Blue Moon

by J. A. Belfield

  It was all well and good for Jess to say we had a week to find them. I couldn’t wait a week. I’d go crazy—as if I hadn’t already since speaking with Jess.

  Ethan’s bulk filled the doorway to the unlit kitchen.

  I didn’t even falter in my pacing, had pumped myself up too much to stop. My feet hopped with each stride, my fists jerking up and down at my waist.

  “You should go to bed,” Ethan said.

  I ignored him. I couldn’t go to bed. Not in our room. Not without Sean.

  “How much longer do you think you can keep this up before you drop?” he asked.

  On my pivot, I aimed hooded eyes his way, paced again.

  “You’re exhausting me, and I’m only watching you.”

  I gave a low growl. “So, go away then.” My steps picked up speed. A manic pattern affected my movements.

  His footsteps approached my rear.

  I spun, shooting away from him, low threats mumbling past my lips—mostly what Marianne and Stephanie had coming to them. In fact, they all had it coming—every last one of them. I wheeled to retrace.

  Ethan blocked my path. He reached for my arms.

  I lifted my fists, shoved past him and kept going.

  “Jem, stop,” he said.

  I turned, took a stride.

  He stopped me again.

  My lips vibrated with a snarl. “Move.”

  “No.” He grasped my shoulders.

  I struggled against him, tried to break away, but he held me fast. Even twisting my arms and angling my body away from him didn’t free me from his grasp.

  He brought his lips down to my ear. “You should go to bed.”

  “No.” I yanked against him.

  “You need to rest.”

  “No!”

  “Do you want to be sedated, Jem? Because if you keep this up, that’s what Dad’s going to do to you.”

  Whipping round, I sought Ethan’s eyes.

  “You need to rest. Please go to bed.”

  “I can’t,” I whispered. “I can’t go in there. It feels wrong.”

  His dark eyes seemed intense before he nodded and took my hand. “Come on.” As he went to walk away, I tugged back. His tightened grip dragged me along as he glanced over his shoulder.

  With little choice, I followed.

  We passed the living room, turning for the stairs. “We’re going to bed,” he called through the open door.

  He didn’t stop at Sean’s and my door as I expected him to but continued on to his own. Ethan pushed the door wide and nudged me inside. “Sleep in here. Just until he’s home.”

  I crossed the carpet to the generous window and drank in the whitened treetops of the forest. Across the lawn, tufts of green protruded through the remaining snow. Ethan’s room had an amazing view—just the sight of it sapped some of the tension from my shoulders.

  I sent Ethan a small smile, helping myself to a blanket discarded across his chair. Wrapped within it, I climbed onto the window ledge and hugged my knees, watching the branches wave their greeting in the night breeze.

  “Okay, now?” he asked.

  I tore myself away long enough to nod at him, caught him backing out of the doorway. I shot from my position. “Where are you going? Don’t leave …me.”

  His brows lifted, but he stepped back in. After ridding himself of his jeans, he climbed beneath the duvet, where he propped his back against the headboard and slid the cover to his waist. Lips twitching, he leaned across and patted the mattress beside him. “You’ll sleep better lying down.”

  I sent the forest a last look of yearning and padded across to the bed. Matching Ethan, I fussed until my pillows would support me against the headboard, leaning back to half sit beside him.

  “So …what have you got Sean for Christmas?” Ethan asked.

  His question threw me for a moment. “Photographs, mostly.”

  “Photographs?” The bed dipped a little as he shifted onto his side.

  “Yes.” I rested my cheek against my hand. “I had some developed that Poppy took of us at Ben’s birthday. And I talked your dad into letting me have some of your mum. Only I didn’t know, at that time, she’d asked to come home. I’ve put them in an album for him.”

  He smiled. “He’ll like that.”

  “But, now he’s got the real thing to look at. I doubt your mum will leave now she’s back, do you?”

  “I hope not.”

  “What do you think he’ll say when he finds out she’s here?” It seemed to help—talking as though Sean would definitely be back.

  “He’ll be ecstatic, Jem. You know how he feels about her. The gifts you’ve chosen tell me that.”

  “Do you think he’ll be disappointed with me for calling her?”

  Ethan’s shoulders shrugged against his pillow. “I’m not. Why should Sean?”

  “Because I saw the look on Connor’s face when he saw Beth. He wasn’t—”

  “It’s harder for them, Jem. You have to remember that Nadine’s never returning. No doubt Connor’s lot will find it hard to adjust to Mum being here because theirs can’t be.”

  “I didn’t really stop to consider everyone’s feelings when I called her. I just did what seemed right.”

  “It’ll be okay. Don’t worry. By the time Mum’s finished mothering everyone, they’ll be glad she’s here.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Trust me.” He grinned. “Now, do you think you can sleep without me having to imbibe you with alcohol?”

  “I’ll try.” I slid my hand out, linked my fingers with his, the contact comforting me. “Thanks, Ethan.”

  He shuffled down the bed a little as I closed my eyes. “What for?”

  “For being here.”

  As I pleaded with my brain to shut down, I allowed myself the pleasure of imagining the pack racing through the forest with the fresh scent of fear enticing us in the hunt. Behind my lids, a creature darted ahead. Catching the movement, I adjusted my route to follow, pushed forth to catch up. My head hovered above, and my jaws opened wide—until an odd lightness overcame my body and the fox expanded his lead.

  With an intensity beyond my command, my body floated upward, higher.

  On a midair twist, I caught sight of myself below, Ethan beside me with his moist eyes wide and staring into the dimness of his room.

  I tried to raise my hand, to show him my position, but nothing happened. My entire body appeared to hold no substance.

  “Weird. What’s going on?”

  Ethan didn’t even react to the sound of my voice.

  I hovered over the bed until I detected a tug to my body, almost as though summoned. Of its own volition, my form moved across the bedroom until I neared the wall.

  Realising I wouldn’t stop in time, I raised my hands to protect my face, and my eyes closed against impact.

  When I reopened them, the wall had gone. I’d reached outside.

  How, I didn’t know.

  A glance behind showed the house had become distant, and I drifted away as though carried upon the strength of the wind.

  Had I gone through the brickwork? “Not possible,” I whispered.

  I entered the forest with ease. A harsh breeze caressed the high branches surrounding me, below me, inside me—yet no chill from the air encompassed me as it should have. It seemed odd to hold awareness of the nocturnal sounds within my woody retreat but not to actually be there—to experience them, yet not, all at the same time.

  Deep calm claimed my mind, though I didn’t know my destination. Once again, my subconscious had proved its dominance. It didn’t surprise me, had done it before—just never like that.

  My speed increased again until I soared up through the highest of branches before s
wooping back down. As I spun, swirled and whirled, I let out a giggle.

  I slowed as I entered a garden. The second I recognised it as Connor’s, I sensed I had a purpose for being there, and I willed myself closer.

  As had happened at home, the solidity of the walls absorbed me, and I sifted through them, blinking at the simplicity with which I arrived on the other side.

  It took mere seconds to catch the voices upstairs and understand I had company.

  My body levitated upward in the direction of the sounds, higher, through the ceiling until I found myself in Kyle’s empty bedroom.

  Head tilted, I located the direction of the intruders’ voices.

  “Why, again, are we here?”

  Amber?

  “Because Marianne has been watching the other house, and not once has it been empty. This is her only chance of getting something of Jem’s.”

  Heather arrived with Amber on the landing at the same time as I did. I darted right, into Connor’s room, and pressed back against the wall. It took mental effort not to fall straight through.

  Tracing their footsteps to Josh’s room, I came out of my hiding place to float nearer.

  “Anything?”

  My hands clenched at Marianne’s high tone.

  “Nothing. You?”

  “No,” Marianne said. “Not one strand of hair. That’s all I need to hurt the bitch.”

  “I don’t think there’s even any brushes in the house,” Heather said. “I haven’t seen any at all.”

  “What about clothing? Did you check the laundry basket?”

  “Yep. There’s only men’s clothing in there.”

  They fell quiet for a few seconds.

  I inched closer.

  “But she wears the guys stuff, doesn’t she?” Marianne said. “I’m sure what she wore that day we came here didn’t belong to her. It was far too big. Go check the laundry again.”

  Footsteps came my way. I tried to step back but couldn’t before Amber emerged. Though I braced for discovery as she turned the corner, her flesh swept right through me. Amber disappeared downstairs without even a hint of acknowledgement on her face.

  Adjusting my position, I brought Heather and Marianne into my line of sight.

  “What if we can’t find anything?” Heather asked.

  “I want something of hers!”

  My lips drew back, and a low growl formed within my chest.

  “Isn’t it enough that you’ll soon be walking around with her boyfriend’s baby inside you?”

  My growl built into a rippling snarl as my insubstantial fists curled my nails into my palms.

  “No, Heather. By the time I’ve finished with them, Sean won’t even know who she is anymore. I’ll be pregnant with the child that should have been hers. And I plan to ensure the stupid dog is totally incapacitated whilst I gleefully rub it in her face. She’ll regret ever messing . . .”

  I lunged, teeth bared, fingers clawed, lips vibrating against the roar raging from inside me …and flew straight through her.

  Once airborne, I couldn’t stop, passing the witches, the brickwork and before I knew it, I’d left the house.

  I whirled, went to throw myself back in there, but like a powerful force had snuck through from behind and latched onto my navel, I lurched backward.

  My body doubled with the strength of the attack. My arms and legs flung forward with the propulsion.

  The reverse action through the forest offered me nothing but a rapid blur. Nausea swept through me. Dizziness invaded my brain. Minus the soaring and swooping, the trees dashed past, my vision struggling to keep up.

  I sped backward over the garden, past the haze of bricks and cement. As I jolted into my supine form on the bed, I jerked upright with a gasp.

  Ethan jumped up beside me. “Jem?”

  I flicked his hands off as he reached for my shoulders, and bounded from the bed.

  “Shit!”

  Vision unfocused, I missed the door, rebounding from the wall beside it. Grunting, I landed with a heady thud on the carpet.

  Ethan made a dash to block my exit.

  “Jem, what’s going on? What’s wrong?”

  I clambered up and ran at him, trying to throw him from my path. “Move! You’re wasting time.” As he made a grab for me, I twisted away. “She’s there. Marianne’s there.”

  “What are you talking about? Where?”

  “At Connor’s.” Another rhino worthy collision failed to shift him. “Marianne’s at Connor’s. Now!”

  “No.” He held his palms out in front of him. “It was just a dream.”

  I shook my head so hard, my hair whipped my face.

  “Yes.” He nodded. “A dream.”

  It hadn’t been—I knew it hadn’t.

  Footsteps neared the door from the landing. Panic kicked in as I realised I’d never get past them all.

  “What’s going on?” Nathan called.

  If Nathan came in, he’d stop me for sure. I had to get out. Had to check.

  As Ethan tugged down on the door handle, I backed away.

  Nathan pushed through. “What’s going on?”

  I took more steps back until my rear hit the window ledge. Behind Nathan, Beth approached. Another set of footsteps announced the arrival of Connor. I eased up onto the sill, worked open the window.

  “Jem dreamed Marianne was at Connor’s,” Ethan said.

  My feet shuffled back until my heels met with nothingness.

  “Is this true, Jem?” As soon as Nathan looked my way, his eyes widened, his hands lifted. “Jem, no!”

  I dropped.

  24

  My soles thumped onto the paving. Pain splintered through my shins.

  I gasped, stumbling backward as footsteps scrambled across the bedroom above me. A kick of my feet forced me upright, and I took off.

  “Jem!”

  At Ethan’s shout, I ran faster. Snow sprayed up, flecked my ankles, its crisp iciness numbing my soles.

  “Jem, wait!”

  A thud hit the ground at my rear. I didn’t have to look to know it would be Ethan. Just as I knew changing would be my only chance if I wanted to outrun him.

  I grabbed at the hem of my T-shirt, yanked it over my head. The fabric sailed to the ground as I ducked beneath the arches.

  “Jem!” The power behind Nathan’s roar faltered my step.

  I skidded and spun round.

  He hung from the window, finger pointed at me. “Don’t you dar—”

  I slammed my hands over my ears, turned my back on Ethan closing the gap and bolted.

  As I broke through into the forest, I tore at my underwear and brought forth my change.

  My feet pummelled solid dirt.

  Jolts tore through my already unhappy shins with each step.

  I harvested the ripples, the tingling. Invited the deformation.

  The solid whump, whump, whump of my heart pumping the blood through my arteries matched the pattern of Ethan’s feet growing closer.

  Spurred on by the thought of grabbing Marianne, I kept going.

  Ethan’s steps vibrated the earth beneath me. The tips of his fingers brushed my elbow.

  I snatched away, ducking aside.

  Another reach of his hand, another dart of my body, and a stab of agony tore through me.

  My shoulder dipped beneath the weight of the affliction.

  Ethan crashed into my rear.

  I landed hard. My chin smacked soil. My arms flailed.

  The brunt of Ethan’s body forced a grunt from me. As I rolled to my back, I aimed a punch for his jaw.

  He barely flinched.

  I brought up my legs, already altering in structure, and kicke
d at his stomach, his groin, his knees.

  “Jem, stop!”

  A snarl ripped from me.

  “Stop!”

  “She’s there, Ethan! Let me go!”

  He held my face, staring into my eyes. As if he somehow recognised my sincerity, he nodded and shoved my shoulders into the ground. “Stay here.” He leaped to his feet and took off.

  He’d picked up speed and disappeared before my outrage kicked in.

  How could he dismiss my plea to stay safe?

  As I ploughed through more of my change, agony consumed me. In my desperation to catch him, I gave no consideration to myself in the speed with which I forced it to come—grunts, cries, growls and snarls blowing from my throat.

  I pushed through as wolf and raced away.

  An inhalation detected Ethan’s scent. Panting, I begged my legs to work harder and track his path.

  Over halfway through the forest, I had him in my sights. He could run fast for a big man—especially as he only had two feet to my four.

  He whirled round like he’d heard me, hands up. “Do not—”

  My paws skidded against the ground. I veered off to the left.

  He pounced, smacking into my side. His arms circled my chest before his shoulder sandwiched me against the ground.

  I snarled. A snap of my jaws aimed to get hold of his pinning arms as a shimmy of my body wriggled me back.

  His hold tightened. “Jem, stop!”

  I couldn’t. Marianne could have been getting away. I kicked up with my legs, catching his thigh.

  With a growled gasp, he clambered farther over me, smothering me under more of his weight. His eyes stared down into mine. “Don’t make me do this to you.”

  Past the point of listening, I snapped for his shoulder.

  He whipped his head away, deep resignation filling his eyes. Sorrow took his features for a brief instant before a loud roar ripped from him. Mouth wide, he swung his head down until his teeth locked onto my throat.

  Even his human jaws held incredible strength.

  I wriggled but couldn’t move.

  My inhalations arrived in short rapid spurts.

  Each intake sucked Ethan’s scent deep into my olfactory, so I knew when he began changing, as his wolf put in an appearance.