Magic of the Moonlight: A Full Moon Novel Read Free Page A

thought again, this time taking a moment. “Yes, they will.”
    Now I was really worried. It was one thing to be teased, another to be hunted.
    “I can’t do that to you,” I said. “Just to have what I want. It’s not fair to you.”
    “But then it’s not fair to you, either. To have to walk through the halls on the arm of a guy they are calling a werewolf.”
    Brandon was so caring and concerned for my happiness. But, ultimately, I wouldn’t be happy if he was in danger.
    “Then what do we do? Everyone freaked out about Nash in a costume. Abby, Dr. Meadows, the TV station. If they find out there really is a werewolf in town . . . who knows what they will do? I just know it won’t be good.”
    Brandon stared off into the woods. “I’ve caused you enough trouble already,” he said.
    “Caused me trouble? This isn’t about me—it’s about you.”
    “I don’t care about me. I’m more worried about what will happen to you if everyone finds out you’re dating a werewolf. I can’t do that to you.” He leaned against a tree, as if we’d both been defeated. “There’s only one thing to do for now.”
    “Yes?” I asked, hopeful he had a romantic solution. I imagined he’d suggest we run away together or meet again to figure out another plan.
    Instead he appeared sullen again. “It’s best we stay apart,” he said firmly.
    “What?” I asked, stunned. “But I don’t want that.”
    “I want you to continue to hang out with your friends. I want you to continue to do what you’ve been doing. Until I find a cure.”
    “You find a cure? Alone? I’m not going to just forget about you and go back to a normal life like these past few months haven’t even happened.” I took his hand and drew myself to him. “I don’t want us to be apart.” I leaned my head on his chest. He was trying to resist, but he caved in and held me.
    “Then promise me something.” He took my chin and lifted it so I’d see him.
    “What?” I asked. Everyone was asking me for promises I didn’t want to make. They weren’t the promises of love and romance that I was always looking for but promises of not seeing Brandon.
    “That we’ll only see each other in secret. Until I find a cure. This is the only way I know no harm will come to you.”
    I had to do what was best for him. In this case, Brandon was in much more danger of losing his life than I was of losing my friends by not sharing my secret with them.
    “I want to tell them,” I said, tears welling in my eyes. “I want us to be normal. I want us to be together.”
    “But I am not normal . . .” he began, softly tucking my hair behind my ears. “Not now, anyway. And when I am cured, it will be safe for you. But only when that happens.”
    “Nash will think he won,” I said, tormented.
    “This isn’t about Nash. It is about you.”
    Brandon was asking me to wait. “If it’s for my own good,” I asked, “then why does it hurt so much?”
    He continued to caress my hair, trying to comfort me. But to me, it wasn’t about what I’d be going through. I could bear the thought of being teased, but I couldn’t bear putting Brandon’s safety at risk.
    “No one will know,” I said, finally resigned.
    He took my hands and placed them to his lips.
    “You’ll have to find a cure before the next full moon,” I said, melting underneath his romantic spell. “I really want to tell the world I’m dating you. But for now you’ll be my best-kept secret.”
    He leaned in and gave me a juicy kiss.
    I continued to hug Brandon and noticed the suds had dripped down the side of his Jeep, erasing the word WOLFMAN .
    It pained me to no end to see the struggle that Brandon’s condition presented to him. If only everyone in town could see how gorgeous and magnetic he was when he transformed, and that he should be admired, not feared. But change was scary in this town, and outsiders were even more so. A werewolf was a werewolf, and it would be hard to convince anyone