Hunter Moon: A Grazi Kelly Novel #2 (12 page)

“I’m going to case the room.” Ronan looked
towards the other Wolves and walked away from me. I watched him
leave and turned back to my cousin. She took another swig of the
spiked punch and pointedly ignored me
. Whatever.

Okay, so this was my first party and I was
not enjoying myself. Without Ronan to keep me grounded, the noise
level and reckless behavior of the crowd started making me tense. I
have never liked large groups of people. Now was no different.

Especially when said people were showing
questionable judgment. I watched some of Julianna’s clones shake
themselves all over some shady looking guys. They rubbed themselves
all over these guys like cats in heat.

It was gross. Julianna was not an active
participant yet, and I was glad. But I knew it would be short
lived. The throbbing crowd was swaying and laughing and moving as
if they were all part of one larger being.
The mad mob.
My
Wolf was already on high alert. Danger could come from anywhere in
a place like this.

Sweat, perfume and alcohol infused fruit
punch invaded my nostrils and made me want to gag. The flashing
lights seemed to take on a new level of intensity and the bass of
the never ending techno beat pounded in my brain. I took a few
calming breaths to stop my senses from overloading.

I focused on my own scent and the beating of
my heart. Then I took another long drink from my bottle of purified
water and my breathing was normal again.

I opened my eyes and saw Sebastian enter the
party. I smiled. Now maybe I could relax a bit. He was dressed as
some kind of zombie soccer player as were his buddies, Tyler and
Mike. He came right towards me. A wide slightly crooked smile on
his perfect face.

“Hey there, baby!” His smile turned to a
smirk and he bent towards me. His mouth was open and his tongue
protruded from it as he tried a full on kiss.

I turned my head last minute and he caught
the corner of my mouth instead. To say I was surprised is an
understatement.
What the heck is going on?

“Sebastian? What’s the matter?”

“Wow! You look hot. You dress that way for
me?” He pulled on my sleeves and the hem of my too short shorts.
Julianna and her clones came over and she fingered the fabric of my
shorts too. I was too stunned to move.

“Yeah, my little cousin turned up some slut
huh?” Julianna laughed drunkenly and spilled the contents of her
drink on the front of her glitzy bra/top.

“Come over here with me, little shawty.” Some
guy dressed in an oversized t-shirt and drooping jeans came and
took her by the hand. He led her away to the dance floor. His
blonde hair clashed with his wannabe rapper attire and I didn’t get
what he was doing at a cosplay party till I saw the fake whip and
handcuffs dangling from his belt. He must be a gamer too.

Julianna did not seem to mind at all. That
was weird. She didn’t like rap and made fun of the kids in school
who dressed like that. She preferred clean cut boys.
Like
Sebby
. I felt a slight pang of guilt. I watched her walk away
with the stranger and admittedly let down my guard. It was stupid
of me.

“Hey Sebby. Grazi’s looking hot.” Mike
grabbed my arm and looked me up and down. It was weird because I
didn’t think he even knew my name. I shrugged out of his hold and
took a step back.

“Yeah man, damn I can almost feel those tight
abs. Hey there baby girl, can I touch them?” Tyler leaned over
Sebby and grabbed at my waist. I took another step, but Sebby was
right behind me, pulling me tight to him.

“Yeah, Sebby can we touch your girl?” Mike
started to lean in too and I realized I was being herded back into
a corner by the three of them. Sebastian just ducked his head and
blew in my ear.

I was seriously getting uncomfortable. I
slapped his friends’ hands away as one of them reached out to touch
me again. Sebby just laughed and pulled me closer into him. His
grip was tight and his voice menacing as he spoke.

“You don’t mind do you, baby? Sharing is
caring. Ha ha ha.” I turned my head in disbelief. Then I noticed
his eyes.

His usually warm chocolate brown eyes were
cold and glazed over. There was something off in their color too.
They looked a little bit purplish. Maybe it was from the lights and
the fog machine? Or maybe it was drugs or alcohol. I smelled
neither.

I struggled out of his hold, but he seemed to
have developed another pair of hands. I got a good whiff of his
breath when I turned to get out of his arms yet again. Tyler and
Mike were laughing and their eyes took on a purple glow as
well.

I sniffed closer to Sebby’s open mouth and
picked up the too sweet, nauseating fragrance of grape cough syrup.
Witches.
I growled deep in my throat and felt four pairs of
eyes turn and focus on me. Ronan was at my side in an instant and
the Macconwood Wolves followed.

“Hey Grazi, what’s this? You two timing me?”
I could smell the anger and jealousy coming off Sebby. He shoved me
hard and I hit the wall.

Had I been prepared I doubt he could’ve moved
me, but I was completely caught off guard. Ronan grabbed Sebby by
his zombified soccer jersey and threw him to the hard floor.
Sebastian paid him no mind. His maniacal gaze focused in me. He
lifted himself off the floor with little effort. His face was
twisted in an angry snarl.

“You little slut! You’ve been seeing him
haven’t you? Answer me Grazi!”

“Sebby stop!”I raised my hands to ward off
his progress. He was leaning to the side. Blood dripped from his
lip where his face hit the floor, but he didn’t even seem to
notice.

“Maria, get back.” It was Ronan. His Wolf
shone from his eyes. He’d kill Sebby in that state. I had to stop
him.

“Ronan it’s ok.”

“Grazi, you owe me! I risked my whole
reputation to take you to that dance. My dad thought I was nuts! He
wanted me to take a cheerleader, but I chose you. Do you know how
lucky you are? You owe me!” Sebby grabbed me and tucked his hand
into the waistband of my shorts. I pulled at him, but he held on,
unnaturally strong.

Ronan’s growl was loud and I knew others
could hear it. Not just those of us with supernatural hearing.
Before he could attack a pair of giant arms wrapped around him and
held him back. It was Rafe Maccon.

“Boys, let’s get zombie Beckham outside. I’ll
take our little brother here.” Rafe was having a hard time keeping
Ronan in check. He tightened his grip. He knew better than to let
up on him.
Thank God
.

“Okay little one, just step out the back with
us and we’ll see to your buddy here.” It was Randall. He had just
grabbed Sebby’s arms in a full nelson and was restraining him.

“Hey, what are you guys doing with Sebby?”
Mike and Tyler seemed totally unaffected now and watched anxiously
as the huge men dragged Sebby and Ronan outside.

“It’s alright, you guys. Um, he’s just not
feeling well.”

“Oh, uh, are you sure?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine.” I turned them away and
went outside. Randall had Sebby on the ground. I watched as he
leaned forward. His face was serious behind all that hair and
beard. He narrowed his eyes and sniffed. A growl escaped his
lips.

“You smell that?
Witches
.” The large
Macconwood Wolf and, in his spare time, game developer shifted his
hold on Sebby to address us. It was hard for me to reconcile his
two personas. But I guess if he could do it, I certainly shouldn’t
have a problem. I mean I was a high school student
and
a
Werewolf, right?

Before my thoughts ran away with me I looked
towards Rafe. He had released Ronan by then. But he kept his gaze
fixed on him.

Ronan stood apart from the rest of us. His
eyes were closed and his shoulders relaxed. He was doing breathing
exercises.

Okay, cool.
I was impressed with his
self-control. Ronan seemed fine for the time being. Besides I was
more worried about Sebby. He was laughing and throwing his head
back.

His eyes were totally purple now and they
looked around wildly at us. Obscenities shot out of his mouth.
Things that the Sebastian I knew would never say.

“Why is he acting this way?” My heart was
hurting for him. For my friend. I realized that was how I thought
of him.
A friend.

“He’s been cursed.” Rafe answered. His large
hands rested on his jean clad hips.

“How do we fix it?” My anxiety was loud and
clear to everyone present.
Dear God, did I do this to him? Did
knowing me get him hurt?

“Yeah, don’t we kill him?” Ronan seemed a
little too pleased with the suggestion and I narrowed my eyes at
him.
So much for self-control.

“Not so fast there, little Hound. Jeez, you
think you Catholics would be a little more forgiving.”

“Call
her
.” It was Randall, he was
glaring at the other Wolf among them.

“Way ahead of you, boss.” The one named Seff
had a cell in his hand and was speaking into it in another
language. One I didn’t recognize. He had a smile on his face and
seemed to enjoy the conversation.

“She’s on her way.”

“Guess she forgives you.”

“Yup. They always do, my man.” Randall
grunted at Seff’s self-assuredness and continued to hold Sebby
down. He was struggling to get up.

“You’re not going to hurt him are you?”

“Nah, let’s go into this office building
where no one can see us.”

We ducked inside the next building.
Interestingly Rafe had what looked like one of those black remote
thingies for a car and used it to open the electronic locks.

A woman dressed in a long white coat followed
us inside. I was startled and I wasn’t the only one.

“Jesus, woman!” mock irritation from Randall
as he smirked and nodded a more formal greeting.
How did she
sneak up on us?

She threw back her hood and I recognized her
immediately.
Sherry
. The woman who owned the salon that
Angela took me too before the SHPS Harvest Dance. She seemed
agitated and tonight I could see something shimmery surrounding
her. It was a faint green sort of glow. I recognized it somehow as
non-threatening and
very
powerful.

“Where is he? Those black Witches give
everybody a bloody bad name! Hello darling, nice to see you again!
You’ll come back for a trim soon, yes?” She spoke rapidly and with
the same faint accent I remembered. She glared at Seff who ducked
his head and rubbed his nape. I was picking up on some serious
sexual frustration there.
Ew,TMI!

“You brought a Witch here!” Ronan’s outrage
was loud as a neon sign. I tried calming him with a look, but he
wouldn’t stop.

“Witches deal in blood and contracts. They
are evil!”

“No, little Hound. Dark Witches do all that.
I’m a
white Witch
. I deal in herbs and Mother Nature. The
weather those dark Witches have caused harms all of us and we who
follow the white are sworn to protect the earth at all costs.”

“I’ll not stand for this here. I’m calling
our Alpha.”

“Wait. Please Ronan.” He looked at me and I
could feel his indecision.

“If she can help, please let’s let her.” He
dropped his hand. Defeated by my plea. If only I could make him
understand. I just couldn’t let Sebby get hurt.

“I am on your side, little Hound. Whether
your Alpha recognizes us or not is inconsequential. This boy has
been hit with a nasty hex. Do you want my help or not?”

“Yes.” I spoke up and earned an angry glance
from Ronan. Too bad. I wouldn’t let Sebby suffer because of me.
Dark Witches harmed him because of me
. The thought made me
sick to my stomach.

“Hmm, whoever did this was very professional
too. Not some meddler. Looks like the work of the Scarred Sisters
coven to me.”

“But there are only
evil
Witches? Why
are we letting her live?” Ronan’s vibes were all confused and
anxious. They were getting to me, but I knew Sherry. I
liked
her. I closely watched as she mixed what looked like herbs and
water into a small vial and shook it.

There was a small spark and I could feel the
hum of magic in the air. It was different from the magic I felt
when I communicated with my Wolf. This was very old and powerful.
No one else mentioned it so I wasn’t sure if they felt it or
not.

“Are things ever so black and white? Is there
really only one way to live? To think? To see? To believe? You know
nothing about life yet, little hound. But hopefully you will be
granted long life. Like most Werewolves have been blessed with.
Perhaps then you will live to change your mind. Here now, help me
sit him up. He must drink this quickly before the poison settles in
him.” Seff sat Sebastian up and Sherry poured the vial of brownish
liquid down his throat. He seized for a second, gasped and slumped
down into Seff’s arms.

“There now. He needs rest and water to filter
out the negativity. The hex was a strong one, but not intended to
kill him. It magnified his natural urges, fears, insecurities and
of course, his rage and anger. Teenagers have those in abundance
I’m afraid. So, water, got it? Lots of it. Distilled is best. When
he wakes up tell him he drank too much and needs to stay
hydrated.”

“But he doesn’t drink. He’s an athlete.” My
voice was low. I just couldn’t believe it.
I did this. I put him
in danger.

“Yes, well, then tell him someone slipped
something in his Gatorade.”

“Here, Sherry. For your trouble.” Seff took
out a wad of bills and held them out to her. Not quite meeting her
eyes.

“Seff McAllister you take that money and
shove it where no sun shines!” She stormed out without another
word. I ran outside to talk to her, but she was gone without a
trace. Just like that.
Hmm. White Witch?
Why didn’t Uncle
Sean or Rolf ever mention that?