"But you didn't hit him-he hit you."
"Right, I blocked the stick with my hand. He was thrown out of the game, and I was hurt-I had to get stitches. But it was the only way he knew how to win-to have me sitting on the bench."
"He doesn't play fair," I said.
"That's why I thought it was best for me to keep them close, so I can keep an eye out. He's too sneaky." He was quiet for a moment. "That guy. I can't believe he's in Legend's Run. And to think he might be like me?"
"He's not like you-by day or by night," I reassured him.
He leaned his head on my shoulder. For a moment, we just sat quietly, holding hands and listening to the sounds of nature.
We gazed up at the stars, the moon shining down at us.
"It will be full soon," Brandon said, sitting up.
"I know … ." I said, facing him.
"I have to figure out so many things before then. But I don't have enough time."
"Brandon, I read Ryder's journal."
Brandon perked up. He smiled as brightly as the moon. "What did you find out?"
"He's looking for a girl to join his gang."
"You were right."
"I want you to see it."
Brandon waited while I left him and returned with the journal.
I opened the book and pointed to one of the entries.
He read it under the floodlight. His expression grew surprised, then angry.
"A girl with a pink headband at the convenience store? That's you."
He flipped through the journal, reading other passages. "He's in love with you."
"He thinks he is. He doesn't even know me."
"He thinks he's coming for you. And I'm letting him stay in my backyard? I should kick him to the curb."
"No-what you did was perfect. It really is the only way."
"When he finds out we are together, he'll try to be with you even more. I have to do something," he thought aloud as he gazed up again at the moon. "Maybe I can convince them to go home before the full moon hits."
"How are you going to be able to do that?"
"I'm not sure." Brandon was thoughtful. "Why wouldn't he just pick someone in Huntington?"
Then I showed him the passage that tied it all together.
The Legend's Run Werewolf Festival. The perfect time to find and take my mate. With everyone acting like werewolves, no one will know that I really am one. I can walk proudly underneath the moon and stars-for one full night-and go unnoticed. It will be that night that I'll find her-and when no one sees, I'll take her as my own.And her name is Celeste.Brandon slammed the book shut. He stood up and gripped the book so tightly I thought it was going to break into pieces.
"It's okay," I said, rising, too.
"No, it's not. It's so not okay! I have to stop them from going to the festival." He began pacing.
"But how?"
He stopped. "Maybe tell them I'm a werewolf, too."
"You can't, Brandon. Who knows who they'll tell?"
"I don't know, Celeste. I'm not sure what to do. The full moon is coming, and all I know is I have to do something."
I'd never seen Brandon so distraught. I knew he grappled with being a werewolf himself, but he was having a hard time with the knowledge that someone would want to change me.
"What if you go somewhere?" he asked.
"Leave town?"
"Yes." He was excited by his idea. "It's the best solution."
"I can't just go out of town. What would I tell my parents?"
"We could think of something."
"Where would I go?" I wondered. "And how would I get there?"
"We can work out all those details."
"I can't miss school. I have so many tests next week."
"You can make them up. This is more important. My grandma has a sister in Madison you can stay with. I'll get you a bus ticket."
"Brandon," I began. "I really appreciate it, but I'm not going to leave. I'm going to face this thing with you. I'm not leaving you alone."
"Me?" he said. "You are worried about me?" He stroked the top of my hair and kissed my forehead. "You are always thinking of others. Can't you just once think of yourself?"
"No, I'm not going to just run off and leave you here to deal with these guys by yourself." I stood firm.
He gazed at me proudly. Then he felt he needed to defend his own pride.
"I didn't run away, either," he said. "From Miller's Glen."
"I know that."
"You heard Ryder say I did. But that's not what happened."
"I know," I said. "It was because of your father. He went to Europe, and you couldn't stay there yourself. Anyway, it was just a game," I continued. "That's all."
"But this isn't. This is so much more."
I took his hand and led him back to the glider. "So, you were like Nash at your old school? The popular jock?"
"Yes, even after we lost. We were upset-but most thought I was even cooler than I'd been before."
"Then how did you deal with it here? Sitting alone, having no friends?"
"It was hard. Really. But there was something about it that was really good for me: I got to see a side of life I didn't see when I was home. Everything in my old life was about sports and parties. And here, I got to spend more time outdoors. But mostly, I got to meet the one person who mattered to me more than anyone I'd ever met before."
"You are so sweet," I said, giving him a squeeze. "I am so glad you came to Legend's Run."
"Me, too," he said. "However, I'm not so happy Ryder came as well."
"I double that," I said.
"But know this," Brandon said. "You don't have to worry. This is one game against Ryder that I will win."
ELEVEN
sisterly advice
I stewed over reading more of Ryder's journal. Normally I wasn't one to snoop-or read another person's intimate writings without their consent-but in this case it was imperative. It was the key to Ryder's actions, and since my friends and I could possibly be in danger, I was doing more harm by not reading it than by reading it.
I sat at my desk and opened the journal again.
Day thirty-twoI hate who I've become. Destined for a life of solitude. Is this really me? What has happened?If Leopold and Hunter hadn't teased those wolves at the animal sanctuary, none of this would have happened. We were lucky they didn't kill us. It was stupid to sneak in after dark-and nothing goes right on a dare.But my arm didn't heal well-and theirs didn't, either. We all had fevers and bizarre dreams. We are all freaked out-afraid to admit to what really transpired and chalked it up to delusions from our fevers. But when I saw Hunter and Leopold change last night, I knew I was going to follow. Though I don't remember what happened next, I know from watching them that I, too, turned into a monster. And this isn't going away. I don't know what to do anymore but run.Ryder was experiencing the same anguish that Brandon and Nash had gone through. He was rough around the edges-there was no doubt about that-but this must have pushed him over the line. The whole lycan condition was fraught with torment, anxiety, and isolation. Even though his friends also experienced it, he was still lonely and scared like Brandon and Nash had been. For some reason Brandon handled it the best. It magnified his already good qualities. It made him stronger, and even more handsome. But that didn't mean that it was all glory for him. He had to deal with it just like the others-and that caused strain in his life. And as for Nash, it was wrecking him. I felt awful that any of these guys had to go through this horrible condition when it was tough enough already to deal with the normal challenges of high school.
I had compassion for Ryder-even though he was making it a point to bother me and my friends. He was going about dealing with his condition in the wrong way, but now that I'd read his thoughts, I wasn't sure he knew how to do it any differently.
As I reread the journal entries, I couldn't help but wonder about his attraction to me. Nash was the first major crush I'd had, and Brandon was my first-and only-true love. But Ryder stood somewhere else. For some reason, he was drawn to me-but I couldn't figure out why. He was the complete opposite of Brandon, really-and of me and my family. His style was very rough and edgy and he appeared to be dangerous. I couldn't stop thinking about him. And then I realized my fear had turned into fascination.
It had been a while since Juliette had come home from school. She popped in the following day, Saturday, to get some extra cash and more spring clothes.
"It's wonderful to see you," my mom said to her.
Our house was so much quieter when Juliette was away. And though I loved the solitude and being the only daughter for a change, there was a tiny part of me that did miss my big sister.
I sat on her bed. Her room was still the same as she left it. Mom and Dad were hoping to use her room as an office, but they wound up leaving it intact until she decided what she'd do after college. I thought it was more to do with my mom not wanting to let her daughter go completely.
"So how is school?" I asked.
"Love it. It's so much fun. What about you? Mom tells me you have a boyfriend. And it's not Nash."
I blushed.
"Is this the hot guy you were talking to me about last time when I came into town?"
"Yes."
"So what's he like?"