Free Riley's Secret (A Moon's Glow Novel # 1) by Christina Smith Page A

I think I’ll take Megan where she’s appreciated.”
    Mona smiled at him and nodded. “Don’t worry, I can
handle it,” she assured him with a wink.
    Nate took my hand and led me past my mother, whose
mouth was still hanging open in surprise.
     
    Once we were back inside my bedroom, Nate returned to
the armchair he had vacated earlier. I started pacing back and forth in front
of him. “Ugh… she drives me crazy. I am so sorry she said that. You have to
know I don’t agree with her, right?”
    “Of course I know that. I’ve seen the look on your
face when you’re working with the residents. You enjoy helping them, I can
tell.”
    Was it just last week he was scowling at me? Now he
had defended me twice in one day. It was a change I could get used to. As I
watched him, I couldn’t help but let my mind wander. God he’s cute . His
sun-kissed blond hair was a little long and I had the sudden urge to run my
fingers through it. “What’s with your hand?” I asked, noticing that the nails
on his right hand seemed to be long and pointy. I had never noticed that
before.
    He looked down and then jumped up, holding his hand
behind his back. “What time is it?” he asked in a panicked voice.
    I turned around to glance my clock radio. “Eight
o’clock. Uh-oh… are you late?” I asked, turning back around to face him. But he
was gone, the chair was empty and I was alone in my room.
     
     

Chapter Seven
    Unwanted
     
    The patio doors were wide open. I rushed over and
looked out. Nobody was there. What the heck? I stepped outside to look
for his car and it was gone too.
    Inside my room I took out the paperwork that Julia had
given me. On it was Nate’s cell number? “Hello,” he answered roughly after I
dialed.
    “Are you all right? Where did you go?”
    “I’m not feeling well, I’m sorry. See you tomorrow.” Click .
    The more I got to know him the more I realized he was
sweet, caring, protective—and also sometimes very strange.
    I was restless and confused after Nate left. Homework
couldn’t hold my thoughts, so I gave up and headed outside to relax on my
favorite lounge chair. Despite the chill, the evening was quiet and peaceful. I
curled up with a blanket and stared up at the stars. A hint of lilac floated in
the air. I lay there for a while listening to the sounds of the night, the loud
call of the whippoorwill, the chirping of the crickets and the croaking of
frogs from the pond at the back of the house. With all of these sounds
surrounding me how could I feel lonely?
    I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I
remembered was opening my eyes, feeling dazed. I glanced around wondering where
I was and when the cool night air touched my skin, it came back to me. I had
come out onto the patio earlier to enjoy the evening. I sat up, about to go
inside, when I noticed something yellow in the cedar bushes about ten feet from
my chair. I stared at it, trying to figure out what it was. When my eyes
adjusted to the dim light, I saw the outline of what looked to be a very large
wolf. I jumped back, the chill of fear prickling down my spine while I kept my
eyes glued to it. Thinking my sudden movement would cause it to either run away
or pounce, I prepared for some kind of action. But nothing happened. It made no
move to hurt me; it just looked at me with an intense gaze. I was afraid to
move again. I could barely breathe.
    I turned around slowly when I heard a noise in my
room. When I turned back, the wolf was gone.
    “Megan?” I heard Mona call. I stood up, gathering my
blanket and rushed inside.
    “Hey, I was just outside on the patio.” I made no
mention of the wolf as I laid the blanket down on the chair. I wasn’t entirely
sure that it wasn’t a dream.
    She leaned against my pillows, getting comfortable on
the bed. “Tell me all about Nate. He’s so good-looking and very sweet. If only
I were a few years younger I would give you a run for your money.”
    I laughed at her use of the word