I retraced my steps through the woods, pausing at the edge of the clearing, where I could see the parking lot. I leaned against a tree, watching cars arrive. Folks stepped from pick-up trucks and SUVs, elegantly dressed by Pioneer Falls standards: knee-length skirts and dresses with tall boots or heels, blue jeans with sport coats, not a ball cap to be seen.
As I straightened, I noticed deep grooves carved into the tree I was using as cover. They were claw marks, I realized with a shiver. Of course there were other animals in the woods, cougars for one, that could have made those marks, but I had the fleeting image of wolves.
“Wolves tend to mark in other ways. Urine, for one,” Cooper said, stepping out from behind a tall rhododendron.
I took a breath. “Dang! You scared me. I didn’t expect you to come.”
“My dad would want me to be with you tonight.” He looked far more like a hunter than I’d expected, wearing brown pants and a camouflage jacket and holding a pair of binoculars in his hand. A rifle was slung on his back.
Fear snaked through my gut. “You’re not dressed for the party.”
“Didn’t plan to come inside,” he said. “I can do more good out here.”
I studied his expression for a moment, still not sure if I should be trusting him, but I didn’t have much choice. “You sure you’re up to this?” I said, moving closer.
“Not really. But look––I don’t know if hunters got to my dad or what, but whoever did that to his place and released his animals to fend for themselves, they’ve got no love for wolves or Protectors.”
“Thanks. It means a lot to have you here,” I said. “I thought it was me against the world tonight.”
“No need. You know, if you hadn’t prodded me to get involved, I might not have realized someone got to him for a while. I hadn’t talked to him for a few weeks. Who knows how long it would have taken for me to find out. ” His voice shook a little. “Anyway…I can’t forsake this family tradition.”
I took another step forward. “Cooper—”
“Nah.” He held up a hand to ward me away, as if he thought I might be about to hug him and he didn’t want the contact. “It’s go time. I’m not letting either hunters or wolves get to you tonight. You ready? Your text said you prepared a stash?”
I gestured toward the woods. “Yeah, I hid a bag in a tree.”
He nodded. “Good instincts for a first timer.”
I felt a blush creeping up into my cheeks. “Yeah, I’ve never fully changed before, but I know I’m going to be naked when I come out of it, obviously. If I survive. It seemed smart to pack warm clothes.”
Cooper nodded soberly. “Good thinking. Got any questions?”
I looked at him, all of the fear I was feeling rising. Of course I had questions. I didn’t even know where to begin.
Cooper must’ve read the anxiety in my expression. “Don’t worry,” he said. “From what I hear, your mind will be yours. All your smarts. Your memories. Your history. You will still be you.”
“Still me, got it.” I gave him an anxious glance. I wished there was more info, something to remember, to prepare for what I’d undergo. The unknown scared me more than anything else.
“Your sisters?” Cooper asked, his gaze swinging toward the fire hall.
“They’re covered for tonight,” I said. “More or less. With any luck, I’ll be the only one changing and I’m heading up in the hills toward Alpine Lake.”
“You’re going to be fine,” he said. “Your dad would be really proud.”
I nodded, feeling my chin quiver slightly. “Thanks.”
Cooper stepped back in the shadows. “Hey, someone’s coming,” he whispered. “Good luck.”
Casually, I turned and started moving toward the fire hall. Above, a glowing full moon manifested against the twilight. I knew I didn’t have much time. I shivered and pulled my long wool coat tighter as I approached the parking lot.
“What do you mean you’re leaving me at the party? We just got here!”
“I know.” Kyle stood a few feet from the edge of the woods, attempting a private conversation with his date, Beth Ramirez. He glanced up, saw me coming toward them. A tight smile flitted across his lips.
I waved a hello as I reached them. “Good of you guys to come.”
Beth’s annoyed look transformed into a small smile. “Oh, hey! It was really nice of you to invite us. I’m sorry about your dad.”
Kyle’s gaze softened and he said, “Your blue dress.” Probably remembering how I’d worn it to our last formal together.
I’d thought of that dance too, when I’d slipped it on. Last spring seemed so long ago. A lifetime ago, when I was a junior focused on building up the number of articles I’d written for the school newspaper, measuring my days in tip jar proceeds, thinking I had the best life, the best boyfriend. There’d been safety there, in those simple things, those stable dreams, but it had never been the truth. Or at least it didn’t seem it’d been real anymore.
Beth elbowed Kyle in the gut. “Hey.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I said, moving on with a last glance toward the woods. Cooper had settled in against a tree trunk, his binoculars faintly reflecting a glare. It gave me a small sense of security seeing him there. I wasn’t alone. Cooper knew our secret and was on our side.
It was up to me to execute the other part of the plan, making sure the twins were safe. “Let’s do this,” I said to myself, rallying my courage before merging into the crowd headed into the fire hall.
Chapter Fourteen
Inside the fire hall, I gaped at what had once been a plain wood-paneled room. It was now a wonderland of light, sound, and color. Paper flower garlands draped from the exposed ceiling beams. A garden-themed backdrop turned a section of wall into a photo booth. At the far end of the room, a buffet sprawled across three long tables pushed together and covered with white tablecloths with an ivy motif. A tiered layer cake, lovingly baked by Maggie and decorated with marzipan roses and fawn figurines, graced a small table in the corner. Cole, Lewis’s little brother, was wearing his signature football jersey and steal fingerfuls of buttercream frosting from the back of the cake. Alicia and some of my other friends were already swaying out on the dance floor. And at the side of the room, Rose and Fawn greeted guests, smiling and making the best of what would have been their father’s proudest moment.
I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Really nice party,” the sheriff said.
“It’s way beyond expectations.” I managed a smile.
“Your dad would’ve liked it. He would’ve wanted you girls to enjoy this night.”
I struggled to reply. Not that the sheriff would understand, but Dad hadn’t expected it to go down like this. He’d planned for us to be protected with lupine stones, not at risk in a room full of neighbors and locals.
“No fancy dress?” I said, gesturing toward the sheriff’s uniform.
“On duty. I’ve got Deputy Williams posted by the back door, too. After last night, I figured you could use some extra security.”
“Thank you.”
“Glad to help.”
The sheriff wandered toward the buffet table, where guests lined up to heap their plates with barbecued salmon, whipped sweet potatoes, salads, and freshly baked rolls.
“What do you think?” Fawn twirled up to me, displaying her violet dress. It was high-necked, but on the short side, with a flounce at the waist that formed the A-line. The hue perfectly set off her dark hair, which was waved gently and pinned to one side at the nape of her neck. “Courtesy of Mrs. Carter.”
“It’s amazing,” I said, giving her a hug.
“I think I’m going to like sixteen,” Fawn said. “I already feel more mature.”
“Hey, I have something for you.” I carefully removed Alex’s gift from around my own neck. “This is made from the remains of Dad’s pendant.”
Fawn regarded it skeptically. “Well, it doesn’t exactly go with this dress.”<
br />
I pressed it into her hands. “You need to put this on.”
“I don’t see why I—”
“Believe me, you’re going to want it.”
“Put it on,” Rose said, a swirl of pink silk suddenly at her twin’s side. “For Lily. Just this once, do what she wants.”
Fawn shot her an irritated look, but slipped the cord over her neck and then tucked the vial out of sight under the neckline of her dress. “There, happy? I’ll go through the whole night with this lump between my boobs. So classy.” She turned and navigated through the dancers, toward Lewis on the other side of the room.
“Do you think she’ll leave it on?” I asked.
Rose shrugged. “We can hope.”
“Seriously, make sure it stays on her,” I cautioned. “We’re preventing a public disaster. And if anything happens to me, promise you’ll always look out for each other.”
Rose wrapped her arms around me. “You’re so sentimental tonight. It’s kind of sweet.”
I let out a sigh. “I’m being practical, not sweet.”
“Oh, speaking of sweet…” Rose trailed off and spun me around so I could see Morgan standing in the entryway.
He wore a white shirt and a striped tie beneath his leather jacket. Dark jeans and boots rounded out the ensemble. Loose waves tumbled across his forehead, but the rest of his dark hair was neatly combed. His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on me. Then he smiled.
The music of the party, the touch of my sister’s hand on my arm, the bright colors around me seemed to fade away. Morgan became the centerpiece of my tunnel vision. A chill brushed at the back of my neck. A mix of danger and excitement rose in my heart. I was happy to see him, but also scared and confused.
“I’m sorry to turn up like this without warning,” Morgan said to me, his voice low. “I wasn’t sure whether you’d want me here.”
“You’re not crashing. I invited you, remember?” Rose piped in, winking at me before sashaying off to join some friends in the photo booth.
“I didn’t expect to see you again,” I said. “I thought you’d disappeared. Or run off with some dangerous people.”
His teeth raked his lower lip. “Awfully sorry about that. I had some business to attend to.”
I took a deep breath. “Listen, the reason I was being weird on the trail the other day was I noticed you had what looked like one of my family’s necklaces.” I forced my breathing to steady. “I should have just asked you then, but I was afraid. Where did you get it?”
Morgan’s gaze dropped to my collarbone, to the bare skin there. “Yours is gone,” he murmured.
“I need to know the truth.”
“Come on.” Morgan wrapped his hand around mine and led me to the dance floor. “Are you really asking me that?” he whispered.
I twisted to see that lots of people were watching us sway, probably wondering who Morgan was. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“You don’t like dancing? I always thought I was rather good at it.”
“No, talking in the open. Look, I need answers,” I said, my patience growing thin. “Where did you get that pendant?”
Morgan pulled me closer and whispered, “I think you already know the answer.”
“That you’re a thief? That all the trouble began when you arrived in town?” My accusations came out in a rush. “Did you have something to do with my father’s disappearance? Is that why you have the stone? You stole it?”
“No.” Morgan continued dancing unfazed, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back, his other holding mine as we moved together. “It’s mine. I brought it with me.”
“I don’t believe you.” I slipped from his embrace, my heart racing as I studied his expression. His eyes held no trace of humor, no sparkle of mischief. A few people near us had noticed we’d stopped dancing and were trading whispers.
“Let’s talk outside.”
“I doubt that’d be the safest place for you right now.” His dark eyebrows drew together in concern. “For a number of reasons.”
“All you had to do was tell me the truth,” I said, heading toward the door that led to the back.
“I am.” Morgan stalked after me into the kitchen, where the caterers were busily prepping and arranging the food. “The stone is mine. Trust me.”
“You expect me to trust you? You’ve been lying this whole time.”
One of the cooks looked up from the stove, where he was loading sweet potatoes into a chafing dish. His spoon halted in mid-air as he glanced between us.
“Hi, sorry,” I said. “They need those potatoes refilled right away.”
The cook gave me a reproachful look, but carried the dish out through the swinging doors. I walked to the back of the kitchen. Looking through the small window of the door, I could see Deputy Williams on the stoop there, sitting in a folding chair.
“This way,” Morgan said, stepping into a small pantry and pulling me in with him. Soft darkness fell across us as the door closed. His hands found my shoulders. “I didn’t lie about anything. You didn’t ask.” His eyes sparkled gold in the low light.
“Fine. Let’s start with the fact that you’re a werewolf!”
Morgan’s smile lit up the dark. “And…you’re a werewolf.” With his index finger, he traced a line from my neck to the center of my collarbone. “I didn’t need to see your stone to know that.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be a werewolf,” I said, the weight of my secret crashing in on me, mixing with the closeness of him. My eyes filled with tears, but I leaned into his gentle touch, craving more. The musk of his skin, the hit of forest and spice was intoxicating.
Morgan cupped my cheek. “It’s not as bad as you think,” he said.
“You should have told me the truth about yourself sooner.”
“I wasn’t supposed to. I was supposed to locate your father and stay out of your lives.”
My breath caught in my chest. “Wait. So you’re some kind of werewolf finder?”
He nodded. “A tracker. Your father had the presence of mind to leave our contact number with someone who alerted us to his predicament.”
“That was me! I called the number. You came to help,” I said, relief washing over me. ”You could have told me.”
“I’m afraid not. Discretion is one of the rules.”
“And here I thought you might be one of the bad guys,” I said.
Morgan’s mouth quirked. “Bad is relative, but no...”
“In that case,” I whispered. “Maybe we could––”
Morgan’s lips touched mine, finishing my thought. Those times we’d been close, in the truck, on the trail, I hadn’t been wrong about our attraction to each other. Maybe he’d been good at covering it up, maybe that was what he’d had to do, but he couldn’t hide it now. The kiss deepened, his tongue sweeping over mine. I swooned as he threaded his fingers into my hair, an up-do that begged to be undone. Then a hairpin actually fell, reminding me I was at a party and needed to plan my exit.
I put my hands against his chest, pulling away. “We need more lupine stones. Where do I get them?” I asked, my lungs struggling to catch up.
Morgan’s smile faded and he ran a hand across his mouth. “Not around here, I’m afraid.”
“Can I, I mean, could I borrow yours?”
“And leave my true nature exposed to a party full of people? Not to mention the hunter outside?”
“You know about the hunter?”
Morgan’s jaw tightened. “Plural. Hunters. Where there’s one, there’s usually more.”
“And what about the other wolves?”
He hesitated for a moment and then kissed me on the cheek. “You should get back to the party.” He curled his arm around my shoulders and guided me out of the pantry.
“Morgan,” I said, as we stood before the swinging doors back to the hall. “I’m scared.”
His hand found mine and squeezed my fingers, as if to say that I shouldn’t be. Then, just as quickly,
he let go and pushed open the doors to the party.
My confusion about what had just happened between us, about my unanswered questions, gave way to my hyperawareness of the hall filled with people. My senses picked up everything. The smell of the barbecued salmon wafting from the buffet, the sweetness of the towering cake on the table, the flowery perfumes of guests. A mirrored ball hung from the rafters, casting diamonds on the walls.
I cringed at the soft moonlight peeping in the windows at the end of the room. Time was running out. Overwhelmed, I wobbled a little on my heels, turning in a circle trying to locate my sisters. Where were they?
“This room is undoubtedly romantic,” Morgan whispered.
“I was going to say dangerous,” I replied, stealing another glance at the windows letting in the moonlight. I took a deep breath and focused on the party. My senses were telling me that maybe I had a few minutes left before I’d need to run for the woods.
Under a spotlight, Mrs. Carter tapped a microphone. “Hello, everyone! Thank you for coming. It’s been such a hard two weeks for the Turner family. I know that this party was questionable to some in town who thought maybe we shouldn’t celebrate with Deputy Turner still missing, but the twins assured me that George would have wanted us to go through with this beautiful event he’d planned. It meant so much to him to provide for his girls.” Generous applause filled the room.
Swallowing past the lump forming in my throat, I lifted my chin. I stepped closer to the front of the crowd, reaching back to grab Morgan’s hand. But he wasn’t there.
Spinning around, I scanned the exits for him. No Morgan. My chest tightened with anxiety as I moved through the crowd, looking for him. I’d shared my truth with him. We’d finally kissed. And then he’d performed a vanishing act. Where was he?
I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him. I felt so stupid. I inhaled deeply, willing my tears away as I returned to my place near the front. It was important to focus. The girls needed me. Mrs. Carter babbled on up on the stage, but I barely listened. My frustration grew, along with the aloneness I’d felt the other night in my father’s study. That weight of having to fix things all by myself. That the only one I could trust was myself.
A Curse So Dark (Pioneer Falls Book 1) Page 19
