As Ryan stalks toward me, the itch becomes unbearable. My skin feels like it’s been burned and is healing, peeling. I want to scratch at it. I want to scratch it off.The feeling becomes so intense—like my skin is burning from within.Ryan stops and watches, his grin apparent. He starts pacing from one side to the other. I don’t understand what he’s doing, but it’s so hard to think right now. I can’t track him while my body is changing.The unexpectedness and newness of it is difficult toAnd my rage returns! I don’t know what’s happening, but I want it to stop! I need to stop him! Aaaahhhh!!!!! This must be what it’s like to be consumed with anger.Now my skin is the least of my concerns. My bones begin shifting, painfully at first as my humerus and my femur elongate, stretching in a way not humanly possible.A growl rumbles deep in my chest and I throw my head back as my nose and jaw stretch out. My spine shifts and my shoulders begin popping. It’s painful, but in a glorious way.Al
It’s like time stops. The first time you kill someone, or some werewolf, I should say. It is a life-changing moment.I can taste blood in my mouth…and it’s good.Ryan’s body appears lifeless below me. I wait a few seconds before I let him go, waiting to make sure he’s dead. His body goes limp. He’s not breathing, and his heart has stopped. I can tell because I hear everything.When I finally dismount his corpse, I shake my body like a dog drying off after a bath. I feel all my muscles, the new structure of my bones and how they relate to each other, the sway of my fur. It all feels good. Somehow right.To think, I recently wished for the gifts of the werewolf—enhanced hearing, acute sight—and here I am, a werewolf after all.I walk over to where Alex is lying. The physical pull between us now unquestionable as my body vibrates within when I am this close to him. There is no mistaking it now: Our bodies are in tune.Alex’s eyes search mine. I wish I knew what he was thinking.He nuzzle
We’re greeted by the whole freaking pack!Apparently, Jeaoul and Lenor had already spread the word about what was going on. I’m sure the other pack members didn’t quite believe them, but they must certainly have been curious because a lot of them are standing at the entrance to the base.As we approach, I fall behind the others. I don’t exactly want to be the first to be questioned or interrogated.Plus, I’m sure they can tell I’m different now.Jeaoul approaches us with his wife and a couple of other pack Elders. “Where is Ryan?”“Defeated,” Charles calls out, his voice booming. “Our Alpha was defeated and now lies dead and in dishonor.”There are high-pitched murmurs among the group.I grow a little concerned at first, because I remember Jeaoul saying that no one believed them when they suspected Ryan’s treachery.Charles steps aside, still under Alex’s shoulder, revealing me. “Here is our long-lost Luna, Dyanthiana.”And the one who killed your Alpha. The murmurs grow to a loud cl
Once we’re done eating, everyone else joins us in the living room. They all gaze at me fondly, and I can’t imagine what this moment means for them. I lost my parents, but they lost a leader.A thought slips in and teases at me again: It’s like I’m royalty.“How are you feeling?” Charles asks from the doorway.“Better, thank you. I think Alex’s leg is healing up rather nicely,” I add, alluding to it with a nod.“Good. That’s all very good,” he says hastily.Jeaoul, who is seated in a much more comfortable, normal chair than the last one I saw him in, …. “How is our prisoner?”“What prisoner?” Alex asks.“We were able to subdue and capture the rogue that attack Dyanthiana.”At first, I forget this name is attached to me. “Oh…” I perk up. “Is he still alive?”“Yes, my Luna. To keep him from healing, he was forced to shift into human form.”I don’t know how that works, and right now I don’t really care.“We can question him when you’re ready,” Charles says to Jeaoul.Jeaoul looks at me. “
Lenor and Jeaoul prepare a bed for me in their home, and somehow scrounge together some clothes that fit me relatively well, even if they are a little loose.I take my first shower in probably three days, and after, I feel like a new woman. Yes…a woman. I’m not eighteen just yet, but I have grown since I left home. I have become a whole other person—a werewolf—and have attained a fresh identity.I sit in my room with my journal. I have so much material for my play now, but that isn’t my focus. I need to work out my thoughts. After all, so much has come to light in the past twenty-four hours. My parents are not who I thought they were, and one of them even tried to kill me. Then there’s the whole werewolf thing, and I’m not even some plain-jane one at that.It’s a lot to process, but now that my shock is wearing off, I can think about things rationally. The pack is going to expect me to stay and fulfill my duty. The wolf in me wants to, but I have a whole other life I can’t disappear f
When I walk out, I’m on cloud nine. Not as a Luna, or a werewolf of any sort, but as a teenage girl in love.And there is my boyfriend—my love—waiting for me, his hair a sexy mess and a feverish look in his eyes. As I walk toward him, a life together flashes before my eyes: Us getting older, having children, finding our way together…forever.I don’t know if it will be like that, but in the moment it’s the only thing I want to think about.He takes my hand, playfully swinging them back and forth as we walk to the outer perimeter. Then we take a turn into the woods. “I thought we could use some privacy,” Alex explains.“Whatever happened to the rogues? Did you find them?”“I don’t think we found all of them. There were thirteen there. But we left a message for any that returned.”“Do you think they’ll be a problem?”“Charles thinks they won’t be an issue now that Ryan is dead, and we’ve cleared their camp.”“I hope he’s right.”“Me, too.” He kisses me on the head. “Have you noticed…” Al
“Ahhh…” I exhale bliss when we stop. “Thank you, Alex.”“I know you need to go back to your mom soon, so I’ll do everything I can. But you will eventually have to come back to your pack.”“Yeah—I know. I just have to figure out how to do that. What to tell my mom and when to make that break.”“Just remember, I may not be able to go with you…at first.”“Oh, no—Michael!” How could I have forgotten? “Is there a cure for Wolfsbane?”“If there is, it probably died with the wolf that poisoned him.”“I’m ssso sorry.”“Yeah…we’ll deal with it when we get back. But I probably can’t go back home with you, to live anyway. The pack will be my home now.”Finally, this seems to be a good time to ask him about us. I need to know how he feels…what he thinks.“Where does that leave us?”“I’ve given this some thought. Once you turned, it all made sense: my attraction to you, my inability to leave you alone.”“But what about Rita?”“Yeah…about Rita.” He pauses to organize his thoughts. It’s almost like
We return to the base in time to go to my honorary dinner. Which is terrible.No—it’s actually very nice. Extremely thoughtful. It’s just awkward to be thrust into a position you know nothing about and to have to tell them you don’t intend to stay. At least not for now. If I can get my words together, I hope to be able to make them understand.When Alex and I enter the Meeting Hall, everyone is there. Tables have been set up with food, and my stomach growls at the thought of getting to slaughter some meat. Literally.Yeah, it’s weird for me.Everyone stops and looks at us. I smile, cordially, though I’m sure my face is red.Lenor comes to my rescue. She rushes over to me, takes my hand, and leads me to the other end of the table.I know from the last pack dinner I attended that the opposite end is where the leaders sit: the Alpha and his family.I see Rita on that end, along with two empty chairs.What I don’t see is an Alpha because there isn’t one. I’m afraid I know where they’re go