By the Pale Moonlight (Book One of the Moonlight Series) Page 16

  "There aren't, and we both know it." He began gathering up the bullets and placing them in a wooden container. Small, easy to hide. A wave of helplessness washed through me. Maybe he was right...

  "I refuse to accept that," I said, barely able to push the words through my lips. My throat felt tight, constricted.

  He kept his back to me, the distance between us growing once again.

  "I can't shoot you, Ty. I won't."

  I turned and fled the building.

  Chapter 18

  It took some time, but at last I pushed away from my father's computer, satisfied I had found a solution. The only problem was that I didn't know how to pull it all off.

  My stomach rumbled with hunger, and I once again tried to ignore it. When I had returned home, my mother had been minutes away from putting dinner on the table. I had skated right by her, saying I wasn't hungry. Truth was, despite every effort to block it out, the image of myself pulling the trigger of a gun pointed at Ty kept surfacing. I was afraid any food I ate would only come right back up again. But now, apparently my body had had enough.

  I quietly made my way into the kitchen, opening the fridge a crack to check out the options. My mother had wrapped a plate in plastic wrap for me, and I popped it in the microwave. I could hear the hum of the TV coming from the living room. Afraid to disturb my parents or provoke questions I wasn't prepared to answer, I sneaked up the stairs to my room, balancing the plate of food in one hand, a Coke in the other.

  I had printed several pages off the website I stumbled across earlier, and I smoothed them across the bed as I ate my dinner. The capture gun looked similar to a regular gun—only instead of bullets, it held small darts with enough tranquilizer to knock a large mammal out for hours. Ty definitely qualified.

  Of course, there was no easy way of getting my hands on one. The gun could probably be finagled, but the actual tranquilizing agent would be difficult. Not exactly something you could buy off of Ebay.

  Letting this obstacle stop me wasn't an option, though. If I didn't obtain one—and soon—Ty would see to it that I went through with his plan.

  The thought of approaching Melanie with the idea kept coming back to me, but in the end I decided against it. Admittedly, I wasn't exactly pleased with her at the moment. The idea that she would go behind my back to help Ty make bullets pissed me off, and there was no guarantee I wouldn't go off on the small girl if I confronted her now. No, I would go this one alone.

  A soft knock came at my door, and I hurriedly gathered the pages together and shoved them in my nightstand drawer. "Come in," I said, once the pages were out of sight.

  My mother poked her head inside the door. "Everything okay?"

  I nodded. Not wanting to look at her while I told her a complete lie, I shoveled a heaping forkful of mash potatoes into my mouth and pressed a napkin to my lips.

  She pushed the door open further and stepped partway across the threshold. "You've been awfully quiet tonight."

  I shrugged, swallowing. "Just busy."

  That was the understatement of the century if ever there was one. Time was slipping away fast—it was just two short weeks until Ty's next cycle began. My eyes inadvertently swept to the calendar above my desk. I had been marking the days off with large red Xs. No matter what I did, time seemed to be speeding up as the full moon approached.

  My mother's eyes followed my line of sight, a small smile playing across her lips. "I spoke with Shannon earlier."

  I nearly spit up the bite of roast beef I had just taken. "Oh God."

  My mother laughed, and came to sit on the edge of my bed. I leaned back against the wall and pushed a pillow into my face to hide.

  I knew it would only be a matter of time before Mrs. O'Neill and my mother compared notes. I just hadn't realized it would be this soon.

  "You didn't tell me," she said, a clear note of glee in her tone.

  "Yeah, well...I wonder why."

  My face, I knew, was red, and there was no way I was coming out of hiding with her grinning at me that way. Talk about bad timing. Had she asked me the status of Ty's and my relationship, I honestly couldn't have said. In the space of one day we had gone from not speaking to one another, to practically having sex in a shed of all places, and back again.

  "I think it's wonderful," my mother said, pulling the pillow away. "Granted, it's a heck of a way to find out."

  At that, she took on a firm Mom face—the one that said I was still in trouble despite her general approval of the situation.

  "What happened with David?" she said.

  My face hadn't returned to normal yet, but the mention of David's name had a sobering effect on me. I shrugged, knowing there was no possible way I could tell her the truth. I only hoped she didn't know already. It seemed everyone else did. I died a bit inside at the thought of her having a full understanding of what had gone on between David and me. The cheating, the pressure he put on me to have sex—all of which, I had allowed in one way or another.

  "He was never the one," I said finally, meaning it. It was the best I could do given the situation.

  Her eyes searched mine for a long time, as though trying to glean more information than I had given. In the end, though, she simply nodded and accepted my statement as enough. Perhaps she would question me down the road, but for now, she was satisfied.

  "So, missy," she said, rubbing her hands together. "We have some planning to do."

  "Planning, for what?"

  My mother tilted her chin down and gave me a stern look. When I still didn't get what she was talking about, she cocked her head toward the calendar above my desk. It took a moment for things to register.

  Months ago, I had decorated the day of Homecoming with glitter and confetti. It was that day that had snared my mother's attention. Clearly she believed Ty and I were going.

  "Oh no...that's...umm...yeah, I wasn't really planning on going."

  Another stern look. "Don't tell me he hasn't asked you yet."

  I didn't know how to tell her that the subject had never even come up. And with everything going on, there was no way I could ask Ty to take me. In reality, I hadn't given the dance a single thought in weeks, despite all of the preparations going on around me at school.

  "I don't really... I don't really want to go."

  At that, a deep furrow appeared between my mother's eyebrows.

  "It's just," I said. "It's all so new—Ty and me, I mean. It's a little early to...you know, to go public."

  I almost snorted at the ridiculousness of it all. Ty and I had known each other our entire lives. Even if we wanted to keep our "relationship" on the down low, there was absolutely no one in our school who would question the idea of us going to a dance together. As friends. We'd done it back in 9th grade when we were both unwilling to go stag to the spring dance.

  "I just don't want to go."

  My mother squinted her eyes at me. "He hasn't asked you."

  It wasn't a question.

  She stood. "Well, I'll fix that." I had no doubt she was on her way to yet another phone conversation with Mrs. O'Neill. Mortified, I scrambled off the bed and blocked the door before she could escape.

  "God, Mom. It's no big deal. I don't want to go."

  Surprisingly, I meant it.

  Hands on hips, she stared me down. "Makenna Rose Wilhelm. You're going. I'm not going to let you ruin this for me."

  My mouth gaped open in shock. "Ruin...for you...what?" I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of me.

  It took a moment for her to follow suit, but even she laughed at her declaration. "I mean it, Makenna. I don't want you to miss out on this."

  That sent us off into another fit of giggles. It had been a day chock full of highs and lows. Leave it to Mom to bring it back up again.

  "Okay, okay," I said, "I'll talk to Ty."

  She smiled and brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. "This is going to be a very special day for me."

  When she left the room, both of us were stil
l laughing.

  I closed the door with a soft click and pressed my back to it. Only then did the reality of everything I needed to make happen over the next few days set in.

  "Crap."

  Chapter 19

  It was well past midnight by time Ty crawled through my bedroom window. It had been this way all week. Him arriving late in the night, probably hoping I was already asleep. That way we could avoid talking to one another.

  Most nights I feigned being asleep. Whether or not he believed I actually was, he let me pretend, choosing to silently crawl into bed beside me. One night I stirred to watch him undress down to his boxers and T-shirt. Our eyes met in the darkness, but we had both turned away without speaking.

  I was determined tonight would be different. When he entered, I sat up and clicked on the small bedside lamp. He didn't flinch at the sudden burst of light, only kept his eyes down as he quickly shed his clothing.

  "Your mom spilled the news already," I said. Earlier, I had decided it was pointless to skirt around the subject. A direct approach was necessary right now. I didn't have time to leave the question of the dance up in the air. Not with everything else battling for my attention. Even with that firm resolution in mind, it was difficult to broach the subject so blatantly. My cheeks already felt warm and I hadn't even gotten to the crux of the situation.

  He focused on me, but didn't speak.

  "Thing is—they expect us to go to Homecoming." I said the words quickly, figuring it was best to purge them all at once lest I chicken out. "I know the timing is horrible, trust me, I know. But my mom wouldn't take no for an answer. And you know yours won't either. We have to go."

  If that wasn't the lousiest proposition in all of history, I didn't know what was. It was so matter-of-fact. Not exactly the way I imagined this moment.

  "I'll do everything," I continued. "You just have to show up. We'll make an appearance at the dance, and then we'll..." My words trailed off. It sounded so cold, so absurd. "Okay?"

  He shook his head. "No—it's not okay."

  His sharp tone made me jump. Was he really going to refuse me?

  "It's not okay," he repeated. "I should be the one asking you. You should be happily doing all of your girl things—dress shopping, getting your hair done—all of it. Instead you're running around trying to help me."

  Without warning, he stomped to the nearest wall and promptly put his fist through it. The loud crash seemed to ricochet through the quiet house. I gaped at him, shocked.

  Light appeared beneath my door, followed a moment later by my father's voice in the hall. "Makenna?"

  I scrambled out of bed.

  "Hide!" I whispered, the word dying on my lips. With a speed that wasn't human, Ty shot out of my bedroom window.

  My father opened the door, but I stopped it. It hit my shin, hard.

  "Sorry, Dad... I knocked my lamp over."

  He tried pushing into my room anyway.

  "I'm not decent," I said. That stopped his forward progress. I put the door between us, opening it just a crack. His sleep tousled head peered in at me.

  "A lamp? Good God, Makenna. It sounded like something went through your wall."

  Little did he know how accurate he was.

  "It's fine," I said, pushing on the door as he tried to enter again. "Not dressed, remember?"

  "Oh, right.." He craned his neck, as though that could somehow let him see inside my room.

  "Sorry I woke you, but I'm fine," I said. "Night."

  He was still mumbling under his breath when I closed the door. I hurried to the window and leaned out, dreading finding Ty sprawled on the yard below. The ground was empty. I whispered his name several times, and at last he appeared below. He seemed intact and okay.

  "Stay there," I said. I rounded on my heel and moved toward my bedroom door, pressing my ear to it. No sounds came from the hallway, but I couldn't be sure my Dad was settled in bed yet. Ty could be hurt, though. I would have to chance it.

  I returned to the window. "I'll let you in the back door," I whispered. I started back the way I came.

  "That isn't necessary."

  I whipped around.

  Crouched on my windowsill, Ty reminded me more of an animal than the boy I'd always known. His clothing, plaid boxers and T-shirt, seemed completely out of place on the strange vision before me. With lithe movements, he stepped down without so much as stirring the curtains around him.

  My knees gave out, and I fell on my backside with a soft thud. "That's impossible," I whispered, hysteria rising in my throat to choke off the words.

  He stepped toward me, hand outstretched, and I reflexively scooted backwards. I immediately regretted it. The look of horror that darkened his features was instant and intense. Without a word, he turned and fled out the window.

  I scrambled to my feet and pulled the curtains back. He was long gone. Cursing under my breath, I quickly pulled on jeans and tennis shoes. Like hell I would let him run off again.

  o0o

  The night was cloudless, and just the barest slice of moon hung in the sky. I spared it the briefest glance as I hurried through the trees. I knew Ty wouldn't go back to his house. Tonight he was angry and hurt and blaming himself for everything.

  The shed was unlocked and empty. After descending the cellar stairs to find the room deserted, I slid down to sit on the bottom step. I couldn't help the rush of anger and guilt I felt for my part in all of this. How could I have flinched away from him like that? The speed he had shown—the way he had entered my room in that split second—it had scared me. Just what would I be facing with the full moon? And, how in the world would I be a match for him—for the other one?

  So many thoughts swirled in my mind; I felt suffocated by them. There was nothing to do but wait.

  Crazy enough, I must've fallen asleep at some point. Last I remembered, it felt as though I would never be able to sleep again. The next, a slight creak of wood on the steps startled me awake. I whipped around to find Ty seated a few stairs above me. He sat with his head down, elbows on his knees.

  "Ty! Thank God. I thought—"

  "I can feel it coming, Mac," he said. "The wolf."

  His words silenced me. I had been prepared for anything but the fear I heard in his voice.

  "It's like this constant ache beneath my skin. Not pain, exactly...more like an itch that every fiber in my body wants to scratch. The change...it's horrible. I can't describe it." He paused, closing his eyes. "When it happens, I can feel my bones breaking."

  "Jesus," I whispered, incapable of saying anything else.

  "Part of me wants it to happen; for it to be over. And when it happens..." His head sank even lower. "When it happens, I'm relieved. It feels good—being the wolf."

  We sat for a long time; a dim light from the shed above played on the steps between us. When I could stand the silence no longer, I moved to sit beside him. When I pressed my body against his, I was glad to feel strong arms encircle me.

  "It'll be okay," I said, shocked by the tremor I felt go through him.

  "I'm fast—you wouldn't believe how fast. And strong. And the anger I feel sometimes—I can't control it." He buried his face in my neck, holding on to me tight. "And every day I'm getting stronger—it's getting stronger."

  "I'm going to get you through this," I said, not really sure if I was up to the task. All I knew was that I had to be.

  Chapter 20

  Considering the night we'd had, I was surprised by Ty's mood the next morning. Rather than the doom and gloom I expected to surround him, he was actually rather upbeat. Not exactly his former self—but close.

  He had slipped out my window near daybreak, and when he returned he unabashedly swept me into his arms and kissed me—right in front of my parents.

  My father's eyebrows shot into the stratosphere, and he stood, the newspaper he had been reading going slack in his right hand. I stepped back from Ty and flashed my father a tight smile. He looked from me to my mother, who gave him a reassuring
nod. When that didn't work, she glared in that certain way of hers that always made him back down. He huffed something under his breath, but remained standing.

  Ty, who obviously hadn't thought any of this through, quickly released the arm he had slung around my waist. Two pink dots appeared high on his cheeks.

  I exchanged a worried glance with my mother. She put a staying hand on my father's shoulder, who seemed tensed for battle.

  "Your breakfast is getting cold," she said, calmly.

  "It's cereal," my father huffed. He pointed a finger at Ty and me, looking remarkably like a confused toddler. "What—when?"

  "Sit," my mother said, this time firmly.

  My father reluctantly sat down. I glanced up at Ty who clearly wished he could be anywhere but there. That said, I was surprised when he cleared his throat and stepped up to the table. Dad eyed him like a bug he wanted to step on.

  "Rich—Mr. Wilhelm," Ty quickly corrected himself.

  My mother smiled up at him, giving him a slight nod of approval.

  "I wanted..." He stopped and looked back at me, as though for help.

  I shrugged slightly. Being as I had no idea what he was about to do, he was on his own.

  "I wanted to know if I could have your permission to take Makenna to Homecoming." Ty blurted the words out in one long breath.

  I gaped at his back. It was all so Father Knows Best. Torn between the urge to smack him or laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, I looked to my parents to see their reaction. My mother wore a very satisfied grin on her face and had leaned back in her chair to study my father. The latter clearly hadn't expected this. Leave it to Ty to diffuse the situation in a way that not only got him off the hook but earned him brownie points to boot.

  "Fine," my father said, roughly shaking open his newspaper and burying his head inside. I saw the beginnings of a smile as he turned the page and my mother nudged him under the table with her foot. He quickly pulled his lips back in line. He even managed to bark out a sharp goodbye as Ty and I slipped out the back door.