Moon Shadow (Mount Henley Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  The small and sinewy werewolf from last night’s run entered the gym. Coach Murry was a severe -looking woman with cropped hair wearing blue sweatpants with a whistle around her neck. I smiled at the normalcy of it. When class began, however, I realized this would be no ordinary gym class. The whistle blew, setting my teeth on edge.

  “All right whelps, let’s go! Outside!” She blew the whistle again and set off at a steady jog. We followed her outdoors and into the rain. She led us on a winding run that eventually took us back around to the coliseum. We entered the arena at a walk, getting a respite from the rain for a few moments as we passed through the wide gates and under the bleachers. Once out onto the field, we formed a loose circle inside the arena.

  Coach Murry was already numbering us off and giving instructions. “On my whistle, the ones will shift. If you shift successfully, head to the west end of the arena. If not, gather at the east end.” The whistle blew, and the room shimmered. About half of the girls shifted easily and headed to the west wall, Shea among them. The others looked dejected as they headed east. I noticed Pamela among them.

  I was a two and the whistle blew. Without thinking, I shifted and trotted over to the west wall. More wolves joined us, and we sniffed and greeted each other politely, remembering scents and for me, adding to my catalogue of brain signatures. I only knew about a third of these girls’ names, but I could distinguish their scent! Werewolf dilemma #309. I smiled inwardly.

  I couldn’t tell what Coach Murry was saying so I picked up my ears and really leaned in to listen. I focused all of my attention on her severe haircut and stern features. I started to pick up some of her words: “… last try, girls, not to worry. You’ll stay here and run drills with Jack…”

  Then the coach was gone and a sleek grey-golden wolf was running toward us. I could feel the energy and excitement rising in the wolves around me. We were ready to run! We followed Coach Murry out of the arena and onto the grounds. She led us around the perimeter of the main school area, then we widened our circle around Dryden and farther north into the foothills. I wanted to go farther, and I could tell the others did, too. Coach Murry guided us back toward the arena, nipping at the heels of the occasional wolf out of line. I could tell by subtle impressions around me that we were learning to move as one, to follow orders from a pack leader, and to trust our wolfish instincts. It was exhilarating!

  By the time we got back to the arena and shifted back, the other girls and Jack were gone. We were all elated, giggling and recounting the different times Coach Murry guided us this way or that with barely a tail twitch. Coach joined us, smiling, which sat awkwardly on her harsh features as if unused to the gesture.

  “Well done, my dears, well done! I must say that was quite a run! You all did an amazing job following, with one or two mishaps.” She gave Hayley a pointed look.

  Hayley looked absolutely innocent, but I had seen a purple streak of fur try more than once to dart off course.

  We all grinned at the praise. People whispered about how tough Coach Murry could be, but she took her job seriously and just wanted to impart its importance on us.

  “Yes, well, good job, ladies. Try to spend some time this evening reviewing your run with your human mind. This will help you integrate your human thinking brain with your instinctual wolf brain. That, my dears, keeps us working together as a unit. And a strong pack depends on it!”

  I resisted a salute, and we were dismissed from class. We all chattered excitedly as we changed and headed back to our dorm. I invited Shea to my room to work on homework. She agreed to meet me there after a quick shower.

  I was toweling off my own dark auburn locks when Shea knocked on the door a little while later. She grinned at me and lifted one of her own damp strawberry-gold curls. “There’s a wet dog joke in here somewhere,” she laughed. I smiled back and offered her some almonds. We grabbed sodas, a bag of chips and guacamole, and settled on the couch to go over our run.

  “It was cool how Coach laid out a perimeter and we widened our circle,” I said between handfuls of almonds.

  “Yeah, I was surprised how quickly we covered so much distance,” Shea replied. “I couldn’t believe it when I realized we were already to Dryden.”

  “I know! I couldn’t believe class was nearly over. I felt like I could go right over the mountain!”

  We laughed at the thought. While human, the valley that nestled Mt. Henley felt huge. The enormous estate covered extensive grounds, gardens, orchards, and surrounding foothills, the village of Dryden and the secluded homes with acreage. Plus there were hundreds of kilometers of steep cliffs, wooded forests and foothills leading up the steep mountain ridge. The area was like a mini country within the wilds of Canada.

  Props to me for using the metric system, I thought and got up to grab a couple of apples from the fruit bowl. I tossed one to Shea and took a bite out of the other.

  “Could you read our thoughts while in wolf form?” Shea asked bluntly before taking a large bite.

  “No, it’s not like that,” I replied. I thought for a moment, trying to put it into words. “It’s hard to explain, it’s like I can tell the individual wolf apart by their vibration. It’s not quite a sound or a smell or a color, but somewhere in between. Does that make any sense?”

  “I don’t know, kind of?” Shea looked doubtful, then brightened. “What do I sound-smell like?”

  “I can pick out your brain signature easiest, because I know you best. You’re like, light, bouncy, and pink: an excited brain wave. I don’t know!” We both laughed.

  “At least I’m not all dark and broody. So what’s with the telepathy thing? Did you really talk in Pamela’s head?”

  “I didn’t mean to! But I guess I was projecting my thoughts to her. I just knew I had to help her. I never heard her thoughts like words, but I felt her fear and panic. I was impulsive. I guess I sent soothing vibes along with my words, and I think that helped as much as anything she heard me say.”

  “Whoa!”

  “When we were running, I could feel the general excitement of the pack, but like a symphony. I can try to pick out individual tones, but I was more focused on following Coach Murry and watching the pack work as a unit. Jack and Kulani called me a true alpha, like my birth mother. They said with trust and training, I could communicate with other wolves and let members of my pack communicate with each other through me. It takes practice and sounds kind of crazy, but…” I trailed off with a shrug.

  “Well, I think we should practice!” Shea cut in, “If you and I can communicate with actual words as well as tail twitches or whatever, that could be useful! I mean, I’m super glad you can’t just read my mind, even my wolf mind, but like Coach said, merging the wolf and human minds will help us when we turn.”

  I was suddenly very relieved after not realizing how tense I’d been. “You’re really okay with this, and not totally freaked out? Because to tell you the truth, I’m totally freaked out!”

  Shea and I laughed. “I mean this is totally freaky, sure. But it’s cool, too! I’ve only had a little over a year longer than you to get used to this whole werewolf thing. It’s new to me, too. Can you believe I read vampire chic lit! I love that stuff! Now, I’m living a totally new life that’s unlike anything I could’ve imagined. I read the myths and legends of our werewolf queens and old family lines with special powers. I thought it was propaganda to keep the ruling class in power. But ever since you shifted almost two weeks before the full moon, I started to wonder. Maybe it’s not all fairytales? There are legends of forgotten family lines, too, ones that died out, or names changed and history forgot. Maybe I have a hidden talent, too, and I just need some practice?”

  I could understand Shea’s quest to find a connection to her past and maybe a link to her birth family. I had parents, true, but I also had not known who my birth parents were until a few weeks ago. That’s when the infinite possibilities became one reality. It was overwhelming. I thought to distract us instead. “Do you want to p
ractice now? I mean, it’s still the day after the full moon, but we could give it a shot.”

  Shea looked delighted and devious at the same time. “You know, we’re not supposed to. So let’s do it!”

  We giggled and snuck out of the building using the back stairs. Once outside, we darted across the gardens and skirted the orchards. Without really saying so, we headed back toward the stream where I had changed for the first time.

  “So what I can do isn’t all that crazy, right? I mean, older werewolves can change outside the full moon too, right? With practice?”

  Shea got her serious look and said, “Alice, the big deal is that you turned for the first time before the full moon. The big deal is that you are a royal, descended from one of the oldest known bloodlines, lost now found. The big deal is that you can apparently talk in our heads when we are in wolf form.”

  “Okay, okay! But a lot of wolves in general shift on the gibbous moon?” I was grasping at straws of normalcy, whatever that was.

  “Yes, many adults can shift during gibbous phases. Some of the strongest, most well-trained wolves like Jack and Kulani can shift whenever they like. But it takes effort and training. Young wolves will always turn on the full moon, but some can’t shift back. Years of practice will help them control their wolf forms during the full moon phases and slowly add days under the moon. The danger for the young is not maintaining that human awareness during the shift. That’s why the school is so careful to monitor adolescent shifting. Once you hit twenty-two or so, you can shift much easier and with greater control, but many never gain the ability to shift around the crescent moon. That’s why so many want to be Slivers, because they can shift with just a sliver of the moon in the sky. Slivers usually run patrols or join the Royal Guard, which only takes the strongest and best-trained Slivers.”

  “There is still so much I don’t know, but I do know that I’m not afraid of my wolf. She’s right under my skin and at any moment I can call on her.”

  “That’s pretty freaking cool, Alice.” Shea grinned. “C’mon, let’s practice! Try talking in my head, and listen for a response.”

  We both shifted easily into wolves. The cool air was instantly more comfortable. I could see my dark fur stockings and feel the swish of my tail. I already felt more aware of my wolfish self, now I felt like my human self was just under my skin. My senses came alive. My nose could pick up bear scat, river reeds, and campfire on a distant wind. I chuffed in a wolfish snort of amusement. Then I looked over at the tawny wolf with bright blue eyes standing beside me. I looked in her eyes. She looked down, submissive, then looked up into my eyes again, waiting. I listened to her brain signature, a steady, upbeat, pinkish rhythm.

  I thought, Let’s go to the stream. She didn’t move. I tried to think the words like I was writing them, but nothing happened.

  The tawny wolf cocked her head. Are you even trying? I could almost hear Shea say. It was more like an echo than actual words. No wait, it was a feeling. I felt her emotion grow impatient. I thought about how the streambed felt beneath my paws, cool and refreshing. I imagined lapping the water and sating my thirst, and I sent her brain waves a signal of longing for that cooling sensation of the river. I heard the water tumble over rocks, smelled the wet and loamy soil. Let’s go to the stream. Before I realized it, Shea had spun toward the path that led to the stream. I was right on her heels.

  We jumped in and splashed around. We rolled in the mud and swam some more. After a while, I realized the moon was high. We had missed dinner, and if we weren’t back soon they’d send out a search party. I tried to convey that to Shea.

  Her eyes widened, and I heard her voice in my mind like a shout: HIDE!

  She darted into the bushes. I followed. We hid under a thicket, and I heard it: footfalls on the path. My heart was pounding as a large wolf rounded the corner. He stopped by the bush we were hiding in. He stared into the thicket. We were busted.

  Shea and I stepped onto the path with our tails between our legs and our heads down. The large black wolf gave us a sniff. He glared at us, then toward the path to school. We got the message and trotted off. A little ways down the path, we stopped and shifted into humans. Our clothes were hidden nearby, and we nervously dressed.

  “Who was that?” I asked. “More importantly, why aren’t we in trouble?”

  “He must be running patrols,” said Shea. “And he must have realized we were students and not, you know, renegade wolves bent on destruction.” She laughed.

  “What?”

  Shea laughed some more.

  “Are there renegade wolves bent on our destruction?” I asked.

  “No, not really. I mean, it’s just that Mount Henley has this whole, like, military academy thing going. You’re either with us or against us. I think there is this fear that, without the school, secret society, and our own separate government, they’re afraid we’d all be, well, lawless animals instead of civilized werewolves. There are definitely dark ages in our history, but the current paradigm believes that minimal human assimilation paired with a strong werewolf society and culture keeps us on the top of the food chain rather than hunted by humans like in the past.”

  Again I shook my head. “There is still so much I don’t know!”

  Shea laughed. “Don’t worry! That’s what high school is for! Now, c’mon! We should sneak through my window again.”

  ◆◆◆

  The next day, morning classes went by in a blur, I still caught a few looks and noticed conversations suddenly drop when I walked by, but for the most part I was too excited to care. I had found a place where I belonged, even if I still felt like a freak among freaks. At least I had Shea. And Adam always made me laugh in Art class. Too bad I didn’t have any classes with Logan. We hadn’t seen each other since the full moon, so I was happy to see him and Adam waiting for Shea and me at lunchtime outside on the patio.

  We carried our trays to an unoccupied table and ate lunch with gusto. Apparently, the full-moon shifting takes a lot of energy, so everyone had fully loaded plates. I loved that I could eat my fill and no one would accuse me of bulimia or tease me that I’d get fat. There were a wide range of body types, I noticed, but it seemed that kids weren’t teased about it as much as regular high school. Still, I remembered Jillian’s reaction to my friendship with Adam, and the dirty looks the ice queen and her beautiful designer-clad friends shot at Shea every chance she got. We can be in our own skin, but the cliques still will find something to separate them from the rest, I guess.

  After we ditched our trays, the four of us took a walk through the gardens and into the orchards. The leaves were turning on the apple trees and harvest was in full swing. I was looking forward to spending the afternoon outside.

  “Since we can’t shift any longer”—Shea gave me a pointed look—“we get to spend the afternoon picking apples.”

  “Sounds great!” said Adam. “It’s the one week out of the year we can spend the whole day with our ladies.”

  “Our ladies?” I asked with a scoff. Shea shot me a dirty look. Adam turned bright red.

  “Uh, I mean…” Adam looked like he wanted to climb the nearest tree and stay there.

  “I’m just kidding! Adam, you know we’re your bitches!” We all laughed, happy to have the awkward moment pass.

  “Umm, since we’re on the subject…” Shea was as pink as her brain signature. “Adam, do you want to go to the Fall Fling with me?”

  Adam swung Shea around and kissed her square on the lips. “Yes,” he said firmly.

  Now it was Logan’s and my turn to blush and feel awkward. Were we there yet? I mean, we’d shared a few meals, a few walks, but we’ve barely hung out alone. What if he didn’t want to go with me?

  Shea elbowed me in the ribs. “Ow!”

  “It’s a girls’-ask-guys dance, Alice!” She whispered, “Ask him.”

  I glanced at Logan shyly. “Do you want to go, too?”

  He smiled at me as he tossed his wavy bangs out of his face. �
��Sure.” He grabbed my hand, and we walked back to the dorms. I felt a little giddy. I mean, the cute boy I liked actually liked me back! Hurray!

  We had to separate to meet with our classmates, but as soon we were back in the orchard, Shea and I found Adam and Logan again. We got scolded a few times for fooling around, so we had to be serious about apple picking, but it was fun. Shea and I climbed the trees, ignoring the ladders, and the guys helped carry the full bushels back to the ends of the rows for the trucks to pick up.

  “Maybe on Saturday, we can drive into Cedarburg and check out the farmer’s market,” suggested Logan.

  “Really? We can leave the grounds?” I asked.

  “Well, I’ll get us permission from our Den Father. I’m sure he’ll let us ride in with the apple cart.”

  Adam snickered. “Sure, he’ll let you go, but I don’t think he’ll be so cool with me.”

  Logan looked annoyed, “C’mon, man. I’ll ask for the both of us.”

  “You better ask for me, too,” Shea said with an uncomfortable laugh.

  “Why can’t you guys go?” I asked.

  Again, Logan looked irritated. “The den leaders tend to be a little more lenient with royals since they don’t want us calling our parents to complain. We can get away with a lot because they fear losing their jobs.”

  “That’s appalling!” I exclaimed.

  Logan looked defensive. “Hey, I try not to take advantage of it, and I’ve never used my background for leverage before.”

  Adam laughed, and Logan looked angry. “I haven’t!”

  “Yeah, sure, not intentionally, dog, but c’mon … you gotta admit you still benefit from the privilege. You don’t abuse it, but others do.”

  “This royal thing is that big of a deal?” I asked.

  Adam and Shea glanced at each other first, then Shea said, “It’s really cool that you don’t think so, and it’s obvious you don’t or you wouldn’t hang with me. But the rest of the Were-world takes it pretty seriously. And now that you’re here, who knows what will happen?”