Jessica's fuzzy pink socks slid across her bedroom floor as she stretched out on her floral bedspread, carefully applying another coat of midnight blue polish to her toenails. The color reminded her of the night sky during her full moon transformations, though she tried not to think about that too much.
After she finished, she carefully blew on her painted toenails and lifted her feet up to wiggle her cute toes. Would her toe claws remain painted when she transforms again?
Her thought of that made her giggle. Soon, her phone buzzed beside her, Kevin's name lighting up the screen.
Her heart did a weird little flip. She grabbed the phone, careful not to smudge her wet polish.
"Hey," she answered, trying to sound casual.
"Hey, Jessica." Kevin's voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat. "So, uh, I was thinking..."
Jessica held her breath, focusing on keeping her hands steady as she recapped the nail polish. Kevin usually called her when he found something strange.
“Is there a new monster running around,” she asked.
"Oh-no! There's this new movie playing at the Moonlight Theater," he continued, words tumbling out faster now. "The one about a math teacher becoming a werewolf? I thought maybe... if you're not busy tonight..."
Jessica sat up straighter, her toes forgotten. Was Kevin actually asking her out? On a date?
"You want to go see it?" he finished lamely. "With me?"
A smile spread across Jessica's face. "Kevin Lebowski, are you asking me on a date?"
"What? No! I mean, unless you want it to be? It could just be like old times, you know, hanging out, making fun of bad special effects..." He paused. "But yeah, maybe a date would be nice too."
Jessica's cheeks hurt from grinning. "A date sounds perfect."
"Really?" The hope in his voice made her chest tight. "I can pick you up in an hour?"
"I'll be ready." Jessica ended the call and flopped back on her bed, hugging her phone to her chest. Then she bolted upright. "Oh god, what am I going to totally wear?"
Thirty minutes and a whirlwind of outfit changes later, Jessica bounded down the stairs in her favorite jeans and a soft blue sweater that brought out her eyes. Her father sat at the kitchen table, reading through case files spread across the wooden surface.
"Dad?" She leaned against the doorframe. "Kevin's taking me to a movie tonight."
Sheriff Daniel Trumblelee's head snapped up so fast that his reading glasses went askew. "Kevin? As in Kevin Lebowski?"
"Do we know another Kevin?"
"Well, no, but..." Her dad's mustache twitched. "I just never thought he'd work up the courage to actually ask you out."
Jessica crossed her arms. "Dad, be nice. Kevin's smart and funny and respects me, unlike half the guys at school."
"I know, I know." Daniel held up his hands in surrender. "Kevin's a good kid. I'm just surprised, is all. Usually, when a boy asks my daughter out, I have to give them the whole 'I’m the law with a gun' speech."
"Dad!"
"What? It's my job to terrify potential boyfriends." He grinned. "Though I suppose Kevin's seen enough weird stuff with you two that my threats probably wouldn't phase him much."
Jessica groaned. "Please don't scare him away. This is important to me."
Her father's expression softened. "Alright, princess. I'll play nice."
The doorbell rang, and Jessica's heart leaped into her throat. She smoothed her sweater, checked her reflection in the hall mirror, and opened the door.
Kevin stood on the porch, wearing a crisp white button-down that looked ironed. His usual thick-rimmed glasses were nowhere to be seen–he must have put in contacts. He held a small bouquet of daisies, and his hands shook slightly as he thrust them toward her.
"These are for you," he said. "I remembered they're your favorite."
Jessica took the flowers, touched that he'd remembered such a minor detail from their childhood. "They're perfect. Come in while I put them in water?"
Kevin stepped into the hallway, then froze as Sheriff Trumblelee appeared in the kitchen doorway.
"Evening, Kevin." Her father's voice had taken on that official law enforcement tone he used when interrogating suspects. "Planning to take my daughter out tonight?"
"Yes, sir." Kevin straightened his spine. "Just to the movies. I'll have her home by eleven."
"Ten-thirty," Daniel countered.
"Dad!" Jessica protested, but Kevin just nodded.
"Ten-thirty it is, sir."
Daniel's stern expression cracked into a smile. "At ease, son. I've known you since the beginning of high school. Just treat my little girl right, or..." His hand drifted meaningfully toward his hip, where his service weapon usually sat.
A growl rumbled in Jessica's throat before she could stop it. Her father's eyes widened slightly–they both knew how close she was to wolfing out, or at least to him, crying out like a screaming banshee. But she wouldn't. She couldn't. Not here, not now, and definitely not at her own father.
"Come on, Kevin." Jessica grabbed his arm, tugging him toward the door. "We don't want to be late."
"Drive safely!" Daniel called after them. "I mean it, Kevin. I will give you a ticket!”
Jessica slammed the door perhaps harder than necessary. "I am so sorry about him. He thinks he's being funny."
"It's okay." Kevin smiled, and something in Jessica's chest loosened at the sight. "He's just looking out for you. Though I have to say, watching you almost wolf out at your dad was pretty entertaining."
"Oh god." Jessica covered her face with her hands. "You noticed that?"
"Hey." Kevin gently pulled her hands away. "I think it's kind of amazing, actually. How protective you are of... of us. This. Whatever this is."
Jessica met his eyes, seeing nothing but warmth and acceptance there. No fear, no judgment. Just Kevin, looking at her like she was something precious instead of something dangerous.
"Come on," she breathed. "We've got a movie to catch."
As they walked to Kevin's car, Jessica couldn't help glancing back at the house. Through the window, she could see her father watching them leave, his expression a mix of pride and protectiveness that made her throat tight. He was trying, in his way, to keep her safe. Even though she could bench-press a car now, even though she could tear apart any boy who tried to hurt her.
But Kevin wasn't just any boy. As they drove toward the theater, stealing shy glances at each other and arguing about whether hamsters made believable movie villains, Jessica felt more normal than she had in months.
For one night, she could just be a girl on a date with a boy she liked. The wolf inside her could wait.
*****
The marquee lights of the Moonlight Cinema flickered against the darkening sky, casting an amber glow across Kevin's face as he studied the movie times. Jessica hung back, fidgeting with the sleeve of her jean jacket, trying to ignore the way his scent carried on the evening breeze–a mix of cedar and something uniquely him that made her wolf pace restlessly beneath her skin. This wasn't technically a date–at least, she hadn't called it that when she'd suggested they catch the new superhero movie. Just two friends hanging out on a Tuesday night.
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Right.
"Looks like we've got fifteen minutes until showtime," Kevin said, turning back to her with a grin that made her heart stutter. "Want to grab popcorn?"
Jessica glared at him. “You know I can only eat meat, or anything from an animal.”
“Sorry… How beefy jerky?”
“Extra salty?”
Kevin shrugged. “We’ll see.”
The lobby smelled of artificial butter and stale carpet, exactly as it had since they were kids coming to Saturday matinees. But something felt different tonight. Maybe it was the way Kevin's shoulder brushed against hers as they waited in line, or how her heart flipped when their hands touched reaching for the popcorn. Or maybe it was how her enhanced senses picked up every detail–the quickening of his pulse when she leaned close, the subtle catch in his breath when their fingers met.
"Your total is $24.50," the bored teenager behind the counter droned, snapping her gum in a rhythm that grated against Jessica's sensitive ears.
"I got it," Kevin said, pulling out his leather wallet with worn out corners. The same wallet she'd given him for his fifteenth birthday two years ago. She wondered if he kept the photo of them from freshman homecoming tucked in the back pocket like he used to.
"Let me pay." Jessica snatched her card from her purse. "You need to save the rest of your money for ice cream.”
“Fine, princess.” Kevin chuckled.
Jessica's protest died on her lips as their eyes met. Ice cream after. So this wasn't just a movie. This was... a whole evening. Together. Alone. Like they used to spend before she started making excuses to avoid him around the full moon, before the lies and the cancellations and the careful distance she'd maintained since her transformation.
Her inner wolf stirred at the thought, and she glanced away. But not before catching the hint of hurt that flashed across Kevin's face. He'd noticed her pulling away, of course, he had. Kevin had always read her better than anyone.
The theater was mercifully dark and mostly empty, the Tuesday night crowd sparse enough that they had their pick of seats. They found spots near the back, away from the handful of other moviegoers. As the previews rolled, Jessica tried to focus on the screen instead of the warmth radiating from Kevin beside her. Their arms shared the armrest, and every slight movement sent tingles through her skin. Her wolf was hyperaware of his proximity, drinking in his scent, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the soft sound of his breathing.
"Oh man, that looks terrible," Kevin whispered as a cheesy horror movie trailer played. His breath tickled her ear, and she suppressed a shiver. "We should totally see it when it comes out."
Jessica smothered a laugh, remembering countless B-movie marathons in his basement. "Only if you promise to do your dramatic scream thing again."
"That was one time! And that clown came out of nowhere."
"Shhh!" someone hissed from a few rows ahead.
They dissolved into quiet giggles, shoulders shaking. It felt good–normal–like nothing had changed. Like she wasn't hiding fangs and fur beneath her skin. Like they were just Kevin and Jessica, best friends since forever, watching a stupid movie together. Like she hadn't spent the last three months pushing him away, making excuses, trying to protect him from what she'd become.
The actual film passed in a blur of explosions and witty one-liners. Jessica caught herself watching Kevin's reactions more than the screen–the way his eyes lit up during the scary scenes, how he mouthed along with the best dialogue, the slight furrow between his brows during the emotional moments. When had her geeky best friend gotten so... cute? Had he always had that firm line to his jaw, that subtle dimple when he smiled?
The thought made her stomach flip, and she forced her attention back to the movie. But her wolf was restless now, pacing beneath the surface of her consciousness. It liked Kevin's scent, the steady thrum of his heartbeat, the way his arm pressed against hers. It whispered of mate and mine and forever in ways that terrified her. Jessica gripped the armrest harder, her nails threatening to lengthen into claws.
"You okay?" Kevin whispered, concern coloring his voice. Her moods had always attuned him, even before. Now, with her enhanced senses picking up the worry in his scent, it was almost too much.
She nodded tightly, not trusting herself to speak. Kevin's hand covered hers on the armrest, warm and steady and achingly familiar. The touch sent electricity racing up her arm, and her wolf howled in approval. This was right, it insisted. This was pack and home and belonging.
This had been a terrible idea.
By the time the credits rolled, Jessica's hands were shaking with the effort of maintaining control. She needed air, space, something to calm the predator prowling beneath her skin. But Kevin was already standing, holding out his hand to help her up, and she couldn't bring herself to reject the gesture. Not when she'd been pushing him away for so long.
“Cheese balls, that was awful,” said Kevin, dumping the rest of his popcorn down his mouth. “The effects are awful.”
“Yeah, why couldn’t they totally make the math teacher look like a real werewolf?” Jessica asked. “He only looks like a hairy man with razor-sharp teeth. Honestly, I would totally make myself a better werewolf in a movie. As long as I don’t eat the cast members.”
Kevin laughed. "Ready for ice cream?"
The night air helped clear her head as they walked the few blocks to Stone's Creamery. Downtown Moon Valley was quiet on Friday nights, most of the shops already closed. Their footsteps echoed off old brick buildings, and the streetlights cast long shadows across empty sidewalks. Jessica let herself imagine, just for a moment, what it would be like to run through these streets under the moon, Kevin by her side, both of them free and wild and—
No. She couldn't think like that. Kevin was human, normal. He deserved better than a monster for a girlfriend.
"Two scoops of mint chocolate chip," Kevin ordered when they reached the ice cream shop. He glanced at Jessica, a soft smile playing at his lips. "And one scoop of vanilla?"
Jessica sighed. “Yes… I mess chocolate. It’s bad for werewolves.”
“Well, wolves are related to dogs. But at least you can still enjoy some ice cream, and vanilla can be your new favorite.”
Jessica stuck out her tongue, and Kevin laughed. The sound made her wolf perk up again, but the cold air and sweet ice cream helped keep it in check. They wandered toward the park, trading bites of their respective flavors and debating the finer points of the movie's plot holes. It was comfortable–until Jessica caught the scent of fresh blood and realized she'd accidentally bitten through her plastic spoon.
The swings creaking gently in the late autumn breeze at the deserted park. They claimed a bench near the old oak tree, shoulders touching as they finished their ice cream. Above them, the moon was a silver sliver in the sky–waning, thankfully. Jessica always felt more in control when it wasn't full.
"I’m glad I got the nerves to plan this out," Kevin whispered. "I've missed hanging out, just us."
"Yeah?" Jessica studied her empty ice cream cup, counting the tiny teeth marks she'd left in the rim. "Even with... everything?"
"Especially with everything." Kevin turned to face her, his expression serious in the dim light. "Jessica, you know I don't care about... that stuff, right? You're still you. You're still my best friend."
"But what if I'm not?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "What if I'm different now? Dangerous?"
"You've always been dangerous," Kevin said with a slight smile. "Remember when you pushed the werewolf into the molten pool and burned the vampire alive in the sunlight?”
"That was different. They were monsters.”
"Yes… ," Kevin's hand found hers again, warm despite the cool night air. "But you were protecting us, not eating us. That's who you are, Jessica. Wolf or no wolf."
Jessica's heart thundered in her chest. Her wolf surged forward, drawn by Kevin's warmth, his scent, the steady beat of his pulse. She should pull away. Should run before she did something stupid, something she couldn't take back. But Kevin was looking at her like she was still the girl he'd grown up with, not the monster she'd become, and it made something wild and hopeful bloom in her chest.
Instead, she leaned closer.
Kevin's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't move away. Their breaths mingled in the space between them, and Jessica could hear his heartbeat speed up to match hers. Time stretched like taffy, sweet and slow. Her wolf was eerily still, watching, waiting.
Then his lips were on hers, soft and uncertain, and her world exploded into sensation. Her wolf howled in triumph as she kissed him back, one hand coming up to cup his face. He tasted like mint chocolate chip and possibility, and something wild and wonderful unfurled in her chest. This was right, this was perfect, this was—
But the wolf wasn't content to just watch anymore. Heat raced through her veins as fur began sprouting along her arms. Her teeth lengthened, sharpening into fangs that nicked Kevin's lower lip. He jerked back with a startled gasp, and the coppery scent of blood filled her nostrils.
"Jess–your eyes..."
Horror flooded through her as she realized what was happening. She scrambled back, nearly falling off the bench as she fought to contain her transformation. But it was too late–her hands twisted into claws, her spine elongating beneath her jacket. The wolf wanted out, wanted to claim, to mark, to—
"Stop–someone will see!" Kevin grabbed her shoulders, blocking her from view of the street. In the distance, voices drifted toward them–late-night joggers approaching the park. The scent of their sweat, their beating hearts, their living flesh made her mouth water.
Jessica forced herself to take deep breaths, focusing on pushing the wolf back down. Slowly, painfully, her features returned to normal. By the time the joggers passed, she was fully human again, though trembling with the effort of control.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, mortified. "I didn't mean to–I should have known better than to—"
"Hey." Kevin's voice was gentle as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. There was a smear of blood on his lower lip where her fangs had caught him. "It's okay. We'll figure it out."
But Jessica could see the slight tremor in his hand, smell the lingering trace of fear in his scent. She'd scared him, even if he wouldn't admit it. And why shouldn't he be scared? She was a monster who couldn't even kiss a boy without going full wolf.
"I should go home." She stood abruptly, wrapping her arms around herself. "This was a mistake."
"Jessica, wait—"
"I'll see you at school." She turned and fled before he could stop her, ignoring his calls echoing behind her. Her eyes stung with unshed tears as she ran, and her wolf whined in confusion and loss. All she'd wanted was one normal night, one chance to pretend she could still have this–have him. But normal wasn't possible anymore. Not for her.
In the empty park, Kevin stood alone beneath the waning moon, touching his fingers to his lips where her fangs had drawn blood. A single drop fell to the earth, and somewhere deep beneath the town, something ancient stirred in its sleep.
******
The fluorescent lights hummed in the empty halls of Moon Valley History Museum, casting harsh shadows across the polished floor tiles. Rick Martinez drummed his fingers against the security desk, fighting back a yawn as he watched the wall of monitors. Night shift was always boring, but tonight felt endless.
"Hey, you want some coffee?" Tom Chen called from the break room. "Just made a fresh pot."
"Nah, I'm good." Rick stretched, his security uniform pulling tight across his shoulders. "Two more hours till shift change. I can make it."
A loud crash echoed through the building.
Rick sat up straight, suddenly wide awake. "You hear that?"
"Yeah." Tom emerged from the break room, hand already on his flashlight. "Sounded like it came from the Egyptian wing."
"Probably just another raccoon." Rick grabbed his own flashlight and stood up. "Remember last month when one of those little bandits knocked over that Ming vase?"
Tom grimaced. "Don't remind me. Curator nearly had our badges for that one."
They moved through the quiet halls, footsteps echoing off marble floors. The Egyptian exhibit loomed ahead, filled with shadowy corners and glass cases that reflected their flashlight beams. Everything looked normal at first glance–the ceremonial masks still grinned from their displays, the gold-leafed sarcophagi stood sentinel along the walls, the ancient pottery...
Rick stopped cold. "Tom."
"I see it."
Queen Aziza's sarcophagus stood open, its heavy lid somehow pushed aside. The mummy that should have been inside was gone.
"Someone's robbing the place." Rick grabbed his radio. "I'm calling this in."
A soft sound stopped him–something between a purr and a growl, too big to be any house cat. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
"Did you hear–" Tom's question cut off as something massive moved in the shadows behind a display case.
Rick swung his flashlight toward the movement but caught only a glimpse of tawny fur before it vanished. "What the hell was that?"
"Split up," Tom whispered. "You take the west side, I'll circle around east. Whatever it is, we'll trap it between us."
Rick wanted to argue that splitting up was a terrible idea, but Tom was already moving away, his flashlight beam bouncing off display cases as he crept through the exhibits. With a muttered curse, Rick headed the opposite direction.
The Egyptian wing felt different at night, almost alive. Hieroglyphs seemed to writhe on the walls, and the glass cases threw back distorted reflections. Rick's flashlight caught the jackal-headed god Anubis, making its eyes flash red for a moment.
That sound again–a low rumble that made his chest vibrate. Closer now.
"Tom?" Rick's voice cracked. "You see anything?"
No answer.
Something moved behind him. Rick spun around, heart pounding against his ribs. His flashlight beam cut through empty air.
"Tom, where are you?"
A wet choking sound answered him, followed by a heavy thud.
"Tom!"
Rick ran toward the sound, flashlight beam dancing wildly across exhibits. He rounded a corner and nearly tripped over Tom's body. His partner lay face-up on the floor, eyes wide and staring at nothing. His skin had a gray, withered look, like something sucked all the moisture out of it.
"Oh God." Rick fumbled for his radio. "Officer down! We need backup at the museum, officer dow–"
Something landed behind him with a soft thump. Hot breath stirred the hair on the back of his neck.
Rick turned slowly, raising his flashlight with trembling hands. The beam illuminated a towering figure–part woman, part cat, wrapped in rotting funeral linens. Its eyes glowed like molten gold, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth.
The creature's jaw unhinged like a snake's.
Rick screamed, but only for a moment. Then there was a rushing sensation, like his very essence was being pulled from his body. His limbs went numb, his vision darkened, and his last thought was a desperate wish that he'd taken that coffee break after all.