Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

a stop at the end of the gravel road. The three of us followed a limping Mr. Winters down a path toward a building that resembled a barn. The dining hall must have been nearby, because the smell of frying onions hung in the air. My stomach gurgled so loudly, Charles looked over at me with a smirk.
    Austin put his hand on my arm, stopping me. “Shelby,” he whispered, “it’s not what you think. I’m not what you must think.”
    “It’s okay, Austin. Everyone has their problems. You don’t have to explain,” I said.
    Austin let out a breath. “I feel as though I should. I wouldn’t want you to—”
    “No dillydallying!” called Mr. Winters, waving us on before hobbling around a corner of the building with Charles.
    Austin didn’t budge. “Shelby, I’m not on drugs.”
    “Dude, I know what I saw, but whatever. I’m not here to judge.” I started to walk away, but Austin grabbed my hand and pulled me into the shadows.
    Again, I caught a whiff of that cologne smell and something different but yummy. I tried not to breathe it in. It was like girl kryptonite for sure. “We have to go,” I said.
    “My family likes its privacy. We keep to ourselves. We don’t need more rumors and lies leaked out to the press. We’ve been through enough.” He stared into my eyes, dead serious.
    “I really thought guys like you had tougher skin. I mean, you actually care what some stupid reporters make up about you?”
    “It’s complicated,” Austin said. “But I don’t want you to think the wrong thing about me.”
    “Why would you care what I think? I mean, you don’t even know me.”
    “No.” A sad look flickered in his eyes. “In the woods I thought that you…and I…”
    “Oh. Ohhhh.” I sucked in a breath. So this was the moonlight-magic-look talk. This was the part where I got to be all “I don’t date drug-crazed hotties who will get me sent to boot camp.” Wait. Crap. I was probably already on my way there. “Look, I know what it’s like to crush on someone, but we just met and—”
    “In the woods it seemed like we might become friends,” he said, finishing his thought.
    Eek. My face felt like it was on fire. “Uh-huh.”
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    “I can’t have a friend believing rubbish about me.”
    “No, of course not,” I said, discreetly trying to fan my cheeks. I took a deep breath and fixed him with a stare. “So, friend , what was in those vials?”
    “Truthfully, a prescription. Badly needed medicine.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, you said that already. So, what’s it for?”
    Austin raked his teeth over his bottom lip. “Ah, that’s the difficult part.” Austin leveled his gaze at mine, like he was trying to think of how to say something important. Something flickered in his eyes.
    Some strange trick of the light that made goose bumps prickle on my neck.
    “Campers! What is going on?” Mr. Winters called, coming back around the corner of the building.
    “I told you two no dillydallying.”
    “We’re coming,” said Austin.
    Mr. Winters frowned. “Shelby? Are you all right?”
    “Huh?” I murmured, still trying to figure out what I’d seen flash in Austin’s eyes. It’d been different from the trail. Almost dangerous.
    “Shelby?” Mr. Winters repeated.
    I blinked at him. “Oh. Um, I’m on my way.”
    “Believe me,” Austin whispered in my ear as he passed.
     
    Mr. Winters led us into a wood-paneled room decorated with brass animal sculptures and stuffed fish trophies. A huge desk with legs carved like talons gripping balls stood inside the door. I’m not into antique stuff or anything, but that piece alone had to be worth major cash. On the corner of the desk a brass eagle statue perched, as if it were about to take flight.
    Guitar Lady looked up as we walked in. Fortunately, there was no sign of her freaking instrument.
    That was enough to make me smile, though at any second she would