Out of breath, I arrived at Penny for Your

Thoughts to find the shop dark and a hanging

sign with the word CLOSED.

I wondered if Dr. Meadows was sequestered

in her back room giving another cliched reading

like she had given to my friends. Or was she

giving one like mine - dead-on?

Whatever she was telling her client, it

couldn't be more important than what I had to

tell her. I knocked until my hand hurt.

A man the size of several normal fathers

combined, with a shaved head and more tattoos

than skin, lumbered out from the store next to

Penny for Your Thoughts.

"She's closed today. Can't you read the

sign?"

"Uh... yes. It was just that sometimes she

puts the sign out when she's doing a reading."

"This is her day to stay at home."

The man could have easy squashed me like

a bug. Normally, I would have gotten back in my

car and given way to the large, tattooed obstacle

obstructing my goal. But Brandon's life was on

the line and I had to drum up all my courage to

get to Dr. Meadows.

"Do you know where she lives?" I asked in

my nicest voice. "This is very important."

I'm not sure what that tattooed man deemed

important - or if he was going to demand

details. I wasn't about to admit to him that my

new love was a werewolf.

He obviously didn't think I was the type to

be hanging around a tattoo parlor and didn't

seem to want to be further bothered by my

presence. I waited outside his shop as he popped

inside - afraid the tattoo artist was going to ink

Dr. Meadows's address on my back. Instead, he

returned quietly and was kind enough to write it

down on a piece of paper.

I followed his directions closely.

I arrived at a two-story cottage home that

appeared delightfully magical. Wood-carved

sculptures lined the yard. Orbs of every color

dotted what must have been a summertime

garden. Ceramic and mosaic tiles spelled out New

Age affirmations. Artistic symbols of every religion

hung from the porch. I was met with the tune of

a thousand wind chimes clanging in the breeze. I

knocked on her door.

Dr. Meadows answered. Her long gray hair

was frizzy, and she covered her flowing blouse

with a South American shawl.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Dr. Meadows. But

do you remember me?"

I could see she was trying to place me. I

was all bundled up from the cold.

"Were you the one selling candles for your

school band?" she asked. "I've been waiting for

them to be delivered."

I lowered my hoodie. "No. I came to your

store for a reading with my friends."

"Oh yes, of course."

"Please, I must talk to you. I need your

help."

"I wasn't expecting company, but please,

come in."

Dr. Meadows's house was not unlike her

store. It felt warm and cozy, and the scent of

vanilla greeted all visitors. Dreamcatchers hung

against the walls, and amethysts and crystals

lined every vacant space. Expensive-looking

African and Native American artwork decorated

her home as if it were a museum.

"You were right," I said forcefully.

"About what?"

"About everything!" I was nearly shouting.

"Calm down, let me brew you some tea."

"I don't have time for tea. Do you remember

what you said to me?" I asked.

"Uh... I do so many readings...."

"You had insight for my friends - about

their personalities. But when it came to me, you

said, 'Beware of the woods... of the sounds of

howling. There could be outsiders who will turn...

underneath the glow of the full moon.'"

"Ah, yes. I do remember."

"Why did you say what you did to me?"

"It was just a feeling."

"When I left your store, I decided to walk

home. There was a blizzard. I got caught in it.

And then, I was surrounded by a pack of wolves."

"You must be joking." She was as skeptical

of me as I'd originally been of her.

"I'm not."

"How on earth did you survive?" she asked.

"The outsider. He saved me."

Even Dr. Meadows seemed shocked by the

accuracy of her prediction.

"But why did you say what you did to me?" I

pressed again.

"I just had a feeling, that's all."

"But it came true."

"Predictions are often left to the individual's

interpretation."

"You have to believe me. It happened just as

you said - just as you warned me."

Dr. Meadows was speechless.

"But it's true," I said.

"Are you sure? One message could be

interpreted many ways."

"Not in this case. Snow is snow. Howling is

howling." I tried to persuade her.

"It couldn't be," she argued.

"But it could. It did. You knew."

"I did?"

It was then we both realized the impact of

our situation.

She rose, her face glowing like a crystal in

the sunlight. "All these years..." she muttered to

herself.

I couldn't believe it. I was having to

convince Dr. Meadows that she was psychic.

"No one has believed you?" I asked.

"But you have free will," she said in a daze.

"Yes, I do. But you predicted it. And I should

have listened."

She sat down as if her energy had been

spirited away.

"It's true, Dr. Meadows. Everything you told

me came true. And now you have to help me."

"Help you?" she asked, confused. "But you

made it safely out of the woods."

"Well... It's not me who needs help, really.

But before I tell you... is there some sort of

psychic-client privilege - like an attorney-client

one?"

"I don't think so..."

"I mean this must be a secret."

"Maybe you should tell a priest. Or a rabbi.

Or a school counselor." She was shying away

from taking any further responsibility in the

matter.

"No - I have to tell you. No one else will

understand."

Dr. Meadows was hesitant. "All right. Go

ahead."

"You said beware of a kiss underneath a full

moon."

"Yes?"

"I kissed a guy. And he changed..."

"Go on."

"Into a..."

"An animal?" she asked.

"Well, sort of."

"Honey, they all do." She laughed. "That's all

you wanted to tell me?"

"Dr. Meadows, you have to believe me.

There is a guy in this town, and when there is a

full moon, he turns..."

"Turns into what?"

"A werewolf."

"A werewolf?" Dr. Meadows was incredulous.

This time she let out a laugh that shook the

candles flickering on her coffee table. "Honey,

now I think this may be something for the school

nurse...."

"Dr. Meadows - you have all those books

in your store about witches and warlocks. I

thought you believed it all."

"I do believe in some - I've based my life's

work on the supernatural. I've seen and felt

apparitions and other paranormal events. But I'm

sure that I'm not the first person in the world

who doesn't believe in werewolves."

"But you must. You are the only person I

know who can help him," I urged. "Dr. Meadows -

" I pleaded. But the psychic remained silent.

"I only know what I told you."

"You know things that others don't. You

need to help my friend. Before it's too late. The

moon will be full again soon."

Now Dr. Meadows grew concerned. "This

isn't something I can change with a moment's

notice. I have to consult books and spells. And..."

I saw dollar signs in her eyes. "I just have a

small allowance. But I'll give you all of it - "

She studied me, as if now realizing that I

might be telling her the truth.

"This must remain a secret," I said. "You are

the only person I've told. Not even my best

friends or my parents know what happened."

"I will need to observe him. Both when the

moon is waxing and of course when it is full."

"I don't think that is possible now. He's

forbidden me to see him."

"He is angry?" she asked. "He blames you?

Us?" She was suddenly afraid. "You haven't told

him where I live, have you?"

"Of course not. And besides, he's not mad or

vengeful. That's the point. This guy is different

from anyone I've ever met before. He refuses to

be near me at night because he's afraid he's

dangerous."

"Well, if what you say is true and he is a

werewolf, you must stay away from him. For your

own safety."

"So, you believe me?" I asked.

"Yes, I do," she said. "But I must see him. As

soon as possible."

I gave Dr. Meadows a huge hug. Her warm

personality crept through her embrace. Finally,

part of my guilt was assuaged. "Thank you. I feel

better already."

As she opened the door for me, the wind

outside was still. Dr. Meadows grasped my

shoulder as if something overcame her. "You

must never kiss a werewolf," she warned

vehemently.

She shut the door behind me, and the chimes

rang out wildly. Suddenly I didn't feel so at ease

anymore.

I wasn't sure how I'd convince Brandon to

let Dr. Meadows meet him with the full moon

approaching. He wasn't keen on me being with

him under these circumstances, and she wasn't

the kind of doctor who was certified by the

medical board. How was I going to let a perfect

stranger hang out in the woods and watch him

transform into a lycan? There was so much

Brandon was dealing with at once - but perhaps

he'd be comforted by someone trying to help him.

I decided to text him with my news. As I waited

for his response, I continued research on my

essay. However, I didn't find any information on

the effects of kissing a werewolf. I was so

attracted to Brandon - by day and by night -

all I could do was imagine kissing him. If I was

warned not to, I wasn't sure what the

implications might be. Maybe I'd turn into a

werewolf, or maybe it would be his demise. It

wasn't fair that I wasn't supposed to kiss the

one guy I was desperate to be with. Instead, I

clung to his shirt as if it were him.

And not knowing why - or what might

happen - if I kissed a werewolf only made the

torment worse. And if I was in agony, I could only

imagine the torment Brandon faced alone at

school or by night in the woods.

I was alone, too. I'd always had Ivy to lean

on and help me through situations. This time I'd

have to figure out the answers on my own. My

life had been easier and much less complicated

before Brandon Maddox arrived at Legend's Run,

but I wouldn't trade knowing him for the peace I

had then.