“That was Erin McMillan, who’s on the fundraising committee of the ‘Friends of the Redstone Library.’ You remember her, Garrett—big blonde hair, green eyes, a real chatterbox.”

“Sounds familiar,” the ranger said.

“She called to say that Ernie Ilson has been on the phone with everyone in Redstone, demanding a town meeting to talk about what’s got to be done about…the plague.”

“Plague?” said Harlan.

“What plague?” added the ranger.

“The plague…” Phyllis said, moving her head slightly from side to side, “of killer wolves infecting Redstone.”

“You must be kidding,” muttered the ranger.

“I’m afraid not,” Phyllis said.

“What do you think I should do?” he asked.

Everyone turned to Phyllis.

“I think,” she said, “you should go to that meeting.”

“Yeah,” the ranger replied. “I think you’re right.”

Chapter 5

Life at Redstone Secondary School had slowly settled into a pleasant routine for the pack. After Argus and the others had found Angelina Abruzzo in the woods and were instrumental in getting her the medical attention that saved her life, a feeling of acceptance settled upon the students. And with Jake McKinnon, the school bully, serving time in a closed-custody facility up near Smithers, no one was calling Harlan “dogface” anymore. Best of all, Tora and Maria Abruzzo were getting along famously. They were meeting regularly in the halls for chats, talking on MSN at night, and even eating lunch together in the school cafeteria.

That’s why the attack on Mr. Ilson’s animals was so disheartening to the pack. After fifteen long years of being on the outside looking in, here they were on the inside, so accepted in the school that no one looked twice at them anymore, or called them names. If news got out that it wasn’t just wolves terrorizing the town, but a werewolf…a wolf man, then everyone would be afraid of them again and it wouldn’t be safe to go to school anymore.

But that hadn’t happened, yet. So far, the attack had been an isolated incident, and with the ranger and the sergeant working to prevent further losses of property or life, chances were good the pack could continue to enjoy things for at least a few more days.

During lunch period, Tora met Maria in the far corner of the cafeteria. She loved sitting with Maria, talking about everything from their favorite reality TV shows to the cutest guys in the school. It was a great break from eating lunch with her brothers—which she’d done just about every day she’d been at the school—and it made her feel like she belonged.

“Hi, Tora,” Maria said one day, sliding over to make room.

Tora sat down next to her. “Hey, Maria,” she said. “Do you have anything to trade?”