Read Online My Wolf's Bane by Veronica Blade - Free Book Online Page A

to him. Or drug dealers? Whoever it was, they’d had plenty of chances to hurt Zack and he was still alive. He wasn’t in any immediate danger, right?
    After picking up my backpack, I trudged inside. The scent of garlic and herbs met me at the door.
    “Who was that outside?” my mom asked, snuggling with my dad. “Didn’t sound like Daniel.”
    “Just a guy from school.”
    “How was your day?” Dad asked.
    A yucky feeling sat in the pit of my stomach, but I faked a smile. “Great.”
    I ran upstairs to get started on my homework and later, returned for dinner — tofu chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.
    “Mom, this is so good.” I wolfed down the last of it, sighing as I set my fork down.
    “Glad you liked it.” She took a sip of water, her gaze darting to my dad, then back to me. “Your dad’s got several more jobs lined up and they all want him to start right away.”
    Right away? My breath caught in my lungs.
    “The first job’s in Arizona, then Montana,” he explained. “New Mexico will take longer, so we’ll do that last and stay a while.”
    I’d miss finals and prom. Not that the latter mattered much since I no longer had a date.
    “New Mexico would be semi-permanent?” I asked through the buzzing in my ears.
    “Yes,” Dad said.
    “Or you and I can go straight to New Mexico and get settled in.” My mom smiled angelically, like she hadn’t just squashed all my hopes and dreams.
    “My birthday is in six days.” I took a quick sip of my grape juice. “I’ll be eighteen.”
    She let out a quick laugh. “I’m well aware of that. I’ve been bugging you for weeks to tell me what you want for your birthday.”
    “I know what I want.” My foot tapped against the floor as I imagined their reaction to my request.
    Dad smiled hesitantly and my mom looked guarded. “What’s that, sweetie?” she asked.
    “I want you to leave me here. Go do the jobs, then come back.”
    He shook his head. “No. Not an option.”
    “I don’t want to move again. Dragging me around so I can’t even graduate — it’s not right.”
    Mom reached across the table and held my hand, speaking softly. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. We don’t have a choice.”
    I took a deep breath and returned her hand squeeze. “ You may not have a choice, but I do. Legally, in a few days, you can’t make me go. I’m staying.”
    Dad narrowed his eyes. “Excuse me?”
    I took a deep breath, hoping to steady my heart pounding against my ribs. “The longest I’ve been away from you guys is overnight for a sleepover.” I paused to chew my lip nervously. “Since you won’t buy me a new car...”
    They sighed in unison.
    “Instead, I want to stay here and finish school. You can go without me and treat it like a second honeymoon or something. Or a working vacation. Whatever.”
    The way they stared, you’d think I’d asked them to hire a male stripper for my birthday. I waited patiently for their response, leaning back in my chair, and folding my arms across my chest to appear tougher.
    “No.” My dad narrowed his eyes. “We’re not comfortable with that. Choose something else.”
    My confidence faltered. As protective as they were, why had I thought for even an instant they’d cooperate?
    “Sweetie, where are you getting these ideas?” She moved the chair out and stood with a hand on her hip.
    “Sometimes, I come up with my own ideas, Mom.” I rolled my eyes and rose to meet her gaze. I leaned against the dining room table to support my wobbly knees. “You guys avoid leaving the house except at night when you go running. If one of you goes on errands, the other stays. I’m almost never alone and when you’re not around, you’re constantly texting me. I’m being smothered. Don’t you see how unhealthy that is?”
    Dad’s brows furrowed and his mouth dropped open, as if my words were too foreign and terrifying to absorb.
    “Whatever you’re thinking, stop now. It’s not going to