Once Luke had calmed down, the trio got back to their quiet lunch, and Sebastian’s mind began to wander. After everything Luke had been through, it was going to take a lot for him to feel okay again. And not just okay as in able to smile and function, but okay as in feeling safe and not carrying the weight of his trauma like that dude in Greek mythology who was cursed to push a boulder up a hill forever.

The kid probably needed therapy, but Seb wasn’t sure an average therapist would be able to deal with the shit he’s been through. Maybe there were therapists who did deal with supernatural trauma? Sebastian would have to look into it. He should probably talk to Luke about it first though, because he couldn’t just force this kind of thing onto the boy. It would have to be Luke’s choice to go to therapy.

A familiar tune pulled Seb out of his thoughts. However, a beat passed before he realised that the tune was his ringtone.

“Gah, uh,” he pulled it out of his pocket and frowned in confusion. “Home?”

Edmund raised a curious eyebrow. “Someone’s calling you from your home phone?”

“It seems so. But who the hell is in my house?”

“Couldn’t it be your parents?” Luke proposed.

Sebastian felt hopeful, but tried to reign the feeling in. “They’re supposed to be out of town, and have their own cell-phones anyway.”

Before they could talk about it any further, Seb answered the phone. “He-”

“Sebastian? Where are you?”

Seb blinked, shocked slightly at the urgency in Nick’s voice. “Uh, school? It’s Thursday, after all. Are you home?”

“Yes, we- we just got back. Are you okay?”

“I feel like I should be asking you that question. You sound like you’re on the verge of a panic attack.”

“I- hey-” Nick was suddenly cut off by someone taking the phone from him, from what Sebastian could hear anyway since there was a muffled scuffle on the other end of the line.

“Nick? Hello? What's going on over there?”

“It’s just me, Honey, I took the phone from Nick so that he could calm down properly.” Emily explained, though she had an underlying anxiousness of her own. “Where exactly are you right now?”

“I’m at school, in the parking lot eating lunch.”

“You’re eating lunch in the parking lot?”

“It’s nicer in the fresh air. Eddie, Luke and I are sitting together in the back of Ed’s truck.” Sebastian explained.

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“So, you’re just with your friends? You’re safe?”

“Yeah. Is there something wrong mom?”

Emily sighed. “Can you come home?”

“Okay. I’ll be there in a couple minutes.”

“Alright. See you in a few. I love you.”

“I love you too, mom.” Seb replied before ending the call and addressing his friends. “That was the weirdest conversation I’ve ever had with my parents. Something is happening, and it’s defiantly not good.”

Edmund frowned. “Guess we’re skipping the rest of the day then. You coming with Luke?”

“Please do, I’m not sure that splitting up would be the best idea, just yet.” Sebastian said before Luke could answer.

The younger teen nodded. “Alright. We should get going then.”

The trio got into the front of the truck, Edmund behind the wheel, Sebastian in the middle, and Luke right beside him, offering a bit of comfort as he sensed the older boy’s nerves. Seb felt incredibly worried, and the feeling only seemed to increase as they drove. Because the more time he had to analyse the phone call, the more scenarios his brain came up with for what was wrong.

Had something happened to his parents while they were dealing with the emergency? Had they come home in a panic to get him because something about their plan had gone wrong? Had Lance sent some pack members to mess the place up, and his parents walked in on a disaster scene? Had they found the house disorderly for some reason and worried Sebastian was hurt?

As they finally came down Seb’s street, he saw his mother’s car parked outside and noticed the sizable dent in one of the doors. What the hell had made that? Had they been in an accident? Was that why they seemed weird on the phone?

Seb was out of the truck the moment that Edmund pulled to a stop. Practically launching himself over Luke and out the door. He ran up the front steps and pulled out his key with surprising speed. There were a few moments where he was fumbling with the lock before he finally managed to open the door and ran inside.

“Mom? Nick?” He went into the living room and froze.

His parents were there, both in one piece, thank god, but they had company. There was Victoria, Sebastian’s grandmother, and five strangers he didn’t recognise. There was one masculine-presenting adult with long black hair, dressed head to toe in various leather garments. The two other adults, also male presenting, had long hair which was braided away from their faces. There was also a teenager who had styled their hair similarly, but they were female presenting. The fifth person was also female presenting, with short cropped brown hair and haunted doe eyes.

Everyone in the room looked a bit haunted honestly. There was an air of disarray about them that reminded Sebastian far too much of the sate he and the boys had been in last night after their adrenaline had subsided.

He heard Edmund and Luke come in behind him, and saw the person in leather tense, then growl.

“Wolves.”

Seb turned to the person with a glare. He did not like the tone they’d used at all.

“They- no, they can’t be. Edmund has been friends with Sebastian for years.” Nick said.

“It's the same scent as before.” The stranger replied.

Sebastian wanted to snap at them, but he felt Luke pull on his wrist, as if trying to pull him back from danger. He looked over to the younger teen questioningly, but Luke was just staring at the person with blatant fear. Edmund was also looking at them, but more with a confused-suspicious expression.

“Guys?” Seb said, trying to get their attention.

Edmund didn’t look at him, but muttered. “Not human.”

Sebastian frowned in confusion, but then Luke whispered something that made his blood run cold.

“Dragon.”