Chapter 16 Chapter 16
The next morning I was awaked by the soundtrack of Psycho. Well, the shower scene anyway, at an earsplitting level. I jumped so hard I almost misted. Once I found my wits, I rolled over and grabbed my phone, which seemed to be the source of the noise, off the nightstand. Huh. It would appear that someone changed my text notification. Connor was my prime suspect. He sent me a text letting me know he’d be here on time this morning. At the butt crack of dawn. Suspicious? I think so.
Blurry eyed I stumbled around getting dressed and presentable before I headed downstairs. Having a boy in the house was going to suck. No more walking around in my underwear or just a towel. I was watching my breakfast spin around the microwave when the pup wondered in wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Apparently he didn’t feel the need to cover up. I threw a hand up to block the sight of him and grabbed my cup before I practically ran out of the room. Not looking at the teenage werewolf. Not looking at the teenage werewolf! I stretched out on a lounge on my deck to have breakfast and try to forget the half-naked wolf with a surfer’s body in my kitchen.
Tristan joined me a while later carrying a soda and something that appeared to be a blueberry pancake wrapped around a piece of sausage on a stick. Why do humans put everything on a stick? If it’s not on a stick, they figure out a way to deep fry it. At least he had put on clothes before he came out. “Those aren’t new clothes. Where did you get them?”
“Connor helped me sneak into my house last night so I could get some of my stuff. “He said while blowing around the bite of food he’d taken. Guess it was one of those foods where the middle was hotter than the outside. Made me thankful for blood. Swirl it around a few times and viola even temperature.
“Connor broke into the house of a separatist last night?” Wicked glee spread through me. “He knowingly and willfully broke the accords? I’m so going to remind him of this the next time I to want curse the human cops for contaminating a crime scene.”
“He didn’t break in. He just did the portal thing. I know how to sneak into my own house. My dad is like super strict. I have to be home by nine. So, I come home early, and then I sneak out. Hang with my friends until whenever, and then I sneak back in.” His voice trailed off. “I mean, I use to have to sneak in and out of the house.”
I looked at the kid out of the corner of my eye. He needed cheering up. Maybe meeting other werewolves today would help. Bet I’d get a good chuckle before the day was over. Tristan jumped when Bask jumped through the doggy door before barreling into the woods.
“Is he after a rabbit or something?”
I choked on the laughter I was trying to hold in. Bask made his return trip to the house before I could speak. “The only thing he hunts is his food bowl. I’ve come to the conclusion he occasionally tries to be a dog. Then remembers he prefers being a throw pillow.”
“What has your father told you about werewolves? “ Tristan shrugged at my question.
“The basics I guess. We are both human and wolf. Our wolf half is a violent blood thirsty monster.” His voice took on a blah blah blah quality that I recognized. My voice sounded similar when Connor made me recite articles from the accords. “We have to take the wolf bane potion so we can stay human and keep the wolf from getting control. It’ll hunt and kill with no remorse. “
Wow. I knew he hadn’t been raised as a werewolf, but, I wasn’t expecting he had been taught to fear and hate what he was. “Have you ever changed?”
“No. Dad has forbidden us from ever changing. He says it’s like a drug, one change and you are addicted.”
I was stunned into silence. He should have been changing forms since he was around three months old. He would have no control over his change. It was time to educate him on what he was. To the best of my ability anyways.
“Alright. First things first. When you are in wolf form, you are still you. “Choosing my words carefully I started to explain werewolves. The only difference between wolf and human was the form they were in. The wolf form had bigger teeth. The human form had opposable thumbs. Regardless of the form werewolves had enhanced senses. I went on to explain werewolves tend to live in small towns in the woods. They favored outdoorsy jobs such as park ranger or arborist.
The pup jumped again when Connor opened the door from the covered porch to the deck, letting it slam behind him. Since I’d heard him come in, I could only assume the wolf bane potion was still suppressing Tristan’s senses. I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of his ex-boy band attire of a navy suit and tie.
“Mr. Bates, so nice you could join us this morning. How is Mother?”
“Mother is herself today. Thank you for asking.” I was a little creeped out when he started moving the porch swing he had sat in like a rocking chair. I’m so putting a special ward around my shower. Tristan was looking back forth between us like we had lost our minds. Psycho must not be on the must watch list of stoners.
“So, who’s ready to go interview some werewolves?” My gameshow voice received dual eye rolls. Some people just have no sense of humor. I fed Bask before ripping a portal.