Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton

Author:Deke Moulton [Moulton, Deke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2024-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

19.

I instantly think of about three things that make me regret this.

“We can’t just walk back through the kibbutz,” I say—a realization that hits me literally the exact second I fully commit myself to ditching school to help Caleb shift. “That’s the only way to get into the big enclosure.”

“Those words have zero meaning for me,” Caleb says.

I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose for a second. “We have an enclosure—we call it the ‘big enclosure’—that’s just for werewolves, but the only way to get to that is by walking past everyone’s cabins.”

“And we can’t shift in the forest?”

“We don’t have collars.”

“Whoa, dude, I am not wearing a collar.”

“You will if you don’t want to get mistaken for a wild animal,” I say. “Remember, ‘who says they’ll be in their cages?’ ”

Caleb pales a little and swallows against his tightening throat. “Oh, right.”

“But,” I add. “Mr. Rutherford said he’d be back tonight, so no one’s looking for loose wolves right now. And if we go back far enough in the forest, it’s not like anyone will see us from the road.”

Caleb looks up at the misty mountains towering over us.

“They close the Black Hills for winter,” he says. “We should be safe up there.”

I can’t think of any alternatives, and it’s only a short walk to one of the foresting service roads. Even though the yellow gate is closed and locked, we easily walk around it. I share a wordless look with Caleb as we trudge past a sign that says NO RECREATIONAL SHOOTING and is pockmarked with bullet holes.

“Promising,” Caleb says.

The road climbs up into the hills and we climb right along with it. I’m looking for a perfect spot, but everything looks bad until I realize the only reason I’m finding problems with every spot is because I just feel too anxious about all of this already.

“Make up your mind,” Caleb grumbles as the road bends to reveal yet another switchback. “If we climb any more, we’re not going to need to worry about how smoked my ‘shifting muscles’ are.”

“Or we hit the snow line,” I point out. “What about here?”

I walk off the road into a spot under the Douglas fir trees. I wriggle out of my backpack and toss it to the ground. “You ready?”

“Ohgodohgodohgodohgod okay. Here we go,” Caleb mumbles in a kind of pep talk to himself as he joins me under the canopy.

“Nervous?” I ask, only because I’m nervous too.

“Give me a break,” he snaps. “I found out I was a werewolf only last night. It hurt. It was like getting run over but the truck’s inside you.”

“It only hurt because you fought against it.”

“Oh, so it’s my fault. Great coach you are.”

“No, I mean, it should be easier this time. You know what’s going to happen. Just relax.” I can’t believe I just told Caleb Gao to relax when I’ve been annoyed by that same phrase my literal entire life. “It’ll be okay. I’m here.”

“Oh, what a relief. Let’s get this over with.

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