Once in a Full Moon Page 0,57

pull to Brandon more than ever before. If only I could get close enough to him to feel his lips against mine. By day Brandon was handsome, and by moonlight he was stunningly gorgeous and irresistible. Whatever coursed through his veins to make him a werewolf also made him unbelievably magnetic.

Brandon perked up as if he had heard something in the distance. Then I, too, heard the cry of a wolf.

Brandon lurched away. He shook his head, his long hair flowing wildly, and held me at bay. I wasn't ready for our time together to end.

Before I knew it, I was standing in the woods alone.

His woodsy scent still lingered in the air, and my skin still danced from his touch.

But I knew now that it was true. I'd fallen in love with a werewolf.

Chapter Twenty-one Into the Woods

The following day, I gazed at the empty chair in the back of the classroom.

Now that I was certain Brandon was a werewolf, I knew what I'd be dealing with when the full moon showed its haunting glow. As the moon would appear full for two more evenings, he'd be absent from school for several days, likely spending his nights in the woods. All day long police and animal control cars patrolled the suburbs and school in case the wolves showed up again. The people of Legend's Run were up in arms about the strange animal behavior.

I was desperate to be with Brandon, but Ivy and Abby had wrangled me into watching Abby's volleyball game after school.

Abby's game was delayed and didn't end until just after dusk. Ivy and Abby were going to join the other girls for a celebratory dinner, but I planned to head to Brandon's. As I left the gymnasium, I heard faint howling coming from a tree-filled lot near the back of the school. I ignored it and continued on to my car until I saw Brandon's Jeep parked by the school fence.

Two patrol cars were stationed in the middle of the student lot.

"Brandon?" I called.

I snuck into the edge of the woods without venturing in too far. I'd learned my lesson when I'd gotten lost in the blizzard. I wasn't about to put my life or anyone else's in danger.

Lights from the parking lot and gymnasium streamed in through the trees, illuminating a small portion of the woods. A fingerless-gloved hand reached out from the darkness. Brandon, in werewolf form, was leaning against a tree, smiling at me.

Happily, I took his hand and he drew me into him. He grazed his fangs against me. I touched his stubbly face. I ran my fingers through his locks, as he did the same to mine.

"I missed you today," I said.

"I hunger for you all day and night," he said as he kissed the nape of my neck.

He gazed at me. His lips were only inches from my own. I was longing inside to finally have them touch in the moonlight. You must never kiss a werewolf. I heard Dr. Meadows's warning in my head, but I wasn't sure if I could wait any longer.

He pulled my hair off my neck and leaned in. He breathed in as if he was inhaling me. I had dotted myself with perfume and sugary vanilla body lotion. The scent of my hair and body seemed to be intoxicating to Brandon. He tugged at my henley with his fangs and nibbled my shoulder. I was so entranced, enamored by his seductive power. I was only moments from kissing the most romantic werewolf in the world. I remembered Dr. Meadows's words but I didn't want to heed her warning. But my skepticism toward Dr. Meadows was what got Brandon into this state in the first place. What was I supposed to do?

"I don't think I should - " I said, breathless.

"I understand." Brandon must have sensed my distress.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want to - " I vowed.

He pulled away.

"I know someone who can help you - or at least wants to try," I said.

"Who?" he asked, excited.

"Dr. Meadows. She's the one who gave me the reading and warned me about the full moon."

"Does she have experience with werewolves?" he asked.

"Almost - she's a psychic."

"I know... but has she dealt with werewolves before?"

"Well..." I said, "she's never seen one."

He couldn't hide his disappointment. Brandon turned away from me. "There isn't anyone to help me - " he said.

I felt awful.

"I don't want to be some stranger's experiment," he continued.

"I