SPENCER
It was the middle of the night, and I was in the woods. Shifting my feet carefully, I was moving toward this strange, terrifying noise, trying to find its source. It sounded like there was someone in pain.
Don’t be ridiculous. It could be a wild animal. Turn around and run, the inner voice kept telling me. But I couldn’t stop. What if it was a human, someone who needed help?
I reached a fallen tree, and even in the darkness, I could see that all the branches were covered in fresh foliage as if it had just been cut down. The noise was coming right from behind it. I peered through the foliage, but it was too dense, and I didn’t see anything. I moved down its thick trunk as quietly as I could. Then I pressed my hands to its mossy bark, and when I was about to look behind it, a giant wolf-head rose before me, and its glowing red eyes stared right into mine. Its fangs and jaw were covered in blood, and as the wolf’s growl rumbled in the dead silence, my heart stopped, and I heaved a deep breath, filling my lungs with air for a scream that never came.
I sat bolt upright in the bed, with both my hands pressed to my mouth. Realizing that it was just a dream, and remembering where I was, I dropped my hands, gulped some air, and looked around.
“Finn?”
He wasn’t in the bed. And he wasn’t anywhere in the room either.
Maybe he went for a run?
Still panting, I leaned over his side of the bed and picked up his phone from the bedside table. It was 2:14 a.m.
At this hour?
I got up, grabbed the towel hanging on the back of the chair, and headed to the hallway, wrapping it around me. From the top of the stairs, I looked down into the living room. There was no one there. In the corner of my eye, I caught Mom’s bedroom door, which, to my surprise, was ajar.
I tip-toed to the door and peeked through the gap.
“Mom?” I called quietly.
When she didn’t reply, I stepped inside. The room was empty.
Where the hell are they?Did she finally decide to take a tour? The sarcastic thought popped into my head.
I went to my room, put on my shorts and a tank, and headed downstairs. My bare feet didn’t make noise, and it was pretty quiet. Before I reached the fireplace, I heard voices coming from the library. Mom sounded upset, and Finn said something I didn’t catch.
Did she find out about us? Oh God, is she going to kill me?
Timidly moving toward the door, I was preparing a speech about being an adult now and some crap like that when I heard Finn’s voice.
“Clare, it will work.”
“She’s a powerful witch. One spell might not even do that,” Mom said in an angry, tearful whisper. “If it was that easy, it wouldn’t be called a curse.”
“I know.” Finn sighed. “Even with the bracelet around her wrist, she lit the candles today with a single wave of her hand.”
A curse? What curse? I stepped closer to the narrow gap between the flaps of the door.
“I tried every spell from that book.” There was panic in Mom’s voice. “There are spells in other grimoires, but what if they don’t work either? We’re running out of time.” Mom’s voice cracked. “I can’t watch her die.”
Die? I’m gonna die?
“Clare, there’s still tomorrow. We just need to find one that will suck the magic out of her.”
My heartbeat was racing, and my hands were shaking. I barely heard Finn’s next words.
“She’s awake. She’s here, and I didn’t hear her coming.”
The door opened, and with tears blurring my view, I looked at Finn.
“I’m going to die?”
“Oh my God,” I heard Mom’s terrified gasp.
He pulled me into his arms, and pressing me tightly to his chest, he muttered into my ear, “I won’t let that happen. Do you hear me? I’ll never let that happen.”
He led me to the couch and sat me down next to Mom.
“Mom?” I was in shock, and I didn’t even know what to say to her.
She wiped her face, pulled herself together, and said, “He's right. There’s still time, and we will figure this out.”
“Figure out what?” The tears were running down my face, and I was angry with myself for not being able to stop them. “What curse? And how many more secrets are there?” But then I shook my head. “Let’s just start with the curse because apparently in two days, the rest won’t matter. Not to me anyway.”
“We’ll tell you,” said Finn, “but please, I can’t watch both of you give up. You’re witches, and we just need to find the right spell.” He sat down across from me, glanced at Mom, and when she nodded, he spoke. “As I said before, you and I— we aren’t allowed to exist,” he said in a now calm voice. “But that’s not the only problem. The thing is that the half-witch half-wolf women can't survive the transition.”
“Why? Because they’re weak?”
“Not because they’re weak. Because they were cursed. And they were cursed because they’re much stronger.”
“So you’re saying that there were never hybrid women? Not even one who survived the shift?”
“There was one a hundred and twenty years ago. But unfortunately, there are no records of how she managed to survive the curse.”
“Hundred and twenty? Shouldn’t they . . . I mean you . . . our kind . . . live long. Maybe she’s still alive?”
Finn and Mom exchanged a nervous glance.
“No. She’s not. She died.”
“How?”
“Spencer, it’s a long story, and we don’t have time for that right now. I have an idea. We just need to work on it a little.”
Mom moved closer. She timidly lifted her hand to hug me but dropped it down again.
“Honey,” she said quietly. “I know you’re scared. And I’m sorry you heard what I . . . But I lived with that fear my whole life, and I . . . It was just a moment of weakness. You are such a strong girl. You will make it through. And we will do everything we can to help. We have powers. We just need to find the right way to use them.”
I sat still and sucked in the words, not comprehending their meaning.
“Spencer.” Finn exchanged another anxious glance with mom, then, after a moment of silence, he pulled himself up. “You need some rest. Let me take you to bed.”
“No.” I stood up too.
“Spencer,” Finn murmured.
I held his full of pain, begging gaze.
“I need to be alone.” I turned around and headed to the door.
By the time I got to my bedroom, I heard a heartrending howl rapidly trailing away.
I crashed down on the bed, buried my face in the pillow, and sobbed.
* * *
It was nearly dawn when I heard Finn return and go to his room.
I heaved a deep sigh.
My life was never easy, and now it was clear why. And all this running, hiding, and being careful was for nothing; it wouldn’t prevent what was coming.
A curse? Seriously? I’m going to die because of some curse?
Suddenly, the thought that the full moon was only one night away hit me.
I have only two days and one night to live. And then I will die in excruciating pain, breaking every bone in my body.
Only a few hours ago, I was the happiest girl in the world. And it was all thanks to Finn. He made me feel loved, important to him, and safe. And in return, I was about to break his heart.
Fresh tears filled my eyes the moment I thought about Mom. She spent her whole life trying to keep me safe, but she hit a dead-end anyway. She didn’t deserve this.
With me gone, she would be all alone with her pain, and I hoped Finn would help her, or they would help each other at first, then they’ll move on, live their lives, and at least Mom wouldn’t be in danger anymore.
What the fuck is wrong with you? I sat up and wiped my face with the edge of the cover. You can’t just bury yourself. You’re a fucking witch. Get a grip. And think.
But I was too dizzy to think right now.
First, I went to Mom’s room to make sure that she was in bed. She was. Still dressed, and wide awake.
The moment she saw me, she sat up and her eyes glowed with tears. She started apologizing again, but I hugged her.
“Mom, I want you to get some rest. I promise you we will find a way out of this mess. But we will need a power nap to restart our brains.” I pulled back and smiled to cheer her up. “I’m not giving up, Mom.”
Choking on her tears, she nodded. “I’m not either. Hiding all these things from you was killing me. But now that you know . . . Now you can fight back.”
“I will, I promise.”
I walked out and headed to the opposite end of the hallway. I knocked on the door once and pushed it open.
Finn looked up at me from where he sat on the edge of his bed, with his forearms on his knees, and fingers locked together.
I approached him, sat on my heels before him, and covered his hands with mine.
His jaw was clenched. He closed his eyes and a single tear slid down his face. I brushed it off with my thumb.
“Don’t do that,” I whispered. “I’ll make it. Do you hear me?”
He bowed his head and pressed his lips to my hand.
“I love you.” I kissed his hair. “I love you so much.”
His wet gray eyes pierced mine.
“I love you too.” He breathed out. “You can’t imagine how many times I wanted to say it to you.” He took my face in his hands and his warm lips tenderly touched every inch of it.
He got up, pulled me to my feet, and wrapped me in his arms.
“I’m yours. And you are mine to love and protect,” he murmured into my ear. “And I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.” His arm slid under my legs. He lifted me, put me down on the covers, then rounded the bed and laid next to me. “I’ll just hold you. You need to get some sleep.”
I rolled over, threw my leg over his, and rested my head on his chest. And as he put his arm around my back and kissed the top of my head, I felt safe again and closed my eyes.