Dark Side of the Moon (9 page)

London shook his head.  “My pack has been known for its peacefulness.  We’re in more control of ourselves than the one that had attacked you, Selina.  He’s a rogue, and they tend to either be mentally unstable or just frustrated that they can’t fit in with any pack they stumble upon.  I’m guessing the former was what was wrong with the rogue here.  I don’t know why he attacked you, but he had probably meant to kill you had Raff and Channing not been there.”

That was reassuring.  I don’t know how I’d feel about joining a group that actively harmed others.  “How exactly did he change me?”

“Though we can shift at will most of the time, the full moon changes us, makes us a little more powerful than when we randomly shift.  We haven’t quite figured out what it is yet because we don’t want to be subjected to lab tests, but there’s something in our saliva when we’re transformed during the full moon that allows us to change ordinary people.  It only works if you don’t kill them.  We don’t go around biting people, usually keep things in the family, as in we usually gain new members from children that are born into the pack.  But we do recruit rogues from time to time, and some of them have been changed, like you.”

I nodded.  “Where’s the next closest pack?”

“Why, thinking about joining it?”

“Just curious.”

“The pack on the best terms with us is the Walden clan in Tennessee, close to Knoxville.  But the closest is the O’Malley clan, and they’re a couple towns over.  That’s the clan Artemis came from.”

“So you have alliances?”

“We can.  The Fairbanks clan, formerly the Brooks clan after my late grandfather, has been known for being peaceful, not invading new lands.  But we will defend our territory if need be.”

My eyes widened.  “Fairbanks?  As in Fairbanks and Scott Law?” I asked in disbelief.

He gave me a confused look.  “Yeah.  Did you not know my name, Selina?”

I gave him a look.  “I thought it was obvious that I didn’t pay attention that much in class.”

“Yeah, I knew that.  But I could have sworn you heard someone call me by that before.”

I shook my head.  “It kind of makes sense now.  My dad had said that he bought half of the firm because his partner’s son didn’t want to go into the business.  I’m guessing that’s you?”

He nodded.  “I already have a job, and we’ve invested our money wisely.  I have nothing to worry about, and won’t have anything to do once we graduate.  And that’s the way I want it.”

“What is it that they’re working on?”

“No idea.  My dad and I don’t exactly see eye to eye.  The main reason why my mother wasn’t selected for the alpha position was because my dad is a human that did not want to become a werewolf.  When I was born, I had a fifty percent chance of being a werewolf.  And thankfully it was dominant; I really like this life.  My grandfather knew that people wouldn’t take too kindly to their new alpha’s mate being a human that didn’t want to turn because they just don’t understand what we go through every day, and he doesn’t agree with our lifestyle.  He knows about us, but the only reason why is because he grew suspicious about my mom going out every full moon and not returning until dawn and when they had me.  Speaking of, your family’s going to grow suspicious of you, too.”

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think about everything he just told me.  So much has happened to me in so little time.  “I-I need to think all of this through.”

London nodded.  “Take all the time you need, Selina.  Just don’t tell anyone about what happened today.  And that means anyone.  People just won’t understand us, and they’ll want to eradicate us because we’re different and might pose a threat.  Your family will be suspicious of you, but you’re going to have to lie to them about what’s going on every month.  They may not react well to your new furriness.”

London stood first, and led me across the room.  After opening the door for me, he followed me out onto the porch.  I was just going to leave once I descended the stairs, think everything over.

But as we approached my car, London said, “Let me know if you need any help, Selina.  You’re in my pack now, and we help each other out.  I know things are going to be scary in the next couple of weeks, so come to one of us if you have any questions.  They won’t judge because they’ve all been through the same thing you’re about to go through.”

I nodded.  “Thanks for explaining everything to me, London.  But this is a lot for me to think about.  It may take a while to sink in once the shock wears off.”

“Like I said, come to one of us if you have any questions.  See you later.”

He watched me get into my car and go down the driveway instead of going back into the house.

Though the idea was absolutely insane, it was nice to know about what could be going on with me.  But it was a complete shock to learn that one of the mythical creatures you’ve grown up learning that they weren’t real actually exists and you’re one of them.  And London, my weird and lazy lab partner was actually a nice person.  Unless he was just being nice for my benefit.

I hope he would continue being nice since I had no idea what in the hell I was getting myself into, and wouldn’t know if he was messing with me until the next full moon rose in the sky.

Chapter 11

I traveled home in a daze.  So much has happened, my world turned practically upside down.  Why couldn’t that wolf have left me alone?  That way I wouldn’t be confused about life as I knew it.

When I arrived home, I found that my parents hadn’t arrived yet.  This was strange for a Friday.  Looking at the clock, I found that I had been at London’s for over two hours.  But I wasn’t going to complain, because for all they knew, I hadn’t left the house.

But then there was Dan.

“Hey, Selina, where’d you go?” he asked as I closed the front door.

“I just went out for a drive,” I easily lied.  Well, half lied.  I did drive for a while.  I just did other things, as well.

“Then why is there mud on your ass?”

I gave him a confused look before trying to see what he was talking about.  Sure enough, there were mud stains on my jeans.  What the hell?  “I, uh…went for a walk, too.”

“Where?  And how did you fall down.”

“Geez, what’s with the twenty questions?” I asked, making my way to my room.

“Were you in the woods again?”

“Don’t see how that’s any of your concern.”

“Would have figured you’d avoid it in case that wolf was around.”

“Shut up, Dan.”

After I was safely in my room, I changed into some comfortable clothes, and tossed my dirty ones into the hamper.  Then, after bundling up, I grabbed a stain remover from under the kitchen sink and a towel, and tried to remove the stain out of my car seat before my parents arrived.

Once that was done, I returned to my room, and locked myself in.  I had so much to think about, and I didn’t want to be distracted by my family or accidentally let something slip.  They’d think I was crazy and may have me admitted.  I really didn’t want that because I really wasn’t crazy.

Was I?

Collapsing onto my bed, my eyes landed on the drawing of the wolf I had found in my locker.  It kind of made sense now.  The woodsy scent coming from London and the rest of his group—his pack—was because they were constantly outside and were wolves.  It had been one of them that delivered the drawing to my locker, I was sure of this.  But I had no idea which one of them did it, the actual drawing and the delivery.

And the drawing must have been something to get me to think about what had happened to me in December, to try and get me to seek them out.  It was probably their way of trying to jumpstart my questions.  In a way, it backfired because it took me a week to approach them.  Maybe that was why that guy had said that I needed to know today.  I had apparently taken too long to approach them in their opinion.  But how was I supposed to go to them about what happened to me when I hadn’t quite figured everything out for myself yet?

But what in the hell was I going to do?  London basically told me that I’d either have to join his pack or be kicked out of town, as if this were the West in the late eighteen hundreds.  There was absolutely no way I could survive on my own, because I knew that my parents wouldn’t understand why I’d have to move.  Unless London has some sort of power over his father, and could force mine to sell his shares of the company and move elsewhere so he could practice law.  But he wouldn’t really do that, would he?

But what would happen if I did join his pack?  There were about two dozen of them at school, but there were probably more considering the kids’ parents and any siblings that weren’t in high school, or if they didn’t sit with the larger group at lunch.  And London was the leader of all of them.  Did he boss them around all the time, not giving them any free will?  Or was he somewhat laid back until things became serious?  I was already the new kid at school, and now I’d be the new wolf in the pack.  I didn’t know if I wanted to know if they did anything to new recruits to initiate them into the pack.

Did I want to be bossed around for the rest of my life?  And London had said something about mates.  What if I didn’t like mine?  What if we just didn’t get along?  What would happen then?  There were so many questions I had now, and there was no way for him or anyone to answer them now; I didn’t know how to get into contact with them other than showing up at London’s again.  And I wasn’t sure if he’d even be there.  I mean, he did have a life, and I had clearly interrupted something when I arrived earlier.

Is that why that barely dressed girl had been glaring at me?  Because she and London were mates and I had interrupted what must have been intimate time between them?  If she was mad at me for that, it still wasn’t my fault for the way London treated her.  He could have handled the situation a little better other than shoving her off of him.  If all mates acted like that, then I wanted no part of it.  I had gotten out of a possessive relationship before moving to Moonlight Falls, and I didn’t want anything to do with another one.

So for most of the weekend, I let my imagination run wild.  I thought about what would happen after the full moon that was approaching and how I was going to get away from my family once a month until graduation.  According to London, I was going to be out from sunset to sunrise.  I’ve never snuck out of the house before, but I guess I was going to have to.

By Monday morning, I was exhausted.  I had stayed up late thinking about what would happen a little over a week.  That, and my body ached a little, and I couldn’t get comfortable to go to sleep.  I had a ton of questions going through my head when Dan and I arrived at school, but as soon as I sat in my seat in English, they all dissolved.

London sat beside me, as usual, his scent wafting over to me.  It was comforting in a way, and now I knew why.  I was of his kind, and wolves were social animals.  It was only natural for me to be comforted by his presence and scent now that I knew what I was.  It was still a little unsettling though, because this just wasn’t me to be obsessing over a sent.

Though London practically hadn’t shut up for the time I was over at his place on Friday, he was quiet now.  Was he waiting for me to speak?  I had some things I had wanted to ask him over the weekend, but now wasn’t the time or place; our classmates who weren’t a part of his pack could overhear us and think we were psycho.

So during our first three classes, London and I didn’t speak to each other.  It was normal based off every other day that I’ve been here because I didn’t talk to anyone.  Plus, wouldn’t it seem weird if we talked with each other as if we were comfortable with each other when we hadn’t even really looked at each other before?  Is that why he hadn’t tried to talk to me?

During lunch, I sat with Dan, and ignored Derrick, again.  He was getting annoying with his constant flirting, and he changed his cologne again, and smelled like he bathed in it.  I don’t know why Dan subjects himself to Derrick’s torture for the sake of trying to get on the football team.  Glancing over at London’s group, I found them to be talking and laughing, and just having a good time while eating.  I kind of wanted to go over there, but I had no idea how I would be received by them and perceived by the rest of the school.  I’d rather not have people talk about me, so I stayed with Dan and Derrick.

But before I turned away from who I now knew were wolves, I noticed London staring at me.  I knew he would accept me into the lunch group, but we still haven’t spoken since Friday afternoon.  Should I try talking to him again after school?  Introduce myself to the rest of his pack?

Before I could think too much on it, it was time for me to go to math class.  I barely suffered through it.  And I was proud of myself because I actually took notes instead of doodling like I did in my other classes.

After math, I ventured to Chemistry, and found London already in his seat.  I took my place beside him, and waited for the rest of the class to arrive.

“Have any questions, Selina?” he asked just above a whisper.

I shook my head.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, come on.  It’s only been two days.  Surely there’s something you’re not one hundred percent about?”

I shook my head again.

“Alright.  Suit yourself.”

Class came to order then, ceasing any conversation that would have gone on.  While Mr. Smed lectured, I tried to take notes.  But thoughts swirled through my mind the whole class period.  I did have some questions, but I was nervous about asking them.

After chemistry was over, I headed to art.  Though a storm was brewing in and around me, the class melted everything away.  We could create anything we wanted this week, so I opted to paint.  At first, I had no idea what to do, but I ended up doing an abstract with blues and greens.

Once class was over, I headed to my locker.  Nothing was in it except my books.  But as I walked out to my car, I felt the aches in my body again.  What the hell was going on?  Did I pull something when I tried to sleep?  And I thought I had healing abilities, so why was I even hurting?

Every night, my body ached until I arrived at school.  It hurt to sleep because I just couldn’t get comfortable in my bed.  And when I’d arrive at school, the ache would go away right before London would ask me if I had any questions.

He asked every day, yet my answer was the same.  I didn’t want to talk to him because I didn’t know what was going to happen.  I was extremely nervous about joining a pack, about completely changing my life.  And I just didn’t know what to do.

Friday night and Saturday morning, I tried to distract myself by drawing with my oils.  I wanted to transfer my drawing of the wolf onto a canvas.  There was no way I could try to recreate the drawing that had been given to me.  And I still wondered who it was that gave it to me.

I only came out of my room to eat and go to the bathroom.  I had only been in my room for fifteen minutes after lunch when my mom knocked on my door.  “Selina, there’s someone here to see you.”

My eyes widened.  “W-Who?”

“It’s the Fairbanks boy.”

I gave her a confused look.  “London?”

“Yeah, that was his name.  We didn’t really talk to him at the New Year’s party, but I recognize him from there.  Why is he here if you don’t mind me asking?”

He probably wants me to ask him some questions,
I thought but didn’t say.  “I’m not sure.  He is my Chemistry lab partner, so he’s probably here for that.  Go tell him to hold on for a few minutes.”  There was no way I was going to the door dressed in my pajamas.

She nodded, and closed my door back.

I quickly dressed in jeans and a sweater, put my socks and some boots on, and ventured into the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth.  Afterwards, I grabbed my phone, keys, wallet, and coat, and went outside.  He probably didn’t want to talk here since my parents were home and could possibly overhear us.

Before I opened the door, I told my parents, who were sitting on the couch, “I’m going to go help London with our Chemistry homework.”  Before they could respond, I was outside.

London stood on the porch, dressed in jeans and a buttoned up coat, hands in the pockets.  His face was expressionless, as it pretty much always was, but his pale blue eyes were full of concern.  “We really need to talk, Selina,” he softly said.

“I figured.  How’d you know where I live?”

“We were in the woods, behind your house when you moved in.  We had to see if you were a threat to us or not.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said, rolling my eyes.

He ignored my comment, and asked, “Want to go to my place or somewhere else?”

“Well, I think I know what you want to talk about, so I guess your place so people won’t hear us.”

He nodded, and pulled his phone out of his pocket.  After typing for a moment, he put it back.  Did he just tell everyone to leave his house?  I didn’t ask, and headed over to my car.

“Did you walk here?” I asked as I opened the driver side door.  There wasn’t a car in the driveway or on the side of the road.

“Yeah, but I’m used to it.  We run pretty fast when we’re patrolling the territory, so walking long distances doesn’t bother me.”  He opened the passenger side door of my car.

After I pulled out of the driveway, I asked, “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

“You may want to wait until after we get there.”

I gave him a confused look.  “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you to wreck your new car.”

Now I was worried about what he wanted to talk about.  Would I be shocked or angry or what at the conversation?  I wanted to ask, but stayed quiet instead.

Because I had been following his scent last week, I had to have London tell me where to go.  I couldn’t remember the turns I had taken to get there.  He only lived about fifteen minutes away from me, five minutes of that was going down the driveway.

After I parked and turned the car off, London showed me into his house.  It was quiet, so I was guessing that there was no one here, just us.  While London collapsed onto one of the couches, I opted for a chair.  “Well, what did you want to talk about?” I asked.

“I was just curious as to why you’re taking everything so well.  I’ve known some people to lose their minds over what being a werewolf entails.  You seem fine in public, but you’ve got to have at least one question.”