I raced downstairs. If Brandon was in seclusion, this couldn’t be him. Did he break out?
“It’s going to be on in a minute,” my mom said when I plopped down on the floor in front of the TV.
Megan Crumley, our local news reporter, was standing outside Penny for Your Thoughts. “Channel Eleven has just learned that Dr. Camille Meadows from Riverside Township has discovered a werewolf and captured it on film,” she began. “As you may have heard, many residents have been claiming they’ve witnessed an unusual creature roaming Legend’s Run at night, and many are calling this creature the Wolfman.
“With all the werewolf sightings, no one has been able to prove its existence,” she continued.
Dr. Meadows had warned me if I didn’t bring Brandon to her, she’d go to him. But why wouldn’t she tell me she found him? Why would she go to our local news station first?
“How were you able to find him?” the reporter asked.
“I sensed it,” Dr. Meadows said. “I have paranormal abilities and I used them to guide me. I finally got this last week.”
My heart plummeted. All along, Dr. Meadows had been trying to use Brandon for her own gain.
“Is that the psychic you spent your allowance on?” my mom asked.
I held my breath and covered my mouth.
The film was grainy and dark at best. It looked like it had been filmed with a phone as opposed to a high-end video camera. At first it was out of focus. There was the sound of rustling in the woods. A figure lurked behind a tree; wild and long black hair covered its face. It howled like a wolf. Then the figure dashed out of view. The camera followed, shining its light on several bare trees. Suddenly a sturdy hand swung at the camera. There was scrambling as we could hear heavy breathing and the camera pointed to the ground as Dr. Meadows ran away.
“Well, that certainly looks like something to me,” the anchor said. “What, I’m not sure, but you can decide. Click on our website and tell us your thoughts. Wolfman or Prankman?”
“Replay that,” I said. “I want to see something.”
I grabbed the remote and rewound the clip. I played it slowly, examining it closely.
“What are you looking for?” my mom asked.
The figure swiped at the camera with its right hand. However, when I reviewed it, there wasn’t a scar. No sign of a wolf bite to be seen. It wasn’t Brandon. But that realization raised as many questions as it answered.
After my mom went to her scrapbooking party, I headed for Brandon’s in a hurry.
“I was on the news,” he said as soon as I got out of the car.
“But it couldn’t have been you. There wasn’t a scar on your right hand.”
“What?”
“I slowed down the footage on the TV,” I said. “When this creature swiped at the camera, there wasn’t a scar.” I took Brandon’s right palm and showed him. “See? You have a major one.”
“How do you know?” he asked, not convinced by my theory. “Maybe it disappears when I turn. I don’t remember.”
“But I do remember, and it doesn’t.”
“Are you sure? If it wasn’t me, then what was it — or who? Another werewolf?”
“Maybe. Or maybe it was some kids playing jokes. I don’t know. I just know it wasn’t you.”
Brandon breathed a sigh of relief. He placed his arm around my shoulder and drew me into him.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” he said.
“The sun is setting,” I warned. “What do you want to do now?”
“I can’t stay in that box forever. I don’t know what to do.”
I hugged him.
“And more important, Celeste, how are we going to be together?”
“Maybe it’s time you go back to the way you were living. Free, like anyone else. Werewolf or not.”
“I’m not sure… I’d rather not take any chances.”
I admired Brandon’s values. With everything he had to worry about, the first thing on his mind was the well- being of the town.
Brandon kissed me tenderly, and I fought off my incredible desire to be locked away all night with him inside his safe house.
As another full moon approached, I met Ivy, Abby, their beaux, and Nash at Wings and Things. If I couldn’t be on the end of Brandon’s lips, then at least I would be surrounded by my friends.
“That’s what I saw,” Abby insisted to Ivy when I arrived at their table. “I swear.”
“That wasn’t a werewolf,” Ivy charged. “Werewolves have hair all over their faces.”
“Well, this one didn’t,” Abby stated. “I don’t know why you don’t believe me.”
Ivy paused. “I do. Not that I believe in werewolves, but I believe you saw something,” she said sincerely.
I thought Ivy had finally realized that the whole werewolf thing was putting a strain on her relationship with Abby. And she was all about keeping us together as a friendly unit.
“Where have you been?” Ivy asked me.
“I had a million things to do.”
“Did you see the werewolf on TV?” Abby asked. My friends were already well into their wings, so I got to pick at their leftovers.
“Yes. Did it look like a hoax to you?” Ivy asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said truthfully. I knew it wasn’t Brandon, but I didn’t know if there was someone else turning at nightfall when the full moon had waned. “I only know it wasn’t any of us, since we’re all here after sunset.”
“I still think that Brandon Maddox might have something to do with this,” Ivy observed.
Abby’s face lit up. “Maybe it is him. Maybe the Legend’s Run Werewolf is Brandon.”
Everyone paused.
“I told you,” Ivy said. “I saw him stare at those wolves. It wasn’t like anything I’ve seen on
“There you go again,” Jake said. “I think you must have a thing for that guy. It’s all you ever talk about… Brandon and the wolves.”
“Well, he’s also saving dogs,” Abby said. “If he is a werewolf, he’s a good one.”
“What do you think, Celeste?” Ivy asked. “You’re always defending the underdog.”
“I guess you figured it out. Brandon Maddox is a werewolf.”
They all laughed, and this time I did, too.
“Either way, there is something strange going on and it’s best we all stick together,” Nash encouraged.
“Speaking of that…” Ivy said, “we have to go, but Nash can drive you home.”
As if on cue, Abby, Jake, Dylan, and Ivy rose while Nash remained seated.
“I thought you were driving me home,” I said under my breath.
“This way you and Nash can have some alone time now that you guys are back together.”
“Back together?” I asked.
“Since this werewolf thing, he has really been there for you,” Ivy said. “It’s just like old times.”
My friends paid the bill, and Nash and I got into his car. He even opened the door for me. The way he was suddenly being a gentleman was endearing. But I felt awkward as he drove me home. Though he was usually self- centered, I knew there was an inner side to him that he didn’t share with other girls. He parked in front of my house.
“Celeste—” he said.
The car was dark, which only added to the appeal of his handsome features. Normally, he would have leaned into me and I would have gotten a melt-worthy kiss.
But since we’d broken up, we hadn’t shared any romantic gestures.
“Yes?” I finally said.
Nash pulled off his class ring. “I want you to have this,” he said.
It was sweet. Nash was attractive, by any girl’s standards. If this had happened a few months ago, I would
