Diaries of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista Read Free Book Online Page B

pages, books had the same problem as the Internet only with a bibliography. Everyone contradicted everyone else. Some said the shift could be controlled. Some said it couldn’t. Some said the person was still a person but in animal form. Some said the blood lust of the wolf took over and there was no person, just beast. Some ancient cultures said that it was a gift from the Earth Spirits to be that close with nature. Some said it was a curse from the heavens to descend into madness for three nights a month.
    There was one notable exception in which a group of monks claimed that God had given them the strength of the wolf to fight his adversaries on Earth.
    The only thing they did have in common was the moon. Whether it was what forced the change or just gave strength to the beast, the full moon was a part of it.
    And the next full moon was only days away.
    I couldn’t help but look at the pictures and my heart beat a little faster.
    No. The fever was just fall allergies and the ten pounds I’d lost was the severe lack of food in my fridge. The healing, well, I had started taking multivitamins recently. And I wasn’t allergic to silver. Was wearing silver studs right now.
    Take that, Stalker boy.
    I slammed the book shut and leapt up in triumph. As I turned to go get a few more books from the section, I ran straight into the broad chest of Charles Garrett.
    Stumbling back a step, I landed on the tabletop.
    Garrett waited until I was settled on top of the Encyclopedia Grimoire . “Miss Jordan.”
    Mouth agape, I stared up at him and my entire body grew hot. The shadowy marks down my shoulder began to ache. “What are you doing here?”
    Garrett looked down at the stacks of books on the table. He pushed a few of them around and looked at the covers and smiled. “Working. You?”
    Embarrassed, I pulled all the books into a stack and snatched one out of his hand. “I’m doing research for a project that I’m working on.”
    “Okay.”
    “This stuff is crazy.” I rested my hand on top of the pile.
    “Not from where I stand.”
    “No one knows anything about anything.”
    “If you’d just ask . . .”
    “Listen, if I wanted stories, I’d make them up myself.”
    Garrett shrugged. “Then maybe I shouldn’t give you this?” He pulled a small, soft covered book out of his jacket pocket and handed it to me. The cover just read For Those Who Wander in silver letters.
    “What is this? You’re Gideon Press too?”
    “A brief history of our kind.”
    “What do you mean, our kind ?” I snapped as I flipped the book over, expecting something more mystical looking.
    “Wanderers, if you will. Read the book. It’s got the answers you’re looking for. Including what’s in your blood that proves you’re going to shift.”
    He turned to go and made it a few steps.
    I couldn’t just let him walk off, my curiosity completely unsatiated. “Why can I wear silver?”
    Garrett paused.
    “Why am I running a fever?”
    Slowly, he turned and looked at me.
    “I want answers. And I want them really soon.”
    “The Shala can give you real answers.”
    “I want proof.”
    He shrugged. “I can’t give you proof. You’ll just have to trust me.”
    I scowled. “About as far as I can throw you.”
    Something like a smile played on his lips as he slowly backed away. “See you later Violet Jordan.”

 
    Chapter Five
     
    I flipped through my pathetic excuse for a wardrobe on Friday and took a chance on a black dress I had plumped out of three months earlier. I had gotten it on sale at one of the boutiques Jessa dragged me into and managed to wear it once before I started putting on my winter weight.
    Wearing the appropriate underwear, I slid the dress over my head and down my torso. With contortions usually not possible, I zipped up the back of the dress without protest from the zipper. I stared at myself in the half mirror in the bathroom.
    It fit. Perfectly. I spun around in the mirror in disbelief. But my celebration