Silver Is For Werewolves-BOOK 2 IN THE Garlic Is For Vampires Series-

Chapter 24: Shift

The days passed at an achingly slow pace. Brendon became sluggish but also aggressive, and he took the couch last night because he was scared he was going to attack me while I slept. I watched him stare into space, his hands always clenched into fists. Whatever war was going on inside him, I sensed it. But he was so absorbed in his issues he didn't notice mine.

Matt did, however.

"You keep looking at your phone," he said, glancing at Brendon in the living room. "Waiting for someone?"

"Nothing," I said, smiling at him. "I just want the full moon to come so we can help Brendon."

"I'm thinking of chaining him to the bed in your room," Matt said. "Cover the walls in wolfsbane and ourselves so it's like he's in a box. Put chains around him so every time he tries to fight us he hurts himself. At least until the shifting ends."

"Sounds good," I said, nodding my head in agreement. "You don't need anyone's help. You're doing just fine on your own."

"People need help once in a while," Matt said, giving me a pointed look. I sensed he knew I understood but I wasn't quite ready to let him know how close to home he was. I just shrugged and went to my room, texting Mason.

Me: R u sure?

I started to pace until I felt like I had to scream or punch the walls. But he just replied with, Sure. At least he was being supportive and optimistic in the face of the demon I created.

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"Do you want anything to eat, drink?" I asked, wiping the sweat from Brendon's forehead with my wet hand. He shook his head, his eyelids dropping. I touched his face. He was slowly getting hotter and hotter until it felt like I put my palm on the stove.

"Matt," I called into the hallway. He came running out of his room.

"Is it time?"

I glanced at the clock on the wall. Seven-thirty. It was surprisingly getting dark out. I nodded and Matt reached for Brendon's other side, helping me lift him up. He grunted and his face scrunched up. He clenched his jaw as if in pain.

"He's starting to feel more of it," I said, turning to lead him to the room. We dragged him between the two of us and then I dumped him onto the bed. I prepped the room while Matt took care of the chains. I drew the curtains closed, covering only some parts of the window with silver. I left a section of it opened in the middle so the moonlight could come in when it arrived. Then I sprayed the room with wolfsbane.

"There," Matt said, leaning back to inspect his handy work. Brendon was lying on the bed, chains wrapped around him and the bed, tying him down. Matt had a silver knife with him, just in case. We kept saying just in case.

"Okay," I breathed out. "Now we just wait."

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When I looked at the clock again, it was 8 p.m. Matt was sitting in the corner of the room, looking at the silver knife resting on his knee. I was pressed against the wall across from him. Then I walked over and sat down next to him.

"What were you like before all of this?" I asked, waving around the room to point out the silver-covered walls and the sleeping werewolf on the bed. Matt smirked and seemed to think about it as his eyes focused on the floor.

"I was on my own, working in a medical clinic, sorting out paperwork. I was an intern. I was going to a community college to become a mechanical engineer."

"Any family?" I asked.

"It was just me and my mom. But she died a year ago, ALS. I was just trying to make something for myself, you know? What about you?"