A L S O B Y

A N N E T T E C U R T I S K L A U S E

Blood and

Chocolate

Turn the page for an excerpt from Blood & Chocolate

The morning was tentatively warm, and the smellof early roses drifted over from a neighbor’s yard.The day would be hot later; she was glad she’ddecided to wear shorts. Not much school left now, Vivianthought as she walked down the tree-lined street.What will I do in the summer? Move, she hoped. Get outof this place.

“Hey, Viv.”A lean, muscular figure peeled out from behind a

stone gatepost, and her eyes widened briefly. “Rafe,”she said in casual greeting, and kept on walking. Ifshe hadn’t been daydreaming she would have sniffedhim out.

Rafe fell in beside her. She noticed that he was nowcultivating a goatee and mustache. He ran a handthrough his thick, long brown hair and shifted his gripon a package wrapped in newspaper he carried underone arm. “Going to school?”

“Some of us do.”The Five were more likely to be found hanging

”iVVi“Hof this place.What will I do inthought as shdecided to weaThe day wouof early roses

The morning

Move, she hn the summer?ehe walked down the tr

Not much school ts. ar shoruld be hot later; she w

om a nedrifted over frm, g was tentatively war

hoped. Get outee-lined street.

ivianVVi,left noww,was glad she’d

s yard.eighbor’and the smell

th h hi thicultivating a g

Rafe fell in bhim out.

t beeshe hadn’she said in casstone gatepost,

A lean, mus.”vi, VVi“Heyy,

i k l b h i dgoatee and mustache. H

. She noticed thbeside her

n daydreaming she woulsual greeting, and kept o, and her eyes widened bscular figure peeled out f

hift d hi iHe ran a handhat he was now

ld have sniffedon walking. If

. “Rafe,”brieflyfrom behind a

The Five w“Some of us

one arm. “Goinon a package wthrough his thi

were more likely to be fdo.”

ng to school?”wrapped in newspaper heick, long brown hair and s

found hanging

e carried undershifted his grip

1

out by the diner around the corner from school, ordown by the river.

“Yaaaaahhhhhh!”“Whoooooooooooooooo!”Two boys dropped from a roadside tree in a jingling

of chains, hair flying. This time she did start slightly,and cursed herself. She should have known the otherswere near. The twins, Willem and Finn, looked pleasedwith themselves. Round-faced Willem slipped an armaround her waist and gave her a friendly squeeze.“Didn’t scare you, did we?” he asked, obviouslyhoping he had.

“You are such a puppy,” Vivian said, removing hisarm. He’d been her favorite of the twins as they weregrowing up. He was sweeter and more predictablethan his brother, but his affectionate gestures had losta great deal of their innocence in the last year or so.

Finn, the gaunter twin, smiled sardonically.She was expecting the others now, so it came as no

surprise when Gregory, the twins’ lanky, fair-hairedcousin, stepped silently out from behind another treeand folded in with them, and Ulf hopped over a whitepicket fence to dance his jittery way backward upthe sidewalk, laughing wildly, until Rafe cuffed him tothe rear.

They wore their usual uniform of boots, black jeans,T-shirts, and assorted tattoos. Rafe had his sleevesrolled up to show off his biceps. My bodyguards, Vivianthought.

“Saw your mother go into Tooley’s bar with Gabriel

down by the rivout by the din

.verer around the corner froom school, or

around her wawith themselves

. The were nearand cursed hersof chains, hair

wo boys droTTw“Whooooooo

aaaaahhhh“YYa

aist and gave her a frieillem ss. Round-faced WWi

illem and Finn, ltwins, WWiself. She should have knoflying. This time she didopped from a roadside tre

oooooooooo!”hhh!”

endly squeeze.lipped an armlooked pleasedown the others

,d start slightlyy,ee in a jingling

ShFinn, the gau

a great deal of tthan his brothegrowing up. Harm. He’d been

ou are suc“YYohoping he had.

t scare “Didn’

i h hunter twin, smiled sardonitheir innocence in the last

, but his affectionate gesrr,He was sweeter and morn her favorite of the twins

ivian said,,” VVich a puppyy,

you, did we?” he ask

i.ically

year or so.stures had lostre predictables as they were removing his

ed, obviously

hi t dTTThey wore th

.the rearthe sidewalk, lapicket fence toand folded in wcousin, steppedsurprise when

She was expe

t d t tt R f hheir usual uniform of boot

, until Rafeaughing wildlyy,o dance his jittery way

with them, and Ulf hoppedd silently out from behind

, the twins’ lankGregoryy,, soecting the others noww,

d hi lts, black jeans,

e cuffed him tobackward up

d over a whited another tree

-haired, fairkyy,o it came as no

“Saw your mthought.rolled up to sho

-shirts, and aTT-

s barooley’mother go into TTo

My bodyow off his biceps.assorted tattoos. Rafe ha

r with Gabriel

ivianVViyguards,ad his sleeves

2

last night,” Finn said. “She was all over him.” His lipssketched a spiteful thin leer, and his eyes narrowedexpectantly.

Vivian bristled, but she wasn’t going to say anything.“Yeah, Astrid wasn’t far behind,” said Rafe. “And

she looked pissed.” He laughed.“Hey, leave my mom out of it,” Ulf piped up.So that’s who they were fighting over, Vivian thought.

Gabriel. That was disgusting. He was only twenty-four.And full of himself, from what she could tell.

Rafe took the parcel he carried out from beneath hisarm, and Vivian heard Ulf giggle. Rafe pulled at theknotted string to loosen it. His eyes were more redthan brown when he glanced up at her, a wicked grinplaying about his lips, and Vivian knew he was up tomischief.

“Vivian, I’d like to give you my heart,” Rafe said,suddenly serious, then immediately grinning again.“But since that might be inconvenient, I’ve broughtyou someone else’s.”

The newspaper unrolled, and he slapped a brownslimy gob down on the sidewalk.

“Rafe!” She looked around wildly, hoping no neigh-bors were in sight. “What the hell are you up to?”

The Five were helpless with laughter.Vivian grabbed the newspaper from Rafe’s hand and

scooped up the mess.“Give you my heart . . . ,” he gasped, and bent over

laughing again.Where could she put this? Where was the body?

sketched a spilast night,” Fin

, and his eiteful thin leerr,nn said. “She was all over

eyes narrowedr him.” His lips

And full of himThat wGabriel.

s whoSo that’’s, leave m“Heyy,

she looked pisseah, Astri“YYe

ivian bristleVVi.expectantly

mself, from what she couldwas disgusting. He was on

V,o they were fighting overr,my mom out of it,” Ulf pipsed.” He laughed.

t far behind,” said wasn’t going toed, but she wasn’

d tell..ly twenty-four

ivian thought.VViped up.

aid Rafe. “Ando say anything.

“B i hsuddenly serio

ivian, I’d “VVimischief.playing about hthan brown whknotted string

iviaarm, and VViRafe took th

i h b i ious, then immediately glike to give you my hea

ivian knewhis lips, and VVi,hen he glanced up at herr,

to loosen it. His eyes wan heard Ulf giggle. Rafe

he parcel he carried out fro

I’ b hgrinning again.art,” Rafe said,

w he was up to a wicked grin

were more rede pulled at theom beneath his

d thivian grabbVVi

The Five webors were in sig

“Rafe!” She slimy gob down

The newspayou someone el“But since tha

bed the newspaper from R.ere helpless with laughter

ght. “What the hell are yo, holooked around wildlyy,

n on the sidewalk.aper unrolled, and he sla

s.”lse’at might be inconvenient

s hand andRafe’

ou up to?”oping no neigh-

apped a brown

t, I’ve brought

Where couldlaughing again

“Give you mscooped up the

d she put this? Where w.

,” he gasped, ...my heart e mess.

was the body?

and bent over

3

She started to rewrap the disgusting trophy. Then,“Rafe, you jerk,” she cried. “This is a sheep’s heart.”

More howls of laughter exploded from the Five.She didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved.

“You were over at Uncle Rudy’s store, weren’t you?”Rudy was a meat cutter at Safeway. When no oneanswered her, she growled and flung the wholepackage in Rafe’s face. That set the others off evenworse. Ulf had tears in his eyes.

She turned and left them, but they followed at a dis-tance anyway, and she heard their bursts of laughterall the way to school.

Mom thinks the Five have learned their lesson, Vivianthought. “Hah!” she said out loud.

When Axel had come home from jail, her father hadpassed judgment swiftly. The punishment for endan-gering the pack was death.

Vivian couldn’t save Axel, but she pleaded with herfather for the Five. They were just kids like her. Theyhad only killed to prove the witness wrong and protectthe secret of the pack. They wouldn’t do it again. SoIvan Gandillon made them beg forgiveness of theMoon and run the Trial of the Fang down a narrowpath lined with the pack in their fur, and all could taketheir bites. Some said that he let the Five off toolightly, although they licked their wounds for weeks.Maybe those people were right. Vivian hadn’t quitetrusted the Five ever since.

It wasn’t until almost lunchtime that Vivian remem-bered that she wanted to track down Aiden Teague.

“Rafe, you jerk,She started to

,” she cried. “This is a sherewrap the disgusting t

s heart.”eep’. Then,trophy

She turned anworse. Ulf had package in Raf

, answered herr,Rudy was a m

ou were over“YYot knShe didn’

More howls o

nd left them, but they folltears in his eyes.

s face. That set the otfe’she growled and flun

. Wmeat cutter at Safeways store, r at Uncle Rudy’

now whether to be angrof laughter exploded from

lowed at a dis-

thers off evenng the wholeWhen no one

t you?”weren’ry or relieved.m the Five.

f h f h Fivian couldnVVi

gering the packpassed judgmen

When Axel hthought. “Hah!

Mom thinks tall the way to sc

, tance anywayy,

Fi Th j kidt save Axel, but she plen’

k was death.. The punishment swiftly

had come home from jail, h” she said out loud.the Five have learned their chool.and she heard their burs

Thlik headed with her

ent for endan-her father had

ivianVVilesson,

sts of laughter

M b th, althoughlightlyy,

their bites. Sompath lined with Moon and run Ivan Gandillonthe secret of thhad only killed father for the F

i il i ht VVih they licked their wounme said that he let the

, andthe pack in their furr,rial of the Fang dothe TTr

n made them beg forgivt dhe pack. They wouldn’

to prove the witness wronFive. They were just kids

t ith d ’nds for weeks. Five off too

d all could takeown a narrowveness of the

do it again. Song and protect

. Theylike her

bered that she t untiIt wasn’

trusted the FiveMaybe those p

wanted to track down Ail almost lunchtime that Ve ever since.

ivianpeople were right. VVi

eague.Aiden TTeivian remem-VVi

t quiten hadn’

4

Yeah, why don’t I have a look at this poet, she told her-self. See if I like him writing about things he shouldn’t knowabout. That was better than sitting around being mis-erable. Where should she look? She decided to ask herart teacher. He was one of the advisers to The Trumpet.

“Oh, yeah. He’s a junior,” Mr. Antony said, shakingsome brushes out over the art-room sink.

“How would I find him?” Vivian asked.“Well, if you hang around for another half an hour

until second lunch, all you’ll have to do is look out thatwindow. He hangs out with his friends in the quad-rangle, under those arches over there.” He pointedwith the brushes to a section of the covered walkwaythat ran around the perimeter of the square courtyard.

“What does he look like?”“Oh, I dunno. He’s tall, bohemian.”Whatever that means, she thought.Mr. Antony must have noticed her blank look. “You

know, a throwback to the sixties, jeans and beads, anMTV hippie.”

The way he said that made her suspect that hethought he’d been the real thing at one time.

“Oh, I know,” the teacher added. “He was wearingthis flowery shirt this morning—lots of yellow andblue. It made me smile. Listen, I’ve got to grab a sand-wich. Close the door when you leave.”

“Sure.”Luckily she’d brought her lunch with her. She

relaxed on the warm windowsill and chewed on apiece of steak while she waited. Groups of kids were

See if I likeself.eah, why don’t YYe

e him writing about things heI have a look at this poet,

e shouldn’t know-she told her

until second lunell, if you“WWe

“How wouldsome brushes o

“Oh, yeah. H. Heart teacher

erable. Where That waabout.

nch, all you’ll have to do iu hang around for anothe

ivian asked I find him?” VViout over the art-room sink

. Antony,” Mrs a juniorr,He’e was one of the advisers tshould she look? She dec

as better than sitting arou

is look out thater half an houred.k.y said, shaking

.rumpetThe TTrto cided to ask herund being mis-

hk. Antony Mr

Whatever that“Oh, I dunno“What does h

that ran aroundwith the brushrangle, under

. He hwindow

b k h i i jmust have noticed her bla

she thought.t means,s tall, bohemian.”o. He’

he look like?”d the perimeter of the squ

hes to a section of the covthose arches over thereangs out with his friend

d b douank look. “YYo

uare courtyard.vered walkwaye.” He pointedds in the quad-

“S ”wich. Close theblue. It made mthis flowery sh

“Oh, I knowthought he’d be

The way heMTV hippie.”

, a throwknow

e door when you leave.”me smile. Listen, I’ve got thirt this morning—lots ,” the teacher added. “Hw

een the real thing at one te said that made her su

wback to the sixties, jeans

to grab a sand-of yellow and

He was wearingtime.uspect that he

and beads, an

piece of steak relaxed on the

Luckily she“Sure.”

while she waited. Groupe warm windowsill and

e’d brought her lunch w

ps of kids werechewed on a

. Shewith her

5

scattered across the quad, eating, talking, and sun-bathing. Some of the boys had their shirts off, theirflesh golden and slick as if they’d swallowed the sun.They were sweet to look upon. Her eyes lingered onthem tenderly as she bit into her meat.

At the next bell, the shift changed. Kids reluctantlyscooped up T-shirts, soda cans, and books, and hurriedto class, while others hardly distinguishable from themtook their places.

I’ll be late to French, Vivian thought. It didn’t matter,the teacher loved her. She had a perfect accent. Viviansat upright, and her hands kneaded her empty lunchbag. She kept her eye on the arches.

Two young men walked into view. One had dark,shoulder-length hair and wore a flowered shirt. Thatmust be him. Another boy joined them, then a girl.They stood laughing under the canopy, the shadowshiding their faces.

So that’s you, Poet Boy, Vivian thought, but shecouldn’t see him clearly. She wanted a closer look.

Why am I bothering? she asked herself as she wentthrough the side door. Because I’m a pirate of the night andI want to see who’s trespassing in my territory, sheanswered. But maybe he was one of her kind fromsome other pack. Or maybe he just knows too much, shethought. She laughed aloud at her melodramaticthoughts as she crossed the grass, and a spotty tenth-grader eyed her curiously. The sun was hot, so shepeeled off her shirt to reveal the tank top underneath.

Shall I only have a look, or will I say something? shewondered. “Ooooh I loved your poem.” Instantly she felt

bathing. Some scattered acros

of the boys had their shss the quad, eating, talk

hirts off, theirking, and sun-

I’ll be late to Ftook their placeto class, while o

-shscooped up TAt the next b

them tenderly aThey were sweflesh golden an

ivian thought. It VViFrench,es.others hardly distinguishahirts, soda cans, and bookbell, the shift changed. Kias she bit into her meat.eet to look upon. Her eyend slick as if they’d swallo

,t matterr,didn’

able from themks, and hurriedids reluctantly

es lingered onowed the sun.

S h ’hiding their faceThey stood laumust be him. A

-lengthshoulderwo young mTTw

bag. She kept hsat upright, andthe teacher love

i i hVViP Bes.

ughing under the canopyy,Another boy joined themh hair and wore a flower

. Omen walked into viewher eye on the arches.d her hands kneaded her

. She had a perfect ed her

h b h

, the shadowsyy,m, then a girl.red shirt. ThatOne had dark,

r empty lunchivianaccent. VVi

th ht hthought. She some other pacanswered. But I want to see through the side

Why am I bott see himcouldn’

s youSo that’’s

d th dlaughed aloud at her

Or maybe he just knowsck.maybe he was one of h

s trespassing in my who’’sBecause I’m a pirate.e doorshe asked herselthering?. She wanted a clm clearly

ivian thouVVi,u, Poet Boyy,

tt t thmelodramatic

shes too much,her kind from

she,territoryy, of the night andlf as she wentoser look.

ught, but she

“Ooowondered.Shall I only h

peeled off her shgrader eyed hethoughts as she

Insooh I loved your poem.” have a look, or will I say shirt to reveal the tank top

. The sun waer curiouslye crossed the grass, and a

tantly she feltshesomething?

p underneath.as hot, so shea spotty tenth-

6

like playing wicked games. She put a sway in her walk.Maybe I’ll make him look.

The boy to Aiden’s left noticed her first. He was aburly blond with a good-natured face and eyes thatglazed over slightly at her approach. Vivian couldn’tresist, she winked, and his cheeks turned pink. It wasso easy. The other kid, wearing some kind of funnylopsided haircut, kept on yakking away, but the girllooked over and wrinkled her nose. She was small,with close-cropped dark hair—the sort of girl thatwore black stockings even on days like these. I’ll put afew more runs in those tights, honey, if you look at me like thatagain, Vivian promised silently.

Then Aiden Teague turned around to see what hadcaptured his friends’ attention. The crystal stud in hisleft ear reflected the sun in a burst of rainbow, and hisslow easy smile sent a shock through her.

She was staring, she knew, but his face was deli-cious. His eyes were amused and dreamy, as ifobserving life from the outside and finding it vaguelyfunny. He seemed languid, not intense like the Five—those jangly, nervy, twitching, squirming, fighting,snapping, sharp-edged creatures who demanded somuch from her. She noticed his tall dancer’s frame andhis long-fingered hands, and the thought crossed hermind that she would enjoy him touching her.

“Do I know you?” he asked. He waited expectantly,a bemused look on his face.

Maybe I’ll makelike playing wic

look.himcked games. She put a swway in her walk.

with close-croplooked over anlopsided haircu

. The oso easyresist, she winkglazed over sliburly blond w

The boy to A

pped dark hair—the sond wrinkled her nose. Sut, kept on yakking awaother kid, wearing some ked, and his cheeks turneightly at her approach. V

with a good-natured face s left noticed her fiAiden’

rt of girl thatShe was small,

, but the girlayy,kind of funny

ed pink. It wastivian couldn’VVi

and eyes thatfirst. He was a

i HiShe was sta

slow easy smileleft ear reflectecaptured his fr

Then Aiden ivian prVViagain,

few more runs in wore black sto

d d, but his aring, she knew

e sent a shock through hered the sun in a burst of rariends’ attention. The cry

eague turned around toT.romised silently, if you loothose tights, honeyy,

ckings even on days like

ifdface was deli-.r

, and hisainbowstal stud in hiso see what had

ok at me like thatI’ll put athese.

“D I kmind that she whis long-fingermuch from hersnapping, shar

, those janglyy,. He seemfunny

observing life fcious. His ey

?” h k d H itwould enjoy him touchinged hands, and the thoug. She noticed his tall dancrrp-edged creatures who

, twitching, squirmnervyy,med languid, not intense lfrom the outside and find

yes were amused and

d t tl.g her

ght crossed hers frame andcer’

demanded soming, fighting,like the Five—ding it vaguely

, as ifdreamyy,

a bemused look“Do I know

k on his face.you?” he asked. He waite ,ed expectantlyy,

7

Vivian said the first thing that came into her head.“Um. I liked your poem in The Trumpet.” I don’t believethat stupid sentence came out of my mouth, she thought.

“Hey, thanks,” Aiden said. He still looked puzzled.He’s not a werewolf, she thought in dismay. How can I

react this way when he’s not one of us? His smell of sweetperspiration and soap was purely human. Get a grip,girl, Vivian told herself. She didn’t like this off-balancefeeling. She put a hand on her hip and dared his darkeyes to try and drown her now. “Your poem was facinga print of mine. I was glad I wasn’t next to some trash.”

The blond kid brayed with laughter.“Shut up, Quince,” Aiden said, but he grinned.“That was like some forest scene, wasn’t it?” the kid

with the funny haircut said. “Spooky, man.”The dark-haired girl put a hand on Aiden’s arm.

“Bingo’s waiting for us.”“Hold on, Kelly.” Aiden gently disengaged his arm,

and the girl frowned sulkily. “Cool picture,” he said toVivian. “It’s like you read my mind.”

i i ldVVii lperspiration anreact this way wh

s not a wereHe’’s, thanks“Heyy,

that stupid senten“Um. I liked yo

ivian said tVVi

lik hh lf Sh did ’nd soap was purely hum

His ss not one of us?hen he’’sshe thought in dismrewolf,

s,” Aiden said. He still lookshnce came out of my mouth,

.rumpetThe TTrour poem inhe first thing that came i

hi ff b lGet a grip,an.

smell of sweetHow can I. may

ked puzzled.he thought.

I don’t believe”into her head.

Th d k hwith the funny h

“That was lik“Shut up, QuThe blond kid

a print of mine. eyes to try and dfeeling. She put

ivian toldVVigirl,

i d i l t h d, mahaircut said. “Spookyy,

ke some forest scene, wasnuince,” Aiden said, but he

.d brayed with laughtert next tI was glad I wasn’our po. “YYodrown her now

t a hand on her hip and dt like th herself. She didn’

Aid ’an.”

t it?” the kidn’grinned.

to some trash.”oem was facingdared his darkhis off-balance

s likeivian. “It’VViand the girl frow

“Hold on, Kes waiting“Bingo’

The dark-ha

e you read my mind.”. “Cool pictuwned sulkily

.” Aiden gently disengellyg for us.”

aired girl put a hand on

ure,” he said togaged his arm,

s arm. Aiden’

8

“That’s what I thought about your poem,” Viviananswered. Her response to him was disturbing but shewanted to explore it. She took his hand and turned itup, then ran her nails down the length of his fingers.He didn’t resist.

“What are you going to do, tell my fortune?” Aidenasked.

“Yes,” she answered. She slid a felt pen from herpurse. Then, while he watched mesmerized, she wroteher phone number in his palm. On a whim she out-lined it with a five-pointed star.

“What’s that?” Quince said. “You Jewish orsomething?”

“Nah,” said Aiden softly. “That’s a pentagram.”“So she’s a witch,” Kelly snapped.No, my dear, Vivian thought. You don’t watch enough

late-night movies. The person who sees a pentagram in hispalm becomes a werewolf’s victim.

“Are you a witch?” Aiden asked, his eyes twinkling.Her voice was husky. “Why don’t you find out?”

She folded his hand around the sign that made himhers. Inside, her heart was thumping crazily inresponse to her charade, but she refused to lose hernerve.

As she walked away she heard Kelly raise her voice,but she didn’t bother listening. Was that his girlfriendthen? He could do better. Much better.

All afternoon her thoughts returned to him like asong she couldn’t get out of her head. After a while itbecame annoying. What am I, a pervert? she asked her-self. He was human, for Moon’s sake—half a person.

answered. Hers what“That’

r response to him was distt I thought about your

turbing but sheivianpoem,” VVi

her phone numpurse. Then, w

es,” she a“YYeasked.

“What are yt resistHe didn’

up, then ran hwanted to expl

mber in his palm. On a wwhile he watched mesmerianswered. She slid a felt

ou going to do, tell my fot.er nails down the lengthlore it. She took his hand

whim she out-ized, she wrote

pen from her

ortune?” Aiden

of his fingers.d and turned it

“Apalm becomes a wlate-night movies

No, my dearr,s a w“So she’

“Nah,” said Asomething?”

s tha“What’lined it with a fi

i h?” Aid k d his victim.’’werewolf

s. The person who sees a peou donYYoivian thought.VVi

witch,” Kelly snapped.s a pen. “That’Aiden softly

oat?” Quince said. “YYo.five-pointed star

i kli

entagram in hisn’t watch enough

ntagram.”

ou Jewish or

th ? H ldt bbut she didn’

As she walkenerve.response to hehers. Inside, She folded his

Her voice w“Are you a w

M h b ttd d b ttas thabother listening. WWa

ed away she heard Kelly r

er charade, but she refusher heart was thumpi

s hand around the sign tt y. “Why don’was husky

witch?” Aiden asked, his e

at his girlfriendraise her voice,

sed to lose hering crazily inthat made himyou find out?”eyes twinkling.

self. He was hubecame annoyisong she could

All afternoonthen? He could

s sake—human, for Moon’What am I, a pervert?ing.

t get out of her head. Adn’n her thoughts returned

.. Much betterd do better

half a person.she asked her-

After a while it to him like a

9

It’s only a game, she told herself, to see if I can snarehim. But she wanted to know what was in a humanhead to make him write that poem, and she wanted toknow why he’d stolen the breath from her lips.

As she reached home the front door opened.Gabriel, the inspiration for her mother’s latest fight,was leaving. He filled the door frame, blocking herway. His T-shirt clung to his wide chest.

“Hi, Viv,” he said. “Lookin’ good.” His voice rumbledlike lazy thunder.

The teasing in his blue eyes made her want to spit.“Save that for Esmé.”

Gabriel rubbed his chin and grinned. She noticedthe puckered white scar tissue on the back of his righthand. The tip of another scar showed at his throat.“We don’t see you down at Tooley’s,” he said, ignoringher anger.

She glared up at him. “I’m too young to drink.”He looked her over, taking his time. Before she

could help it she tugged at the hemline of her shorts.Her shirt felt too tight. She was aware of a droplet ofsweat that tickled its way down between her breasts.“Could have fooled me,” he finally said.

She stared him in the eye, challenging him; she wasout of her depth, but defiant anyway, willing her lipnot to tremble. There was silence for a moment andshe couldn’t read his strong, chiseled face. He reachedfor her. She jerked back. Then he laughed like a giantand moved aside. She slid past him into the house,angry that she’d flinched, but showing him that shedared go by. She closed the door on his arrogant face.

But she whim.s only a gamIt’’s

wanted to know what wato seeshe told herself,me,

as in a humane if I can snare

like lazy thunde,” he ivv,“Hi, VVi-shir. His TT-way

was leaving. HGabriel, the in

As she reacknow why he’d head to make h

.ersaid. “Lookin’ good.” His

rt clung to his wide chest.He filled the door frame,

spiration for her motherched home the front stolen the breath from he

him write that poem, and

umbledvoice r

blocking hers latest fight,r’

door opened.er lips.she wanted to

H l k d hShe glared up

.her angert see ye don’“WWe

hand. The tip the puckered w

Gabriel rubb“Save that for E

The teasing i

ki hi ihp at him. “I’m too young t

s,” he ooley’you down at TToof another scar showed

white scar tissue on the babed his chin and grinnedEsmé.”in his blue eyes made her

B f hto drink.”

said, ignoringat his throat.

ack of his rightd. She noticed

r want to spit.

h ld ’not to tremble.out of her dept

She stared hi“Could have foosweat that ticklHer shirt felt tocould help it sh

He looked h

d hi t hi l d f There was silence for a

, wth, but defiant anywayy,im in the eye, challengingoled me,” he finally said.led its way down betweeoo tight. She was aware ohe tugged at the hemline

, taking his timher overr,

H h da moment andwilling her lipg him; she was

en her breasts.of a droplet ofof her shorts.e. Before she

. Shdared go byangry that she’and moved asid

. She jerkfor hert reashe couldn’

he closed the door on his a’d flinched, but showingde. She slid past him inked back. Then he laughad his strong, chiseled fac

arrogant face.g him that shento the house,ed like a giant

ce. He reached

10

“Mom!” she yelled shrilly.Esmé poked her head out from the dining room.“How long’s he been here?” Vivian demanded.“Only a few minutes,” Esmé answered. She looked

smug. “He dropped by to invite me for a late-nightdrink.”

“Dammit, Mom. He’s twenty-four.”“So?”“You’re almost forty.”“Well, rub it in.” But nothing was wiping the smile

off Esmé’s face.“Don’t you think it’s a little bit disgusting?”Esmé flung her hands in the air. “Well, for goodness’

sake, I’m not serious about him.”“Oh great. Now he’s your boy toy.”Esmé smirked. “Some boy.” She danced up the

stairs, her rear end wagging like a tail. Vivian followedEsmé up and slammed the door of her room.

Rudy had gone to Tooley’s bar after work, so therewere just Vivian and Esmé at the dinner table. Vivianwas still brooding about Gabriel’s visit. She thought ofher father and the aching emptiness that still gnawedat her. Her parents had seemed so happy together.She’d thought her mother shared that ache, but nowEsmé was acting like a stupid fourteen-year-old.

“Didn’t you love Dad?” she finally said.Esmé looked startled at this question out of the blue.

“Yes, I loved him.”“Then why are you out running around?”“A year’s a long time, Vivian. I’m tired of crying. I’m

lonely. Sometimes I want a man in my bed.”

Esmé poked“Mom!” she

her head out from the din.yelled shrilly

ning room.

ell, rub it“WWeou’re almo“YYo

“So?”“Dammit, M

drink.”smug. “He dro

“Only a fews “How long’

t in.” But nothing was wi.”ost forty

.”s twenty-fourMom. He’

opped by to invite me fow minutes,” Esmé answere

ivian dehe been here?” VVi

iping the smile

or a late-nighted. She lookedemanded.

R d h dEsmé up and slstairs, her rear

Esmé smirk“Oh great. N

sake, I’m not seEsmé flung h

t you t“Don’s faceoff Esmé’

b fl ’TTlammed the door of her roend wagging like a tail. V

.” She dked. “Some boy.”s your boy toyNow he’

erious about him.”ell. “WWeher hands in the air

s a little bit disgustthink it’e.

k hoom.ivian followedVVi

danced up the

l, for goodness’ting?”

E é l k dt you “Didn’

Esmé was actinShe’d thought

. Her paat herher father and was still broodi

iviawere just VViRudy had go

d t tl d t thi tilove Dad?” she finally saing like a stupid fourteen-yher mother shared that

arents had seemed so hathe aching emptiness tha

s visit. ing about Gabriel’an and Esmé at the dinne

s bar after ooley’one to TTo

t f th blid.

-old.yearache, but now

.appy togetherat still gnawedShe thought of

ivianer table. VViwork, so there

. Sometimlonelys a lo“A year’

“Then why aes, I loved hi“YYeEsmé looked

mes I want a man in my bivian. I’m tiredong time, VVi

are you out running arounim.”

d startled at this question o

ed.”d of crying. I’mnd?”

out of the blue.

11

Vivian grabbed her plate abruptly and headed forthe kitchen. Couldn’t her mother talk to her as if shewas a daughter? She scraped her leftovers into thetrash with a squeal of knife against porcelain.

“Watch those dishes!” her mother yelled.That’s more like it, Vivian thought.An hour later Vivian was on her bed doing some

halfhearted studying for Chemistry, when the phonerang. She picked up the phone on the second-floorhallway, expecting to hear one of the pack, but it wasAiden.

“There’s a free concert at the university thisweekend,” he said. “Sunday afternoon. You wanna go. . . maybe?”

Her eyes half closed and she licked her lips.“Maybe. Who’s playing?”

He mentioned a band she’d never heard of in rev-erent tones that suggested it was well known and oneof his favorites. He was sharing a special treat withher. “I’ll have to see if my family has anythingplanned,” she told him. “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”No sense in letting him think her too eager. “No. Don’tworry. I’ll find you.”

Vivian hung up and stretched her arms to the ceilingcontentedly, arching her back. Should she go, or washaving him rise to the bait good enough?

But a shadow slid across her pleasant mood. If theywent on a date he would want to kiss her. Would he besafe if he came close enough to fill her nostrils with hisscent?

Esmé walked out of her bedroom. She was wearing

the kitchen. Coivian grabbVVi

t her mother talk toouldn’bed her plate abruptly an

o her as if shend headed for

, expecthallwayy,rang. She pickhalfhearted stu

An hour lates more likThat’’s

atch those“WWatrash with a squwas a daughter

ting to hear one of the paked up the phone on the

, whdying for Chemistryy,ivian was on her beer VVi

ivian thought.VVike it,e dishes!” her mother yellueal of knife against porcer? She scraped her lefto

ack, but it wase second-floorhen the phoned doing some

ed.elain.overs into the

f hi f ierent tones that

He mentiones“Maybe. Who’

Her eyes h. maybe?”..

weekend,” he sas a “There’

Aiden.

H h it suggested it was well kned a band she’d never hes playing?”alf closed and she lick

aid. “Sunday afternoon. Yfree concert at the u

i l i hnown and one

eard of in rev-

ked her lips.

ou wanna goYYoniversity this

B t h dhaving him rise

, arccontentedlyy,ivian hung uVVi

. I’ll find yworryNo sense in lettplanned,” she t

. “I’ll haveherof his favorites

lid h l t to the bait good enough?ching her back. Should sup and stretched her armsyou.”ting him think her too eagold him. “I’ll let you kno to see if my family

s. He was sharing a spec

d If th?she go, or wass to the ceiling

t. “No. Don’ger.”ow tomorrow

has anythingcial treat with

Esmé walkedscent?safe if he came went on a date h

But a shadow

d out of her bedroom. She

close enough to fill her nohe would want to kiss her

w slid across her pleasant

e was wearing

ostrils with hisould he be. WWor

mood. If they

12

the tight black dress she used for waitressing. “Whowas that?” she asked casually as she put in an earring.

“A boy from school.”Esmé paused. “Oh?”“He asked me to a concert.”“One of them asked you out?” Her mother’s expres-

sion combined repulsion and surprise. “I won’t allow it.”Vivian bristled. “You can’t tell me who to date.”Esmé put her hands on her hips. “ ‘Don’t date if you

can’t mate,’ the saying goes.” Human and wolf-kindwere biologically incapable of breeding.

“I’m going to a concert, not having his baby,” Viviansnapped. “And don’t tell me wolf-kind only start rela-tionships when they want children. I know better.”

“You’ve got a smart mouth, girl,” Esmé called as shewalked off.

Now Vivian was sure she was going.He had phoned, and she wasn’t an outsider any-

more—untouchable and strange, perhaps invisible.But why should she care so much? He was a humanafter all: a meat-boy scantily furred, an incompletecreature who had only one form.

How sad, she thought, and suddenly she craved thechange.

Like all her people, at the full moon she had tochange whether she wanted to or not, the urge was toostrong to refuse. Other times she could change at will,either partway or fully. Right now the moon swelledlike a seven-month belly, and she wanted to changebecause it was possible. She wanted to run for the joyof it.

was that?” she the tight black

asked casually as she putk dress she used for wait

t in an earring.tressing. “Who

t mate,’ thcan’Esmé put he

ivian bristlVVision combined r

them“One of “He asked mEsmé paused“A boy from

he saying goes.” Human ‘Doer hands on her hips. “

t tell me whoou can’ed. “YYorepulsion and surprise. “I

asked you out?” Her mmme to a concert.”d. “Oh?” school.”

and wolf-kindt date if youon’

o to date.”t allow it.”won’s expres-’mother

hHe had pho

ivian Now VViwalked off.

ou’ve got a“YYotionships whensnapped. “And

“I’m going towere biological

h bl d ht anoned, and she wasn’

was sure she was going.

a smart mouth, girl,” Esmn they want children. I kn

t tell me wolf-kind od don’o a concert, not having hislly incapable of breeding.

h i i ibl outsider any-

mé called as she.”ow better

only start rela-ivian,” VVis babyy,

t t fchange whethe

Like all herchange.

sheHow sad,creature who hafter all: a meBut why shoulmore—untouch

Oth ti h lder she wanted to or not, thr people, at the full moo

e thought, and suddenly shad only one form.eat-boy scantily furred, ld she care so much? Hehable and strange, perh

h t illhe urge was tooon she had to

she craved the

an incompletea humanwase

haps invisible.

of it.because it was like a seven-meither partwaystrong to refus

possible. She wanted to , and she wanmonth bellyy,

. Right now the y or fullye. Other times she could

run for the joynted to change

moon swelledchange at will,

13

She stalked through the backyard dusk, across thebat-grazed clearing in the narrow ribbon of woods outback, over the stream, up the embankment, and downinto the wide grassy valley that held the river.

The grass was already high. Here and there mightbe nests made by kids making out or getting high, butshe sniffed the air and smelled no human flesh.

Down by the river was a giant tumble of rocks thatscreened the riverbank. Behind the rocks, amid theshoulder-high weeds, she slowly slid off her clothes.Already her skin prickled with the sprouting pelt. Atrickle of breeze curled around her buttocks, and hernipples tightened in the cool air off the river. Shelaughed and threw her panties down.

Her laugh turned to a moan at the first ripple in herbones. She tensed her thighs and abdomen to will thechange on, and clutched the night air like a lover asher fingers lengthened and her nails sprouted. Herblood churned with heat like desire. The night, shethought, the sweet night. The exciting smells of rabbit,damp earth, and urine drenched the air.

The flesh of her arms bubbled and her legs buckledto a new shape. She doubled over as the muscles of herabdomen went into a brief spasm, then grimaced as herteeth sharpened and her jaw extended. She felt themomentary pain of the spine’s crunch and then thesweet release.

She was a creature much larger and stronger thanany natural wolf. Her toes and legs were too long, herears too big, and her eyes held fire. Wolf was only a con-venient term they had adopted. Those who preferred

bat-grazed clearShe stalked t

ring in the narrow ribbonthrough the backyard du

n of woods outusk, across the

-high wshoulderscreened the ri

Down by theshe sniffed the abe nests made b

The grass wainto the wide grback, over the s

weeds, she slowly slid ofiverbank. Behind the roe river was a giant tumbleair and smelled no humanby kids making out or getas already high. Here anrassy valley that held the rstream, up the embankme

ff her clothes.cks, amid thee of rocks thatn flesh.tting high, but

nd there might.river

ent, and down

bl d h dher fingers lenchange on, andbones. She tens

Her laugh tulaughed and thrnipples tightentrickle of breezAlready her sk

i h h lik d ingthened and her nails sd clutched the night air lsed her thighs and abdomrned to a moan at the firsrew her panties down.

ned in the cool air off tze curled around her buttkin prickled with the spro

hTh i hsprouted. Herlike a lover as

men to will thest ripple in her

. Shethe rivertocks, and herouting pelt. A

t lmomentary paiteeth sharpenedabdomen went ito a new shape.

The flesh of hdamp earth, and

the swethought,blood churned

s crunch in of the spine’d and her jaw extendedinto a brief spasm, then grShe doubled over as the m

her arms bubbled and he.d urine drenched the air

The exciting smeet night.with heat like desire.

and then thed. She felt therimaced as hermuscles of herr legs buckled

mells of rabbit,sheThe night,

venient term thears too big, andany natural wol

She was a crsweet release.

hey had adopted. Those wwolfWWod her eyes held fire.elf. Her toes and legs wer

reature much larger and

who preferredwas only a con-e too long, herstronger than

14

science to myth said they descended from somethingolder—some early mammal that had absorbed proteanmatter brought to Earth by a meteorite.

Vivian stretched and pawed at the ground, shesniffed the glorious air. She felt as if her tail couldsweep the stars from the sky.

I will howl for you, human boy, she thought. I will huntyou in my girl skin but I’ll celebrate as wolf.

And she ran the length of the river to the edge ofthe city slums and back, under the hopeful early-summer moon.

older—some eascience to myt

arly mammal that had absth said they descended fr

oteansorbed prrom something

the city slumsAnd she ran

you in my girl skI will howl for

sweep the starssniffed the glo

ivian stretVVimatter brought

s and back, under the n the length of the river kin but I’ll celebrate as wolf.

she thou,r you, human boyy,.s from the sky

. She felt as if orious airtched and pawed at thet to Earth by a meteorite.

hopeful early-to the edge of

I will huntught.

her tail coulde ground, she

summer moon.

15

ANNETTECURTISKLAUSEwas born in Bristol, England, and moved tothe United States when she was a teenager.She daydreamed constantly while growingup, and she turned some of those fantasiesinto stories and poems. Her first novel wasinspired by vampire poems she wrote whenshe was fifteen years old. Annette currentlylives in the Maryland suburbs with her husband and cats and works full-time as achildren’s librarian—but in her imagina-tion, she’s a werewolf girl. Sometimes sheforgets herself and howls out loud.

ABOUT THE AUTHORABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANNETTECURTISKLAUSEwas born in Bristol, England, and moved tothe United States when she was a teenager.She daydreamed constantly while growingup, and she turned some of those fantasiesinto stories and poems. Her first novel wasinspired by vampire poems she wrote whenshe was fifteen years old. Annette currentlylives in the Maryland suburbs with her husband and cats and works full-time as achildren’s librarian—but in her imagina-tion, she’s a werewolf girl. Sometimes sheforgets herself and howls out loud.

Published by Delacorte Pressan imprint of Random House Children’s Books

a division of Random House, Inc.New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents eitherare the productof the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any

resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 1997 by Annette Curtis KlausePart title decorations copyright © 1997 by Cliff Nielsen

Cover illustration copyright © 2007 by Shane Rebenschied

All rights reserved.

Delacorte Press and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

www.randomhouse.com/teens

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at www.randomhouse.com/teachers

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition of this work as follows:

Klause, Annette Curtis.Blood and Chocolate/by Annette Curtis Klause.

p. cm.Summary: Having fallen for a human boy, a beautiful teenage werewolf

must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decidewhere she belongs and with whom.ISBN 978-0-385-32305-5 (alk. paper)

[1. Werewolves—Fiction.] I. TitlePZ7.K67815B1 1997

[Fic]— dc20 96-35247CIP AC

ISBN 978-0-385-73421-9 (trade pbk)ISBN 978-0-385-90434-6 (GLB)

Printed in the United States of America

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