by Anita Oh
"Woah," I said. "That dog saved my life!" I really could not go back on the burger promise then.
Being big took some getting used to. I felt super clumsy and my center of gravity was way off. I'd been human-sized all my life but somehow it felt as if it had been easier to adapt to being small. Sam helped me walk back to the Golden House as Bonkers frolicked around us and Tennyson Wilde called Llewellyn to give him the good news. Everyone was in celebration mode but I knew that our problems were far from over.
"What will we do with Astor?" I asked Sam, taking full advantage of the excuse to lean heavily against his side. He was strong and he smelled nice so I felt perfectly justified.
"Now that you're big again and Astor's blackmail material is gone, we'll hand him over to the proper authorities," Sam said.
"Magic police?"
Sam shrugged. "Sort of. A council kind of thing. Community leaders and whatnot."
Tennyson cleared his throat and looked at Sam pointedly, and I got it, I did. I wasn't really one of them and information was dangerous.
"Well, if you need to testify on my behalf, please tell them that he tortured me and he should suffer for his crimes. Also, he kicked Bonkers and I'm fairly sure he starved her too."
When we got back to the house, Althea was waiting for us. She was wrapped in a blanket and looked fragile, like an injured bird.
"I'm so glad to see you!" she said, trying to stand up when I came in.
I motioned for her to stay sitting, but moved over to hug her.
"You too!" I told her. "I"m so sorry."
She shook her head but I knew that I'd have to make it up to her somehow.
"I'll be fine," she said. "But what happened to your hair?"
Cakes were ordered, and bacon for Bonkers, and everyone swapped stories. For a moment, it was as if we all forgot the threat that was hanging over our heads. The magic user who had the power to attack us at any time. Llewellyn came to collect Bonkers and couldn't even speak to thank Tennyson Wilde, he was crying so much.
"You know, it was actually me," I said, though nobody paid me any attention. "I saved Bonkers from the evil clutches of Astor. I probably should get a reward."
The revelry begun to die down. Llewellyn and Bonkers left. Tennyson got a phone call and moved into the other room to take it. Nikolai and Sam got into some stupid argument about magical theory that seemed more based on World of Warcraft than any of the texts I'd read. Sam met my eyes and smiled across at me. I smiled back. Maybe things weren't broken between us after all.
Althea tugged on my sleeve to get my attention and I leaned in toward her.
"While I was away, I got our people to do some digging," she said quietly. "On those fake social media accounts in your name. I remembered you saying you didn't think it was a coincidence and I think you're right." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "All the information led back to one person."
She handed me the paper and I stared down at it in shock. It couldn't be right. I was misreading it or there was some sort of mistake. The name on that paper was the one name in the world that I did not expect to see.
Hannah Morgan.
Lucy’s story continues in Werewolf High #3: The Body Swap, available June 4 – click here to preorder
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to Kathryn for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me.
Thanks to Eliza Dee.
Deranged Doctor Designs, my cover is awesome.
Hannah, Liam and Morgan, thank you for letting me steal your names. I hope your fictional counterparts can live up to the real thing.
Sandy and Laurie, thank you for all your help, support and advice.
About the Author
Anita likes dogs, naps, food, and Japanese idol group Arashi. Everything else can be improved when combined with these four things.
After several years in the warm, comforting cocoon of fandom, Anita has decided to see what’s up with this real world she’s heard about. Judgment is reserved until more information can be gathered.
Anita lives with a grumpy beagle who bosses her around terribly, and won’t even snuggle.
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Werewolf High #3: The Body Swap
Lucy wakes up in a strange body. Hijinx ensue.
Werewolf High #3: The Body Swap is out June 4 – click here to preorder
