by Holly Hook
“Brie, things will turn out okay,” Aunt May says, putting her hand on my shoulder. “There are five of us.”
“Or more,” I say. “Did you know Leonora's family used to help the hunters and the Noble Wolves? I overheard Remo talking to her about a cure.”
She sucks in a breath. “So the rumors about a family of witches in Breck might be true, then. Your father said they lived in the woods, but he didn't know where. We thought they were just telling stories.”
“I don't know about witches, Aunt May.”
“We exist.”
I stir the gravy again, watching the sausage mix with the cream. “Good point.” Could Leonora do witchcraft? It might explain all the weird herbs in her locker and the fact that she gives them out to people. “Should we ask Leonora?”
“It might be an awkward thing to ask.”
“Come on. She knows what we are. Remo transformed in front of her. I think we should bring up the subject and see what she knows. Our family might have forgotten why the Savages keep trying to come into Breck, but the Russels might not have. They're tied to us.”
“Leonora comes into the store tomorrow to work. We can ask her after you get out of school.”
“Sounds like a plan.” We need answers before the Savage Wolves destroy us.
And we have to make it through tonight first.
Without letting the human residents know we're here, and without dying. Easy enough.
Aunt May and I finish breakfast. Though it fills me up, my stomach growls again about fifteen minutes after. I march up to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face, eyeing myself in the mirror. The tug follows, begging me to give in and shift, maybe even hunt, but I grip the sink, shaking.
It's not as if I haven't done it before.
But I fear another reaction like the one I had with Matthew. I have to be around people tonight and if he's there, I might do the worst.
And I fear what I might do to Olivia tonight.
My phone buzzes. I jump, remembering I've put it on the sink. I pick it up to see it's Noah texting me.
Want to grab lunch before the dance? Wait til you see my costume.
He finishes the text with an evil face. Sure, I text back. We're in this together.
Noah texts back and says he gets to borrow his mother's car for the night, so he can pick me and Ellie up.
And I hear nothing from Cayden. I know what he's planning, and it's the worst. This could be Olivia's final night.
At least Noah will be safe after the fight, I think.
Devastated, but alive.
He pulls into the driveway as my stomach gives another rumble. The tug comes again. The moon won't even be up for hours. What if I can't hold out that long?
I get into the car to find Ellie already in the passenger seat. She's a nature fairy with a wreath of flowers around her head.
And Noah's dressed as an old-fashioned cop with a bowler hat. He looks back at me and grins.
“What's so funny?” I ask. “Are you carrying a box of doughnuts, too?”
“Better.” He turns and lets me see his chest since I'm in the backseat.
Noah's glued a name tag to the front of his police hat that reads Cop A'Fiel.
Then he points to his button-up blue shirt, which has a second name tag on his right pocket. In tiny print, the bronze pin reads Matthew.
I explode into laughter and Ellie does the same. The tug vanishes and I'm just Brie, sharing a moment of stupid humor with my geeky friends.
“Isn't that slander?” I ask as I wipe away tears.
“Not if it's true. I'll just say this is a random pin I found in the attic. It's not like I got one of those grocery store ones with the huge name.”
“Be careful,” I warn. “We don't know he won't show up to the dance. I think he asked Devyn.”
Noah starts the car. “At least Olivia won't be with him.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” I say, lowering the mood in the car a few levels.
“I didn't mean to go that way,” Noah says. “Now, lunch. I wish we had a doughnut place in town.”
We go to Teeyah's, where I gorge on carrot cake. It does little to solve my hunger. Sweat sneaks in between my fingers as Ellie watches me.
“Hungry?” she asks.
I can only nod.
How am I going to focus at the dance? Every hour brings me closer to the inevitable.
I want the lunch at Teeyah's to last forever, but after some small talk and checking of my phone for Cayden, we move on. Next stop: school. We'll get there early since I have to help staff and set up, but that will help me patrol the area and see what's going on. And it leaves a few hours before dusk.
The parking lot is bare and Mr. Saffron isn't here. I smell nothing unusual. Cayden's scent rides on the air when I get out of the car. Should I even talk to him or just let him handle this on his own? Aunt May might tell me to stay out if he wants me to, but I can't do that. This is my problem, too, and my friends in danger.
The only unlocked doors of the school are the ones closest to the gym. The dance staff, other drama kids, two teachers, and some random people with nothing else to do this Sunday mill around and move the refreshment tables into place. Two girls ready the ticket table while the stereo platform remains empty. Fake ghosts hang from the periphery and lights already glow, casting the gym in orange and purple. I wish I were here to enjoy myself tonight.
“Where's your costume?” Noah asks.
“It's in the props room,” I say. “And it's nowhere near as funny as yours. Unless you count feeling like an old lady.”
I go to put on the witch costume, leaving Noah and Ellie to mingle with the other people setting up. But before I step into the props room, way on the other side of the school, I freeze.
Rotten wood and dirt lingers in the air.
Upon smelling it, the tug returns, urging me to transform and find the source. But on the next breath, the scent has vanished.
Gripping the door, I listen to the narrow props room for any breathing or other movement. Nothing. Somewhere far in the school, a locker slams—someone must put away homework they've done over the weekend. Sniffing again, I pick up nothing but fabric and musty cobwebs hanging in the rafters of the props room.
Was a Savage Wolf in here?
I have to find Cayden.
He's not in the halls when I check, but testing the air tells me he's just outside, in the parking lot. In my witch costume, I step out and find him in his mad scientist gear, complete with large, creepy glasses I can't see through.
“I smell a Savage Wolf,” I tell him, all business.
“So did I. But whoever it was is gone now.”
“They're coming into our territory?” I ask.
“More likely, the infected smell like Savages now. It's the day of the full moon and they're probably feeling strange.” Cayden speaks without looking at me.
“Makes sense,” I say, trying to ignore the pain in my chest. “One was near the props room earlier.”
He gulps. “Olivia. She must be getting the scent now. She's been looking for her pendant. Olivia told me it was her phone because she didn't want to disappoint me. But I could tell she was lying.”
So now he's keeping me in the loop. “She was."
“I know you didn't want things to go in this direction.” Cayden sighs. “I'll try to just drive her out tonight, but the Wolf in me might have other ideas after what happened to my family. Sorry, Brie. I know you don't want to see Noah get hurt, so I'll make sure you're not the cause. You did the best you could.”
“Cayden,” I whisper.
His hazel eyes fill with pain. “I'll make sure she doesn't come back. This should have turned out better for you.”
“It's okay,” I say, which is about the worst thing I can muster. “Cayden, none of us could do anything about this. Pure silver pendants are rare and Matthew got in the way. We both did the best we could, so you need to stop beating yourself up.”
�
�I failed you.”
“You did not. You're doing your job.” It kills me to say it. But I'm relieved I won't have to kill Olivia tonight. Cayden's taking that burden on himself. But another part of me hates that.
I might not hold back for Cayden's sake.
He eyes the pavement and says nothing.
“Look, we will get through this,” I say. “And we both know I'll help whenever I can. You shouldn't have to do this alone. We're supposed to be a pack and work together. Let us share the burden."
“You should have been alpha, not me.”
“Can females even be alpha?”
“It's rare, but it can happen.”
“You can step up, Cayden. I know it.”
He forces a smile. “You know, we might be free to be together again after tonight,” he says. “But the question is, would that be good for you?”
No one else gets me like Cayden does. “Yes,” I say without hesitation. “It would.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cayden and I patrol the parking lot. More like, we stand on either side of the school entrance as people arrive.
Cars pull into the lot starting at four, leaving us a few hours of daylight. My stomach roars again and I have to dive into the school to steal some cookies, but they do little to calm things down. Out there, Aunt May, Everly, and Remo are getting ready to patrol town, searching for any new Savage Wolves to drive out.
They don't have to worry about risking everything in front of all these people, people who are just here to enjoy a dance. As the time inches past four, and the sun lowers in the sky, the crowd coming in through the doors thickens to where everyone's scents merge, making it impossible to tell if a budding Savage Wolf is coming through the doors. Makeup cakes the air as more fairies, Hersey's Kisses and, girls wearing animal ears and low-cut tops enter the school. The guys smell more normal except for some cologne. I spot a submarine sandwich and a few serial killers in hockey masks.
“Do you smell anything?” I ask once the crowd thins for a moment.
“Nothing,” Cayden says. “It's impossible with so many people here.”
“Great,” I say. “Do we have to watch for someone convulsing?”
He frowns. “Maybe. I'll get Olivia out of here before it happens.”
At least we're working as a team now, even if Cayden wants to handle the last moments alone. But will Olivia even follow Cayden since she now knows what's up? Panic explodes in my chest and makes my heart race.
“Brie? You're scared.”
“I don't want to blow my cover in front of all these people.”
“You'll have a warning for when you need to leave.”
“What if someone turns into a Savage Wolf on the dance floor?”
“Best case,” Cayden says, “is to pull a Superman move and find a phone booth. Just let no one see you turn. A new Wolf might feel scared and confused at first, which will buy you time.”
“All we have are bathrooms.”
He snaps his attention to the parking lot. “She's here. And it looks like Matt's tailing her. I must stay by her side so he doesn't get hurt.”
I follow his gaze. The red convertible has arrived and Tiffany's getting out. I smell tons of makeup. Olivia's caked it on as if trying to mask her scent. She gets out of the backseat, dressed up as an angel as if trying to convince everyone she is one. Tiffany's wearing red devil horns and Alesha's just put on some bunny ears. A few spots away, Matthew's BMW, now fixed, parks. Ted gets out, minus a costume, and Matthew does the same. He glares at Olivia. He's come to the dance to intimidate her and ruin the experience. And maybe to pick up another girl afterwards.
“I'll meet her,” Cayden says. “Otherwise, things could get ugly.”
“Matthew doesn't deserve protection,” I say. I don't want to see Cayden holding her hand or dancing with her, but to keep everyone else safe, it's necessary. Just for tonight.
“Everyone here deserves protection,” Cayden says. “Including you.”
“I'm capable,” I say, but he's walking towards Olivia already.
She's still not wearing her pendant.
Cayden greets Olivia and takes her hand. I want to vomit watching it. The wind blows from that direction of the parking lot, and the scents riding on it meet me. Cayden smells like a wild, untouched forest. Makeup joins his scent.
And rotting wood.
If Olivia's terrified, and she should be, she's not showing it. Instead, she grins at Cayden and grasps at her neck as if trying to hide the fact she lost her expensive gift. Or that she will turn tonight. If she's figured out the truth about the Lowes, maybe she thinks turning will earn her a ticket to Cayden. Olivia could be like me, thinking becoming a Wolf will solve all her problems.
The thought brings back the pull inside. The animal waits and the rotting wood scent makes me want to attack someone.
I grip the door frame as a stiff breeze picks up. Olivia grabs her halo to hold it in place while Matthew and Ted watch. Matt doesn't dare approach Cayden. Hand in hand, the two walk towards the school.
Refusing to look as they pass, I turn my gaze on the bricks. The smells tell me enough. Cayden and Olivia enter the school along with a small crowd of costumed people. The rotting wood smell intensifies for a moment before vanishing. When I look again, everyone in the parking lot has gone inside.
She's come to the dance, knowing what will happen to her.
Olivia knows she's a danger to everyone around her and she still arrived. Why did I ever give her any sympathy? She doesn't deserve it.
Maybe I will help drive her out or worse. If I almost hurt Matthew, then I'll do a repeat performance tonight.
Cayden's inside with her, so I stay at the doorway, holding open my witch's cape and grinning at the stragglers. Inside, the DJ starts music. A corny Halloween tune about a fiddling contest with the devil plays, and loud chatter floats out from beyond the ticket keepers.
The dance has begun.
Eyeing the parking lot, which has gone silent and scent-free, I take a breath and head inside.
So many scents mix tonight. Makeup dominates along with plastic, face paint, and punch. They're all so strong I can no longer pick out the rotting wood scent of Olivia.
She stands by Cayden's table, leaning over and showing off her low-cut angel top while Alesha and Tiffany hang just behind her, watching the developments. But Olivia doesn't look comfortable. She steals glances at me, turning the corner of her mouth down each time. Adrenaline fills the gaps between face paint and another faint whiff of the rotten wood. What if she doesn't believe me about being infected?
How can she not after what I showed her?
Matthew lingers over by the DJ with Ted, observing. His predatory gaze shifts over the whole gym. No one dances yet and a few people hang by the sidelines as if unsure what to do.
"There you are. Don't mind if I...cop a feel?"
I jump. All the noise makes picking out anything hard.
"Hey, Noah. Any comments on your costume?"
"Mostly from us geeks." He grins at me and tips his cheesy hat.
I eye Matt again. He glares at Cayden and then at Noah. "I think someone else noticed."
"I swear, Olivia grinned a little." I get behind the table and reach under it, bringing out a tray of cookies. If I get more people over here, maybe I can detect if others are giving off the rotten wood smell. I unwrap trays and place cookies out in formation while Cayden lifts two test tubes and gives his best evil laugh.
The tug returns and I grab the table.
"You okay, Brie?"
"I'm fine," I lie, not daring to let go.
I can do this. If I don't, everyone will see what I am.
"So, Cayden, say I lost the pendant you said was from me," Olivia says.
"It's no big deal," he lies. "I know you didn't do it on purpose."
"Matt took it and I let him. I'm sorry. You don't have another one, by any chance? I know it must have been expensive, being pure silver and all."
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"Why did you do that?" Alesha asks from behind her.
Their conversation's not meant for us, but if I focus, I can hear it loud and clear.
"You're still gripping the table," Noah says.
I let go. "Oh."
"Can I help set out the cookies?"
"Sure. That would be great. Just don't cop a feel on any of them."
Noah grins.
The music goes silent as people line up to grab cookies. I catch another whiff of rotting wood as Olivia puts her back to me and gets between me and Cayden. "So, I don't want to look like I'm sending the wrong message, but do you have another one?" She raises her shoulders as if I'll attack her. Olivia fears me.
"I'll take those!" Matthew appears in front of me, blocking the view as he grabs five cookies and stuffs them in his mouth. He chews, letting crumbs fall all over our display.
"Real mature," I say, but he walks off before the tug gets me again. Matthew flees across the gym. "He saw your name tag, Noah."
"Hopefully he did. I don't think Olivia and Cayden are getting along."
"I don't have one," Cayden says. "And it doesn't matter. I have something special planned tonight. Mind if we leave the dance in about an hour?"
"I..."
Alesha pokes Olivia in the back.
And Cayden eyes me, questioning. He mouths, "Pure silver?"
Uh, oh.
Cayden never told Olivia the pendant was silver. His wide, alarmed hazel eyes betray that. He knows I've spoken to her.
And maybe even told her the truth.
"I'd love to go," Olivia says. She eyes the gym doors like she wants to escape.
"Then we leave in just an hour," Cayden says, eyeing his phone for the time. "We'll blow off this dance and go somewhere more secluded." He turns his gaze away from me.
I flinch from the gesture as the alpha's power washes over me. Once again, he's shutting me out of this. I'm not to interfere.
And maybe, just now, I shouldn't. Cayden can handle this on his own. He defeated the alpha of the Baltic Wolves. He can deal with driving Olivia out. And perhaps, he can do it without killing. He's not a new wolf, like me. He must have better control.