Page 33 of Bad Moon Rising
“Shit.” I slam my hand onto the horn and yell out the window. Panic beats like a snare drum in my head. “Guys! We've got to get to school. Now. We’ve got everything terribly wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Orion comes running over. Brooks glances up from his seat on top of the silo.
“Becka’s not the werewolf. Hurry! Lily’s in danger!”
* * *
“I can’t believe you did this.” Becka shudders in the backseat of the Mustang after I explain what happened. But after everything we’ve revealed, she doesn’t sound shocked by the realization that monsters exist. Just…resigned. “You can’t just lock people up because you think they’re bloodthirsty monsters.”
“We’re sorry,” I say, before Brooks can snap something that will make the situation a million times worse. “It was your library card.”
“Yeah, it was. The first thing I do when Mom tells me that we’re moving to a new place is to go online and apply for a library card. Books are better friends than people. I dropped it on my way home from the post office and your wolf must have picked it up. Excuse me for not reporting it so I wouldn’t get mistaken for a bloodthirsty werewolf.” Becka rolls her eyes. “It won’t happen again.”
“Did I tell you how sorry we are? We just wanted to protect everyone. I swear we’ll make it up to you. But right now, Lily’s in trouble and we have to get to her.”
“Lily’s my friend. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” She dares a faint smile. “But don’t think I’m not going to kick your ass afterward, Bellua.”
Beside me, Orion dials Lily’s cell for the hundredth time. It clicks through to voicemail, and he leaves another frantic message, just in case she turns it on again. I want to tell him to stop calling because it’s making me even more anxious, but I know that it’s the only thing that’s holding him together right now.
We’re all on the edge of losing our shit.
We just have to get to school and everything will be fine. We can’t be too late.
We won’t let him hurt our Lily.
My Daisy.
From the driver’s seat, Brooks raises an eyebrow at Becka. “You’re taking the news that werewolves really exist surprisingly calmly. Shouldn’t you be calling the cops on the crazy Bellua boys?”
“And risk them impounding this gorgeous car? Not a chance, even though you are crazy.” Becka folds her arms. I’m actually beginning to like this girl. Not in the way I like Daisy, of course, but I think she’ll be a good friend for our girl. “Look, my mom might be a fake psychic, but the people who come to her for answers have real problems, and some of those problems are of a supernatural nature. I have seen some wild shit. So yeah, I believe your werewolf story. I might even be able to help. I know far more than anyone should know about ancient monster cures— Hey, watch it!”
I crash into the door as Brooks tears around a corner and slams on the brakes. We jerk to a stop in the middle of the school parking lot. It’s crammed with cars, and a red carpet and archway made of books leads into the gymnasium, which is practically shaking from the loud music pumping inside.
Lily’s in there with a monster.
I swallow down the panic as I leap out of the car. Brooks throws open the trunk and tosses stakes to me and Orion. Becka holds her hand out for one, but he glares at her.
“I don’t want you to stab yourself in the foot, sweetheart.” He spits sweetheart like it’s a curse word. Brooks dumps a wreath of garlic around her neck. Werewolves don’t like the smell, so it offers some protection.
“Go sit on a porcupine and rotate, ass shit.” Becka grabs a silver-dipped blade from the stash before Brooks slams the trunk down. He looks like he wants to argue, but we don’t have time.
Lily’s in danger.
We race toward the entrance. Coach Robins waves as he sees me, but his smile turns into a frown when he sees the stake in my hand and the company I keep.
“Bellua, why are you trying to bring a weapon into prom? And your brother is not a student at this school—”
Brooks slams his shoulder into Coach with such force that he sails into the trash bins. We march past him and into the gym. Brightly-colored lights spin around the darkened room as couples gyrate on the dance floor to a raunchy Rihanna song.
We spread out—Orion and Becka searching the tables while Brooks and I circle the dance floor. My stomach leaps into my throat as I study every face, peering creepily at couples making out as I search for Lily and Chase.
“She’s not here,” I cry as I meet up with Brooks.
“She’s not at the tables, either.” Orion’s eyes meet mine, and I see my own fears reflected back at me.
“I checked the ladies bathroom,” Becka says. “She could have snuck out to the playing fields. Apparently, that’s where some people are going to kick the party up a notch.”
Shit.