Hunter s Moon - By Lori Handeland Page 0,26

thing.

Will started thinking out loud and scribbling. "Last time they needed a werewolf army, formed between the two moons of a blue moon month."

I knew my lunar trivia. I couldn't be a werewolf hunter and not know it. Two full moons in one month caused a blue moon on the second course - both rare and magical according to many.

"The night of the blue moon," he continued. "Matchi-auwishuk totem, wolf clan, blood of the one who loves you."

"Charming," I said.

"Not so much," Jessie countered. "It was my blood they were after."

"And the wolf clan?"

Jessie jerked a thumb at Will. He didn't notice. He was still scribbling.

"One of these days you'll have to tell me all about that," I said.

"One of these days," she agreed in a voice that said very clearly, When hell freezes over. I couldn't say that I blamed her. I'd never told anyone, not even Edward, the entire truth about my own original werewolf encounter.

"This time we've got a werewolf-eating werewolf and..." Will frowned and stared into space. "What month is it, Jess?"

What month is it? Man, he'd drive me crazy. Pretty only goes so far.

"Early October," she answered.

"And the moon?"

"Full in eight days."

"So whatever is going on started around the harvest moon, and if they play according to their usual plan it'll finish up at the hunter's moon."

"The blood moon," I murmured.

He blinked, frowned, focused on my face. "Yes."

"I really hate the sound of that," Jessie said.

"You should."

My family had died on the night of the blood moon, the hunter's moon. I ought to be making a pilgrimage to their graves, bringing flowers, remembering them. Instead I had a bad feeling I'd be miles away, fighting werewolves. What else was new?

Will still stared at me. I stared blandly back. I wasn't going to tell him why I knew about the blood moon, didn't plan on ever telling anyone why the full moon in October was the worst kind, at least for me.

"Wait," I said as a thought occurred to me. "Wolves were being killed here, but no one said anything about them being eaten."

"That's true," Jessie murmured. "But that doesn't mean they weren't."

She went to the table and shuffled through the mess, pulling out a file folder. The room went silent as she read through the report. She shook her head. "There were chunks out of some of the bodies, but nothing like we saw the other night."

"How do we know the wolves were killed by other wolves?"

"Mandenauer checked the bite radius."

Trust Edward to think of everything.

"According to the legend, a Weendigo grows with every meal," Will continued. "The larger he gets, the more flesh needed to satisfy his hunger."

"So we're looking for a giant?" I asked.

"I doubt that. The growth is most likely theoretical; the hunger is real."

"The Weendigo began with a snack, but now he needs a buffet?"

"Basically, yes." Will turned his attention back to his notes. "I have to see if there are any ceremonies that take place beneath the hunter's moon."

"Ojibwe ceremonies?" Jessie asked, then crossed the room to lay a hand on his shoulder.

Will reached up and twined their fingers together. They were always touching each other - both casually and much more than that. Their outright affection made me yearn for something I'd long ago forgotten.

What I felt for Damien was very different. I wanted him for no other reason than that he was hot and I was horny. Affection, love, forever were not words I could ever use again.

"Any kind of ceremony," Will answered. "Though I'll start with the Ojibwe, since that was where we struck pay dirt last time. And the whole Weendigo thing points in that direction, as does their location -

here, in the heart of Ojibwe country."

He turned toward the computer.

"What should I do?" I asked.

"Quit blasting them for one thing," Jessie snapped.

"Why?"

"Why do you think? I doubt our friend the Weendigo could have killed nine werewolves on his own. You helped him do... whatever it is he's doing."

Damn, she was right again. But I wasn't sure I could stop killing them, even if I should.

"I'll burn them immediately. My mistake."

Jessie gave an aggrieved sigh, as if she were dealing with a stubborn, wayward child. "Don't come whining to me if they take over the world."

"Don't worry. I won't."

Will ignored our squabbling and answered my question. "You two should be checking out any new people in town."

"How new?" I asked, thinking of Damien.

"Last few months."

"Couldn't this Weendigo have been here for years?"

Cadotte thought about that.