A Werewolf's Moon (The Council) (7 page)

“Are we going to get wet?”

“No, it won’t be for a while, probably half an hour.”

She sighed, drifting closer to my side. “How do you know it will rain?”

“I feel it.” I made sure my eyes didn’t glow as we walked, even though they wanted to. It was too dark for a human to see very clearly.
Pepper
seemed to know where
she was going by instinct. The darkened alley behind the store wasn’t one of the creepy kinds with bum’s hanging around. Even so, knowing that she probably walked
alone back here frustrated me.

I wasn’t used to feeling this way. Normally I worried about myself, my family. I had someone else now. Someone
important,
and she wouldn’t be
walking alone at night anymore.

It was in my nature to be territorial a
nd possessive, but over a girl?

I felt on edge.

The sound of a mouse trying to get into the garbage claimed my attention. Put me on alert even more.

Pepper
was still so vulnerable.

I heard it was like this for other males in the beginning. It could make you a little crazy at first. I only hoped the transition was quick. Being overbearing wasn’t something I strived for, and I didn’t want
to seem controlling to
Pepper
.

I was in a strange position, one every magical being would experience at some point. I’d found the one person in the world I was made to be with and I had no control over any of it.

My instincts
told me
Pepper
was mine.
F
ighting it was useless. It wasn’t like I could just ignore it; wait until I was older and ready to find someone to share life with.
It didn’t work that way for us.

It was common, expected even, to find that person at a young age, even younger than my nineteen years. My brother
Garret
met his mate Kylie when he was ten years old
on the school playground. They were thirteen now and kept a close friendship, knowing that once they were old enough the friendship would become something else.

Henry
and Venna seemed to have discovered what worked for them. Venna was comfortable knowing her place was by
Henry
’s side, and
Henry
, in turn, orbited her like a moon. More importantly, they wanted to be together and loved each other.

Pepper
and I weren’t in love, and I didn’t get the feeling she looked forward to spending time with me…at least up until now. But that was because I’d kicked out a crazy vampire.

I liked her company. Her honesty was refreshing, as were her teasing remarks and jokes.
Pepper
was just fun to be around. I could kick back and relax, not worry about watching what I say or how I act. I didn’t like scaring people, but sometimes I’d rather not hold back a growl, or my
grouchiness, as
Pepper
put it.

We walked in silence to the end of the all
ey and turned onto Cape Street.

Capeside street names, aside from Cape Street, were named after fruit. I’d always found it strange. We cut over A
pple Road, then to Grape Drive.

Grape Drive was a small cul-de-sac with six houses, three on each side of the street, each one sporting an American flag and a white picket fence. At house number two on the right hand side,
Pepper
stopped to look in the mailbox. It was empty.

The two-story house was green with a little flowerbed out front and a paved area with rocking chairs. They were plastic,
probably to resist weathering.

Pepper
opened the front door and hovered on the threshold.

“Um, you’re welcome to come in. With your superior hearing, listening in on the conversation with my mom would be a snap. Better prepare you for what’s to come.”

“Sounds like a good start.” I shut the door behind me and examined the small living room. It was quaint, lots of bright colors, but still country themed like most places in Capeside.

I sniffed the air. We were the only ones here. I did smell a male, older. His scent was coming from a bedroom toward the back of the house, behind the kitchen. “Do you live alone?”

“My aunt and uncle own the house next door, so I’m not without family or adult supervision, which, I’m sure, would drive my mom insane if she knew. She thinks I stay in their guestroom when dad is away. But I’m okay here. Before Venna moved in with
Henry
, she used to spend the night a lot. It does get a little quiet now.”

We went down a short beige hallway and up brown-carpeted stairs. I decided that her living alone wasn’t an option anymore. Once she was turned she’d move in with me. First things first though, I had to sl
owly introduce her to the idea.

And as for me, this was going to be one hell of a learning experience.

Living without her wasn’t an option. The greatest problem I faced at the moment was sleeplessness. It had to be the biggest clue that I’d found my mate, because after I met
Pepper
I stopped sleeping. I spent my nights tossing restlessly, needing her near me. It was damn inconvenient considering our circumstances. I had to protect her and I was tired, exhausted.

This happens to everyone, except normally the girl experiences the same restless nights, and you get to the point where you have to be in the same room to sleep comfortably.

It wasn’t sex or love, nothing like that. Just
sleep,
and the rest came naturally with time.

“This is my room.” She stopped at a closed door at the top of the stairs. “And you should consider yourself lucky dog-man. You’re the first guy who’s ever seen it.”

“Really?”
I liked knowing she hadn’t brought anyone else here with her.

She opened the door and I had to conceal my surprise. Her room was different than I expected. The walls were painted a soothing ocean green and the bed was white and puffy like a cloud, stacked high with green pillows. There had to be at least ten, all different shapes and sizes. She had an armchair draped in silky brown fabric in one corner and an oak dresser in the other, keeping the accessories minimal.

“You look surprised.” She laughed. “I don’t find a busy room restful.”

“Makes sense, I grav
itate toward less clutter too.”

Sitting on the bed, she kicked off her shoes and pulled her cell phone from a pocket hidden in her dress. I took the chair, feeling like I’d sunk into a marshmallow. If I wasn’t careful, I might fall asleep.

“So, who are you?” she asked seriously.

“I’m Quinn.” I grinned, knowing that the question was a little more complex than the way she worded it.

“What I meant was—who should my mom think you are—a friend?” her brown eyes were wide, doe like, and not quite glowing. Her change was close,
barely forty-eight hours away.

Her mom wouldn’t fall for it. Guys like me weren’t just friends with beautiful girls like her. “Do I look like someone you’d be friends with?”

“You look like someone I’d rob a bank with.” She frowned, titling her head thoughtfully. “Maybe you could phase into my room. I’ll call when I start feeling sick.”

“No, I’m not going to risk it.” I’d witnessed turnings, sometimes people blacked out. If that happened before she called me, she’d be at the mercy of her mom, who was bound to seek medical assistance. It would raise red flags when the methods doctors used to help
Pepper
di
dn’t work.

“Fine, I guess I could tell her you’re my boyfriend.”

“Who doesn’t like spending any time away from you?”

“Do you want to be a sissy?”

“No, so we better tell your mom you wanted her to meet me, that it’s serious.”

She nodded, “I’d buy that. Although you’re not like the other guys I’ve gone out with. But she’s never met any of them, so it won’t matter.”

“Why kind of guys were they?” they must have been big idiots to let
Pepper
get away. Their loss was my gain.

“The human
kind,
and they definitely weren’t royalty. Maybe I get along better with magical types. I mean, Venna is a witch, and it’s easier to talk to you than it ever was with boys I’ve dated. Having someone drag me off and bite me is a little strange though.”

“No one is going to bite you under my watch.”
Unless it was me.
Of course when that happened, we’d be ready for it. Come to some sort of understanding.
Pepper
was raised to believe people married for love. It wasn’t like that in my world. You
bind
yourself to your mate and
grow
with them. The only reason any of the magical beings
married was to be free from any hassles with banking, credit cards, property…it was much easier to go about thin
gs with a marriage certificate.

“What about after I’m a werewolf, when I can take care of myself?”

“You’ll do whatever it is you want.” I wouldn’t be too far away though.

Her eyes narrowed, “I get the feeling you’re leaving something out.”

No one else would have picked up on that. “It’s you
r imagination. Call your mom.”

“Don’t be so pushy. I’ll push right back.” She warned.

I grinned. “I know.”

“Oh, I forgot about my stepfather, Paul, the violinist.” She made a sour face, “He’s a tad strange, and will go along with whatever my mom says. Mostly he stays in the attic and composes.”

“Is there anything they find offensive?” the last thing I wanted to do was piss off my future in-laws.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
“Oh yeah, tons of stuff.”

“What?” I would be careful.

“I’m not going to tell you. My father gave me permission to give mom a hard time if I choose.”

“You’re kidding.” He
sounded pretty cool.

“Nope, and as my
boyfriend
, you’re not going to have it easy. Mom will go berserk either way.”

“Do you rea
lly think it will be that bad?”

She dialed the number, “You have no idea.”

Chapter 8

“Hong residence.”
A
woman’s shrill voice answered.

I sank further into the squishy chair, hoping I didn’t doze off. My eyelids were beginning to droop, but I forced them to stay open.

“Hey mom, it’s
Pepper
.” She looked uncomfortable, eyebrows knitting together as she locked her gaze with mine.

Mrs. Hong gasped, “
Pepper
, I am very disappointed in you.”

Pepper
rolled her eyes. Her answer was almost
robotic,
as if this wasn’t the first time she’d pulled such a stunt. “I am very sorry. I will never do it again.”

“Lying leads a person down dark and dangerous paths.” Mrs. Hong said with conviction. “Do you still have color in your hair?”

She groaned, “Yes, and it’s not going anywhere.”

“Your father told me you will be leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Yep, and I’ll be bringing someone with me,”
Pepper
closed her eyes and crossed her fingers.

“Your friend, Venna?
I have always wanted to meet her.”

“No, not Venna…I’ll be bringing my boyfriend.”

“A boy!
Do you know anything about him?” Mrs. Hong screeched. I cringed from the shrill sound. Having my hearing was great, but the uncomfortable sounds were just that much more painful.
Pepper
flinched too.

“Yes, I know him very well.” She opened her eyes to look at me again. Her pulse beat hard and fast. I let my eyes trail over her throat and found evidence of its racing at the base of her neck.

“Oh
no
, how well?”

“Mom!”

“You will keep your hands to yourselves and he will stay in the guestroom downstairs. You keep your door locked.” Mrs. Hong sounded hopping mad.

“Ha, like that would keep me out.” I grinned.

Pepper
shushed me with a smile.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, mom.”

“I am not finished talking,
Pepper
.” She yelled.

Pepper
flopped f
orward on the bed with a groan.

“Last time you were here your skirt was too short and your jeans too tight. You will dress appropriately. No sleeveless shirts. No makeup. No jewelry.” The woman was more controlling than I imagined. “I still can’t believe your father
let you get your ears pierced.”

“Anything else?”
Pepper
asked.