“Is it okay if Justin and I come in? I wanted to introduce him to ‘Sos,” Declan asked, glancing back over his shoulder at his friend, who now wore a look of complete and open astonishment.

The heavy thudding of paws on concrete came before Chris had a chance to answer. The waist-high wolf that came sliding around the corner was sniffing the air like it was his last breath. He slid to a stop at the sight of the big black kid behind Declan, but his attention kept shifting to the massive bowl in Declan’s hands.

“‘Sos, this is my friend Justin,” Declan said, shifting the bowl to one arm in order to wave back at Justin. He didn’t bother to explain the werebear part because Awasos’s nose would have told him all that and more in a split second.

Finally focusing on the new person, ‘Sos suddenly shimmered and blurred, his body changing and expanding in the blink of an eye to a foyer-filling Kodiak form.

“Whoa,” Justin said in complete and utter awe. “No wonder he eats so much. He’s gotta be always hungry.”

The keg-sized head nodded and then turned to go nose first into the breakfast bowl, the inexorable power of his motion pushing the metal container, and the person holding it, down to the floor.

“Well, that’s just a bit rude,” Declan said, standing back up, hands on his hips now that he’d been relieved of the food.

“No, dude, he’s gotta be so hungry all the time. Look how huge he is, and wolves have faster metabolisms, so that’s not a help when he’s in that form either,” Justin said, completely excited. He looked at Declan, smiling, then turned to Chris and sudden realization flooded his face.

“Ah, sorry Mr. Gordon.”

Chris laughed and clapped the big werebear on his shoulder. “Nothing to be sorry about, Justin. He’s one of a kind. Just hope we can afford to keep him fed.”

The big head came up out of the bowl, both eyes fixed on the Hammer of God, ears perked forward. Chris laughed again. “Hah, a joke? Maybe, maybe not, fur face.”

Awasos snorted, then dropped his head to finish eating his second breakfast.

“Alright, well, Burlington is safe from the stomach that walks for maybe the next hour, so I’ll just head off to class,” Declan said.

“Thank you, Mr. Gordon. It was very nice to meet you, Awasos,” Justin said.

“It’s just Chris, Justin. Declan, we’ll catch up later?” Chris said.

“Yup. I’m gonna eat lunch up on campus, so I’ll check in this afternoon.”

The two students took their leave, Declan closing the door behind them. He headed for the door, expecting Justin to split off, but the big werebear stayed right beside him.

“You have class now too?”

“Yeah, actually same building as yours,” Justin said.