here to talk."

"That's some real stalker shit l," Tatum began to panic as he strode back and forth. "This is how every corrupted cop does things. First, claims to talk to you, and then the next thing you know, you're in the back of a trunk, zip-tied and gagged-" "Tatum, breath," Harlan instructed. "And you seriously need to stop watching cop shows."

"You don't have to talk to him," Blake told.

"He knows we're here," Luna reminded.

"It doesn't matter," Blake argued. "If you tell the cops they can't come in, they legally can't."

Harlan glanced at the door, leaned forward, and said, "You can't come in."

"That's fine by me. Let's talk out here," Miller replied. Harlan's head quickly whipped around with his eyes widened. "Five minutes, guys. That's all I need. Come on. Open the door."

"Go into the office down the hall," Harlan told the two new werewolves. "I don't want this guy to know you're here."

"What are you going to do?" Everett asked.

"I'm thinking," Harlan replied. "Go!"

"We're all on the same side here," Tatum rolled his eyes at the officer's sentence. Harlan flagged his hand to tell Everett and Blake to go to the office, which they did after much hesitation. "We're all just trying to figure out who started the fire. Well never bother you again. Promise."

"Don't you fucking touch that door, Harlan," Tatum mandated, the hysteria in his voice apparent.

"I'm gonna be fine, Tate," Harlan reassured with an encouraging nod of his head. He reached for the latch before turning back to look at the boy. "I promise."

Tatum's breath got caught up in his throat as Harlan stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

Tatum had his ears covered by his hands, making an effort to block out the banging that came from outside while Luna was on the phone with Garrett, telling him to come back. His legs were pulled up to his chest as he sat against the wall farthest from the door.

The next thing he knows, Harlan returned inside the house covered in sweat and panting before hysterically pointing at the door. Tatum peeled off his headphones as he rushed over to make sure the boy was okay. "The cop. It took the fucking cop."

"What?" Luna asked, still carrying her phone against her ear.

"It's outside," Harlan informed. "It's right outside the house."

"Dad," Luna spoke into the phone. "Dad, did you hear that?"

"Harlan!" Garrett's voice blared from the phone.

"What do we do?" Harlan inquired after seizing the phone from his sister's hands. He walked toward the back of the house, Luna and Tatum following him.

"Can you get to the stable outside?" Garrett asked.

"What's in the stable?" Harlan queried.

"Harlan, listen to me, it's ten steps from the kitchen door," Garrett instructed. "You can make it. I need you to get the rifle."

"The rifle in your office?" Tatum questioned.

"Not that one," Garrett told. "It's in the stable."

"But the rifle's in the gun case in the office," Luna reminded.

"This one is different," Garrett told. "I'll explain later. It's in the supply cabinet in the stable, all right?"

The Noble teen looked around as he and the Briggs twins intended to sneak out of the house and into the stable. Harlan was in front and Luna was beside him. He nodded his head, letting them know it was time. "Go."

They took off toward the stable, Harlan holding the door open for them before closing it after everyone had entered.

"All right, tactical case. Supply cabinet," Garrett advised. "You see it?"

"Harlan," Luna blurted as she held the flashlight in the direction of the cabinet. Harlan unlocked the cabinet and pulled out the case. Tatum heard the sound of a combination lock clicking.

"What's the combination?" Harlan asked.

"Dad, how do you open the case?" Luna questioned.

"The combination!" Harlan whispered harshly before snatching the flashlight from Luna's hands.

"Noob," Tatum quipped as his eyes glistened, allowing him to see in the dark. He pushed Harlan out of the way and waited for the combination.

"All right, it's six numbers," Garrett proclaimed. "Luna, are you listening?"

"Yeah," Luna whispered. She stopped talking, causing Tatum to glance at her.

"Luna," Tatum called out, noticing the girl looking out into the distance. "Luna?"

"Luna!" Harlan snapped as he stepped in front of her.

"Huh?" Luna muttered.

"What's the combination?" Harlan inquired before grabbing her phone.

"Harlan, can you hear me?" Garrett asked.

After a few seconds, Tatum had the case opened. Harlan grabbed the rifle and held it in his hands. The sound of the bolt clicking ruffled through Tatum's ears. Harlan placed it down and picked up a box of bullets inside the case. He looked down at one with a confused gaze and showed it to his sister and Tatum.

Tatum, Luna, and Harlan rushed to the front of the house. The scene in front of them made Tatum's heart drop. The werewolf stood, snarling and growling, in front of Everett, a few feet stood Blake.

Harlan aimed the rifle at the large beast and shot at it. Within seconds it was galloping away. Tatum walked over to make sure that the Lang boy was alright.

"Why didn't it kill me?" Everett asked.

"Maybe it's not what it wants," Luna suggested. "Not anymore."

"Then what the fuck does it want?" Blake sneered.

"Well, why would it try and kill us at Blake's house?" Everett pointed out. "And now it just takes off?"

"Because we're connected," Luna told.

"We're part of its pack," Harlan added.

The group of wolves sat in the living room, waiting for Garrett to make his return. Which he did. He strode in and stopped before looking their way.

"Are you okay?" The group stayed silent and carried earnest expressions on their faces. "What happened?"

Harlan got up from his seat on the couch, reached for the bullet, and held it up in front of Garrett, who didn't bother making eye contact with the kids. "These are silver. Real silver."

"Yes," Garrett commented after seconds of silence.

"You made these?" Harlan questioned.

"Yes," Garrett answered.

"To kill werewolves?" Tatum asked.

"Yes," Garrett answered yet again.

"To kill us?" Luna asked. Tatum looked up at him with a blank expression, feeling as though his expression was about to change with the answer.

"Yes," Garrett replied.