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Chapter 52

There, I said it, The words hung in the dead silence that followed as Sophia sat deathly still, barely daring to breathe.

Candice's eyes widened and her mouth worked but, uncharacteristically, nothing came out. The only sound in the room was the low hum of the air circulation system. After what felt like hours, the dumbstruck girl was able to find her words again.

“You're a what???" Candice exclaimed.

“A werewolf," Sophia repeated matter-of-factly.

“Ha ha, Sophia," Candice replied sarcastically. “Very funny. This is a joke about the party, right? Got some yellow contacts… act like a wolf…"

Of course she doesn't believe it, I'll have to find a way to prove it to her.

“I'm not joking," Sophia insisted. “I don't know why or how but something… did happen at the party."

Candice studied her and then said, “You really are being serious, aren't you?"

Sophia's eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. Something about the air around Candice had changed, but Sophia couldn't put her finger on what.

“I'm serious," Sophia assured her. “Do you remember when I missed a rung on the jungle gym and badly gashed my elbow in third grade?"

“Yes…" Candice replied slowly. “You had a bandage on for a while that you refused to take off. What about it?"

“Well, do you remember the scar I got from it?" Sophia asked.

“Of course," Candice replied nervously. “Don't you still have it?"

“Well…" Sophia lifted her arm so Candice could see the unblemished underside. “No… Not since the first full moon."

Candice's eyes widened and she leaned forward, staring at the spot where the scar should have been. Sophia angled her arm to give a better look. She noticed the other girl's hands were clenching the blanket she was sitting on so tightly, her knuckles were turning white.

“Those… aren't contacts?" Candice asked uncertainly, looking up at Sophia's eyes.

“Nope," Sophia answered. “And these are real too."

Opening her mouth, she spread her lips to display her small fangs. Bringing her hand up, she gently pushed against one to demonstrate. After withdrawing her hand, she opened and shut her mouth showing how they fit together perfectly.

“But… but… werewolves aren't real!" Candice squeaked. “I know the legend…! This isn't possible!"

The girl looked around the room wildly, everywhere but at Sophia.

Well, I tried, Sophia braced herself for rejection. I knew she wouldn't, but I had to try.

“Believe me, it was quite the shock for me too," Sophia commented dryly. “I know you probably don't believe me and I won't blame…"

“I… I believe you," Candice whispered so quietly that Sophia strained to hear her even with her keen ears.

Wait, what? This time it was Sophia's turn to be stupefied.

“You… you do?" Sophia blinked.

“It's strange… but I believe you," Candice confirmed. “Werewolves don't exist, shouldn't exist… But I've known you most of my life and…" Candice let out a nervous laugh. “I know you. Know when you're being serious. And that night…"

I've never seen her look this… panicked before.

“Night?" Sophia asked, taken aback. “What night?"

“Halloween night," Candice clarified, her eyes boring into Sophia's. “At the party when you had the wolf skin. Something happened to you. Even if no one else could tell, I could, and it's bothered me ever since." Her face had gone white and she gripped the sheets. “I knew something happened and then I heard weird rumors about you and then New Year's..." She stopped and looked at Sophia with fear in her eyes. “This is all so insane."

“Are you okay Candice?" Sophia asked, leaning in to sniff worriedly at the girl.

But Candice plowed on as though Sophia hadn't spoken or just sniffed her, “Oh God, it's all my fault. I set up the party and asked for the wolf skin. I didn't believe the legend!" The girl started to hyperventilate. “I… I did this to you! I turned my best friend into a monster!" Candice started sobbing hysterically. “It's all my fault!"

A monster? Sophia's eyes widened in horror at the girl's words. Is that what Candice sees me as? She swallowed, feeling suddenly ill. This is certainly not what I expected.

Not knowing what else to do, she slipped off her chair, sat next to Candice on the bed and put her arm around the sobbing girl. Leaning into the girl, Sophia put her chin on the girl's shoulder. Candice had a faint saline smell to her and Sophia had to resist the urge to lick the girl's tears off her cheek.

Not a good time. She wouldn't understand.

“Candice," Sophia said in as soothing a voice as she could manage. “It's okay; I don't blame you."

The girl looked up at Sophia with terrified eyes and whispered, “Are you going to eat me?"

Eat her..? Sophia's mouth dropped open and then she doubled over with laughter.

Finally, when her laughter had subsided enough to speak, Sophia asked, “Candice, why in the world would I want to eat you?!"

“Isn't that what werewolves do..?" She asked tentatively, looking slightly embarrassed. “Or was it just on the full moon? I don't know! Wolves were always your thing!"

Where did those stories come from anyway?

“I mean, you do smell delicious," Sophia teased. “And I'm really hungry."

Oooh, I never got to finish those steaks. Her mouth watered and her stomach groaned.

Apparently, her cravings were visible on her face too because Candice looked at her in terror and tried to jerk away.

“I'm joking!" Sophia laughed, prompting a wary giggle from Candice. “No, I have no interest in eating you or anyone - even on a full moon."

“Are you going to bite me and make me a… a… one too?" Candice stammered. “I know I deserve it but..!"

She really is scared of me, Sophia slowly reached out and gently squeezed Candice's left hand. I don't like this.

“Not unless you want me to!" Sophia tried to assuage her fears. “Candice, it's still me, Sophia!"

Would biting someone even work? The stories got so much else wrong. Still, I'll have to be careful.

“No, I don't want to be a werewolf," Candice declined and then laughed. “I doubt I'd make a good one anyway. I'd just howl all the time."

Good, she's starting to calm down.

“But maybe, just a taste?" Sophia asked with an exaggerated lick of her lips.

Candice's expression turned horrified again and Sophia cracked up. Realizing her friend wasn't serious, Candice giggled and soon both girls were consumed by laughter. When one started to calm down, she would look at the other and break into another fit of giggling.

“I guess I did get a little silly there," Candice breathed when both had finally settled down. “But… a werewolf… Wow."

“Tell me about it," Sophia agreed, wiping tears from her eyes. “It's been a weird few months." She caught herself sniffing the air as her stomach growled, “Do you mind if I go get some food? I've barely eaten the last two days."

Should probably eat before she really does start looking good, she flinched inwardly.

“Oh, sure," Candice replied.

“Want anything?" Sophia asked as she slid off the bed.

“If you don't mind sharing whatever you're eating, I won't say no."

Might want to hold that thought, Sophia couldn't help letting out a laugh but said nothing as she headed out of her room. I'll grab some chips or something.

A short time later, Sophia returned with a bag of potato chips and her plate of partially thawed steaks. The juices had long since re-congealed and the cuts looked a bit drab, but their aroma was still pungent and it was torture to restrain herself from tearing into them immediately. Candice looked up from her phone as Sophia walked in and closed the door.

“Is that… the meat from the table?" Candice asked in concerned disbelief. “Sophia! Those are raw! You could get sick! I thought you were getting it ready to cook!"

“I guess, but it takes so long to cook and I was really hungry!" Sophia said defensively, sitting on her chair. “Got you some chips."

“Thanks," Candice accepted the bag. “But don't you think you're taking this werewolf thing a little far?"

Am I? A twinge of doubt flashed through her. I mean, it smells fine.

“I'm not too worried," Sophia shrugged before picking up the piece she had been working on before Candice's arrival.

Too famished to care about manners, Sophia tore into her steak. When she looked up, Candice was watching with an expression of mild disgust. The chip bag lay on the bed next to her, unopened.

Definitely should not tell her about the deer, Sophia grimaced and used a hand to wipe a piece of fat off her mouth. Or the rabbit.

“Did you want any chips?" Candice asked, trying and failing to hide her disapproval. “I'm not all that hungry right now."

“I'm feeling better," Sophia told her and set what remained of her meal aside.

I guess it would have bothered me too a few months ago, but I'm not sure why now. She licked her lips and fingers clean. It's just meat. Yeah, it's not cooked but wouldn't it smell bad if it wasn't safe?

“What happened on Halloween Night?" Candice changed the subject. “I remember you acting weird when we were playing with the skin and then getting sick, but you didn't suddenly grow fangs or anything. I mean, you certainly looked like you were trying to."

I was hoping she could tell me.

“I… don't remember," Sophia looked down at her lap uneasily and then back at Candice. “I didn't even know I was like that for several minutes until the video. When I started feeling sick later, I thought I had a stomach bug or something," Sophia told her, thinking back. “Then a few days later… I changed."

“Into a wolf?" Canice inquired, looking completely enthralled by the story. “Do you remember any of it?"

“I remember all of it," Sophia answered excitedly. “I'm still me when I change. The first full moon, I only changed a little." She laughed at the memory, “I stayed in my room all night. I think I went to the kitchen once."

“That must have been so, so scary," Candice commented.

“It was at first," Sophia told her and then grinned. “Then it was kind of fun. Granted, I didn't know if I'd change back at the time."

“Of course you'd find it fun," Candice teased, although she had a worried look in her eyes.

“There were so many smells! It was like an entire world I didn't know existed! You have no idea!" Sophia continued eagerly. “And I had my own fur, could hear better and could move my ears like a wolf! Or was that the second time? Anyway, it was incredible!"

“You know, I never thought 'Wolfgirl' would apply so literally…" Candice ribbed her affectionately, but the troubled look remained.

That I am, Sophia smiled. Wait… Wolf-girl…

“Oh yeah!" Sophia announced suddenly. “I took a selfie!" She arched an eyebrow mischievously, “Want to see?"

“Can I?" Candice gasped, putting her hand over her heart.

With a grin, Sophia got up from the bed and walked over to her desk. Opening the top drawer, she grabbed her camera and carefully carried it back to the bed. Sitting next to Candice, she turned it on.

Huh, I haven't used it since that night, she was mildly surprised when the very first picture was the one she was looking for. I should get some with my eyes and teeth.

“I was just… a little wolfy then," she commented, handing the camera to Candice.

“Woah!" Candice exclaimed as she examined the picture. “Did it hurt? When you changed I mean."

Sophia opened her mouth and then furrowed her brow in confusion. Odd, I can't remember changing.

“I don't remember it hurting," Sophia said slowly. “I remember feeling weird at work and then… Honestly, I don't recall how it felt, just that it happened."

“You could be famous!" Candice blurted out. “You're an actual werewolf! People everywhere would hear about you and want to meet you! You could make millions selling books and going on TV! Do you know how incredible this is? The first proof that werewolves are real! Sophia, you could be rich! Everyone would recognize you! Do You Know How Friggin Cool This Is???"

That sounds awful, Sophia cringed.

“Or they'd stick you in a lab somewhere…" Candice reconsidered, her enthusiasm dissipating. “Yeah, probably not the best idea." She turned to look at the window and the darkening sky and asked, “Does your dad know?"

“You're the first person I've told," Sophia replied. “And I really, really need you to promise you won't tell anyone. It's our secret."

“Our secret," Candice echoed as she turned back to look at Sophia and then smiled. “Of course, I won't tell anyone!"

Thank you! Overcome with gratitude, Sophia bent towards Candice and, before the other girl could react, gave her an appreciative lick.

“You… uh, licked me again…" Candice pointed out, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand.

Sophia's eyes widened, “Oh! Sorry! Got a little carried away! It just seemed like the thing to do!"

“It's… it's fine…" Candice giggled nervously and then gestured with the camera. “Did your eyes and teeth not change back? Was the first time after we, uh, took a break? I don't remember anything… different when we had our fight."

“The first night?" Sophia asked and then answered, “They did - everything did the first time."

“You sound disappointed," Candice observed, brushing her cheek thoughtfully.

She's… not wrong, the corner of Sophia's mouth twitched. I kind of wish she was.

“Heh," Sophia chuckled and then continued her explanation. “I could smell better after the second, but my eyes and teeth were different only after the third."

“So you've been changing back less and less?" Candice asked in alarm. “I guess it's lucky you only change a little on the full moon."

How much am I prepared to share?

“Well, that was only the first time." Sophia took a deep breath, “The second time… the second time I changed a little more and a bit more the third time." Picking up on Candice's worry, she added, “It really wasn't much."

I shouldn't tell her about Shadow… yet.

“The third time…" Candice repeated thoughtfully and then cocked her head. “That wouldn't have been a few days ago, would it? New Year's Eve?"

Sophia shifted uncomfortably, feeling muscles near her ears twitch, “Yep, I… well, I messed up the date." She gave a nervous laugh. “That's a story all by itself."

“I was already worried about you before that night," Candice said, sounding sad. “You sat by yourself at lunch and… the things I heard about you. I was happy - and maybe a little jealous - when I heard you had joined the Outdoor Club." Her voice turned pained, “Then I heard you had run out of a party in the middle of the woods and no one had seen you in hours."

Oh God… Poor Candy. Sophia managed to stop herself from nuzzling her friend with her nose and wrapped her arm around Candice instead.

“I'm so sorry," Sophia apologized miserably. “I wasn't trying to worry everyone."

“I was up all night, waiting to hear the worst," Candice related. “It was such a relief to hear you were okay." Her mouth turned into a wry smile. “My dad was so upset when he came home that morning. He seemed to think you were either on drugs, had lost your mind or had just pranked everyone."

I almost did die that night… Sophia shivered and hugged Candice tighter.

“None of that sounded like the Sophia I knew," Candice continued. “That's when I finally gave in and texted you." She smirked, “Now, going werewolfy and running off into the woods? That sounds like the Sophia I know."

Sophia gave a small laugh, although she didn't really feel any mirth.

“I wish I could tell everyone…" she admitted, staring at the floor. “The Outdoors Club members all think I wrecked their night for fun. Camden's parents are furious with me and now my dad is too. He accused me of pulling a prank and grounded me until I admitted it and told him who helped me."

Candice reached over and squeezed Sophia's free hand sympathetically, “Wow, I had gathered things were bad but not that bad. I'm so sorry! Is there anything I can do to help?"

I missed you, Candice, Sophia gave her an appreciative smile and took her hand.

“What you're doing now is helping," she assured her friend. “I've needed someone to talk to for so long and didn't realize it. Well, didn't accept it."

“Thank you for trusting me," Candice told her warmly. “It means so much to me. Let's not push each other away like that again."

“Deal." Sophia agreed and grinned. “Next full moon, I might even invite you along!"

“As long as it's not as a werewolf!" Candice laughed.

“I'll be sure to be careful with these teeth!" Sophia promised. “Wouldn't want any accidental bites!"

“Definitely not!" Candice agreed. “What are you planning to do, now that you're, uh…" She gestured.

What am I going to do? Sophia hesitated. I can't leave now! Not after getting Candice back! But will I even have a choice? What will I tell Shadow?!

“I… I don't know," Sophia told her soberly.

“Maybe there's a way to cure it?" Candice suggested hopefully. “Reverse it?"

Cure it..? Sophia recoiled at the idea and she looked down at her hands. I know that's what I should want and should do if possible, but…

“Maybe…" She echoed unenthusiastically.

Candice didn't seem to notice Sophia's reluctance, “I'll ask Rachel where she heard the legend. Maybe we can learn more and figure out a way to stop it! Wouldn't that be amazing!"

“Yeah, I guess," Sophia mumbled and then changed the subject. “Is your dad… mad at me?"

Candice sighed and rolled her eyes, “Yeah, he's still a bit pissed. I doubt he'd be at all happy to learn I was here. He thinks you've fallen in with some 'bad influences' or something." She brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “It's like he hasn't known you for years."

“Oh," Sophia squirmed.

Candice looked at her and said brightly, “Hey, don't worry, you've got me again! We'll figure out something to get you out of trouble!"

Ever the optimist, Sophia couldn't help feeling buoyed by her friend's enthusiasm.

“You're right," Sophia agreed. “I'm sorry to be such a drag."

“Hey," Candice replied, gently tapping Sophia's arm with a fist. “You've had a tough couple of years and especially months, but we'll get you back to your old self in no time!"

I'm not sure I want to go back to my old self though.

Sophia gave an appreciative smile all the same and said, “Thanks for being here for me, Candy."

“Besties forever, right?" Candice chirped.

What am I going to do? Sophia felt more torn than ever. I love Shadow and being a wolf, but I also couldn't bear hurting Candice.

“Besties forever," Sophia repeated and glanced at the clock. “My dad will be here in half an hour and I'm technically grounded."

“Ah, yeah, my Dad's supposed to pick me up at school at six and my backpack is still there," Candice replied, standing. “I should probably get going."

“Will you be okay walking to school?" Sophia asked, standing as well. “Would you like some extra clothes?"

“If you have any to spare, that would be amazing!" Candice replied gratefully. “It's sooo cold out there!"

I noticed…

“I don't have a lot," Sophia told her and laughed. “Being a werewolf is really hard on clothes as it turns out. But I'm sure I have something. I didn't get you back just to have you freeze!"

Candice put her hands together in an exaggerated prayer, “Thank you! I'll get it all back to you Monday."

“Right, Monday…" Sophia replied sadly, digging through her drawers.

“Hey, you're not alone anymore," Candice said encouragingly. “We can talk over the weekend; I still have so many questions!"

Sophia pulled out a baggy pair of sweatpants, “These should help."

“For sure!" Candice accepted them and quickly pulled them over her thin leggings. “Thanks so much!"

“Of course!" Sophia replied, opening the door to her room.

She led the way to the front door where Candice pulled on the rest of her winter gear. Candice opened her arms to give Sophia a hug, but Sophia leaned in to give the girl's forehead a nuzzle with her nose instead. Before Candice could react, Sophia flicked her tongue across her friend's brow.

“I'm going to have to get used to that, aren't I?" Candice said grudgingly but completed the embrace she had initiated.

She didn't reject it! A thrill ran through Sophia as she accepted the hug.

“Thanks for coming," Sophia told her. “I really needed this."

“Have a good night!" Candice said cheerily as she opened the door, although Sophia didn't miss the worry on the girl's face. “Keep an eye on Friendbook, I'll message you later."

“Alright, stay warm!" Sophia waved and then shut the door behind her.

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