A Werewolf's Moon (The Council) (6 page)

“You need someone to protect you,
Pepper
.”

“Why?”

He pushed away from the counter and prowled the room, watching me. It was animalistic, cagey, and if I didn’t trust him, I’d be ready to run. “You must remember that we are magical. We evolved differently. At the center we are also animal and prone to certain…behaviors.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. “Go on.”

He strode toward me and locked his brightly glowing gaze with mine. “Male werewolves are very possessive. When they catch the scent of a female that appeals to them they will take her as their mate.”

My jaw dropped. “What if the female doesn’t like him?”

“Then she will stand her ground. But you’ll be weak, and fighting off an older and more experienced male would be impossible, which is why you will be so appealing to the less than noble of my subjects. I don’t want anyone marking you.”

“Marking, like a
fire hydrant
?” oh g
od, this was just unbelievable.

“I don’t want to scare you.”

I snorted. “I’m past scared, just tell me.”

“It’s not important because I won’t let it happen.” He said this with such conviction I almost left it alone, almost.

“Tell me, Quinn.”

He gave in. “A bite on your right shoulder will bind you to whoever takes you for a mate. You can’t reverse it.”

My head was spinning. “So why’ll I’m weak and running a fever, you’re saying another werewolf might try and take advantage of me.
Bite
me
, when I can’t fight him off?”

“I’m the only werewolf in Capeside. It wasn’t an issue before. I don’t know who lives near your mom and I won’t have time to scout the area and find out.”

“Great, if someone decides to bite me, are you going to fight them?”

“Yes.”

I balked at him. “You don’t think that will happen…do you?”

“I can’t predict the future,
Pepper
. I
can
tell you, if anyone did challenge me they wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Cocky wolf.
You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

“To challenge me would be a death sentence.
Treason.”
His eyes burned gold, I cringed. Why did they do that? Was he just trying to make sure I became used to his kind, make my transition easier? Or was he feeling something?
Nah.
I annoyed the crap out of him. That’s probably why they were glowing. After all, annoyance was an emotion.

“Okay, I believe you. But what will we do about my mom?”

“If your mom gets suspicious I can call on a warlock to alter her memories. Either way, she won’t have a clue.”  He ran a hand through his wildly shaggy hair. “We’ll tell
her we’re going out for the evening and
phase
somewhere safe until your transformation is complete.”

“I like that idea a lot better.” I said. “What about you?”

He cocked his head to one side, as if he didn’t understand.

“Will you change during the full moon?”

“If I want to, we can change at will.”

I licked my lips, my throat going dry. I couldn’t believe I was about to ask him this question. “What do you look like when you change?”

Chapter
6

Quinn

I don’t know if she remembered, but when she woke up in the mill I was sitting beside her under the table, eyeing the vampire who wanted to fight me for her. She blinked up at me, still dazed, and ran her fingers over the jagged line of my scar. I jerked away in shock, and she mumbled something, closing her eyes for another mi
nute or so before waking fully.

Only a werewolf’s true mate would accept them wholly. If she accepted me, even in the smallest of ways as a huma
n, she was destined to be mine.

My face didn’t repulse her.

It reaffirmed what I felt.

Pepper
was mine.

And now she wa
nted to see what I looked like.

“
Pepper
, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“Why?” her stubborn streak thrilled me. I always enjoyed a challenge, and with
Pepper
each moment was different, like a mini adventure. I never knew what she would say or how she would act. “You don’t scare me, Quinn.”

“You say that now.” I tried for a teasing voice.

She huffed. “I’ll see someone as a werewolf sooner or later.”

I guess she had a point. It was better she see me change. I knew
Pepper
wasn’t weak, for such a tiny thing she packed quite a punch. However seeing something so
incredible and potentially terrifying would be hard for anyone to handle. Even though she put up a good front, her breathing was shallow, heart rate a little accelerated, and her movements were jerky. “Okay, I’ll do it. Just promise you won’t run from me.”

She pursed her lips, but her voice was cautious, “I’d never.”

I laughed, “I’m not cuddly.”

“I got that.”

The simmering blue fabric of her dress reflected the florescent
lightning
. She had a red belt around her waist, and only
Pepper
could wear a pair of black sneakers with a dress and manage to look cute. She was different. With her silky, shoulder length black hair, and almond shaped eyes. They tilted up at the corners. The streak of color running through the front left side of her hair was pink, last week it was green, blue before that.
Pepper
was her own person and I liked that a lot.

I locked the shop door and walked to the back of the bookstore behind the shelves.
Pepper
followed, keeping her distance, but I could feel her curiosity. As I began unbutt
oning my shirt she gaped at me.

I asked. “Is something wrong?”

“Uh, should I leave?”

I took off my shirt and tossed it to her. She caught it and looked at the tag.

“This is very expensive.” She said, folding it over her arm. “Like, more than I make in a week.”

“Money is useless if you don’t spend it.” Giving her a nod I knelt on the floor and pressed my chin to my chest.

“Wait!”

I looked up. “What?”

She shifted her weight from her left leg to her right. This was one of the first times I’d ever seen her so nervous without trying to hide it. Sometimes
Henry
’s
mate, Venna, called
Pepper
, Miss
Tough Girl. From what I’ve learned about
Pepper
, she didn’t lik
e to seem weak or ask for help.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

I sent her a reassuring smile, “It’s not a big deal.”

“It doesn’t hurt?” was this really so upsetting for her?

“No, you can close your eyes if you want.” I offered. She would have to open them eventually.

She put her hand over her face, “Do it before I lose my nerve.”

I pressed my chin to my chest grinning. A warm flush started in my back, traveling down my arms, all the way to my toes. My muscles rippled under my skin, and I felt m
y canines lengthen in my mouth.

My ears perked up as
Pepper
’s shallow breaths quickened. She was anxious. Knowing that I was scary to look at, I stayed kneeling.

“
Pepper
?”

“I-I can look?”

The sound of my shirt falling to the floor brought my head up. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. She was still human, her transformation incomplete. Once she was changed she would trust me instinctually. I could have put it off for two days.

She backed into one of the shelves as our gazes met. “Wow.”

I stood slowly, “I’m still me.”

“I see that.” she gripped the shelf behind her looking me up and down. “Your voice is a little deeper and your skin is darker, like you got really tan, and then seasick.”

“Pasty white werewolves aren’t very frightening.”

“You would have ripped your shirt if you kept it on.” Her brown eyes were wide as she looked at my hands, “I bet those could tear through a car door.”

“Car doors are like butter with these.” Black claws had extended from my fingers. They were short now. I could make them longer if I wanted to. “You’ll get them.”

“I thought you said I wouldn’t change.” Her voice raised an octave with alarm.

“You won’t, not like this. Only the males can.” I said in a rush. “You need a way to defend yourself. Your nails will grow long and pointed when you need
them to
.”

“Will they look
like that?” she eyed my hands.

“No, they’ll be smaller, pinkish white. But just as sharp.”

“Oh…”

I couldn’t hear her breathing.

“Don’t pass out on me
Pepper
.”

She inhaled slowly, seemed to relax and let go of the shelf. I didn’t move a muscle. “You
knew I was holding my breath?”

“Yeah, I can hear yo
ur heart racing too.” I smiled.

“You have fangs!”

I pursed my lips closed.

She laughed, “God, I’m not going to sleep after seeing you like this. At least you’re not furry. Shedding isn’t an issue.”

Any tension I had melted away at the sound of her melodic laugh. It sent tremors of pleasure down my spine and my eyes grew warm with the gold glow of energy. She was becoming comfortable around me. This was good. “It’s just me,
Pepper
.”

“Yeah, same grouchy werewolf.”
She pointed at my right arm and the mark on the inside between my wrist and my elbow. “What’s that?”

“
It’s
proof of who I am,” it was a black half-moon surrounded by a green, a red, and a blue star. “If anyone ever questions me, all I have to do is show them this. I keep it hidden most of the time though.”

“Did you all decide to go out and get tattoos?”

“No, it’s a charm.
Henry
’s grandfather did start off with a tattoo. It was done by an Indian witch doctor. When we accept our fate and pledge to the Council, it appears.”

“Does Venna have one?”

He shook his head, “No, but she could if she wanted to. The only female I know who has one is Marianna, Dmitri’s sister, but she managed to get it on her ankle.”

Pepper
picked my shirt up off the floor and slowly closed the distance between us. Now I was holding
my
breath. Stopping an arm’s lengt
h away, she held it out for me.

I took the shirt from her, careful not to touch her with black claws that could
slice
a steel beam in two. “Thanks.”

“Sure,” she twisted her hands in front of her, nervous again. “Do you want to walk me home? I’d like to avoid running into anymore vampires that want to eat me.”

I smiled, but kept my fangs hidden. “I guess you’re not scared anymore.”

“Less scared…besides, this look works on you.” Her cheeks went pink. “You should change back before we leave though. Don’t want to cause a riot.”

I held back a laugh as
she left me.

Kneeling, I put my chin to my chest and the warmth spread through me as I changed. I slipped on my shirt, rolled the sleeves to my elbows and buttoned it.

She glanced back over her shoulder twice, almost running into a shelf before reaching the front of the store.

Now I was really smiling.

Chapter 7

Pepper
had her back to me by the register when I approached. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at something on the counter. I stopped behind her and looked down to see her pink cell
phone.

“I have to call my mom and tell her you’re coming with me.”

“C
ool, I can’t wait to meet her.”

She snorted and stuffed the phone in her pocket, “I think I’ll do it when I get home.”

Pepper
locked up the register and stuck a zipper pouch filled with cash in a safe under the counter. I flipped off the lights and we left through
a door next to a storage room.

The evening air was thick and heavy with humidity. I could taste it, and smell rain on its way. The asphalt would sizzle as the first few drops of water hit it. Humans didn’t have the pleasure of hearing that. It
was one of my favorite sounds.

“The barbeque by the lake is going to get rained out.” I said, feeling the need to fill the silence somehow.