SPENCER
The fresh night breeze blew in through the open window. Lying on my bed, I inhaled it deeply, hoping it would cool down my burning lungs.
Finn was right. The heat and the pain came back right after dusk. But it didn’t mean I believed all the other things he said. If he was a werewolf, which I was sixty-six percent sure of now, then of course he would look at everything from his shifter perspective. But the truth was, there were thousands of people out there with pain in their bones, and I doubted that all of them were about to turn into wolves.
Yet, there was that strange feeling of trust toward him. I didn’t know where it was coming from, but it really weakened my defenses, and I could suddenly picture myself with claws sticking out from the fur on my feet.
My mind flew back to the coffee shop. I remembered the mesmerizing gaze of those gray pupils with golden rings piercing me from under the dark, furrowed eyebrows. Those eyes were gorgeous and compelling, but the power they emitted was terrifying.
What would Mom say if I told her I met a werewolf?
I can’t fucking believe this. I met a werewolf.
Mom was wrong. There were supernatural creatures out there. But I can’t tell her before I’m a hundred percent sure. Not until I see Finn turn.
There was a knock on the door, then it opened, and Mom walked into the room.
“How are you feeling?” She put the jar with the potion on my nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m okay. It’s not that bad,” I lied. I didn’t want her to worry more than she already did.
“Maybe you should ditch school tomorrow? Stay home until you feel better.”
“It doesn’t hurt during the day. I’ll be fine. Are you working tomorrow?” I tried to change the subject.
“No. It’s chilly here. Do you want me to close the window?”
It didn’t work.
“No, Mom, it’s fine. I’ll close it later.”
Then she ran her eyes up and down my bed. “Where’s your blanket?”
I nodded toward the armchair in the corner. She got up to get it, and I decided not to stop her. I even smiled when she covered me.
“Thanks, Mom.”
She kissed me on the cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”
I watched her leave the room. The moment the door closed behind her, I sat up and tossed the blanket back on the armchair. With a deep sigh, I picked up the jar and looked at the familiar liquid. I have tried it before, and I hated it. But the pain was getting worse.
My nose wrinkled as I smelled it. I gulped as much as I could, but I knew it wasn’t enough. Mom said I had to drink at least half of the jar.
I sighed again, then opened the nightstand drawer where I hid the bottle Finn gave me from Mom.
Maybe this one is not that bad.
I removed the cap and drew the bottle to my nose. It smelled just like Mom’s potion. I supposed all dry herbs smelled the same when you mixed them with water.
I hope the taste is different.
I put the bottle to my lips, and holding my breath, took two small sips. It tasted exactly the same too. I glanced at the jar, then at the bottle again. And they are the same yellowish-green color.
Were they both made from the same herb? It surprised me at first, but then I thought that, apparently, in wolves’ and witches’ worlds, this was the herb known as the best remedy against aching bones.
I put the bottle next to the jar, and in the same second, my back arched from the sudden, sharp pain in my spine.
“Dammit,” I groaned through my clenched teeth.
Trying not to breathe, I carefully pushed myself to the headboard and leaned against the pillows.
The full moon was blinking at me from behind the branches swaying from the breeze.
“What are you so happy about?” I grumbled. “It has nothing to do with you.”
The screen of my phone lit up with a notification. It was a message from Finn. I reached for the phone and read the short text.
Are you asleep?
I wish. I replied.
Is it okay if I call you?
Yes.
I could do with some distraction. The phone buzzed, and I answered the call.
“Hey.”
“Hey. How are you doing?”
“It’s a bit worse than yesterday. But it’s—” another wave of pain struck my spine, and I squeezed my teeth, “— bearable,” I breathed out as it passed.
“Spencer, did you drink the tincture?” His usually calm voice sounded worried now.
“It tastes horrible.”
“Don’t be a baby. You need to drink it.”
“You sound like my mom.”
“In this case, it’s a good thing, because just like her, I want what’s best for you.”
“Okay.” Thinking it would give Mom peace of mind to see less potion in the jar, I picked it up and took two more gulps. “Eww.” With the back of my palm, I wiped my chin.
“Come on,” I heard Finn chuckle, “it’s not that bad.”
It was nice to hear that reassuring, low voice that I was getting used to, and for some reason made me feel safe.
“Finn?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t wait to meet your wolf.” I knew he was smiling. “So don’t you dare disappear on me.”
“Don’t worry, Spencer. I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure you’re okay.”
“Good. Now. Do you know a lullaby?”
“Would you like me to howl it for you?”
We both laughed.
He kept me company until I fell asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, I was feeling much better.
* * *
FINN
Spencer wasn’t lying. She had no idea what was happening to her; I was completely sure of it now. But I couldn’t say the same about her mother. After every conversation with Spencer, I found some details that sowed doubts about her.
In the coffee shop, Spencer said her mother didn’t believe that vampires and werewolves existed, that if they were real, she would know. That wasn’t a normal statement of an ordinary woman.
Last night, I dropped a word about a doctor, asking Spencer if she has been checked by one. It turned out that her mother thought there was no reason for that yet, that maybe they should use simple painkillers first.
If her mother didn’t know what was going on, she would insist on seeing a doctor, as any other mother would do instead of sitting and watching her daughter suffer from such pain.
To help Spencer, I had to know the truth. And to find the truth, I had to talk to her mother.
I knew she worked at the library, and I drove there first, but was told that it was Ms. Marshall’s day off.
It was Monday, but since Spencer had a rough night, before driving to her house, I texted her asking if she went to school to make sure that her mother was home alone.
As I drove, I tried to come up with some reason for my visit. I couldn’t just drop in and say, You know? I don’t know if you know what I know, but I know you know something.
I rang the bell.
“Hello, Ms. Marshall,” I said as a woman with long brown hair opened the door. “My name is Finn. I’m Spencer’s friend.”
“Spencer’s friend?” Her beautiful eyebrows arched in surprise.
“I know we haven’t met before. I’m a new friend. I’m a little worried about her, and I wanted to talk to you. May I come in?”
She considered for a moment, looking at me with suspicion, then stepped aside. I walked in and she led me to the kitchen.
“You look older than her friends from school.” She leaned at the counter and folded her arms over her chest. “How do you know Spencer?”
“We met Saturday night, at the party.”
One of her brows jumped up. “I see.”
“We talked, that’s all.” I stopped across from her with the table between us. “And that’s when she said that she wasn’t feeling well. I asked what was wrong, and when she described the symptoms, I recognized them at once. You see, I had those problems myself, and I know a doctor who could—”
“Thanks,” she said sharply, dropping her hands. “I’m handling it. When she needs a doctor, I will get her one.”
“Then I think it’s time you do so, Ms. Marshall.” I pushed my hands into my pockets and straightened my back. “I was on the phone with her last night. She was in pain until dawn. And if I’m not mistaken, it happens on the full moon.”
Her big brown eyes flashed with anger. “Who are you?”
“I told you. I’m a friend.”
“I appreciate your concern. Finn, was it? I’ll take care of it.” She headed toward the door. “Thank you for stopping by.”
It was obvious that something wasn’t right here. I turned to follow her, wondering if I should push harder by asking if anyone in the family had suffered from this disease when I saw it. The jar with familiar liquid was sitting next to the sink.
I stepped to the sink, picked up the jar, and took a sip from it. Anger bubbling in my chest, I raised my eyes to her. She stood frozen to the spot in the kitchen doorway, staring at me in horror.
“You know.” My jaw clenched. “You know, and you didn’t tell her.”
Her lips trembled.
“Get out.” She pointed her finger at the front door.
“How can you do this to her?”
“Get out!” she shouted.
“I’ll go. But just so you know, if you don’t tell her tonight, I will open her eyes—”
“If you dare—”
“Oh, I already did.”
“You what?”
“Yeah. But she thinks that her mother would’ve told her if that was true. She said her mother doesn’t believe in werewolves. What do you think would happen if next full moon she finds herself standing on four furry legs?”
“She wouldn’t.” She whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
“It is going to happen, Ms. Marshall. You can’t make it go away.”
“I need you to leave,” she squeezed out the words, her voice in pieces.
I crossed the kitchen, opened the front door, and before walking out, glanced back at her.
“Tonight. She needs to hear it from you. And she needs to be prepared for what’s coming.”