Once in a Full Moon (6 page)

Then whatever that presence was jumped out from behind me. I covered my head and screamed.

I heard a lot of scuffling, growling, and howling. It took a few moments for me to even realize I wasn’t in any physical pain. Was I already dead?

I peeked out from my defenses. I saw a figure holding a large tree branch.

The figure swung at the pack with the branch, running and chasing after the wolves. Growling and the horrible sounds of a struggle raged just beyond my sight. I prayed the man was okay, but I wasn’t sure what was happening just a few yards away in the heavy snow. I heard a crunch, then a male voice yell. All at once, there was a smack and the sound of yelping. Then there was dead silence.

I didn’t know if the person was alive. I didn’t hear the wolves. I didn’t hear the man.

I waited. I wondered if I should call out to him, but I was afraid this might excite the wolves if they were still there. I didn’t know what to do next.

When I didn’t hear a sound, I knew I had to do something. I decided to go farther into the woods and see what had happened. I was terrified of what I might find.

Just then, the figure emerged from behind a tree. The guy was alive, out of breath, and exhausted. The snow fell heavily, blocking me from seeing my rescuer. Then, all at once, striking blue eyes shone through the snow. I was even more shocked . . . it was Brandon Maddox.

I was so happy to see someone that I threw my hands up and cheered.

Brandon had been fighting the wolf pack with all his strength. The falling snow made it hard to see, the woods made it hard to navigate through, and the cold temperature made it hard to breathe.

I’d always thought Brandon was handsome, but now he looked even more magnificent.

“Are you . . . okay?” It was the first thing he asked.

“Am
I
okay? I wasn’t the one fighting a pack of wolves.”

Brandon tossed the branch into the woods. It was then a few dark red drops fell into the lily white snow.

“You’re bleeding!” I said, pointing to the red stains.

“What?” He didn’t even look at his hand. “What are you doing . . . here?” he asked. He was still running on adrenaline.

“You’ve been hurt,” I said. “We should get you to a doctor.”

He raised his hand. Drops continued to fall into the snow.

“You need to have that looked at,” I said. “You might need stitches.”

“It’s nothing,” he said.

“You could have rabies,” I warned.

“I’m fine.”

“Can I see?” I asked.

“Uh . . . sure.”

I hadn’t even spoken to Brandon before now, but words couldn’t express the gratitude I felt discovering anyone—especially him—here with me in the woods. I’d always been drawn to Brandon, and his heroic actions only magnified my feelings. I slowly reached out to him. Our fingers touched and I melted.

I took his hand and held it in mine. It was strong and warm even though it was wet from the falling snow. I gently peeled back his ripped glove to examine the wound. There was a bloody gash in the palm of his hand.

“You’ve been bitten!” I said, alarmed. “You’ll have to see a doctor. You don’t want it to get infected.”

“That’s okay—” he said, trying to shrug off the seriousness of the wound.

“No, you must.”

“I’m fine.”

“But you’re still bleeding. I’ll bandage it for you.” I dug my free hand into my purse and took out a pack of tissues. I applied a few tissues to his hand and unwound my scarf from around my neck. I could feel him staring at me as I tended to his wound. He examined my hair, my face, my lips. Gently, I wrapped the scarf around his hand and tucked in the ends.

We stood in the snow—in the middle of the woods, in the middle of Legend’s Run. Brandon Maddox’s hand in mine. Neither one of us was letting go.

“It’s kind of bulky,” I said, “but it will do for now.”

I felt so tired. Now, knowing someone was with me, that I wasn’t alone anymore and that I wasn’t hurt, my body started to cave in. Brandon reached out and steadied me with his good hand.

“I could have been—” I said, realizing the severity of the situation. “But you—”

It was hard for me to get past the image that plagued my mind—if Brandon hadn’t shown up when he did, I’d have been attacked by a pack of wolves. Instead, he had scared them off. But he’d been bitten.

“I’d take you to a doctor,” I said. “But I don’t even know where I am.”

Then Brandon smiled—a terminally seductive smile. The kind smiled by A-list movie stars. The kind that takes one’s breath away.

“I’ll show you,” he finally said.

I let go of his hand. As we started walking, the snowfall began to dwindle. I couldn’t feel my hands, my feet, my legs. They all seemed numb from the event, somehow moving on their own.

The flakes became smaller and eventually were more sporadic as we walked in silence. He escorted me through the woods valiantly, as if he knew this piece of land as well as his own home.

We reached the snow-covered road. A few cars passed by slowly, their tires splashing the wintry mix. I saw the roof of my house in the distance. I was closer to home than I’d thought.

“My house is just over there.” I pointed to my subdivision. I was so happy to see my house, I had to fight back tears. “I don’t know how to thank you. You . . . saved my life.”

I turned around to embrace my hero, but Brandon had already disappeared.

Chapter Eight
Rescued

I
arrived home breathless, spaced out, and chilled to the bone.

“There you are!” my mom said, relieved. “Where have you been?”

I must have looked like a roughed-up snow angel. If I’d been skiing, sledding, or snowboarding—none of which my friends had time for anymore, and Ivy never liked anyway—I would have had layers of clothing, puffy gloves, earmuffs, a knit hat, and a down-filled coat.

But this time I was caught in the snow by accident and wasn’t prepared for it.

“I’ve been worried sick,” my mom said as I unzipped my now-white hoodie. Flakes fell on our tiled foyer. I shook the snow off my boots on an inside mat, but I couldn’t feel a thing—my legs and toes were numb. Our dog, Champ, bounded up to me and sniffed my pant legs.

“I called several times,” my mom continued, “but you didn’t answer. I was just getting my keys to come and look for you.”

I was so happy to be home, I was speechless. So much had just happened to me since I left Ivy and Abby, I couldn’t process everything. All I knew was I was finally home.

My mom pulled off my gloves. “Your fingers are frozen.” She warmed them in her hands.

“I got caught in that snowstorm.”

“I can see that. Are Ivy and Abby okay?”

I nodded. “I think they missed the storm.”

“They weren’t with you?” she asked, surprised.

I leaned against the staircase railings and my mom pulled off my boots. I was too tired to hike the stairs to my room. Instead, I sat on them and peeled off my jeans. My mom handed me warm sweatpants and fuzzy slipper socks from the laundry room. Champ licked my cold fingers.

I’d never been so happy to be home in all my life. The smell of pasta wafting in from the kitchen was the most pleasant scent I could have imagined. It normally bothered me when my mom fussed over me, but I was so fatigued and cold, I welcomed her care.

I followed her into the family room. I plopped down on a sofa and she covered me with a fleece blanket, and Champ curled up at my feet.

My mom turned on our gas fireplace and I gladly gazed at our family pictures displayed on the mantel.

“Dinner’s almost ready,” she said.

I could hear her fiddling in the kitchen behind me, but I couldn’t focus on what she was doing. I would have pinched myself to see if I was dreaming—being in the safety of my house with a fluffy family pet instead of staring at a pack of salivating wolves—only I still couldn’t feel my skin.

“She just got home,” I heard my mom tell my dad when he entered the house.

“That blizzard came out of nowhere,” he said.

I was glad to see my dad and gave him puppy-dog eyes. He touched my face. Even though he’d been outside, his warm hand heated my chilled cheek.

“I think that caught us all off guard,” he said.

“Dinner’s ready,” my mom called.

Still wrapped in my fleece blanket, I sat down at the dining table and immediately scarfed down an Italian roll.

“I didn’t realize I’d been gone so long,” I announced, glancing at the clock.

“Take your time,” my mom said. “You don’t want to choke.”

“So why weren’t you with Ivy?” my dad asked.

“I wanted to go straight home. But obviously that didn’t happen.”

“You walked home?” my dad asked.

“Yes. Then it started snowing and I ended up in the woods. I saw a wolf. And just at the last moment—”

“What?” my dad asked. “Slow down. Why were you in the woods?”

“I got lost.”

“Which woods?” my mom asked, just as concerned.

“The ones along Riverside.”

“Riverside?” she asked, horrified. “What were you doing
there
? Where were Abby and Ivy?” my mom wondered.

“Ivy was driving Abby to her practice before tonight’s game.”

“This still doesn’t make sense,” my dad said. “What were you doing walking in Riverside alone?”

“Abby, Ivy, and I were getting our fortunes told.”

“Didn’t the psychic tell you you shouldn’t go into the woods?” my dad asked, joking. “Seems obvious enough to me.”

As a matter of fact, Dr. Meadows had warned me.
Beware of the woods . . . of the sounds of howling
, she had said. My stomach turned, and it wasn’t from eating too fast. It was strange—her prediction. But it just had to be a coincidence, I assured myself.

“You didn’t answer your cell phone,” my mom said sharply. “I was about to drive around when you came in the door.”

“I tried calling you—but I couldn’t get a signal,” I defended. “Then I dropped my phone in the snow. . . .” I realized I still didn’t have my cell phone. “I’m really sorry— I think I lost it.”

“Your cell phone can be replaced,” she said.

“So . . . you said you saw a wolf?” my dad asked.

“Yes. Closer than I’ve ever seen.”

“How close?” my mom asked.

“Only a few feet away. And it wasn’t one wolf. It was a pack.”

“You’re so lucky they didn’t see you,” she said, relieved.

“See me? They almost ate me!”

My parents froze.

“They were as close to me as you both are and staring at me like you are now.” As soon as I said that, I realized it was a mistake.

My mom covered her mouth. Then she took my hand. My dad’s brows furrowed.

I could see by my parents’ horrified expressions as they imagined their daughter being torn to shreds, I would be lucky if I was ever allowed out of the house again.

“Honey, I’m so happy you weren’t bitten!” my mom said gratefully. “Or worse.”

It was then I thought of Brandon. He
was
bitten and he didn’t seem concerned. He’d been more interested in my well-being than his.

“It’s odd to see a wolf up close like that—so close to town,” my dad said. “They usually like to avoid people.”

“I must have stumbled on their den. They didn’t appear too happy to see me.”

“I’d think their den would be farther outside of town. That’s where they’re mostly spotted,” my dad added.

“I don’t know,” I said, taking a drink. “I only know I saw them and they saw me.”

“Are you sure they were wolves?” my mom pressed.

“Do squirrels have fangs?” I asked.

“Well, we’re glad you’re back home safe,” my mom continued.

“I’m not a forest ranger,” I said. “I just know what I saw. I’ve never seen wolves up close. It was terrifying!”

That hit my mom hard. She always wanted to protect me, and I knew it hurt her to have me be in a situation where I’d been afraid and alone.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there—” she said.

“How did you manage to make it out?” my dad asked. “Alive? Without a scratch?”

My parents waited for my answer.

A guy saved me. Risked his life for mine. A handsome Westsider.

I was too exhausted to tell them any more, and it would only add to their endless questions. I always told my parents the truth, no matter what the truth was, but in this case I felt funny about telling them about Brandon. I knew they’d make a fuss—show up at his house, thank him, and insist on taking him out to dinner. It would be embarrassing for him, and I wanted to spare him the gushing parental gratitude. So instead I just skipped to the end. “The snow began to let up. Eventually I could see our house.”

“Well, thank goodness it did!” My mom sighed. “Thank goodness it did.”

“I still don’t understand why you were getting your fortunes told,” my dad said. “Don’t you girls have homework to do?”

“It was sort of a dare,” I tried to explain.

“What did the psychic say?” my mom asked.

“It’s private,” I said. “Like making a wish on your birthday.”

“Did she say we were going to win the lottery?” my mom asked. “Or travel the world?”

“No. She didn’t say anything about becoming rich or winning a fabulous vacation,” I replied.

“Well, I’m so happy you are safe,” my mom said.

“I second that,” my father affirmed. “And here’s a fortune for you,” he said, directing his attention toward me. “No walking by yourself outside our subdivision anymore. Or you’ll be grounded.”

High school basketball games were one of the biggest events in the Legend’s Run social calendar. There wasn’t much else to do in town, and our team usually put on quite a performance. Almost everyone in town attended the games—except for one person.

When I arrived at the game, I scanned the bleachers for Brandon. I saw a few Westsiders, but no heroes.

Ivy was waiting for me by the snack stand. The smell of hot dogs, hot chocolate, and popcorn was almost intoxicating.

I was bursting to tell her my harrowing story. “You’ll never believe what happened on my way home,” I said.

“Were you mugged? I knew I shouldn’t have left you!”

“No—I got lost.”

“Lost? You were just down the road from your house.”

“There was a snowstorm on the Westside and I got caught in it.”

“Really? We must have just missed it.”

“Well, I didn’t, and I got disoriented and found myself in the middle of the woods.”

“What woods?”

“The ones that run along Riverside.”

Ivy was horrified. “You could have been killed—you don’t know who lives in there.”

“No one was
living
in there,” I assured her.

“So what happened?”

“There was a pack of wolves—so close I could see their wet noses!”

Ivy paused. I wasn’t sure she believed me. This wasn’t the usual “girl meets friend, friends go to mall” story.

“Really?” she asked skeptically.

“Yes! Why don’t people believe me?”

“What people?”

“My family. Now you.”

“We all believe you,” she affirmed.

“I’ve never lied before.”

“I know that,” she said. “It’s just that if you met a pack of wolves in the woods, how are you standing here telling me about it?”

She had a point. There was that one significant detail I was leaving out. The detail with the royal blue eyes.

“So, how did you escape the wolves?” she asked.

“Well . . .”

“Yes?”

“Uh . . . They eventually heard some noises and ran off.” It was mostly true.

“Thank goodness!” She gave me a quick hug. “Now, that’s the last time we’ll be going to Riverside!”

I didn’t have to share every detail of my day with my family and best friend. Perhaps there are some things worth keeping close to one’s own heart.

Nash, Jake, and Dylan were doing their pregame warm-ups on the court. Abby was chatting with a few cheerleaders stretching out in the corner and waved us over.

The guys were handsome in their blue-and-gold jerseys and shorts. Nash began discussing plays with the coach while Jake and Dylan continued warming up. While Ivy told Abby my story, I scanned the crowd for Brandon.

“You were lost in the woods?” Abby asked, breaking me out of my trance. “Can I call you Red? Just like your costume on Halloween. You are
so
her.”

“What?” I asked.

“Little Red Riding Hood. But instead of one wolf, you encountered many.”

“Seems as if I did,” I said.

“Then how did you get out?” she asked. “They could have killed you!”

“I know.”

“Celeste says they just retreated,” Ivy answered for me.

“Just like that?” Abby asked.

“I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Didn’t Dr. Meadows say something freaky about you and the woods and a wolf?” Abby remembered.

“She did!” Ivy said.

“That didn’t mean anything,” I insisted.

“She warned you!” Abby said with a voodoo glare. “She
is
psychic.”

As the buzzer sounded, the three of us climbed the bleachers and watched our beaux take on the Highland Valley Bears.

I wasn’t a big fan of basketball, but I did like the sport’s fast pace, and Legend’s Run High had a great team. Although my mind would occasionally drift from one free throw to another, I used some of that time to jot down ideas and thoughts in my spiral binder. But tonight, I had only three things on my mind—the woods, the wolves, and Brandon. I wasn’t even sure throughout the game which team was winning. All I could see was Brandon’s blue eyes shining through the snow when I thought I was on death’s doorstep; his fearless heroics and selfless humility; his coming to my aid like a brave knight does for a princess in peril.

The game finally came to an end, and the Legend’s Run Wolverines were victorious over the Bears. I couldn’t help but be disillusioned. Nash’s final swish got more fanfare than a guy in the woods who saved a girl’s life.

I watched Nash, Dylan, and Jake tear into chicken and sodas at Wings and Things while my friends and I listened to them retelling their final play of the game. But I didn’t have an appetite. I had butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I felt as if I’d never be able to eat again.