Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne (best biographies to read .txt) 📕

You still think human thoughts; they just tend to have a slightly savage edge to them. In human form, if I were attacked, I’d think about beating the guy up. In wolf form, I’d probably think about killing him. It’s all about survival when we’re in animal form.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling self-conscious about the thought of sleeping in Connor’s arms, which was silly because I’d slept in his arms before. “I never talked about this with my parents.”

“Me, either.” He patted the quilts. “Come on. You look like you’re about to drop dead.”

I stretched out on the padding and he lay down beside me, letting me use his shoulder as a pillow.

“I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin,” I told him.

“It’s just your body preparing for the transformation.”

“Does it feel this…sensitive all the time?”

“Yeah, but you get used to it.”

I couldn’t imagine, but I trusted Connor.

“Will you wake me at sunset?” I asked. “I want some time to prepare.”

“Yeah.”

My eyelids grew heavy and my muscles began to relax into that never-want-to-move-again phase that comes just before sleep. Drowsily, I asked, “Connor, should I be afraid?”

His arms tightened around me. “No, Lindsey.”

I drifted off to sleep and dreamed that when I awoke, I was a beautiful wolf.

Connor kept his promise and woke me shortly after the sun had set. The next time it rose, I would be changed. Anticipation thrummed through me as I ate the simple meal of rations that were supposedly also served on space shuttles. We packed our lairs as though we were survivalists, including food items with far-off expiration dates. Who knew when we’d need them or how long we’d have to hide out?

Connor had set a flashlight between us, its light pointing upward, and draped a gauzy blue scarf over it. I didn’t know where he got the scarf but it muted the light, giving it a little bit of a romantic glow.

“I know blue is your favorite color,” he said.

It was. He knew everything about me.

“Maybe we’ll go out to a fancy restaurant later this week, to finally celebrate your birthday,” he said.

I thought back to Rafe offering to take me out to dinner, but then I pushed the memory back down where it belonged.

“Remember when our moms made us take those etiquette lessons?”

He grinned. “Yeah.”

I’d been twelve at the time; he’d been fourteen. They’d thought we needed to know which forks to eat with if we went to a fancy dinner at someone’s house.

“And you kept burping,” I reminded him.

“Hey! It wasn’t just me. You were the one who suggested we burp ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’”

I laughed, remembering how we’d both gotten into trouble for not taking the lesson seriously.

“I mean, really, why does a formal dinner need so much silverware?” I asked.

“Beats me. I’m pretty much living on pizza at college, so what does it matter?”

“I miss you when you’re at school,” I said.

“I miss you, too. One more year.”

“I might graduate early, maybe December.”

“Really? That’d be great.”

I nodded. “Yeah, it would be.” And I was just babbling about nothing now, trying to get my stomach to relax.

Connor picked up our trash. “I’m going outside. Just meet me there when you’re ready.”

I watched as he grabbed the black robe. When he was gone, I sat with my legs crossed and did some deep breathing exercises. I flexed my muscles, did some stretching, and listened as my joints popped. Then I rose to my feet and began to prepare myself.

I fought not to think about Rafe, to wonder what he might be doing tonight.

Connor was my destiny.

I unbraided my hair and brushed it until it shone to a white gloss, like taffy I’d once seen beaten to a shine. I left it loose and fought not to think about Rafe asking me to do just that. I smoothed some shimmery body lotion over my arms and legs, thinking it would both settle me in my human skin and help my body stretch.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. All I wore was a white velvet robe. In some ways I looked older; in some ways I looked the same. The same would be true of me when I shifted.

I turned from the mirror and walked to the entrance of the cavern, slipped out from beneath the curtain of water, and circled the still pool that would soon reflect the rising moon.

Connor stood there, waiting for me, his dark-blond hair brushed back, his sapphire-blue eyes calm. He wore a black robe. He held out his hand to me, and I placed my palm against his. His fingers, so sure and steady, closed around mine.

“Nervous, Lindsey?” he asked.

“Yeah, a little.” I released a self-conscious puff of breath. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.”

“Me, too.”

“But you’ve already transformed.”

“Not with you.”

Leaning in, he brushed his lips over mine. My heart stuttered, and I fought not to think about Rafe. Connor is my friend. I care about him….

“We should go,” I said, before my thoughts traveled down a path that would lead to disaster.

Holding my hand, he led me to the middle of the clearing. I could see the full moon: so large, so bright, so yellow. My transformation wouldn’t begin until it reached its zenith.

Connor and I faced each other, waiting for the moment. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

Then I heard the growl—low, deep, and challenging.

Connor and I both turned our attention to the forest. Near the trees, a lone black wolf snarled. I would have recognized those chocolate-brown eyes anywhere.

“Don’t do this, Rafe,” Connor commanded sternly.

The wolf crouched and bared his teeth. A dare. A challenge.

Connor looked back at me. “Which one of us do you want to win?”

He hesitated only a heartbeat before he threw off his robe and ran toward the wolf. Then Connor leaped up and, in the blink of an eye, transformed into a golden wolf. The black wolf lunged at him. They collided in