Free Hyena Moon by Jeanette Battista Page B

stiffened, not wanting to be comforted. "Sweetie, I know it's hard to understand, but it has to be this way, at least for now."
    "Ugh." Lenore shrugged her mother's arm off of her shoulders. "I'm not a baby anymore."
    "Then perhaps you should stop acting like one." Her mother's voice was matter of fact.
    Lenore's eyes flashed up to search her mother's face. Her mother didn't speak so bluntly to her. She was used to being the baby, the pampered one. The girl who got everything she wanted. She knew she was spoiled by the attention, but she thought it only fair since she was different from all the rest of them. Only her oldest brother, Severin, could understand what it felt like; he hadn't changed either. But he was gone now, with a wife and kids of his own.
    She pulled the plate back in front of her and began to pick at the pie with a fork. She didn't know what to say, but she didn't want to concede her mother the last word. "Dad is being totally unreasonable."
    "He has your safety in mind, unreasonable or not." Emmeline walked over to the sink and began to put away dishes that had dried.
    Lenore took a bite of pie. It was light and flaky and the crust melted on her tongue. "I can take care of myself." She ate a bite of the ice cream.
    "You may think you can, Lenore, but this is not a normal situation. Wyatt turns into a grizzly bear. It would take our entire pack to bring one down, and even then, it wouldn't be a sure thing. You don't even have that protection."
    She shoveled a huge forkful into her mouth to keep from saying what she wanted to say. It wasn't her parent's fault that the change had skipped her. It wasn't her fault either. But she still felt disappointed and left out, and a little bit like a disappointment. Her parents didn't think that, but she couldn't help but feel the way she felt. Most of all, she felt like she was missing out.
    Lenore swallowed and forced a smile. There was no point in arguing anymore. Her mother always backed her father. And her father was always right.
    "We've got pack business tonight," Emmeline reminded her.
    "And it's the full moon, I know." Lenore didn't do much to keep the sulk out of her voice. Usually she stayed at Wyatt's house when there was pack business, but obviously she wouldn't be allowed to do that. She would be stuck here, all by herself because it wasn't like she could ask a friend over with a bunch of wolves and naked people coming and going. Unless…
    "Can I see if I can stay at Keri's house for a few days?" Lenore tried not to sound too hopeful.
    Emmeline smiled. "If Keri's mother says it's okay, I don't see a problem with it." She came over and pushed Lenore's hair behind her ears. "I think it would do you good to get out of here for a little while."
    "I'll go call her now." Lenore slid from her seat, leaving the decimated pie and ice cream behind, and ran upstairs.
    She did need some time away. Her mother couldn't have put it any better and it gave Lenore an idea. She opened up her laptop as she dialed Keri's number, waiting for her friend to pick up. Keri was her oldest friend—they'd known each other since elementary school. They knew each other's secrets and covered for each other when one of their plans was likely to get them into trouble.
    Keri picked up on the fourth ring. "Hey Lenore."
    "Ker, I need a huge favor." Lenore pulled up train schedules on her computer as she talked.
    "Okay, shoot." That was why Ker was her oldest friend. There wasn't the slightest hesitation when asked for favors.
    "I need to pretend to stay with you for a few days." Her eyes scanned the listings. There was a train that would work and she had enough cash to cover the fare. "Is your sister still going to Raleigh to visit her boyfriend?" Keri's sister had been driving her—and by extension, Lenore-- nuts with talk about seeing her boyfriend for the past two weeks.
    "Yeah, she's still going. Leave's tonight. Why?" Keri's voice was full of curiosity and excitement. She loved