Moon Struck: Book 1 (When, Were, and Howl)

by Raleigh, Jeanette

  Ali closed the door. She was wearing a t-shirt and underwear but no pants. “Hurry, into the stall.”

  She locked the door to the stall and sat on the toilet, than hoisted me up. My paws overlapped her shoulders and my hind quarters kept slipping.

  “Shh...try not to move.”

  I chuffed. It was as close as I could come to an answer when we were in hiding.

  As predicted the door burst open a minute later. “Anyone in here?”

  “I am.” Ali lowered her voice just that little bit. She sounded just like a ten-year old boy...good thing she wasn't wearing toe-nail polish.

  “You seen a dog run through here?”

  “Yes. He ran by the bathrooms before I came in.” I closed my eyes. It was so hard to stay perfectly still, but this moment was crucial.

  “Thanks kid.” The door to the bathroom closed.

  Sharing a bathroom stall, even with your best friend, is an awkward thing. When the questioner was long gone, Ali whispered, “I don't have any pants. I washed them after the park and when I was packing forgot to put them in.”

  I giggled. Silently. Mostly it came out as me shaking with a few hiccups. Ali helped me down and unlocked the stall, then locked the door to the outside. That seemed the safest plan for now.

  “I'm going to call Rob.”

  What? I shook my head. Not Rob. There are a few things a boss shouldn't know about an employee. Unfortunately, Rob already knew most of those things. I really didn't need him to show up here and adding one more negative to the Jen-list. Especially when the only thing I didn't like about Rob was his moon trysts, which were apparently normal to the process of werewolf mating. And we were wet and not looking our best, although I did make a cute werewolf if I did say so myself.

  Ali scrunched her hair up and squeezed as much water as she could out of it. With every word spoken as a whisper, she said, “Your grandma?”

  I shook my head violently.

  “Andrea?”

  I shrugged, although it had not escaped my attention that all of the people Ali mentioned were in my family. But then she'd worn out her family already. The last big problem Ali asked for help on, her father said, You got yourself into this mess. You get yourself out.

  My family it was. Ali dialed Andrea's number. Apparently it went to voicemail. Ali said, “Hey, it's Ali. Can you call me as soon as you get this message?”

  Some people are tied at the hip to their phones. Andrea's not that type. She'd as likely leave her cell on the kitchen table for a week before noticing it had lost its battery charge.

  Ali called a few more of our friends, but no one was available. She mentioned Rob's name again. I thought about the time and how long we had until the park staff rotated through cleaning the bathrooms or circled back in the search. Finally reason took precedence over humiliation and I nodded.

  “Thanks. I was starting to run out of options.”

  She could have become a raccoon again, and we could have run out of here and changed in the car, but changing didn't lend itself to a speedy getaway.

  “Rob?” If she wasn't trying to be quiet, she probably would have put the phone on speaker, so that my embarrassment could reach new heights.

  “Can you bring a pair of jeans to the water park?” Ali twisted her hair around her finger in a sleek wet curl.

  Rob mumbled something. There must have been water in my ear because I couldn't quite hear what he said. I shook my head to clear the water out of my fur and then sneezed.

  “Uh-huh, that's the one.” Ali stepped back, wiping her neck and glaring at me. I gave her the toothy wolf grin.

  “We're in the men's bathroom, the one near the concessions. The door's locked. Knock three times, then once, then three times. When I unlock the door, hold the pants out and I'll grab them, throw them on, then we need to sneak Jen out of the park.”

  “What are you doing in the water park?” That time, I heard Rob.

  “Long story. Please hurry. The park staff is looking for us.”

  My haunches were tired but I remained standing. Even if my butt fur already slipped in the nastiness that was the bathroom, I had no desire to repeat the experience. Someone tried to open the door once. Ali yelled out, “I'm changing. Can you please use the other bathroom?”

  “Open the door.” A gruff manly voice ordered.

  “I'm sorry. I can't just now. It will be about ten minutes. There's another restroom just on the other side of the park. It's not far.”

  I tilted my head in a quizzical Why did you say anything?

  Ali said, “You can bet there's someone around here with keys. I don't want anyone finding the park staff until Rob gets here.”

  So far, playing in the slides was well-worth hiding out in a smelly bathroom. But the wait was interminable. I know Rob's not a slow driver. I've ridden with him. He must have hit every red light on the road.

  Ali was feeling the same thing. At least twice she said, “I wish he'd get here.”

  Finally the tell-tale magical knock. Three-One-Three sounded on the door. Ali unlocked the door and a very large hand, one I was familiar with thrust a pair of my sweats through the door. Ali threw them on in lightening speed.

  She opened the door a crack and hissed, “Rob, come in here.”

  Looking bewildered, Rob slid through the door, locking it behind him. “The park's back to normal. Everyone's talking about the excitement about the raccoon and the dog, but they've stopped searching. How are we going to get Jen out?”

  “Here's my plan. We open the door and Jen makes a run for it, out of the gate. If she's not followed she jumps into my trunk. If she is, then she runs out of the parking lot and down the street to the corner with that bus stop. We leisurely stroll to the cars. If Jen hopped in great, if not I'll pick her up on the way out.

  Rob's eyebrow twitched slightly. “Fine. We'll meet at my house.”

  Ali shivered, “I need a hot bath first. Can we get dressed in real clothes and then come over?”

  I watched the two bouncing conversation back and forth like a ping pong ball and waited for Rob to show some sign of annoyance or displeasure. What I didn't expect was for him to chuckle as Ali stepped out to take point. A few seconds later, she rapped on the door and I was off and running.

  Turns out the staff, while not on high alert, was still watching for me. One look over my shoulder revealed three men on the chase. I exited the gates, jumping over the turn styles because some enterprising soul had blocked the entrance with cardboard, as if that would stop a wolf. It was probably a major pain for the patrons as well, because the attendant had to remove the cardboard every time someone left. Then I fled into the parking lot.

  Ali's car was not an option. Too many people not only watched me leave, but decided to follow along and see where I went. So I ran straight out of the parking lot and down the street as planned. I could still smell the bathroom though, and looked forward to a bath, preferably with rose soap.

  Sitting near the bus bench, I felt content. Adventure complete without major mishap and the chase over. The euphoria of exercise was starting to kick in, and I was feeling good.

  Rob pulled into the bus parking zone and opened his passenger door. “Hop in.”

  I probably wouldn't get a better pickup line from him. Well, our plans had gone sour enough times, Ali would understand. I leapt into the pickup, staying on the floor because I was wet and gross.

  He was driving his backup car, which was a beat-up truck that no real estate agent would drive anywhere near a client; however, as Rob once explained, it's great for off-road adventures and moving.

  I refused to walk into his house having slidden through the water in a public restroom. Instead I went to the hose and sat next to the spigot. “Just a second.” Rob threw on his grubby clothes.

  He turned the hose on in the front first and hosed me off. I mimed to him flea shampoo by flicking my paw on my ear.

  “You want me to be careful of your ears?” Rob asked, his head tilted.<
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  I shook my head and then nibbled at my fur the way an animal does to get something uncomfortable out.

  Rob just stared at me and shrugged.

  Words would sure be useful at this point. I put my head down and then rubbed my paws over the top, as if I were washing my hair.

  “Shampoo!” Rob said.

  I nodded.

  By the time my fur was scrubbed and polished, soaked and rinsed, Ali drove up. She smelled like she'd taken a shower, even if she hadn't gotten the soak in.

  “Playing dirty, Rob?” Ali said.

  “I'm the rescuer, I make the rules.” Rob crossed his arms which really showed off his arms and shoulders.

  “You didn't warn me.” Ali teased.

  “And let you squeal in front of me and steal the moment?” Rob asked.

  I was confused that it was a moment. I was wet and scraggly, chased out of a place I didn't belong, and I smelled of a guy's bathroom, an indescribable scent made only worse by the wolf-powered nose. But Rob thought it was a moment. I grinned.

  Ali followed us inside, and we finalized plans for the next day. When Rob went to the bathroom, she snuck the collar back on me. I could have gone another year without seeing the thing again.

  Tyler was coming to Rob's house instead of the park on Saturday. One more day and I would be a woman again. I'd see myself in the mirror again. I had no idea how much I would miss my own body when I put on that amulet and wished my body away. Now, I was grateful to be getting it back again. One more day.

  I dried off inside on the furnace register. The hot air was just a bit too toasty with my fur, and I turned every now and then to get a new side. Ali, Rob, and I shared dinner while Ali recounted our adventures at the water park.

  Somehow I thought he'd react the way my family would, with disapproval and a frown. He surprised me with his laughter and avid curiosity. I swear he envied us. I guess from a distant perspective we must seem like rebels. We're more like immature children, were-folk who haven't had the decency to grow up. That's my family talking, not just Grandma either. Mom and Dad's lectures ran along those same lines.

  The evening felt like magic to me. I fell asleep on the doggy-bed excited for the next day.

  Chapter 23

  Tyler arrived a few minutes before eleven o'clock. He and Rob chatted about werewolf things. Rob invited him to breakfast and while we ate, Tyler asked all kinds of questions a parent would normally have long answered. Not that Tyler was without knowledge. A few of his werewolf friends at school filled him in on most of it.

  I could barely eat. Finally, I would be free! This inability to shift between human and mouse really hampered my enjoyment of life, except for the water park. That was great.

  But there were other problems. For example, Rob never eats sweets. And it's so much trouble to spell out chocolate cookie only to have him spend an hour explaining why werewolves in wolf form shouldn't eat chocolate.

  I didn't made puppy eyes or whine to change his mind. It occurred to me that even if I convinced him that cookies were an absolute necessity, he'd just drive to the nearest grocery store and buy packaged cookies. Ali and I make our own cookies with the freshest of ingredients.

  I'd had some good times as a wolf, don't get me wrong, but I was anxious to get back to human form. So while I pushed sausage around with my nose, Rob explained pack life and invited Tyler to the half-moon barbecue for his own pack.

  And then it was time. My heart sped while I danced on my paws waiting. Rob mistook my eagerness, “Jen, do you have to go outside?”

  No—I just wanted this over.

  Rob unbuckled the collar and handed it to Tyler. The collar remained in collar form as it had before. I wondered if it had anything to do with the mojo bag, which may or may not have worked. We didn't exactly have any problems when I took it off to slide at the water park.

  “Put it on and take your wolf back.” Rob said.

  Tyler nodded and gently grasped the collar. A haze of light swirled around Tyler, and he laughed as the change took him and said, “I'm back.” And then he was a wolf for just a moment and then, like the others, came back to human. The collar disappeared in a haze of light and in Tyler's hand was the amulet. He handed it back to Rob his face lit with a bright enthusiasm we hadn't seen before.

  “Thanks. I can't thank you enough.”

  Rob congratulated him and we waited. Nothing happened. I put my face on my paws. If three cats died to make the amulet, maybe the magic still trapped me somehow. It's rather embarrassing to admit, but I whined a little, just a teeny whine barely noticeable, but enough to make a point of my distress.

  “We'll figure it out Jen. Don't worry.” Rob said, and I would have felt better, except he looked extremely worried. His brow hardly ever has worry furrows, he's just not the type. But here he is with a crinkled up forehead telling me not to worry.

  Still I was glad when Tyler left and Rob scratched my ears, “I won't be able to scratch your ears when you're human. There are a few decent things about being a wolf.”

  I didn't dispute that, but I'm sure I could manage without an ear scratch once I became human again.

  “Ali promised to show us the trap today. Are you still up for it?” Rob tucked the amulet in his briefcase. I couldn't stand to have it near my throat anymore. I hated the thing with a passion.

  Rob wasn't being inconsiderate of my feelings. Having wolf traps set in a park designed for werewolves is a huge deal. All of the packs in the area planned to send as many helpers as possible

  Werewolf packs are like church groups. When the clarion call goes out, help appears en masse. Over one hundred people were milling about the park when we arrived. Unfortunately, a few of them wanted to pet me.

  I growled and bared my fangs, and Rob warned them off. He didn't tell them I was his office assistant. And I was grateful for that. There were a few stories I would never live down if the truth got out. This was one of them.

  Although many of the folk who turned out to help were wolves and could only change at the full moon, a small group of other were-animals arrived. When a were-hound appeared, Rob pointed him out to me.

  “That's Jose Sanchez. If anyone can track the trapper today, he can.” Jose stood with a group of werewolves in human form. He wagged his tail just like a normal dog. Funny how we seem to take on the characteristics of our animal cousins.

  An older gentleman with white hair, a clipboard, and a bullhorn called for attention. In an instant, the crowd hushed. He called for the trackers first.

  “That's us.” Rob said. I'd missed Ali in the crowd because she was already in raccoon form. It's not as easy to see or even smell when a hundred people are milling about. Many of the tracker group had already taken their animal form.

  “This raccoon here will lead you to the first trap. She marked a few spots on the way with cinnamon. If you smell it, you're on the right track.”

  Ali chittered and stood on two legs to get a good view of her team. With a nod, she skittered toward the woods. The crowd of animals started after her. Ali and the group in fur didn't wait for those still in human form. They needed to get to the location and start tracking the hunter before the trap clearers went in.

  I stayed with Rob and heard some of what was happening with the remaining crowd. The pack leader gave a speech then started calling out pack names and sectors.

  By the time Rob and I arrived at the point of my trapping with the other humans, the hound had already bayed a find.

  Chapter 24

  Even though my life as a weremouse has at times been fraught with danger and perhaps an adventure or two, I've never suffered from any major problems or faced anything truly evil. When we followed the werehound into a twisted part of the forest, I expected to find something innocuous, maybe a teenager playing pranks who truly didn't realize how dangerous his actions were to the werefolk.

  But the shed with the three large cages gave me a cold chill. The cage design indicated a preference for wolf, but huma
n shackles attached to one of the bars. I howled my question, frustrated and unable to express my anger, How many werefolk have gone missing?

  The hound changed into human form, a middle aged man, short and stocky with a balding head and freckles. I turned my head until he put on the jeans and the sweatshirt one of his friends handed to him. He shook his head, “This is a bad business.”

  “Did you get anything from the scents?”

  “Three men, humans with no wereblood in them spent a fair amount of time here. They've had several wolves, a bear, two dogs, and three cats in the cages. One of the cats didn't actually have any wereblood. I smell vampire. Not in the cages and only faintly, but it's there. Also, air and earth magic, although that one hinders the reading.” He pointed to me. I gulped, feeling simultaneously guilty and offended.

  Rob glanced over his shoulder at me, “Is the smell exact? We've been struggling to undo a curse that's turned my friend here into a wolf. So far, the change has been permanent.”

  The man knelt by me and sniffed the air. I so wanted to curl my lips at him and give him the sneering wolf face. But he was helping, so I was nice. “One of the magic smells matches, but there's more than that magic in play here.”

  By now the leader of the pack, the man with white hair had arrived, “I called the Moon Patrol. They'll be here to investigate.”

  The Moon Patrol was the werewolves' affectionate name for the police, specifically the teams that handled werewolf problems. Usually a combo pair with a wereperson paired up with a human person. I glanced over at Ali who had remained in raccoon form. She gave me a quick nod and slipped out.

  Which made complete sense. We'd only been out of high school a few years and Ali, if not notorious, would be recognized by at least eight of the Moon Patrol officers. On five of those occasions, we were shuffled along to our parents. But it still made sense for her to disappear, because if they started questioning her, she would lie, even if this was a wonderful time to tell the truth.