“So—I can do this to stay warm, too?”
“Sure. You can keep either heat or cold beneath your skin, but only as a werewolf . In your human form, you’ve gotta listen to the weatherman, just like anyone else. You’ll get hot and cold like the rest of the humans.”
Claire nodded, grateful. “Thank you so much for teaching me that. It’s just—it’s nice to have these extra things, you know? It kind of helps make up for everything else.”
Zahlia wrapped her arms around her legs and stared at Claire. “Being a werewolf isn’t a curse, Claire. It’s hard, but it’s got more benefits than drawbacks, I promise. Wait until the first time you get to hunt with the whole pack. It’s amazing—like you’re everywhere at once, and totally unstoppable. Humans don’t get to feel that. The Goddess has given only us that honor.”
Claire rubbed a hand across her forehead. “Yeah, okay.” She wasn’t really convinced about the whole honor-of-the-hunt thing yet—she’d still trade it in if she could be normal again. She took a deep breath. “So, what else can we do?”
“Oh, lots of stuff, as long as you’re in your true form. Fire will do your bidding. Some of us can open locks with our thoughts. Things like that.”
Claire’s mouth fell open. Well, that’s a hell of a lot better than just being able to hunt in the off-season. “When can I learn them?”
“Soon enough.” Zahlia stood up and brushed the dirt off her pants. “I’ve gotta go if I’m going to able to drag my butt out of bed tomorrow morning.”
“Oh—sorry. I used up all your thinking time, huh?”
Zahlia smiled at her. “Are you kidding? I’m happy I could help. I just wish I could stay longer, show you some more stuff. Really, Claire, the sooner you master all of this, the faster you’ll realize that your old life is nothing to mourn, that being human is boring.”
“Maybe.” Claire shrugged. Most of the humans she knew had lives that seemed a hell of a lot simpler than hers did. There was something to be said for that.
Zahlia laughed. “Give it a little time, New One. If you want, we can meet again next week, work on some things.”
“That would be really great, actually. I’d like that.”
“Good. You’ll have an easier time getting home if you stay in your true form. The scent trail will be easier to follow.” Zahlia jumped over the log where she’d been sitting and strode to the edge of the clearing. “See you next week.”
“Yeah,” said Claire, heading for the faint path that had brought her through the woods. “Thanks.”
Only a few yards into the forest, Claire started to get tired. With each tree she passed her fatigue grew, like she’d finished the hardest workout of her life and the adrenaline rush had finally faded. The sight of her practice spot sent a wave of relief through her, and she nearly lay down and slept on the spot.
Instead, Claire forced herself to transform. She crept back across the lawn and into the house, took the quickest shower in history, and fell into bed with her hair still wet.
The relentless clanging of pots and pans forced its way into her dream, waking Claire. She lay blinking at the clock on her bedside table. It was only eleven thirty, for crying out loud. Did Lisbeth really have to make that much noise in the kitchen?
Still half-asleep, Claire stumbled into the bathroom and stared at the mass of snarled hair framing her face. That’s what she got for not drying it before bed.
While she picked through the mess of tangles, Claire called Emily.
“Hey,” Emily answered, her voice glum.
“Hey, yourself. How’d things go with your parents last night?”
“Ugh. I mean, ugh. They weren’t listening at all. And my mom wants to go shopping with me later—”
“Well, that might be good, right? Some time to talk?” Claire interrupted.
“You didn’t let me finish. She’s taking me shopping for luggage. Luggage! Like I’m going on some sort of old-lady cruise or something.”
Claire winced. “Oh. Ouch. Maybe you won’t find anything you like?”
“Ha. I don’t think that’s going to stop them, but nice try. How about you? Did you do anything fun yesterday?”
“Actually, yeah, Matthew and I went to The Juice Junction.”
“You did ? That’s awesome. How was it? What did you talk about? Did he kiss you?”
“Um, you know … we just talked about random stuff.”
Stuff I can’t really tell you about, that’s all. Emily would kill to hear the specifics of the conversation, but Claire had promised Matthew she wouldn’t say anything. And she’d meant it.
“Fine, you talked,” Emily teased impatiently. “But what about the kissing? C’mon, you know I’m living vicariously through your love life right now.”
“Yeah, we kissed,” Claire said, tingling with the memory of it. “And yeah, it was amazing. But that’s all I’m saying.”