Howling In The Night | Night Cat #2

Howling In The Night - Chapter 1

I Know What I Heard…

I glared at Xander furiously as he broke into laughter.  “What’s so funny?” I snapped angrily. I was cranky. More than usual thanks to the endless string of howls that had kept me up the whole night. Funnily enough, my mother hadn’t heard a single sound last night and had slept like a log. I was the only one who heard the noises.

Maybe that’s why Xander was laughing.

“Sorry, Avery.” He replied, his laughter subsiding. “I just couldn’t help it.” I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest. He knew the look I was giving him extremely well. It was the look that said, Go on Xander. Explain. He cleared his throat as he straightened up in his seat. “You can’t honestly believe that you’re the only one who heard those howls, now can you?”

“Well…” I started, unsure. “I was on my meds. Do you think that had something do to with it?”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You were on meds?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

“Avery!” He leapt out of his seat and gazed down at my furiously. “Are you completely insane? You never – never­ – shift when you’re on medication”

“What?” I blinked up at him, confused. “Why?”

“Because the last time I shifted when I was under medication, I ended up getting my father killed!”

I was stunned. Xander hated talking about what had happened with his father. I was actually the only one he’d ever told about it. I don’t know why, though. I guess he trusted me. But it was the fact that he’d mentioned it now that made me realize exactly how dangerous what I had done was.

I looked around Xander’s living room. I was glad we were alone. Otherwise Xander’s mom might have overheard what her son had just said and, well, let’s just say that that’s not something she likes to remember.

After a minute’s silence, I stood up and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You’re right, Xander.” I whispered quietly. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

I didn’t look in his eyes. I knew he blamed himself for what happened that night and I hated it. I also knew that if I looked into those smoky grey eyes of his, all I’d find was pain. Pain, anguish and sorrow – and I just couldn’t take that. Xander was one of those people who you’d do anything to see smile. Seeing him in pain hurt like hell.

When he finally answered, I could hear a smile in his voice. “Thank God you’ve got some sense, Avery.”  I frowned. He smiled at that and reached out and ruffled my hair. “You know what I mean.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”

“Promise me you won’t shift while on meds.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me, Avery.”

I sighed. I knew he was only trying to keep me safe, but seeing as how I’d been awake for most of the night, I couldn’t help but feel a little irritated. “I promise, Xander.”

He beamed. “Great. Now why don’t you go home and get some sleep? You look like you’re about to punch me in the face.”

I couldn’t help but grin at that one. He knew me too well.

***

I slipped under my comfy duvet covers and curled myself into a tight ball. Warm covers? Check. Favorite PJs (now sap free)? Check. Comfortable bed? Check. Complete silence…?

I listened carefully for a few seconds and was about to check that last one off my list, when a loud howl reached my ears. Shocked, I pulled my duvet over my head and lay there, listening intently.

A small voice in my head was urging me to shift and investigate. I tried my best to ignore it. I promised Xander that I wouldn’t shift while I was still taking my meds. I wasn’t going to break that promise.

But it could be another werecat in trouble, you moron.

I frowned. The voice did have a point. What if it was another werecat like me and Xander? God knew that that wasn’t completely impossible. Crescent Falls had become a werecat hub ever since Xander had arrived here.

I pulled the duvet off my body and trotted over to the window. I was about to pull it open when another howl stopped me in my tracks. It was louder. Much louder. I peered down at my backyard, hoping that I wouldn’t find anything. I yelped loudly and stumbled back when I saw a dark figure zip behind a couple of bushes. The creature was just outside our fence.

As if it had heard my yelp of surprise, the howling stopped and the creature began to snarl and growl, just like it had the night before. I retreated back to the safety of my bed and buried myself in my sheets, shivering as the growls persisted.

I was in for another sleepless night.