"And your father was counting on me to make sure you took it. I don't know what to do. I don't want to let him down," I said.
"You don't have to worry about that. You have enough on your plate besides worrying about my father's feelings."
"So Nash will take the dose you have and then you'll get your father to make you another dose for the following full moon?"
"Yes," he said reassuringly.
"I just wanted us to be together," I said. "I wanted you to be normal-for your own sake. And now you won't be … . It seems to get more chaotic every day."
Brandon appeared content. I think he was relieved to be helping out Nash and me at the same time when, in fact, I wanted to be the one who was helping Brandon.
The following day after school, I saw Nash and tried to catch him before he went to practice.
"I'm not sure you should be near me anymore," he said. "What Dr. Meadows said at the end … You can't be around me anymore."
"Well, I have to be," I insisted. "I have something to tell you."
"Don't get too close," he said. "The moon will be full soon. I don't know what I'll do now."
"You won't do anything now but listen," I commanded.
"Sit down." I pulled him aside on the steps to the side entrance of school. "We might have a cure."
"What?"
"Brandon's father is a scientist. He made a possible antidote."
"Are you kidding? This is great!"
"Brandon's father made it for him."
"Oh … yes, that makes sense."
"His father was just in town. And Brandon told him about you. He asked for a second batch for you."
"Brandon did that for me?" Nash was taken aback.
I nodded. "Yes. There is only one vial now."
"Oh," he said. "But that still is great news."
"You think so?" I asked. I wasn't sure how Nash would respond-if he'd be hopeful or competitive that Brandon might be cured first.
"One less werewolf," he said with a smile. "And then if it works for him … "
"It can work for you," I assured him.
"I appreciate you telling me this." He leaned in and gave me a friendly hug. He was so relieved I could feel his tension releasing in our embrace.
"I have something else to tell you," I said when he pulled away.
"What?"
"Brandon wants you to take it first."
"What? Why? Because of Dr. Meadows's prediction?"
I reluctantly nodded.
"Why does he think I'll be the one to bite you?"
"We both think so. I've been around Brandon for several full moons. He hasn't hurt me at all. He's only been kinder, even."
"And I've been a monster."
"No … "
"I remember, Celeste. I remember everything."
We were both quiet for a minute, neither one of us wanting to talk about the horrible ways he'd acted before.
Nash finally smiled and broke the silence. "Of course I'll take it. I can't believe he's going to give it to me." He paused, really taking in Brandon's generosity. "I owe him big-time! Maybe I can get him a spot on the team."
I felt relieved that Nash was going to take the serum and that he was grateful to Brandon. Nash was not only changing as a werewolf but as a human being, too-he was becoming much more gracious.
Later that day, Brandon and I were settling into his guesthouse room. He was placing his backpack on his computer table and I was laying my sweater over his chair when we heard Apollo barking and a car pull up the long drive.
"Your grandparents must be home," I said.
Brandon rose and peeked out the window. "That's not my grandparents," he said.
He pulled back the curtain even farther. It was a BMW.
What was Nash doing at Brandon's? He never came to this side of town if he didn't have to. But I had an inkling as to why he was making such a sudden appearance.
Brandon opened the door and stepped out as I hopped off the chair. It was as if he thought I might be threatened and was heading Nash off at the pass. I tried to follow behind him.
Nash got out of his car and walked toward my boyfriend.
Apollo continued to bark. Nash had always been afraid of dogs-and at the very least shied away from them. So when Apollo raced for Nash, I was sure he'd step back a few feet. However, Nash didn't budge.
Brandon called out to Apollo, but he didn't retreat. Instead Nash just watched Apollo as the husky proceeded straight for him. When the dog reached Nash, Nash looked down at him with an intense stare. Apollo winced and raced back to Brandon, cowering behind him.
Nash continued to walk toward Brandon. "Hey, dude," Nash said in a friendly voice.
"Hey-" Brandon answered.
"Celeste told me … about the cure," Nash said.
"Keep your voice down!" Brandon chided. No one was around, but I could feel my boyfriend's tension about even the birds knowing his lycan identity.
"And Celeste says you are giving it to me," he said, lowering his voice.
"Yes. I am."
Nash was obviously touched. "I can't believe that you'd do that for me."
"I have something, but it's only a possible cure," Brandon said.
"A possible one is better than none at all."
"I don't know if it works," Brandon confessed.
"I still can't believe you are going to give it to me," Nash said. "What's the worst that can happen?"
"Well, there's no guarantee it will work, honestly. You might end up a werewolf full-time."
"Celeste didn't tell me that part."
I felt awkward. "I wanted to-"
"It's okay," he said. "It's a chance we have to take," Nash insisted. "If it works for me, then it will work for you."
Nash was showing a milder, more generous side. It was as if becoming a werewolf had made him more understanding as a human.
"Come here next Friday, just before the first night of the full moon," Brandon said. "I will have it for you to take."
Nash shook Brandon's hand, got back into his car, and drove off. I leaned into Brandon and gave him a huge hug.
Brandon and I took a walk in his backyard. But even when we stopped to admire the several deer we spotted in the woods or when we shared a few passionate kisses, the cure and its possible side effects were never too far from our thoughts.
We were nestled together by a tree as the sun was setting. Brilliant shades of reds and orange hovered over the treetops in a spectacular display. It was breathtaking as we kissed and cuddled.
When we drew apart, Brandon brushed the hair away from my face. He gazed lovingly at my eyes, my cheeks, my lips.
"It's still hard for me to get your kiss with Nash out of my head," Brandon said suddenly. "At times, I'm glad he's a werewolf! Serves him right."
"It's okay. It's only natural to have those feelings. If I saw you kiss Hayley," I said, referring to the skater chick on the Westside who was fond of Brandon, "I'd lose it!"
"Well … "
"You really did such a nice thing for Nash," I said.
"Maybe this whole thing will be over very soon. If Nash is cured, I can be next in line."
"And then the Legend's Run werewolves will be extinct," I said.
I leaned against him and rubbed his shoulder.
He took me into his embrace and nuzzled against me. "You'll still bring out the animal in me," he laughed. "I don't think that will change."
I giggled as he tickled me.
"What do you think our world will be like when I'm cured?" he asked.
"I guess it would be like this," I said. "Us hanging out and doing everyday stuff."
"You'd be satisfied with that?" he asked seriously. "Me just being a regular guy?"
"You'll never be regular," I assured him.
"Actually I bet you can't wait. Dating a werewolf-a freak-I'm so lucky you've stood by me."
"Of course," I said. "But it hasn't been all bad. There are some things I like about being with a werewolf."
"Really?" he asked, like my feelings were unimaginable. "Like what?"
"Like when you save little boys from a pack of wolves."
"You liked that?"
I nodded enthusiastically. "And you're really strong. Your muscles are killer, and you run so fast."
"So, if I take the serum, you think I'll just be a weak troll?" he teased.
"I didn't mean that," I said.
He thought for a moment, I assumed reflecting on his time as a lycan. "I won't be able to see in the night. Or sleep outside among the stars without protection."
"And no more wolves following us around like pets," I added.
He gazed up at the waxing moon.
"Yes, I love that wolf pack. They are really so gentle and protective," he lamented.
"You like being a werewolf, don't you?" I hinted.
"Of course not." Brandon sat up as if I'd spoken out of turn.
"No, it's okay," I tried to assure him. "You can tell me. You like the outdoors. And this does provide you with an insight into the animal world that most people don't get to experience."
He paused and then relaxed a bit. "Yes, I guess," he said, thinking.
Maybe I was the one wanting to continue his life as a werewolf. Did I like him so much in that form that I was missing how it was making him feel?
"You make me sound like I enjoy being a monster," Brandon said.
"You aren't a monster," I assured him, and gave him a hug. "You're something extraordinary. With and without a full moon."
"Well, hopefully we'll eventually put an end to my life as a werewolf."