How to Date a Werewolf Page 22

  They really couldn’t believe I’d do such a thing, could they?

  “She has a mental illness and we need to help her. She’s very sick,” Jack said with pity in his voice.

  Oh. My. God. I could not believe what I’d just heard. My emotions swirled inside me like an enraged storm. I didn’t know whether to burst in and tell them both off, or never speak to either of them again. I guess I could understand why Jack might think something was wrong with me, but Jennifer should believe me. We were best friends, for heaven’s sake.

  “I should have seen the signs. I mean, they were everywhere. I believed her for twelve years. I know it was naive of me. But I was young. Why didn’t I see the trouble she was in?”

  “There was no way for you to see the symptoms of her illness. I mean, at first, I thought something was wrong, but I shrugged it off. I was suspicious. But I thought maybe she was just wrapped up with some weird friends. Then, when I saw the papers on her desk about werewolf customers, how she was a werewolf and could help them? It was disheartening, to say the least. And she made up a story about how it was her code.” Jack’s voice sounded so official. I guess this was “official” business for him.

  “Yeah, she made up two separate brochures. One for her human customers and one for her so-called supernatural ones. So what can we do to help her?” Jennifer asked.

  “I think Rylie suffers from clinical lycanthropy. Have you heard of it?”

  “No,” she said.

  “Basically it’s a mental disorder where the person believes he or she is a werewolf. As simple as that.”

  “Oh. I had no idea there was such a thing.”

  “Yes, there’s such a thing. Rylie is experiencing delusions and hallucinations. The lycanthropy could be caused by schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression, I just don’t know at this point.”

  This was getting serious. My head swirled and rage coursed through my veins. I shook my head to try to clear the thoughts overtaking my mind.

  “Is there some sort of treatment? What can we do?” Jennifer asked.

  That traitor. Some friend she turned out to be. The nuthouse probably had a room reserved with my name on it.

  “Sure, there are medications that can be prescribed. She needs to see a doctor. It would be great if we could speak to her parents about this.”

  “Oh, this is so incredibly sad, but you’re right. I think maybe she needs your help on a professional level,” Jennifer squeaked. I couldn’t tell by her voice if she was crying or not.

  “I think she is hiding something else from me too. Probably a lot of somethings. All the weird stuff happening to her and around her. I really had feelings for her, but I’m not sure how far our relationship can go with her being so secretive.”

  “And the biggest problem, of course, the far-fetched werewolf thing,” Jennifer added.

  Far-fetched, huh? I’d show her.

  “It’s not far-fetched in her mind,” Jack said.

  “Thank goodness you came along when you did. Maybe it was fate. She could be hurt going around town thinking she’s a werewolf.”

  Fate, my ass.

  “What do you think about the customers she claims are supernatural?” Jennifer chirped.

  “All just part of the delusions. There are no such things as vampires and witches or other strange creatures. I should have never taken her on that ghost tour. It probably just added fuel to the fire.”

  He thought he knew so much about me. He knew nothing.

  “What you did took a lot of courage,” Jennifer continued.

  Oh please, they were making me sick.

  “We’ll help her, don’t worry. I’m glad you came to me and were open enough to consult me.”

  So that’s why they were so talkative with each other. All along they were plotting to take me away to the funny farm. The guys with the butterfly nets would be here soon. Never before had I felt more betrayed. After all those years of friendship, she believed someone we’d only known for a week. I wasn’t sure what to do next.

  With the added agitation from what I’d heard, and the fact I was growing hair quickly, my mind felt bogged down. My fingers tingled and I could no longer control what happened to my body. Nature took over, and I sure as heck didn’t want them to see me as a freak. I climbed down the first two steps, trying to ease my way downstairs, but I missed the next stair. In a split second, I stumbled and there was no way I could catch myself. I swiped my hand for the railing, but missed and fell face first down the stairs, bouncing off each side like a pinball in a machine. While I lay there flat on my back, I sensed movement at the door to my apartment. Jennifer and Jack had heard my tumble and were coming to investigate.

  My back throbbed and my butt hurt as I scrambled up from the hardwood floor. The door to my apartment opened wide and I made a leap for my office. Damn, I wished I hadn’t locked the door. I fumbled with my keychain and found the correct key to open the lock. As I thrust it in the deadbolt and gave it a twist, I turned my back to the stairs. From that angle, I knew they couldn’t see my hideous appearance: my shining eyes, fanged teeth and hairy hands. My heart hammered in my chest at the thought of being caught. Although, if captured, at least they’d believe I wasn’t some crazy wacko.

  “Rylie,” Jack yelled, “stop, it’s me, Jack.” I felt as if he might throw a net over me at any second. Maybe he had one of those tranquilizer guns.

  As I scurried through the door, I didn’t answer. The alarm beeped, waiting to be switched off. With the high-pitched noise shrieking in my ear, I wondered why I’d had the stupid thing installed in the first place. I didn’t have anything of value in the place, anyway.

  “Wait, Rylie.” I heard Jennifer run along with Jack down the stairs.

  I slammed the door shut behind me and flipped the lock. Jack feverishly rattled the knob.

  “Rylie, please let us in. We need to talk to you. Just open the door and everything will be fine.” Fine schmine. “We can work this out. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Easy for him to say. No one thought he was nuts.

  If I pretended not to be there, they would go away. No, they saw me, I was sure of that. That’s why they’d chased me in the first place. Within a split second, before I could get to the alarm control panel and punch in the code, the loud siren began to wail. The sound echoed and bounced off every wall in the place. There was no way to hide the fact I was in the office now. More attention drawn to me, just what I needed. And unless I switched the alarm off in a jiffy, the police would be there soon. Of course, if I’d really needed the cops, it would take them forever, but in this instance no doubt they’d be there in a minute flat.

  I tripped as I ran to the control panel. With my mind still fogged by the chaos, I couldn’t think of the code. The numbers vanished from my mind faster than a plane flying through the Bermuda triangle. It was hard with my hands changing, but I randomly punched in numbers. Two--five--three. Four--six--nine. Finally after several attempts, I got it right. The entire time Jack jiggled the knob, trying to get me to open it for him. Fat chance on that.

  My mind whirled and I was almost fully a werewolf. Jack and Jennifer were both at the door trying to persuade me to come out and talk to them. Since they didn’t believe my supernatural tales, there was no way they would go away. Jennifer would stay to help Jack until I finally decided to come out and let them carry me away to the padded palace. As long as I could fight them, it wouldn’t happen. I ran over to the corner of my office, beside the back window. I prayed the two nuts in the foyer wouldn’t do anything crazy like knock the door down, since I already knew it was quite possible to do. I didn’t put anything past those two. They ganged up on me something fierce, and they thought I was the crazy one.

  I shimmied out of my skirt and peeled the blouse off my hairy chest. Sick, I know, but it doesn’t happen often, so what could I do? I couldn’t do an entire body wax every time it happened. I just had to let it ride. I couldn’t begin to imagine the pai
n involved with wax on nipples. Ouch. I stripped off my underwear--they matched, thanks to Jennifer. I pulled out the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet and stuffed my pile of clothes securely inside. The moon wasn’t even out yet and I had taken on my full werewolf form. The stress from Jack and Jennifer banging on the door like mad helped push me over the edge to a complete she-wolf. More talking wafted in through the cracks in the door. Others had joined the two know-it-alls.

  “Rylie, the police are here and need to know if you are all right in there. Please let us in so we know you’re doing okay. No one is going to hurt you, I promise. Remember, we’re only here to help.” Jack spoke in his official doctor-like voice again. Because of that, I felt like a two-year-old who had locked herself in the bathroom. The way he addressed me was absurd, an insult, really. The best thing I could do, I figured, would be to ignore Jack.

  “Rylie, it’s Jen. Can you let us in? We’re not here to hurt you.”

  Oh, for heaven’s sake. It sounded as if there was a standoff going on. Next thing, they’d have a negotiator call me on the phone.

  “Ma’am, this is Detective Peters.”

  Oh no, Detective Smooch-a-lot was on the scene. No doubt Jennifer had called him. Whispering came from the hall, which sounded like Jack’s voice. I guess he explained to everyone about how loopy he thought I was. Probably using some of his fancy words to define my terrible disorder. I could picture them huddled around planning my fate--deciding which mental institution to stick me in. Well, sorry for them, but I wasn’t going down like that. The knob on the door rattled and shook again.

  “Rylie, we’ll have to break the door down if you don’t respond. We need to know you’re all right.”

  Great. Another broken door. What had I done to deserve all of this? My life had been so normal before, and now there wasn’t a single normal part about it. Well, werewolf normal. One thing for certain, I needed to get out of there, because I didn’t doubt them one bit. They’d knock the door down in a heartbeat. With the full moon soon to be exposed, I knew it would be a wild and, in my opinion, horrendous night out there. I never liked being a part of the mad world this night brought. That’s why I’d always stayed barricaded in my house. Only coming out for a natural disaster was my policy.

  Dusk surrounded me and there was still enough light to see clearly. I didn’t want anyone to see a werewolf roaming the streets of the French Quarter. Most of the time werewolves didn’t come out until dark to keep a low profile. Werewolves end up in the pound by going out in the daylight. Someone had to adopt them just to get them out--kind of like bailing them out of jail.

  I couldn’t just get in my car and drive away, either. What would people think when they saw a wolf driving a car? I’d have to hide out until darkness fell, but where, I had no idea. But even after that, I still didn’t delight in the idea of roaming the streets all night.

  When the next day spilled over the horizon, I’d be out of my werewolf form and then I’d attempt to think of something--anything to straighten out the mess waiting outside my office door. At the moment, I decided on the only choice I had left: sneak out the window and hide until I could slip away unnoticed. I prayed they wouldn’t snoop around for me and discover a wolf instead. The sounds of even more people carried from the hallway, and I heard them discussing busting down the door. It was time for me to move on. I padded my way back over to the window, unlocked it and gave it a big shove up with my paws. Not an easy feat, trust me. I didn’t have full-on paws, but my hands didn’t work the same. Having werewolf fingers was a bitch.

  Grunting as I climbed onto the ledge, I eased my leg over the edge of the windowsill. I crouched my torso under the window and slipped the other leg over. With my head poked out, a noise sounded from my left side. I glanced up in the direction where it seemed to be coming from. Creepy Neighbor was making out with someone on his balcony. How disgusting and vile. If it hadn’t been for drawing attention to my hairy self, I’d have yelled, Get a room. Immature of me? Probably. But someone needed to tell the guy to stop his public make-out session. The guy gave me the heebity-jeebities, there was no denying that. Lucky for me, my office was on the first floor, so a jump from the window would be an easy one, especially as a wolf.

  Chapter 19

  How to Date a Werewolf Rule # 19:

  Let your date know you think growling is sexy.

  Once I’d landed with my paws securely on the ground, I hopped up in one swift motion and looked around. I didn’t want anyone to see me. When all four feet hit the pavement, and the evening air surrounded me, my skin began to itch even more. I glanced down at my arm and watched as dark hair spread over my once smooth skin. I winced as I ran my tongue across my teeth, and felt the sharp fangs filling my mouth. If only I could put it off and not transform. My bones cracked loudly. Claws erupted from the tips of my fingers. I brushed loose gravel off my fur.

  With my senses heightened, I glanced over my shoulder and shook my tail. Yep, it was back, as fluffy and bushy as ever. It would take me forever to clean the grime off my body after a night of prowling the streets. Instead of enjoying a relaxing spa visit, I’d need a flea dip down at the local dog groomers. It was still about an hour until dark and I had time to kill. The fur covering my body grew hot and all the more tingly. I was more than a little crabby. Who wouldn’t be cranky while wearing fur in this kind of heat?

  I slithered over to a line of large trash cans and planted my butt behind them. What I was going to do for the next hour was beyond me. I guess twiddling my paws could be an option. Too bad I didn’t have a book to read or something. A newspaper, perhaps. What I wouldn’t do for an issue of US Weekly. Heck, I’d even welcome an Enquirer. Bet you’ve never seen a wolf reading a book before. It’s quite a funny sight, let me tell you.

  I devised a plan: when the sun faded over the horizon, I’d scramble out and attempt to find a pay phone to call my parents. Where I’d find one, though, I had no idea, because they were scarce nowadays. Everyone carried a cellphone. Mine rested inside my office, where the police, Jack and Jennifer now looked for me. They were probably going through my purse at that very moment, checking out my razor and shaving cream, without a doubt. That should tell them something. Why else would I carry a razor?

  I sat behind the cans for what seemed like an eternity. Creepy Neighbor and whoever was stupid enough to be up there with him were moaning. It literally hurt my ears to hear the sound. I peeked my head over the top of the trash can and caught my breath at the sight: Jack emerging through the window. His arms ripped with muscle, flexed as he hoisted his body out. Even though I was angry with him, I still couldn’t ignore his good looks. The rest of the lynch mob went the long way around, out the door and through the building. All of them called my name. It echoed off the surrounding buildings. It sounded as if they searched for a lost dog. I ducked back behind the can and held my breath, waiting for them to vamoose. I covered my mouth with my paw and hoped they wouldn’t hear or spot me. If they did, I’d probably be sitting in the dog pound within no time. Imagine the pound workers shock in the morning when they found a naked woman in one of their cages instead of a huge, wolflike dog. How would I explain something as wild as that?

  Jack roamed around the back courtyard, scanning the area before coming to a rest, standing right in front of the trash cans. He was so close his steady breathing tickled my ears and I sniffed his heavenly aroma too. I sure didn’t want him to find me. He scanned the area looking for any sign of me.

  My heart thumped with anticipation. My breathing was so loud, thanks to my muzzle, I was sure he would hear. All grew quiet. Did he sense something? Jack hoisted the trash can away and there I sat, visible to the entire world. But it wasn’t the entire world I was worried about. Jack was the one I cared about. Jennifer stood beside him at that point, and their eyes widened at the sight of a wolf.

  “Oh my God. It’s that dog again,” Jack yelled.

  “Call animal control!” Jennifer shrieked as she ran along the side
of the building away from me. Jack backed away and looked around on the ground, I assumed for a weapon to defend himself from the ferocious dog.

  With all my might, I tossed the trash can to the side and ran over to the fence. With one huge leap, I scaled the sucker as they all watched in shock. Never had I wanted to get away from a scene so badly. It felt as if it was a witch hunt and I was in a run for my life. The only things missing were pitchforks and torches. I moved so quickly, darting through the alley, I doubted anyone could see me. To be safe, I needed to stick with the alleyways until complete darkness. The sun had set and it wouldn’t be long now.

  After several minutes of running as fast as my legs would allow, I gasped for breath, needing a rest. A few blocks from my place, I sat down behind another cluster of trash cans. The smell emanating from them was rancid. I was filthy and itchy and pretty sure I’d picked up fleas already. How did those little pests latch on so quickly, anyway? My stomach growled. I hadn’t had dinner and turning into a werewolf always made me ravenous. If only I could run through the McDonald’s drive thru. What I wouldn’t give for a hamburger right then--fries and a chocolate shake too.

  With visions of steak floating through my head, I somehow missed the fact someone approached me.

  “Ouch.” I let out a screech and hit my leg on the trash can when I jumped. “You scared the hell out of me. Who are you?” I clutched at my chest.

  You’d think I would have been on high guard and jumpy after recent events. But I guess I was too hungry at that point. I couldn’t think straight.

  “Hiya,” the tiny voice said.

  Leaning back, I held out my front paws in case I needed to prepare for a fight. A hairy oversized werewolf sat perched beside me, joining me behind the row of trash cans. She wore pink Capri pants and a matching short-sleeved top. The outfit was cute, minus the hair sticking out from her body. My clothes were always ruined when I wore them as a werewolf. This chick also wore these darling diamond hoops in her ears. I’d been longing for a pair like them for quite some time. Why she was in the alley with me, I had no idea.