She sighed. Today the sun was high and hot, the shadows provided by the trees only slightly cooling. Any second now and her new friend would
He jumped out at her.
show up.
This time, she didnt blink, didnt stumble, too used to his presence. He kept pace beside her, his claws scraping against the occasional stone. The first few days, hed limped. Now, his gait was smooth and easy. Shed asked him what had happened but, of course, he hadnt answered.
It amazed her that shed once felt threatened by him. Now, she felt safe, like nothing bad could happen to her. Like he would protect her with his life. Silly of her, she knew. But after only a week, there was nothing left of her former self. Her rigid study schedule had been upended, and for once she hadnt worked all possible hours during the weekend. She spent every spare minute thinking about Aden and this wolf.
I still havent decided what to do about Tucker, she said, knowing the wolf wouldnt answer but needing someone to talk to. Hes my boyfriend and I like him, for the most part, butI dont know. Being with him just doesnt feel right anymore. Hes leaving Aden and Shannon alone, at least, so I guess I shouldnt complain too much.
The wolf growled.
For Tuckers benefit or for hers? I wish I knew your name. I hate thinking of you as the wolf.
Silence.
Fine. Ill just call you Wolfie and you can deal with it whether you like it or not.
Silence.
Why wont you show me your human form? You know I want to see, so its just plain rude to keep it hidden from me.
Again, silence.
Are you someone I know? Are you hideously scarred?
His black fur gleamed like polished ebony as he flicked her a glance. His eyes were as pale a green as ever. Can you not switch? Are you stuck that way?
A shake of his head. Which meant, she assumed, that he wasnt stuck.
She grinned. Miracle of miracles, were communicating! Do you see how easy it is? I ask a question and you answer it.
He rolled his eyes.
So why wont you show me?
Silence.
This was getting her nowhere. Lets try something else. She maneuvered around a fallen branch. Do you go to my school?
A shake. Then, a nod.
She frowned. Which was it? You can talk inside my head to answer. I dont mind.
A shake.
Why not?
Silence.
Frustrated, she tried a little reverse psychology. Fine. Dont tell me. Im glad youre not talking in my head. You probably cant do it anymore, anyway.
Of course I can! Silly human, he muttered.
Success, even with animals. She barely managed to hide her grin. Clearly she was going into the right field. Then why havent you been?
Another round of silence ensued.
Mangy mutt, she grumbled.
His lip pulled back from his teeth, but the expression appeared more amused than angry.
Lets try this again. Do you have plans to hurt Aden?
Rather than ignore her as he had every other time shed asked this, he gave her a definite, assured nod.
One thing she knew, she didnt want a fight to erupt between the two of them. No telling who would win. Someone would be hurt, though. That much she knew. If Aden hadnt possessed your body, you would have ripped him to shreds. What he did after that, whatever he did neither one had told her was not done to hurt you but to protect himself. You cant blame him for that. Im sure you would have done the same thing.
Again, silence.
Adens a really great guy, you know.
That earned her another growl.
They broke through the forest and the high brick wall surrounding her neighborhood came into view. If you hurt him, I wont be able to hang out with you anymore. Not that you probably care, but Ive grown to like you. A little. I mean, youre tolerable. Stubborn, but tolerable. And you know things about the world that Ive only just discovered. I have so many questions. Questions he could have answered already, the jerk.
Rather than circle around the wall, Mary Ann climbed the side closest to the forest. Wolf preferred this route, shed learned that first walk home when hed nudged her with his nose until she complied. This way, he could remain in the shadows rather than out in the open for anyone driving by to see.
We keep this up, and Im going to develop ginormous biceps, she muttered when she finally reached the top. Thats not very flattering for a girl, so dont think Im going to thank you.
Wolf simply bent his back legs and jumped, a blur of motion. A second later, he was perched beside her.
Resigned, she peered down at the ground. There was a bed of flowers and two rows of mulch, both of which shed accidentally rolled around in more than once. Here goes. She dropped, landing with a heavy thwack and stumbling forward.
The moment she straightened, Wolf was beside her, his gait easy.
Not fair, she grumbled, kicking into motion. Because they were in a populated area, people driving home from work, he remained close to the houses, part of his body hidden by bushes. Big as he was, she was surprised someone hadnt already called the pound to come out and hunt him down. A week ago, she would have.
Mary Ann spotted her two-story house in the distance. It resembled an old train stationall the houses in this neighborhood did. The roofs rose to high points on the sides, yet had flat middles. The homes themselves were long rather than tall, with red brick and shuttered windows. She slowed her steps. All too soon, though, they reached her front yard.
This was the part of her day that shed grown to hate: her last few minutes with Wolf before he took off for God knew where, not to be seen again until morning. Yes, his silence irritated her. And yes, he was keeping her from Aden. But neither lessened the thrill of being with him.
When she snaked around the large maple, she skidded to a stop, her eyes widening. Tucker?
Tucker unfolded from the porch swing and stood. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his shoulders a little hunched. Lines of tension branched from his mouth. Hey, Mary Ann.
What are you doing here? He should be at practice.
I just wanted to
Wolf moved to her side, his large body stiff.
Tucker saw him and scrambled backward until he hit the door. What the hell is that thing?
Hes my For a moment, her mind blanked and she couldnt think up a single answer. Then, a somewhat rational reply slid into place. Hes my pet.
At least Wolf didnt growl at her for claiming he belonged to her. His attention remained utterly focused on Tucker.
You hate animals, Tucker gasped out.
What are you doing here? she repeated. One, two, three, she pounded up the steps. Wolf followed, remaining close. Did he think to protect her, as shed imagined earlier?
I wanted to talk to you. As Tucker spoke, his gaze traveled from her to the wolf, the wolf to her. In private.
Okay. Talk.
Lets go inside.
No. Heres fine. Last time theyd been alone inside her house, all hed wanted to do was make out.
He cast another glance at the wolf, gulped. All right. Well, youve been so distant lately, you know? And I dont like it. I want to go back to the way we were. Where you smile at me every time you see me and answer my calls every night.
She felt a twinge of guilt. She had been avoiding his calls.
I think I know what this is about, he said. Penny, right? The last was sneered.
Wait. What? I dont understand. Penny?
Some of the scorn drained from him, and his shoulders sagged. I knew you were too smart to believe her.
Believe her about what? Seriously. She was more confused by the second.
She told me she told you, he said, then shook his head, as if he didnt understand the direction of this conversation. Never mind. It doesnt matter, right? Me and you, thats all that matters.
Me and you. Her stomach twisted.
Lets go out tonight. Talk. Please, he added beseechingly.
Stomach. Twisting. Again. Look, Tucker. I didnt mean to hurt your feelings by ignoring your calls, you have to believe that, but my life is in turmoil right now. Maybe we should, I dont know, take a break or something. Yes, a break. How perfect. That would give her time to figure some things out.
No. We dont need a break. He shook his head violently, his eyes pleading with her. I cant lose you.
Her lifes goal was to solve problems, not cause them, so his sudden tortured expression made her want to apologize rather than continue. Still. She forged ahead. Why? What can you possibly see in me? Im not as pretty or popular as Christy Hayes, who would cut off her leg to date you. I hate football and know nothing about it. I choose to read textbooks over spending time with you.
Listen to me. He approached her, arms extending to latch onto her shoulders. None of that is important to
Wolf growled low in his throat.
Tucker stilled, gulped again. Youre beautiful and smart and I just feel better when Im with you. I dont know how else to describe it, and I dont know how you do it. All I know is that you make me feel normal for the first time in my life.
Normal? Tucker hadnt always felt normal? That surprised her, and proved just how little shed ever actually known about him. Hed always seemed like the most put-together, confident guy shed ever met. Well, besides Wolf, but he didnt count.
Thats not a reason to stay together, Tucker. The words left her of their own accord and she shook her head. Was she breaking up with him now, rather than merely asking for some time apart?
Yes, she thought. Yes, she was. They truly werent meant for each other. Shed been a terrible girlfriend. Absent, distracted and less than passionate. Theyd only ever kissed. Anytime hed tried for more, shed always stopped him. Shed thought it was because she wasnt ready, but now, looking back, she realized she hadnt been ready with him. He wasnt right for her. They were too different.
Like youve got more in common with a wolf? She brushed that thought aside. She hadnt been thinking about Wolf along those lines, whoever he was. Had she?
If you dont want to date me, at least be my friend, he said, a desperate edge to the words. Please. Like I said, I cant lose you. And I swear to you now that Im not the father of Pennys baby. Dont let her convince you otherwise. Promise me.
Mary Ann laughed. Pennys not pregnant. A baby was something her friend would have mentioned.
Unlessunless the father really was Mary Anns boyfriend.
Her stomach did that twisting thing again and her focus intensified on Tucker. He was pale, sweating. Shes not pregnant. Is she?
He looked away guiltily, then gave a jerky nod. Shes slept with half the football team. Surely you know that. It could be anyones.
The seriousness of his tone settled like a weight inside her. She thought back to the last time shed spoken to Penny. It had been in front of the school, more than a week ago. Since then, shed been too distracted. But she remembered that Pennys eyes had been red-rimmed, as if shed been crying. As if shed told the father of her baby that she was pregnant and he had denied responsibility.
Before that, at the café, Penny had mentioned Tucker would cheat on Mary Ann if she didnt sleep with him soon. That he might already be doing so. Thered been something in Pennys eyes, an emotion Mary Ann hadnt understood until now. Guilt.
Shesyou
Im not the father, I swear! Im not ready to have kids.
His words sank in, as did acceptance. Penny really was pregnant. And Tucker had slept with her. He hadnt said, Theres no way I can be the father because I never touched her. Just that he wasnt the dad because he didnt want to be.
Slightly light-headed, she covered her mouth with her hand. The fact that Tucker had cheated on her embarrassed her to her very soul, yes. Had everyone but her known? Had they laughed at her behind her back? But what hurt her most, what cut like a knife, what utterly destroyed her, was Pennys betrayal. Penny, whom she loved. Penny, whom she trusted.
How long? she asked quietly. It couldnt have been too long ago, because she and Tucker had only been dating a few months. How many times were you together? When were you together? She couldnt stop the questions from lashing from her.
Wolf nudged her leg with his nose, and her hand automatically sought the warmth of his fur. There was comfort in the action, comfort from simply stroking him.
Tucker shifted uncomfortably. Like I said, none of that is important.
Tell me! Or I swear well never be friends. They wouldnt be anyway, but he didnt need to know that right now.
Shed thought him pale before, but he became chalk-white, the blue lines in his forehead visible. Just once, I swear. Not that long after we started dating. I came over but you werent home, so I popped over to her house to ask where you were since you werent answering my calls. If only youd answered my calls He shook his head, pulling himself from his regrets. We started talking and things just happened. It didnt mean anything, you have to believe me, Mar.
It hadnt meant anything to him. Oh, well, that made everything better and negated what he and Penny had done. She wanted to shake him. What theyd done shredded her, left her raw. Of course it meant something.
You need to go, she croaked past the lump in her throat.
We can work this out. Expression once more beseeching, he moved toward her. I know we can. You just have to
Wolf snarled as she shouted, Go!
A muscle in Tuckers jaw clenched. For a long while, he did nothing but peer over at her. Finally, Wolf grew tired of waiting and stalked forward, sharp teeth bared.
Tucker squealed like a toddler and danced a wide circle around the animal before running for his truck. Which was parked in Pennys driveway, she realized. Had the two spoken before hed come here? Had they had sex, then laughed about Mary Anns prudishness?
Wolf nudged her leg again.
You need to go, too, she said softly. Yeah, shed wanted him to stay earlier, but she didnt think she could withstand company right now.
Her hand was shaking as she unlocked her front door. Hinges squeaked as it opened. Wolf soared past her. Hed never done that before, and any other time, she would have welcomed him.
Wolf, she called through clenched teeth. Now isnt the time for this.
He paced through the house, sniffing the furniture. If you think you can force two hundred pounds of animal to leave, be my guest.
Talking to me again? Lucky me. She tossed up her hands. Fine. Do what you want. Dont be surprised if my dad takes out his.44 when he sees you. A lie, but he wouldnt know that. And dont pee on the rug. The last was mean, but the last five minutes of her life had eaten away at her nice-girl filter.
She pounded up the stairs, into her bedroom, and dropped her backpack on the floor. Usually she hung it in her closet, taking pride in the neatness of her personal space. Just then, she didnt care about her routine. Tears burning her eyes, she threw herself on the bed and rolled to her side. She clutched her pillow to her chest. The shock was wearing off, replaced by a burning sickness in her veins.
She could have called Penny, screamed, ranted, cried, but she didnt. That wasnt how she wanted to handle this. Actually, she didnt know how she wanted to handle it. Except maybe to go back in time, race past Tucker so he couldnt tell her what had happened and she could continue on, unaware and happy.
Had she truly been happy, though?
Wolf suddenly jumped onto the bed, the mattress bouncing, and snuggled up next to her, soft and oh, so warm. His breath trekked over the back of her neck. Look at me.
Go away.
Look at me.
Cant you do anything I ask you? Anything at all?
Please.
It was the first time hed ever asked her for something nicely.
Absently, she rolled to her back, then her other side, and petted his neck. One of her tears spilled over, and she fought the rest back. No reason to add sobbing like a baby to her list of embarrassments today.
Im sorry youre hurting, but I cant say Im sorry hes out of your life. You were too good for him.
Him, Ill get over. Her voice shook, the vibrations affecting her chin. The trembling then spread to her jaw.
Its the girl, then. Penny. Shes your friend?
Was. Was my friend. My best friend. Oh, God. So many years of love and trust, now ruined.
Why not still? People make mistakes, Mary Ann.
That was only the second time hed said her name. She liked the way he said it, drawing out the As. I know they make mistakes. Im studying to be a psychologist, you know. Im highly aware that some impulses are harder to ignore than others. Im aware that fear of consequences causes us to guard our secrets. But its our actions when faced with temptation that define who we are. Its our courage in admitting what weve done wrong that makes us forgivable. She slept with my boyfriend, and then pretended it never happened.
And youre perfect? Youve never made the wrong decision? Never tried to hide your actions from your father?
She stiffened against him. No, thats not what Im saying. But I have never lied to Penny or taken something from her.
Wolf snorted. And what did she take? A piece of trash, thats what. You should thank her, and then pity her, because shes the one whos now stuck with him.
That doesnt make it right.
I know. You have been hurt and your sense of betrayal is warranted. But was the boy truly yours to begin with? The entire time Ive watched you, you kept him at a distance. You were happier away from him.
Maybe he was right, but that didnt lessen the pain of what had been done. Penny should have told me.
Did you give her the chance to confess? Not once have I seen you seek her out. And when she approached you, you dismissed her, other things on your mind.
Mary Ann slammed her fist against the mattress. You are so irritating! You sound just like my dad and I
I am not your dad, he growled, planting his front paws on her shoulders and shoving her to her back. Those green eyes glared down at her.
She didnt push him off; she didnt want to. His shoulders were so wide he enveloped her, almost like a curtain that shielded her from all the worlds hurt. Dangerous as he clearly was, such a sensation amazed her.
How do I know? she threw at him. You wont show yourself. You could be anyone.
There was a heavy pause. I cant show you. He sounded as tortured as Aden had looked while making his confession that day in the forest. Were I to shift now, I would be naked.
Oh. Wolf, naked in human form. Shed never wanted to see Tucker that way, but WolfWould he be tall and muscled? Lean? Handsome?
Did it matter? What would she do with a naked boy in her bed? A naked boy who fascinated her? A naked boy who had helped ease her torment over what had happened, she realized, the ache now only a dull throb in her chest. Time to change the subject or he just might satisfy your curiosity.
Why havent you spoken to me like this all week?
The more I talk to you, the more I want to do so. And I think about you enough as it is.
Oh, she said again, a thrill of excitement blazing through her. Wolf actually thought about her. Yes, but what were his thoughts? she wondered, excitement draining.
Mary Ann, her dad suddenly called. The front door shut with a click that reverberated through the house. Im home.
A gasp of surprise left her. What was he doing home so early?
Mary Ann?
Uh, hi, Dad, she called, cringing at the way her voice trembled. Much as he hated animals, he would probably call the pound at the first sight of Wolf.
Hide, she whispered, squirming out from under him. Frantic, she jolted upright. The mattress bounced her to her feet. She raced out of her bedroom to the staircase banister, where she peered down. Her dad had his head buried in a stack of mail.
Why arent you at work? Great. Now she sounded breathless.
My last patient of the day called and canceled. I was thinking we could go out for dinner.
No! No, she repeated more calmly. Im, uh, studying. Please just retire to your office. Oh, please, please, please.
His gaze lifted, latched onto her, and he frowned. You study too much, honey, and I dont want you looking back on these teenage years, wishing youd had more excitement. Weve talked about this. So go get dressed in something fancy and well go to the city. He tossed the envelopes on the cherrywood wall table beside him and headed for the stairs. Ill shower and we can be out the door and stuffing our faces within the hour. Maybe we can even catch a movie.
Of all the days to want to spend with her. She couldnt get out of it, not without hurting his feelings. Okay, sure. No, no, no! Yeah, thatll be fun.
His frown intensified and he paused, hand resting on the rail. Are you all right? You seem jumpy.
Im fine. Just eager to go get ready. Without another word, she rushed back into her bedroom and shut the door, pressing against it and trying to breathe. You have to
Wolf was nowhere to be seen.
Wolf?
No response.
Frowning herself, she raced through the room, searching for him. He wasnt in the closet or the bathroom and was too big to be under the bed. The window was openit had been shut beforethe drapes wisping in the breeze. She hurried to it and peered out. And there he was, sitting in her lawn and staring up at her.
He nodded briefly when he saw her, then turned and headed back toward the woods.
CHAPTER 10
Aden sat at his makeshift desk and stared down at his homework, an English paper about why William Shakespeares plays were still relevant in modern society, wondering why hed fought so hard to attend public school. He wasnt spending any extra time with Mary Ann, he was no closer to finding a way to get the souls out of his mind and into bodies of their own, and he was more confused than ever about Shannon and the wolf, whether they were one and the same or separate entities entirely.
Since that afternoon in the forest, when Aden had bitten the werewolfs leg, Shannon had been avoiding him, even glared and snarled at him despite their first-day-of-school truceproof he had to be the angry shape-shifter. But Shannon hadnt once walked with a limpproof he couldnt possibly be the shape-shifter.
Quite simply, Aden was confused and miserable. His teachers werent exactly fond of him, but he hadnt made any new friends and the only one he had was currently avoiding him. There was no time to talk at school and she raced away from him and into the forest the moment the last bell rang.
He knew why, too. She feared him. She feared what he was, what he could do. How could she not? He was a freak.
He shouldnt have trusted her.
Perhaps following Mary Ann that day in the cemetery had been a mistake. Elijah had warned him.
You should ignore her, Caleb said, sensing the direction of his thoughts. Treat her like crap. Thats what really gets a girls attention.
Dont listen to him. He was a lecher in another life, I just know it. Disgust practically dripped from Eves voice. Girls respect boys who treat them well.
Still think you know her? He dropped his head in his upraised palms, Shakespeare forgotten.
Im sure of it. I have a few ideas percolating about when we might have seen her, but Im not yet ready to talk about them.
Aden caught the hidden meaning to her words and moaned. Eve was planning to take him back, to travel into a younger version of himselftodays mind in yesterdays bodyso that he could revisit the past with this new knowledge. The only reason she hadnt already done so, he suspected, was that she hadnt decided on a specific day. Thats what was percolating, he was sure.
Eve, he began, then stopped himself. Stubborn as she was, she might take him back in time tonight if he irritated her enough.
She hadnt forced him to time travel in years, and they were all grateful. Hed just have to solve Eves mystery for her. Before she resorted to using her gift.
Lights out, Dan suddenly called.
Grunts and groans filled the hallways, followed by the shuffle of feet. Sighing, Aden pushed to a stand and switched off his lamp. Darkness flooded his bedroom. He didnt kick off his shoes but lay in bed just as he was. He was tired yet restless. As always. Part of him expected Dan to peek inside the room and check on him, and he waited several hours, the covers drawn to his chin to hide his clothing. Those hours dragged by, alone and uninterrupted.
Silver lining: his companions fell asleep from boredom.
Finally, when he was confident the others in the bunkhouse were sleeping, he moved to his window and climbed outside. The nights were getting cooler, fall well on its way. Sophia and the other dogs slept inside with Dan and Meg, so he didnt have to worry about their barking waking the entire ranch.
As hed done every night for the past week, he maneuvered through the forest toward the clearing Victoria had led him into. Lack of sleep was making him cranky, but hed rather have the chance of seeing her again than the promise of slumber. Where was she? Why hadnt she returned to him?
Despite the fact that she drank bloodand would drink hisand despite the fact that she could turn humans into blood-slaves, whatever those were, he wanted to see her again. Needed to see her.
Gradually he became aware of a murmur of voicesand for once they werent coming from inside his mind. The closer he came to the clearing, the louder they became. Excitement hithad he finally found her?
He positioned himself behind a thick stump and listened. One speaker was male, one was female; their actual words, however, were too muffled to decipher. But he soon realized that the female wasnt Victoria. This ones voice was too high.
Excitement gave way to disappointment. He would have left them to their business, whoever they were and whatever they were doing, if he hadnt known a vampire female liked to traverse the area. They could be vampire hunters, for all he knew, planning to kill her.
He didnt know if people like that truly existed, but he wasnt taking any chances. He slinked out of the shadows and edged closer.
One of them might have said, Kill. Perhaps, Pill. The other might have replied, I could. Perhaps, Im good. Either way, they werent out there planting roses.
Just a little closerA twig snapped under his boot. He froze. Waited, not even daring to breathe. The voices tapered to quiet.
What should he do? He couldnt leave until they did, just in case Victoria showed up. And he couldnt
Someone tackled him from behind, sending him face-first into a bed of brittle leaves. The impact startled him, but he was able to roll to his back, then roll again, pinning his attacker under him. He punched the brute in the stomach.
There was a grunt of pain, a whoosh of air. Aden jumped to his feet, intending to grab his daggers, but as he peered down, he saw who had rammed him and froze. Ozzie?
Stone? Ozzie stood, spit out a mouthful of dirt. Youre following me now? What, are you trying to get me booted from the ranch? Well, good luck with that, cause I wont go quietly. Without any other warning, he kicked Aden between the legs.
Utter pain radiated through him, hunching him over, making his skin feel like fire and his blood like ice. He wanted to vomit. DearGod
As he gasped and sweated and combated the nausea, rage boiled inside him. Low blow. Low freaking blow. When he was able to breathe again, Ozzie was going to be sorry.
Lets see how well you can tattle on me without any teeth. Ozzie pounded his fist into Adens eye. Bad aim? Then his lip. Okay, not so bad.
His head spun. His rage intensified, spilled over, filled him up and gave him wings. With a growl, he launched forward and grabbed the boy around the waist, propelling them both to the ground. Crack. Ozzies skull connected with a large rock, stunning him.
Aden propped himself on his knees and just started swinging. Boom, one fist slammed into a cheekbone. Thats for my first T-shirt. Boom, his other fist connected with an eye socket. Thats for the others. Boom, he connected with Ozzies chin. Blood sprayed. He didnt care, was lost to the rage, determined to inflict as much pain as possible. Thats for my nuts!