Page 83 of The Wolves of Forest Grove

Where’s Quinn?” I asked Layla when she and Viv came to meet me out front of Viv’s place. Jared hovered at my back, and Clay was already waiting for us all at pack camp.

Layla tucked a lock of black hair back behind her ear and shivered as she slung a messenger bag over her shoulder. “He should be here soon.”

We were all going to camp together. The full moon would be high enough in the sky to trigger the shift within several hours.

It was meant to be a clear, cold night, which apparently would make the shift cleaner.

Nothing worse than having your first shift on a cloudy night, Jared had told me.

It was easier to make the transition in full moonlight.

A sky heavy with the burden of clouds slowed it to a crawl.

“Did you bring it?” Layla asked, unable to look me in the eye.

I dug the small bag from my pocket and handed it to her. “Are you sure you want to do it this way? We could explain—”

“No,” she cut in. “This way will be easier. If he doesn’t shift, then...he’ll never have to know.”

I nodded gravely and released the pill to her.

Charity had gotten it for us from her alchemist friend who healed Quinn.

It was an elixir of some kind. None of us had any idea what was inside, but if it did its job, it would knock Quinn out until morning.

At least, it would keep him knocked out as long as he didn’t shift.

Nothing could be strong enough to make someone sleep through that.

I still hadn’t brought myself to tell them about Grey, and what he planned to do to them if they didn’t shift. I supposed, like Layla was trying to protect Quinn, I was also still trying to shield them from as much of it as I could. I had no idea if it was the right thing to do or not.

“What did you tell your parents?” I asked them. “That we’re going camping,” Viv answered for them both. “They won’t expect us back until Monday.”

Which gave us four days. If they shifted, would it be enough time for them to get the control they would need to be around their families? I cringed. I didn’t think so.

Especially not Layla with her seven younger brothers and sisters at home. There was no way she could be around them all with a testy wolf trying to jump out her throat, was there?

Fuck.

At least I would be there the entire time to help them if it came to that. I’d already left a voicemail for Jacqueline at the shop, explaining that I wouldn’t be available until early next week at the soonest. Just another nail in the coffin for my job…

Jared, sensing my emotions, stepped into my side and wrapped an arm around me, rubbing my back. I melded into his touch, letting him push some of his strength and calm into me. I was going to need all I could get.

“There he is,” Viv said after a few seconds of strained silence, and we watched Quinn pull his punch buggy up to the sidewalk and step out, bag slung casually over one shoulder while he yanked a big tent bag from his backseat.

“Hey!” he called, rushing over, bright with enthusiasm.

I saw what Layla meant now. How could she do anything to ruin that smile? She did her best when he was around during lunch hours at school to paste on a smile for his benefit, but the one she painted on now looked painfully forced.

She accepted his warm bear hug, digging her fingers into his shoulders. “Hey,” she replied and dropped her head as he pulled away.

“So,” Quinn said. “We’re headed to some place off the map, that right?”

Jared nodded. “It’s my uncle’s camp,” he explained and then seemed to think of something, adding, “He keeps wolves as pets. So, if you see any, don’t freak out. They’re mostly friendly, just keep your distance.”

“No shit!” Quinn said, eyes bugging out of his face. “That is dope.”

“If only,” I muttered.

“What?” Quinn asked, turning a curious look in my direction. Then, as if seeing me for the first time, his eyes widen again. “Shit, Allie. You look terrible. Are you sick?”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth. Why was everyone so damned preoccupied with how I looked.

I look like shit. I get it.

“Whoa,” Quinn said with a mock defensive stance, his hands raised. “I mean no offense. I just...I have some antacids in my bag if you need them. Just ask.”

Rage dissipating, I sighed. “Let’s go. Ryland’s waiting.”

“Who’s Ryland?” Quinn asked, falling into step behind Jared and me to walk down the street to where we found an empty spot to park Jared’s Jeep.

“He’s pack—”

“My uncle,” Jared cut in, giving me a pointed look.

Right. No shifter talk.

I supposed we just had to pray no one decided to up and shift in the middle of the camp until Quinn was knocked out. Then we’d have no choice but to explain.

“Hop in,” Jared said, taking both Layla and Viv’s bags while I went to open the door for them. He and Quinn packed up the back while Layla and Vivian buckled themselves in with shaking fingers. I jumped in the front passenger seat, knowing I was too on edge to drive.

“Does it hurt?” Layla asked, keeping her voice hushed so Quinn couldn’t overhear.

I winced.

“If we shift, does it hurt?”

I couldn’t lie about that. I was sure she would already be able to see the answer written all over my face. Eyes burning, I nodded mutely, not trusting myself to say too much. “But not for very long.”

It was true enough for me. My shift had only lasted seconds, but then, I’d only just been bitten and the moon was already shining. I had no idea what they were in for. I could have asked Charity, she was changed only a couple of years ago, but I didn’t have the stomach to find out.

Now, I was regretting that decision. If I found her before we were all taken to the moon room, I would ask. Better to be prepared.

Vivian stared resolutely out the window, her gaze trained on the clear sky. On the iron bars partially blocking her view of the moon already visible perched high in the heavens.

I could already feel its pull. Not very strongly. Not yet. But from the moment I awoke this morning, there had been a noticeable shift in my wolf. She was restless. I wondered if they could feel anything other inside of them. Would they even know what it was? Would they notice?

From the way Vivian’s jaw was set, her gaze unwavering and spine rigid as she stared at the moon, I thought maybe she could feel its pull, but I was terrified to ask her.

“All right,” Jared said with forced cheer as he hopped into the driver’s side of the Jeep and started the ignition.

I jammed the button for the sound system and Clay’s playlist was picked up from my phone. “Start a Riot” by Banners began to play, and Jared slid his hand over the center console to twine his fingers with mine, squeezing. “You ready?” he asked me, and a sliver of ice lodged itself into my heart.

Clay asked me that just weeks ago in the cabin. Right before we left for the Four Corners. Before my whole world came crashing down around me for the second time.

My response was the same now as it was then, and I tasted the words like an omen of death on my tongue. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”