I scrubbed at the marble floor, the soap stinging my fingers. The hallway smelled like lemon and bleach, and my knees ached from kneeling too long. It was only six in the morning, and already my arms were tired.
"Leave it, Mia," my mom said gently. She stood at the far end of the hallway, holding a mop. Her black apron was wet around the hem. "Go get ready for school, sweetheart. I'll finish up."
"I'm almost done," I said. "Just this patch."
She walked over and crouched beside me. "No. Go. They'll be back soon."
My hand froze. "They?"
She gave a short nod, then stood. "The Johnson boys. They landed last night. They'll be home any minute now."
I blinked. My chest tightened a little. I hadn't seen them since I was ten. Back then, they used to chase me around the house, hide my shoes, and pour salt in my cereal. It was always a joke to them.
"They're really back?" I asked.
Mom gave me a small smile. "All three. So, hurry up and change. You don't want to be around if they come in tired."
I stood and wiped my hands on a towel. "Okay."
---
I rushed into our small side room—the only place we had in the giant mansion. It was clean but cramped. One bed. One wardrobe. A tiny mirror. I slipped into my school uniform: a faded skirt, a pale blue blouse, and old sneakers with fraying laces.
I ran a brush through my hair and pulled it into a low ponytail. Nothing fancy. Just enough to look normal.
As I walked toward the front hallway to grab my bag, I heard a loud car engine outside.
They were here.
The door opened wide, and three tall shadows filled the entry.
My heart dropped.
**Caleb**, the second oldest, stepped in first. He was wearing sunglasses even though it was cloudy outside. His white T-shirt clung to his chest, and his messy hair looked like he just rolled out of bed. Next came **Ryan**, with a cocky smirk and his backpack slung over one shoulder. **Ethan** was last—silent, dark-eyed, serious.
They looked like trouble.
The moment Caleb saw me, he paused.
"No way," he said, lowering his sunglasses. "Is that little Mia?"
Ryan whistled. "Wow. She's not so little anymore."
"She's grown," Caleb agreed. "Sort of."
Ethan gave me a quick glance, then looked away. "Still flat."
"Still shaped like a wall," Ryan added with a grin. "You sure she's a girl?"
I hugged my bag tighter and said nothing.
"Ouch," Caleb said. "No hug? No welcome party for your favorite brothers?"
"You're not my brothers," I said quietly.
Ryan laughed. "Still got that attitude. Some things don't change."
Caleb stepped closer and bent slightly to my level. "But some things do, huh? Got a little bump here now." He pointed to my chest. "Almost missed it."
"Still smaller than an orange," Ryan said.
"More like a grape," Ethan muttered.
I felt heat rush to my face. My throat felt tight, but I didn't let myself cry.
"Boys," came my mother's voice from the hallway. "Enough."
They all turned their heads. For a second, something changed in their expressions.
Caleb straightened up. "Hi, Mrs. Cruz."
"Hello," Ryan added, nodding. "You look good."
Ethan just gave a small nod of respect.
My mom wiped her hands on her apron. "Don't start trouble on your first day back."
"We're just saying hi," Caleb said innocently. "We missed her."
Mom rolled her eyes. "Mia, go. You'll be late."
I walked past the boys, keeping my eyes down. Ryan stepped aside with a mocking bow. "After you, Your Flatness."
I didn't respond.
---
As I waited at the front gate for the bus, I could hear them inside, laughing and talking loudly. Their voices carried out through the open windows.
"Dude, the girls here still throw themselves at you?" Ryan asked.
"Wait till the weekend," Caleb said. "We should throw a party. Big one."
"I'm down," Ethan replied. "No uniforms. No rules."
"I want a pool party," Ryan said. "Get the girls wet."
"Ugh, you're disgusting," Caleb laughed.
"You love it," Ryan shot back.
"Fine, we'll plan it," Ethan said. "Just not in the first week. We don't want Mom calling us."
"I'll text Natalie," Caleb said. "Tell her we're back."
"Already done," Ryan said smugly. "She's bringing Vanessa and Claire."
I tensed at the names. I knew those girls. They were rich, mean, and had been my personal nightmares back in school.
"Vanessa's still hot?" Ethan asked.
Ryan gave a sharp laugh. "Hotter than ever. She's waiting."
"Cool," Ethan said. "Let's make this place fun again."
They were loud. Careless. Comfortable.
This was their home. I was just... extra.
---
I got to school and went straight to class. Nobody spoke to me except the professor. I was used to that. I didn't fit in. My books were second-hand. My shoes squeaked. My lunch was always simple.
At break, I sat near the back garden under a tree and pulled out my sandwich.
But before I could take a bite, my phone buzzed.
**Unknown number: "Heard you're still a loser :) – V"**
I stared at the message. Vanessa.
Of course.
They were all back now.
And I was back to being nothing.
---
That night, the house was quiet. My mom came into the room with two small bowls of soup.
"They're loud," I whispered.
"They're boys," she said.
"They're wolves," I thought—but I didn't say it out loud.
Two years ago, I saw something I never forgot. I had gone into the woods behind the mansion after sunset. I was curious. I heard howling.
And I saw them.
Three huge wolves.
And I saw them shift.
Caleb. Ryan. Ethan.
I never told anyone.
I didn't even believe it myself sometimes.
But I knew what I saw.
And I knew they weren't just boys.
But me? I was human.
Or so I thought.