The problem with living with a werewolf – or at least, one of the problems, there were others, equally unexpected – was what to do with his possessions during the majority of the time, when Lucas was in his normal form. At first, they’d simply been dotted around the house, but over time these had increased, with the added problem that if the werewolf was after something in particular he would rush round the house, pulling everything out until he found what he was looking for. Most normal households work on the basis of one person shouting, ‘Have you seen my X?’ and the other replying ‘I last saw it in the Y’, or alternately coming to help look, but this, for obvious reasons wasn’t possible.

Some things could be easily stored. The werewolf’s portable DVD player and headphones were in a bottom cupboard, so he could get them out when he wanted them. And the DVDs were in a rack next to the others, so although visitors might be surprised at the number of classic musicals Adam and Lucas had collected, a simple ‘useful when family stays over’ deflected any comments.

Over time, the werewolf had collected a selection of bandanas and also colourful bowties, which seemed out of place in their wardrobe, plus various collars. Anything with tech in it was returned to Malcolm after a job, and often, if the werewolf liked the particular collar, repurposed, but he also had a collection of standard collars. These, together with a variety of dog toys, made no sense most of the time since they didn’t have a dog.

And finally, there were what could best be described as ‘treasures’. Little items which one might have put into a memory box. This included the penguins from a series of happy meals, and also the pink slipper which was a gift from a grateful Cinderella at the pantomime they’d attended. Nobody, apart from one particular werewolf, would want those items on display.

In the end, following a suggestion by Tariq, they bought a large chest in which everything could be kept. The bandanas were in a cloth bag, and the bow ties in another, to keep them together, but otherwise everything else could be thrown in once the transformation was finished and would simply stay in the chest until they were needed again. When the time came, the werewolf could easily push the lid of the chest up and shove his nose inside until he found whatever he was after.

With the chest covered by the werewolf’s newest throw it fitted in quite well with the rest of the décor and no-one was aware that the werewolf’s favourite treasures were stored inside.