A Werewolf's Moon (The Council) Read Online Free

Forming an attachment to dog-man would only give me one more thing to worry about…because sometimes I missed him. Like now, when the store was empty. Other times he got on my nerves, popping out of nowhere and scaring the bejesus out of me. I liked his smile, and irritating him was kind of fun.
    It was as if I’m caught between liking him and disliking him.
    I also had a ton of questions bouncing around in my head and I didn’t know where to start. So with my free time, I pulled out a pencil and a sheet of paper and I made a list.
     
    Pepper ’s Questions
    1. Is it going to hurt when I change?
    2. Will I start attacking people?
    3. I’m still going to be me when I’m furry and drooling on four legs, right?
    4. Will I start craving raw meat and hunting woodland creatures?
    5 . Bunnies are so cute and furry. I don’t want to eat them.
    6 . And I don’t want to give myself regular flea dips.
     
    God, I wish Quinn were here now. I could just close up shop and ask him all the questions I wanted, and have his company too.
    I laug hed out loud at my stupid idea.
    I didn’t have Quinn’s cell phone number, so I couldn’t call him if I wanted to.
    Oh, crap.
    How could I spend the week at my mom’s if I was going to finish my transition into wolf-hood?
    I dropped my head on the counter at the register and tried to keep myself from screaming in frustration. This was bad, so bad. I might as well invest in a dog house.
    “What’s bad?”
    I froze, had I been talking out loud?
    “Miss?”
    I looked up. A man stood on the other side of the room. He was tall and blond, reasonably good looking, but not all that remarkable. His gray suit was a little wrinkled and his tie hung loose around his neck. Must have been a rough day at the office. I forced a smile and shook my head, “Nothing, I’m sorry. Sometimes I talk to myself.”
    “I used to do that when I was young,” he said wistfully, looking out the window. This guy was giving me the creeps. Seriously .
    I looked out the window too. The sun was setting. Good. If Quinn kept his word, he’d be popping in soon, and I wouldn’t have to be alone with Mr. Friendly.
    “Is there anything I can help you find?” I asked.
    The man shrugged. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked closer to the counter. “No, I was just passing your store, when I smelled something delightful.”
    “Oh, there’s a coffee shop two doors down.” I was the perfect picture of politeness, but he was still eyeing me in a way that made fear creep up my spine.
    “No, that’s not what I smelled.”
    If not coffee, what else was there, other than Minnie’s Diner? “Then I don’t know what you smell…”
    “You,”
    “Me?”
    “You smell like sweet cherry pie.”
    I hopped off the stool, eyeing his fanged mouth with a newfound appreciation for grouchy werewolves. “Hey, buddy, put those suckers away. I’m not your dinner.”
    He frowned, staring at me incredulously. “You’ve seen a vampire before and lived to tell of it?”
    What kind of creature feature did this guy come from? “I’m not your average human, so you stay on that side of the counter, and no one gets hurt.”
    “You’re not being serious, are you?”
    Think fast…think fast…
    I grabbed the little squirt bottle full of water my Aunt Carol used to mist the fern by the door. “As serious as this holy water. Take one step and burn bitch.”
    He laughed. “You’re funny.”
    I sprayed it once in the air, “You sure you want to try me? What if I’m not lying and you get a botched facial?”
    “Fine, I’ll stay right here…for now.” He pretended to glance around the room, like he was interested in books or something. I wasn’t fooled though. He’d spring on me the second I let my guard down.
    I picked up the phone, dialing Henry and Venna’s number, thinking that the vampire was as dumb as a freaking rock. Vampires weren’t affected by holy water…at least that’s what Dmitri, the vampire prince told