Read By the Pale Moonlight (Book One of the Moonlight Series) for Free Online

"What?"
    I recounted my experience for him. As I
spoke, he seemed to withdraw further into himself.
    "What do you think?" I asked, relieved to
have told someone.
    He cracked his knuckles and looked out the
window. I followed his line of sight; it was almost dark outside.
Something in his eyes set my nerves on edge. He seemed wary of what
he saw.
    "Ty? Please be honest with me. How did you
get those cuts?"
    His attention swung back to me, and he patted
the space beside him in the chair.
    "Come here."
    We hadn't done such a thing in a long time.
Not since the days when we'd sit in the dark watching horror
movies, Ty laughing as I muffled my screams against his
shoulder.
    Before I could talk myself out of it, I
snuggled in next to him. My heartbeat accelerated at the feel of
his warm body pressed against mine.
    He turned toward me, his lips a hair's
breadth away. "I've missed you, too."
    His words startled me. Was it even possible
he heard me above all the noise he'd been making in the tool
shed?
    Green eyes locked with mine. "There's a lot I
want to tell you, Mac. Just not now."
    "But..."
    "Sssh. I promise everything will be
okay."
    He pulled me closer, and I rested my head on
his shoulder. In that moment, nothing else mattered. In my
weariness, I half-convinced myself things would work themselves
out. No one had attacked me, and Kim's death was a tragic accident.
Most importantly, Ty and I would be okay.
    I awoke some time later and found my room
bathed in moonlight. Ty was gone. After a quick stretch, I rubbed
my knuckles across blurry eyes. At last my digital alarm clock came
into focus. It was a little after two in the morning. I shed my
clothes and pulled on a T-shirt before crawling into bed.
    As I started to drift off, I made a quick
mental note to talk to my dad. I needed to let him know there must
be coyotes in the area. It had been one of their howls that awoke
me in the first place.

Chapter 4
     
     
    Feedback pierced through the air as Mrs.
Kramer stepped up to the microphone set up in the center of the
auditorium stage. She lightly tapped against it while a student
from the AV department adjusted a few knobs on the soundboard.
Eventually the screeching subsided, and the kid flashed a big
thumbs up. Chattering voices slowly quieted as she took to the
podium again.
    She cleared her throat, her eyes traveling
around the audience. I wiped slick hands on my jeans and waited in
nervous anticipation. With her posture ram-rod straight, she gave
the distinct impression of trying to appear composed, but even from
a distance I saw her hands trembling.
    "Good morning," she began. "I apologize for
taking you away from your classes this morning."
    "Like we care." David shifted in his chair
beside me. I shushed him. He threw me a dark look, but remained
quiet. I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to focus on Mrs.
Kramer.
    "I'm afraid I have distressing news to share
with all of you. I'm sad to announce the death of one of your
fellow classmates. Kimberly Urwin, a senior here at Eddington, was
tragically killed this past Saturday." She paused to take a deep
breath.
    "Does that mean there's a killer on the
loose?" A voice carried from somewhere in the balcony. Necks craned
to find the person, but whoever it was didn't materialize. Murmured
conversations broke out all over the place.
    My body tensed as coldness surrounded me. I
shivered and drew my sweater tight.
    Mrs. Kramer raised a hand to silence the
room. "I know this comes as a shock, but I want to assure you that
the police have the matter well in hand and you have absolutely
nothing to worry about."
    "What does that mean?" asked a sophomore in
the front row. I recognized her as a member of the marching
band.
    "It means that Ms. Urwin's death has been
classified as a tragic accident. Foul play of any kind has been
ruled out." Mrs. Kramer folded her hands on the podium. "I know
this is all very shocking, but I want to assure you that the matter
is under control."
    "Yeah,