Moon Struck: Book 1 (When, Were, and Howl)

by Raleigh, Jeanette

  I felt a sense of shock when he slid open the drawer and pulled out a beat-up stuffed teddy-bear. As chew toys went, this was the ultimate. He tossed it toward the couch where I was still hiding, “I'm sorry, Jen. I have no idea how long this will go. I'll call Ali to come over, so you're not stuck here alone.”

  It was useless to tell him that I'd be fine. I woofed and that was about the end of it. I'm not sure if he expected me to crawl out from under the couch then and there, but I had concerns that Francis might pop back in at any moment. Vampires are unpredictable at times. Still, a sale is a sale. And things were quiet. I could manage.

  Once Rob had gone for the second time, I crawled out from my hiding place under the couch. I suppose I was lucky. Even another weremouse boss would have forced me to take vacation or go without pay in a similar circumstance. Still, I couldn't help feeling as if the universe were against me.

  Scooping up the teddy bear in my jaws, I padded to my new favorite place in the office, a comfortable little corner with a large wolf-sized pillow. It was something of a shock that Rob let me use his pillow. Wolves just don't allow other animals onto their bed, at least not from what I've seen in my family. Maybe he really did like me.

  I circled a few times before settling. Sniffing the teddy bear a few times and gnawing a bit on the end, I settled in for a nap.

  Chapter 18

  Rob had crossed a one more name off the list while Ali and I removed two more. We met up again at Ali's house. She yawned for a good thirty seconds, and Rob convinced her that he and I could finish with the list.

  The next name on the list was a teenage werewolf by the name of Tyler Baker. His house was a small one-story in a crowded part of town. Rob was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, so at least he didn't look too badly out of place. With the window rolled down, I could hear everything they said.

  A woman with graying hair swept back in a braid answered the door. “Whatever it is you're selling, I don't want it.”

  “I'm not selling anything. We're looking for Tyler Baker? He's missed a few of the full moons and we wanted to make sure he was okay.” Rob used that super-smile that could charm a cactus.

  “I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm at my wit's end. Tyler is adopted, and none of the rest of us have the full moon changes. He stopped going because the changes stopped. I don't know what to do.” She opened the door wider, “Tyler is at that werewolf park. ”

  Rob handed her his business card. “We're going to swing by the park and see if we can talk to him there. If we don't run into him, can you have him call this number? We may be able to help him with his problem.”

  The woman took the card, “Thank you. He's been so depressed lately.”

  “Ma'am, any wolf who loses their ability to shift is bound to get depressed. If we're able to get his wolf back, I'm sure he'll be happier.” Rob would know. I never thought I'd miss being a mouse if it came down to it, but I suppose I would.

  “I hope this helps. Would you like to come in for a few minutes? I just have a few questions.”

  Rob looked over his shoulder. Just in case he needed permission, I nodded. “Maybe for a few minutes.”

  I waited in the car for an eternity in wolf time. In human time, it was only twenty minutes. Afterward, we drove to the park where werewolves are most likely to roam during full moons. The park is huge with ample room for us were-types to cavort in. As a mouse, I never had much use for it. This was actually the first time I'd even been there.

  Trails wove in and out of the trees and the werewolf park was in many ways a forest playroom for wolves.

  “It's rare to find humans lingering about here. I'll just walk along one of these paths. If you can use your nose to sniff out the humans, we should be able to find him if he's here.” Rob said.

  It was nice of him to actually come to the park with me. He'd suggested going home and waiting for Tyler to call, which was a whine-worthy moment in my opinion. But I only whined a little. Tired of four legs and drool, it was time for a cure.

  A few scents caught my attention, the first a cologne that seemed promising. I followed the scent through the park, only to be disappointed upon discovering a middle-aged man instead of the teenager I was hoping for.

  His skin was normally dark, but in the light he seemed almost gray, and he wheezed when he spoke.

  “Are you a...” He gulped a breath and then another. I frowned or at least did the wolfish version of a frown. Something was wrong here. I stepped forward while he struggled for another breath, “were or pet?”

  “Awoo” I leapt onto the bench next to him.

  He coughed and struck himself in the chest. “Sure wish you were a were. I think I need help.”

  He was having a heart attack. I put a paw on his hand and howled for all I was worth, hoping I wouldn't upset him. Rob would know it was me. He would come and then he could call for help. The howl probably carried some panic. That's how I felt, frightened and helpless. He looked bad. Something about the way he struggled, the way he seemed to force his head up every time he took a breath.

  “Name,” He winced and gasped, “Ned.” It took all his breath just to say those words.

  I would have told him to save his air if only I had words.

  I howled again. A lady came running out of the woods. Strange. I thought my panicked howl would only bring Rob. She stopped when she saw me and looked like she would turn around.

  Ned stared off into the distance. “What a strange...”

  And that was all he said. Ned's head fell to his chest and he didn't say another word. I tried to put my head by his chest to hear his heart but I couldn't even tell if I was close enough and his head got in the way. I howled again.

  This time the woman turned back and ran up to the park bench. She touched Ned's hand. “Are you okay?”

  Rob sprinted out of the trees from the other direction. He was at the bench before the woman decided she hadn't felt a pulse.

  “I think he's dead.”

  Pulling him off the bench, Rob started CPR. “Call an ambulance.”

  I paced back and forth, feeling helpless in my wolf paws. A couple ran out of woods. “I can help.”

  When Rob felt for a pulse, there was still no heartbeat.

  Ned. His name is Ned. The thought kept running through my mind. It bugged me so much. Maybe if I had been human, I could have helped him right away and he wouldn't be laying there without a heartbeat. At least the ambulance would have been there sooner.

  But then if I were human, we wouldn't be in the park. Maybe Ned would have died alone.

  “Help is coming.” That from the lady on the phone. She wore a pink jogging suit, a strand of hair had fallen out of her pony tail. I thanked her silently for not turning completely away the second time I howled.

  Rob was dripping with sweat. I'd never seen such a determined look before. He was wasted on real estate. He would have made a great paramedic.

  Ned still looked grey. It was so strange. I had been talking to him, exchanging words and then there were no more words. I felt so young. No one close to me had ever died, and the feeling that somehow this person was dying stunned me to the core. I'd never seen anything like this. I felt a strange shock, almost awe that life could come and go so quickly.

  When I heard the sirens, I whined. It was a natural impulse, one I couldn't control. Did anyone think of meeting the paramedics in the parking lot. I barked once and sprinted for the ambulance, hoping I could make myself understood once I got there. At least in a were park, they would be more likely to follow me.

  A police cruiser and fire truck pulled into the parking lot first. The ambulance was still coming.

  From the pathway, the woman in pink ran waving her hands. “Over here.”

  I trotted alongside the firemen until we neared the park bench. Rob was red and dripping, his sleeves were pushed up and there were sweat stains under his arms. I was so proud of him.

  When the fireman took over, he staggered away, wiping his forehead.
Scanning the crowd, he found me weaving my way to him and came over.

  “He's been down a long time.” Rob said in a whisper to me.

  I was glad to have the kind of vocal chords that didn't work with words, because I had no idea what to say. I made a little noise in the back of my throat. Rob scratched the top of my head, and we watched.

  The paddles didn't work the first time. I felt an incredible sinking in my heart. We were all drawn like a magnet to the lifeless form on the grass. The second jolt worked, coinciding with the arrival of the ambulance team.

  “Shall we go?” Rob's words were quiet beside me. I'd forgotten he was standing there.

  I nodded. My whole soul felt quiet, and I longed more than anything for home.

  Chapter 19

  Rob drove in absolute silence, his every action, whether a stop or a blink accompanied with a grim expressionless stare. The seats in the passenger side were really too small for me to comfortably lie down, so I sat staring out the window, letting the wind blow in my face. Every now and then I'd look over to check on Rob. He pretty much just stared straight ahead. If he looked my way, I didn't catch it.

  Ali called, but Rob ignored the phone, and she went to voicemail.

  He parked the car and unlocked the front door in silence. By now, I was used to the idea of staying at his house, but Rob was really freaking me out.

  He didn't say a word. Stepping into the house, he tossed his jacket over the chair and strode to the master bedroom. Maybe he'd forgotten I was human under my fur, a very un-were thing to do, but he sure wasn't acting like himself.

  I finally barked a question, which sounded more like “Roo?”

  He stopped and looked at me, a frown on his face, and now I could see that he hurt, one of those deep emotional hurts that people live with, often in silence, often alone. Only the eyes reveal that kind of pain. He voice was soft, “I'm sorry, Jen. I just need to be alone for awhile. There's a remote on the couch that works pretty well with paws.”

  He stepped into the bedroom and shut the door, leaving it open just a crack.

  My wolf ears heard him pulling clothes out of his dresser drawer and stepping into the shower. To Ali, a crack in the door is an invitation, but inviting myself into Rob's shower when he was feeling sad didn't exactly sound like a good idea. Again, to Ali, maybe it would. To me...not at all.

  He'd actually showed me the remote earlier in a tour of the house. They make all kinds of special tools for the wereanimals with giant paws who are unable to manipulate small objects. I turned on the television, but truly couldn't care less what was on.

  I wasn't listening to the T.V. at all. The shower was off now, but the door still closed. I heard Rob climb onto the bed. Then he wept.

  Padding to the door, I nudged it open. Sure, he wanted to be alone, but in a spur of the moment decision, I ignored his request. His head was hidden in his arm and his shoulders were shaking. I put my nose on his hand, just to let him know I was there.

  Rob stilled. “You can come up with me if you want.”

  That was all the invitation I needed. I jumped up and burrowed next to him. He welcomed the comfort. His shoulders relaxed.

  We cuddled quietly for a long time.

  Rob said,“Grampie Joel died of a heart attack a few years ago. There were witnesses, and none of them knew CPR. They weren't even willing to try.”

  Rob loved his Grampie Joe. He was always telling stories of Grampie Joe and his canoe, or the trip to Yellowstone. The fireworks fiasco in the field where all of the fireworks were accidentally lit off at once, while his grandpa sent the kids running for cover. His grandma still talked about that. At the time she was sure one of the grandkids had gotten killed by a roman candle.

  I knew his grandpa died, but I never heard how. I stayed close to him, making comforting wolf sounds.

  “Not one person even tried.” The anger bled into Rob's voice, the frustration of a time and place that could not be repaired. Those bystanders could not go back and change the moment, but neither could Rob.

  I listened quietly and waited.

  “While I was in that park, I forgot who I was trying to save. When I took all of those classes, it was because of what happened to my Grandpa. I was counting and compressing and seeing Grampie Joe's ribs under my hand. But it wasn't him.” Rob closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “I'm sorry. I'm fine.”

  We had moved from grief to tough guy in a single moment. I snuggled next to him and let him feel whatever he wanted. His eyes were closed. I knew he was exhausted, emotionally and physically from the day. He fell asleep while I wondered how strange it was that I was here lying next to Rob feeling comfortable. I seemed to fit there, although I had to wonder if I'd still fit as my human self.

  I guess life-saving is a draining activity. After spending an hour watching Rob sleep, I hopped down, thinking that the day hadn't gone terribly bad, considering that we had actually saved a random stranger's life. That doesn't happen often in a lifetime.

  In the meantime, food sounded pretty good, and earlier in the day when Rob opened the fridge for the milk, I happened to notice a raw steak sitting on a dinner plate to defrost. By now, it should be defrosted.

  As a were-mouse, I never ate anything like raw meat, so this would be a first. Rob actually fed me raw hamburger the night before. “Just try it. A wolf's tongue loves it cold. I just can't explain it.”

  So I sniffed the hamburger for a few minutes before nibbling the tiniest corner. Wow, it was fantastic. Butcher's meat. The grocery stores added chemicals and water and red dyes. Werewolves didn't go for that sort of thing and tended to buy direct from farmers or from the butchers. I didn't dare ask if they ever bought live cows to hunt.

  But that was yesterday and I was hungry today. Here I was standing in Rob's kitchen and I realized, I didn't know how to open the refrigerator door. He had to have some kind of mechanism for a wolf to open. That's how werewolves work. Their houses have alternative exits and entrances, and their cabinets and appliances are upgraded for easy access.

  I tried to get my snout in between the empty space of the handle, but my nose was too big. Pushing didn't work. Nor did pulling. A growling stomach was not helping matters any and no way would I wake up Rob for something this trivial. No, there had to be a way.

  Stepping back, I bent my head with a slight twist, so that I could look at the door from every angle. After several minutes of stalking the refrigerator door, I tried pulling the bottom of the door open with my paw. It was then that I noticed a strange little lever.

  Rob had mentioned something about it when he was standing in the kitchen pulling the milk out of the refrigerator, but Ali was in the living room going a hundred miles an hour about some problem at work, and unfortunately, it was Ali to whom I gave my undivided attention. Best friend versus food. What else could I choose?

  I put my paw on the lever and the ingenious little device pushed the door open. Carefully lifting the steak from the plate I carried it over to the platter on the floor. The refrigerator turned on. I shut the door before returning to my steak.

  What Rob said is true. To a wolf's taste buds, raw meat is like eating candy. The flavor of incredibly fresh meat assaults the senses and leaves a euphoric feeling afterward. Even as an animal, I'm not a gulper. I ate slowly and thoughtfully, chewing my food as properly as a canine can manage.

  After polishing off the last of it, I drank from the aluminum water bowl until the fur around my face was soaked. No self-respecting wereanimal would drink water out of plastic. It's one of the most repulsive tastes on the planet, though in human form, I never could tell the difference. Rob could, but then werewolves have heightened senses when compared to mice.

  The side of me that follows Ali into random adventures wanted to go jump on the bed and curl up with Rob. The other half, who sits at Gran's dinners and tries to live a normal life decided that caution was a better choice. Caution won out, and I ended up asleep on the wolf bed in the corner.

 
That's how I heard someone rattling the door in the early hours of the morning. Silently, I snuck to the door, lifting my bulk to look through the peep hole, which was just that little bit too tall for me to see through. My sense of smell came to the rescue where my eyes failed me. I could smell something, and it smelled rotten, not like rotten eggs, but more like the smell of burger that has been in the refrigerator a day too long. Just that faintest whiff of something wrong.

  A faint whiff is enough.

  I growled. It was low and menacing and really something to be proud of.

  The rattling stopped. We waited. Me on one side and the strange smelling fellow on the other. I heard footsteps and a car start, and the smell was gone.

  Rob had stacked a pile of alphabet letters in the living room. Originally the plan was to have a sit down, man to wolf, if we couldn't find Tyler. Obviously, our encounter in the park changed all that. I pawed at the letters. At least all of the lights were still on. Rob tended to turn all of the lights off at bedtime, except for a small light over the stove.

  Nosing through letters isn't the easiest thing to do, and a wolf's sight isn't made for reading; however, once I managed to get my teeth on a letter, I could carry it to just the right spot to relay my message. There were a few misspellings. It's not because I don't know how to spell. I'm actually really good with that sort of thing. But I ran out of d's. The message was simple. I just said. “Intruder at door. Smelled bad.”

  It would have been tempting to sneak out the wolf door and chase after the car, but I was too realistic to think I would actually catch the person, and I didn't want Rob to worry when he woke up, which he probably would the minute the door hit my tail.

  Wide awake and bored, I waited. It occurs to me that I've never been bored as a mouse. It might be all the terror. It's really hard to be filled with apathy when something as small as a cat is dangerous. But as a wolf? Boredom. I slept for a few hours waiting for Rob.