Dead Is So Last Year by Marlene Perez Read Free Book Online Page B

fear.
    "Move slowly," I cautioned her, but Poppy was already bolting for the door.
    She'd nearly reached it when a blur of fur and snapping teeth launched itself at her back. I put up a hand, and the next thing I knew, a heavy flowerpot flew across the yard and hit the wolf squarely on the nose. He dropped to the ground, panting and whimpering, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw another wolf creep forward.
    I sprinted to the door and made it inside with seconds to spare. I slammed the door and turned the lock, and Poppy and I stood trembling in our foyer. We waited, but there was only silence outside. Then we finally heard the sound of the pack running into the night. I sagged against the door frame.
    Poppy took a shaky breath. "What the heck was that all about?" she said.
    "I don't know," I said. "But I think they were young wolves—teenagers maybe. They have to be. Why else would they shift when it's not even a full moon?" There was something still puplike about a couple of the wolves.
    "There aren't that many young werewolves in Nightshade, are there?" I thought about it, then counting on my fingers, I listed them. "There's Nicholas, Bane Paxton and his little brother, Wolfgang, Elise Wilder, and Ryan. That's all I can think of."
    "That's only five," Poppy said. "But you saw a lot more, didn't you?"
    I nodded. "I think there were at least eight of them." "Maybe they're out-of-towners," Poppy offered. A terrible thought occurred to me. "Or maybe..."
    "What?"
    "Maybe someone is increasing the werewolf population." "How does that happen?"
    I shrugged. My werewolf boyfriend hadn't been exactly forthcoming about the particulars.
    "Ryan might know something," Poppy said.
    "He'd never do something like that!" I defended him. "Nicholas, either."
    "Of course not." Poppy rolled her eyes. "I meant that since Ryan is a werewolf, he might know or could help us find out more about it." She shuddered. "Those wolves were on the hunt. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't hit that one when you did."
    "I'll ask Ryan," I told her, "the first chance I get." I didn't want him to think I was a scaredy-cat, so I decided to tell him in the morning.
    I didn't realize that it would be some time before I saw him again.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    I called Ryan's house the next morning during my break at Slim's, but I got his answering machine. I tried his cell, too, but there was no answer. By the time I left work, he still hadn't returned my call. I tried not to get irritated. It was late in the afternoon when he finally called me back. Rose and Poppy were both still at work, so I jumped a little when the phone rang.
    He sounded stressed.
    "I'm in Orange County," he said.
    "What?" I was startled. He hadn't mentioned any upcoming trips, but I did know that he had family there.
    "My grandmother took a fall yesterday. Dad and I left Nightshade last night right before dinner."
    I knew it hadn't been Ryan in the pack last night, but I was relieved to hear that he'd already been on the road when we saw the teen wolves.
    "Is she okay?"
    "She broke her hip and she's a little shaken up. The surgery went well, but Dad and I will be here at least a week or two."
    "Is there anything I can do?" There was no way I was going to tell him about the teen werewolf pack, not now. He had enough on his mind.
    "Just be careful, Daisy. And ask Nicholas for help if you need it."
    "Nicholas? I can take care of myself."
    "I know you can," he said gently. "But a little backup wouldn't hurt."
    After I hung up with Ryan, I weighed my options. I couldn't prove for certain that Wolfie was the culprit, but talking to Nicholas might be good. If nothing else, he could give me a little insight about pack behavior.
    I wandered into the kitchen and took down a mixing bowl. I always thought more clearly when I was cooking. I'd start with the dessert. I decided on fresh peach ice cream. Poppy loved ice cream of any kind and ice cream might tempt her appetite. She still wasn't eating