A Werewolf's Moon (The Council) (12 page)

I turned off the ignition and eyed the front of the house. The sound of a violin playing from above the second story had to be her stepfather, composing in the attic. Sounds of water running and metallic clanking, told me her mom was on the first story toward the back of the house, most likely in the kitchen. The front shades were down and we were on top of a hill surrounded by trees. No one could see us.

“Ready?” I asked.

“We’re going to get soaked.” She grasped the door handle and eyed a massive puddle.

“No, hang on.” I took her hands and phased to the front porch.

“Wow.” She said, glancing at the car. “You know, I could get used to this.”

“We can get the bags later, let’s meet your mom.”

She squared her shoulders and rang the doorbell. “Please don’t hate me.”

“Come on, it won’t be that bad. I know what to expect.”

She winced, “I don’t usually dress like this when I’m here. She’s never seen me in a halter top.”

“Great.” The door swung inward and a round-faced woman stepped onto the porch. She resembled
Pepper
in the set of her eyes and her full mouth, but that’s where similarities ended. Wearing the dowdiest brown, plaid dress on the planet, her black hair was in a tight bun, and her eyes narrowed a
s she took in
Pepper
’s clothes.

She gasped and looked up at me. “
Oh
!”

Pepper
mumbled a word that her mom wouldn’t want to hear. “Mom, this is my boyfriend, Quinn Brighton. Quinn, this is my mom.”

“How nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Hong said, shaking my hand firmly, still staring at my face. “I only just found out
Pepper
had a boyfriend.”

“Nice to meet you too.”
I said. We followed her into the house. It took some effort to restrain my shock as I looked around the living room. The furniture was a dark green and the rest of the place very plain. White carpet, white walls, and the lampshades had plastic covers over them. All the life had been sucked out of the house, replaced with—what I can only describe as—blah. They didn’t even have a TV.

“
I decided to fix an early dinner.” Mrs. Hong led us into the kitchen, which was white. White tile, white cabinets, whi
te appliances…blah, blah, blah.

“It’s two o'clock.”
Pepper
said, trying for a cheery disposition. “I was hoping we could do something fun.”

“Like?”
Mrs. Hong slipped on a pair of reading glasses and g
rabbed a cookbook from a shelf.

“I could show Quinn around town, and afterwards we could all have dinner out. You don’t have to cook. Let us treat you. There is a really nice
Greek  restaurant
we passed on the way here.”

“No, you don’t eat meat.” She lifted her chin as if daring us to protest. “There are misquotes and spiders near the river. What if you were bitten?”

I flashed my teeth i
n a grin.

Pepper
was goin
g to get bit, but not by a bug.

“We’ll skip the restaurant. But I’m sure we’ll be fine outside, mom.” She looked out the kitchen window. “It stopped raining.”

“Go, if you must.” She said frostily. “When you return I will speak to both of you about this situation and how it will be handled.”

“What situation?”
Pepper
crossed her arms.

“You know exactly what I refer to,” Mrs. Hong shot me a dirty glare. “And then we will speak about college.”

Pepper
groaned. “Let’s get this over with
now. No use in putting it off.”

Chapter 13

Pepper

There are frequent times I look at the woman sitting in front of me and wonder how we could ever be related. She sat ramrod straight in a chair at the glass table, raising her chin in the air as she mentally assessed me. She picked apart my clothes with her eyes, the color streak in my hair and my nail polish. I should have gotten the fake lip ring. But I did have Quinn, and my mom was being a little more reserved than usual because of his presence.

It isn’t polite to fight in front of company.

Not that we actually fought, mostly she went off on my appearance and I pretended to listen. And contrary to her belief, I did not dress
uniquely
to draw attention. It was just fun. Fishnets were fun. They looked cute with my skirt. Why not wear them? It made me feel good to be in bright colors. My mom was the complete opposite of me. The classifieds section in the newspa
per was more colorful than her.

“I have strict rules in this house, Quinn.” Mom nailed him with her meanest glare.  “Everyone is in bed by ten, and not a minute later. There are motion detectors. If either of you tries to sneak around I will hear. I see and hear everything.”

“Good to know.” Quinn said, draping his arm across the back of my chair, no doubt trying to irritate her. It worked like a charm.

“How long have you been together?” she asked, obviously trying to keep from freaking out. Quinn’s fingers were now resting on my shoulder. I shifted closer and she pursed her lips. Why didn’t I think to bring a guy with me before?

“About six months. Venna introduced us.” Smooth liar my werewolf. Well, he wasn’t exactly
my
werewolf. Even though he told me we were going to be together. I wasn’t sure I was ready for such a commitment.

Do I lik
e him?

Yes.

Would I go on a date with him?

Yes.

Did I want to kiss him?

Hell yes.

Quinn was handsome…and strong…funny… amazing and smart. I would have to kiss him soon, tonight if the opportunity presented itself. Because more than anything, I needed to experience what it would be lik
e with the feelings I have now.

When I become a werewolf my animalistic side would make me want him for a mate. Right now I just want to experience wanting him as a girl. Ju
st a normal girl finding out if
this sizzle between us was really as
good as I expected it would be.

Knowing my mom, she would do everything in her power to keep at least three feet between Quinn and me at all times. Except after she went to sleep, all I’d have to do was say his name and he’d phase in
to my room.

“I suppose you have come to know each other very well in that time.” My mom should have gone to work as interrogator for the FBI. “
Pepper
hasn’t had a boyfriend
before, so you can imagine what a surprise this is for me. I always thought she’d meet someone once she was well into her twenties.
A doctor or a lawyer.
She really does cut herself short.”

There was silence. I couldn’t form a response appropriate enough for her ears. Quinn was frowning as if he didn’t know what to make of my crazy mom. Come on, when do I get a break here? The boy sitting next to me was a prince,
future king
, and my mom hoped I wo
uld marry a doctor or a lawyer?

Maybe I could tell her Quinn was in med school—Nah.

Why spoil the fun? I’d makeup something later, after she
’d assumed the worst.

“Being so young, there are limitations in a relationship.” She continued offhand, as if this were a regular chat instead of an inquisition. She might as well shine a light in my face and ask me for dates and times. “Physical limitations…and I’m sure you know by now that
Pepper
is saving herself for marriage.”

Oh no she didn’t.

“Mom can I see you in the living room?” I shot out of my chair, not looking at Quinn, and headed back to the white room.

“Is something the matter
Pepper
?” she
asked, following, all innocent.

“Yes, I’m upset.” I snapped, turning to face her. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?” she sounded like she really didn’t know what she had done. I was more than positive this attack had been intentional. Premeditate
d and well planned.

“You’re trying to figure out if Quinn and I had sex!” I heard him chuckle in the other room and groaned. “I wish you could trust me.”

My mom, who usually flinched when I said
sex
, laughed. “Of course I don’t trust you. My parents never trusted me.”

“Yeah, because they were controlling freaks.
Look, I know why you married dad, and it wasn’t because you loved him.”

“You’re right,” she said quietly. “I did not do the right thing by marrying your father. I see that now. But I got to have you. I’m doing this because I love you
Pepper
.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.”

“I just want what is best for you.” Her flat brown eyes were more expressive than they’d ever been. For a second I thought that she would be understating, love me in that way I’ve always wanted her to. “You could be such a pretty girl if you took off that makeup and those hideous clothes.”

“If I did I wouldn’t be me.” I shook my head, trying not to be let down. She would never be the mom I wanted, and I knew that. But a small part of me always hoped to make her see my point of view. To make her want me no matter what I was. “This is how I express myself. I’m not a slut and I have not had sex with Quinn. I’m a
virgin
.”

“There is no reason for you to be so graphic. I told your father letting you think for
yourself was a terrible idea.”

I smiled sweetly, “I’m sorry I haven’t taken w
ell to being a mindless drone.”

Her face flamed red. “You will not speak in such a disrespectful manner. And since you have shown no interest in your scholastic life, I have taken the liberty of applying to several colleges. You have been accepted to two so far.”

Once again the wall was up. She was back to being a frigid bitch who ignored who I was. Maybe I scared her. She didn’t understand me, and she probably felt threatened.

“I’m going to
fashion
school. I actually got accepted to one in New York.” Which I failed to mention to Quinn, or anyone else, and for good reason, mom would find out. She always did.

“You are not going anywhere near an art school with those liberal children. You will major in an acceptable field and find a suitable husband from a good family.” She pointed back at the kitchen, her hand shaking. “You do not need to be with a boy like that. He probably got that horrible disfiguration from fighting.
Gangs
.
He could be involved in illicit activities.”

“You sure don’t know me. I’d never be with anyone in a gang.” I took a step toward her, trying to be positive, “I’m going to art school, mom. I hope you can accept that someday. And by the way, Quinn comes from a very respectable family.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Who are his parents?”

“I haven’t met them yet.” Her approval wasn’t what I sought, at least not anymore, just her cooperation. She didn’t have to like anything I did, and more importantly, I didn’t have to put up with her once I went away to school.

Why wait till then?

“
Pepper
, don’t you dare walk out that door!”

“I’ll stay if you give me a chance to show you who I am, without judging me.”

“There will be conditions.” She warned.

“And they are?”

“He goes.”
Lightning
crashed outside and the rain returned in full force.

“Quinn?” I whispered. My heart crumbled. “You don’t have the right to choose who I’m with, or to make me choose between you
and Quinn
.”

Her face turned serious, eyes cold, “I don’t like him and I don’t trust him.”

“Too bad.
We’re a package deal, mom.” I opened the door, waiting.

“I cannot accept this. He will leave.”

“Then so will I,” Without a backwards glance, I took off into the rain.

Chapter 14

I ran as fast as I could. She wanted me to be like her. I wanted to be my own person. By staying in that toxic conversation I was afraid I’d say something mean. I didn’t hate her. She was my mom. I loved her. I just didn’t like her ideals or her rules. Running throug
h the rain helped immensely.

It was exhilarating.

My clothes were soaked and my shoes ruined by the time I ran down the hill to the river. I didn’t care. Relief sang through my veins.
Filled my chest.
I’d never felt so energized from being outdoors, running, or
any kind of physical activity.

But I was changing, wasn’t I?
Into a werewolf.
A creature that lived for this.