Claire’s heart sped up. “It’s the full moon.”
“Yes. And I want to prepare you a bit for the gathering. It will be … somewhat different than it usually is.” Her mother pulled an elastic hair band off the granite countertop and stretched it taut between her fingers. “It is time for our pack to expand. Victoria has had”—she cleared her throat—“she has encountered a man. She is pregnant. We find out on Sunday if she will have a New One.” Claire’s mother squeezed her shoulder.
“What do you mean? If she’s pregnant, she’s having a baby, right?” Claire stuck out her lower lip in confusion.
Worried creases appeared at the corners of her mother’s eyes. “Not necessarily. If she is pregnant with a male, the fetus will not be able to withstand the stress of her transformation, and her pregnancy will end.”
“You mean …” Claire let the question trail off.
“If it is a male child, then Victoria will lose the baby. If it is a New One she carries in her womb, then her pregnancy will proceed.” Her mother twisted the hair band between her fingers.
“How long does it take after she changes? If it’s a boy, I mean.”
“It begins immediately.”
Claire’s mouth opened. Jesus. The idea that she might have to watch Victoria lose her baby sent nausea spiraling through her. She tried to cover her shock. “So, what’s different if it’s a girl? How does her body know?”
Her mother shrugged. “We can’t be certain. Our legends say that the Goddess knows and protects Her own Unborn. But it is perhaps hormonal, chemical.”
Claire thought for a moment. “Does everyone—I mean, do we all have to have a baby? Eventually?”
Her mother shook her head. “No. Many of us have a child. But not all. The Goddess has Her own plans for each of us.”
The set of her mother’s mouth and the stiffness in her shoulders said to Claire that the topic was closed for conversation.
“Well, thanks for telling me, I guess. Victoria must be really nervous, huh?”
“I’m sure she is. Well. I’ve got some work to do. Try not to leave an enormous mess in here for Lisbeth, hmm?” She slid off the stool and walked toward the stairs.
Claire leaned against the fridge and sighed. Things just kept getting better and better.
Chapter Eleven
THE NEXT MORNING, Claire found Lisbeth outside by the pool, lying in the sun with an unopened book on the table next to her. When Claire sat down next to her, Lisbeth lifted her sunglasses.
“Hey, what’s up?”
Claire hesitated, hoping that her new system of telling absolutely as much of the truth as she could would work again. “Not much. Well, something, actually. I got invited to this party on Friday night—at Doug Kingman’s house? And I was hoping you could drive me.”
Lisbeth squinted at her. “That name doesn’t sound familiar.”
“He goes to school with me. We didn’t hang out much last year, but …” Claire trailed off.
“But?” Lisbeth raised her eyebrows and grinned. “Oooh—you like him, don’t you?”
Claire couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Lisbeth had just given her the perfect cover.
“Um, yeah,” Claire said, hoping it sounded like a confession. And it wasn’t like she didn’t like Doug, she just didn’t know him all that well.
“Matthew-schmatthew.” Lisbeth giggled. “You got over him in no time, huh?”
Claire shrugged. If she said anything, she might make Lisbeth suspicious.
“So—will you take me to the party?”
“Yeah, I can do that. What time does it start?”
“Seven thirty.” A smile spread across Claire’s face.
“Will it be over before dark?” Lisbeth frowned.
“Well … no, but, Lisbeth, there’ll be a million people there. And we’ll be inside. I’ll be as safe there as I would be here.”
Lisbeth sighed. “Okay. I don’t love it, but as long as you agree to be careful, I guess it’s all right with me.”
“I’ll be careful,” Claire promised. She stood up and half-skipped to the door. As soon as she got up to her room, she grabbed her phone and called Matthew. It went straight to voicemail, and Claire realized that he was probably at soccer practice.
“Hey,” she said, “it’s me. Guess what? I talked Lisbeth into letting me go to Doug’s! She’s dropping me off at seven thirty. Good news, huh? Anyway, I just wanted to call and say I’ll see you there.”
She hung up and headed to the closet, wondering what on earth she was going to wear.