to report anything unusual. She said she wouldn’t even be worried yet if it wasn’t for the recent murder.”
“Have you called Simon?” I asked.
Simon may be annoying and a terrible flirt, but he had proven himself to be resourceful in the past. He had also been working with Calvin, helping him to control and communicate with his wolf spirit. If things became more stressful, Cal was going to need every ounce of control to keep his wolf spirit from taking over.
“I called him just a minute ago,” he answered. “He said he’d have my dad call the school to release me early today. I’m meeting with Simon at the cabin and then we’ll try to visit the places Sam usually hangs out. His name is Sam, by the way.”
“How old is he?” Emma asked.
“He’s our age,” Cal said, staring at his food tray. “On second thought, I don’t think I’m hungry after all.” He stood up and emptied his tray in the nearby trash bin. As he was setting the tray on the counter an announcement came over the intercom calling him to the office. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he walked back to our table and leaned down to kiss me on the forehead.
“Call me after school?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I answered. “Should we all meet at the cabin?”
“I’m not sure what time Simon and I will be getting back,” he said. “Can we make plans later?”
“Sure,” I said. “Good luck.”
Cal nodded and walked away. I hoped that Sam was just out having fun. Maybe he stayed out late with friends or went for a run in the woods. Werewolves his age often needed to shift more often and it’s hard to phone home when you’re in wolf form. Please let this be a false alarm.
“Yuki?” Emma asked. “Earth to Yuki.”
“Huh?” I asked, still deep in thought.
“You can stop stirring your yogurt,” she said. “Most of it’s on the table now anyway.”
“Oops,” I said. I had slopped yogurt all over the table in front of me.
“I’ll go get paper towels,” she said, getting up to leave.
Too bad all messes can’t be cleaned up that easily.
By the time Emma returned with wet paper towels my mood had improved. The smell of wet dog and burning brownies had retreated with Calvin and I suddenly had the urge to do something productive after school.
“Do you volunteer at the shelter today?” I asked. Emma worked a few shifts now at the veterinary hospital, but I knew she still volunteered at the animal shelter.
“I’m free today,” she answered.
“Want to come over and teach me how to make vegan cookies?” I asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she said laughing. “We can have cookies ready for when the guys get back from their search. I bet they’ll be hungry.”
“Absolutely,” I said, smiling.
Just then the bell rang and we had to run to class. I swung Boo on her ribbon and Legs bounced around on my shoulder as I rushed down the hall. Who could stay sad when they had Legs and Boo?
Chapter 8
Stopping to collect Cal’s missed assignments from his teachers made me a few minutes late meeting Emma in the school parking lot. I looked around for her mom’s minivan, but didn’t see it anywhere. I was starting to worry when a huge SUV pulled out to reveal Emma standing smugly against her car. Her car! I ran over, Legs and Boo bouncing, and wrapped her up in a hug.
“Oh em gees!” I exclaimed. “Your car. It’s alive!” The last I said in my best doctor Frankenstein impersonation.
Emma laughed and gestured to the passenger door. “Get in,” she said.
I opened the door to the smell of upholstery cleaner and bubblegum scented air freshener. I settled into the newly cleaned seat and, with trepidation, glanced into the back seat. Please let the blood be gone. Please, please, please. There were no stains on the gray fabric and the seat belts had been replaced. I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“The car looks great,” I said as Emma got in behind the
“Have you called Simon?” I asked.
Simon may be annoying and a terrible flirt, but he had proven himself to be resourceful in the past. He had also been working with Calvin, helping him to control and communicate with his wolf spirit. If things became more stressful, Cal was going to need every ounce of control to keep his wolf spirit from taking over.
“I called him just a minute ago,” he answered. “He said he’d have my dad call the school to release me early today. I’m meeting with Simon at the cabin and then we’ll try to visit the places Sam usually hangs out. His name is Sam, by the way.”
“How old is he?” Emma asked.
“He’s our age,” Cal said, staring at his food tray. “On second thought, I don’t think I’m hungry after all.” He stood up and emptied his tray in the nearby trash bin. As he was setting the tray on the counter an announcement came over the intercom calling him to the office. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he walked back to our table and leaned down to kiss me on the forehead.
“Call me after school?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I answered. “Should we all meet at the cabin?”
“I’m not sure what time Simon and I will be getting back,” he said. “Can we make plans later?”
“Sure,” I said. “Good luck.”
Cal nodded and walked away. I hoped that Sam was just out having fun. Maybe he stayed out late with friends or went for a run in the woods. Werewolves his age often needed to shift more often and it’s hard to phone home when you’re in wolf form. Please let this be a false alarm.
“Yuki?” Emma asked. “Earth to Yuki.”
“Huh?” I asked, still deep in thought.
“You can stop stirring your yogurt,” she said. “Most of it’s on the table now anyway.”
“Oops,” I said. I had slopped yogurt all over the table in front of me.
“I’ll go get paper towels,” she said, getting up to leave.
Too bad all messes can’t be cleaned up that easily.
By the time Emma returned with wet paper towels my mood had improved. The smell of wet dog and burning brownies had retreated with Calvin and I suddenly had the urge to do something productive after school.
“Do you volunteer at the shelter today?” I asked. Emma worked a few shifts now at the veterinary hospital, but I knew she still volunteered at the animal shelter.
“I’m free today,” she answered.
“Want to come over and teach me how to make vegan cookies?” I asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she said laughing. “We can have cookies ready for when the guys get back from their search. I bet they’ll be hungry.”
“Absolutely,” I said, smiling.
Just then the bell rang and we had to run to class. I swung Boo on her ribbon and Legs bounced around on my shoulder as I rushed down the hall. Who could stay sad when they had Legs and Boo?
Chapter 8
Stopping to collect Cal’s missed assignments from his teachers made me a few minutes late meeting Emma in the school parking lot. I looked around for her mom’s minivan, but didn’t see it anywhere. I was starting to worry when a huge SUV pulled out to reveal Emma standing smugly against her car. Her car! I ran over, Legs and Boo bouncing, and wrapped her up in a hug.
“Oh em gees!” I exclaimed. “Your car. It’s alive!” The last I said in my best doctor Frankenstein impersonation.
Emma laughed and gestured to the passenger door. “Get in,” she said.
I opened the door to the smell of upholstery cleaner and bubblegum scented air freshener. I settled into the newly cleaned seat and, with trepidation, glanced into the back seat. Please let the blood be gone. Please, please, please. There were no stains on the gray fabric and the seat belts had been replaced. I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“The car looks great,” I said as Emma got in behind the
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