Chapter 7

Family

“You can’t do this!” Jack shouted through the window in the door.

“We must,” Luna replied quietly. “Try to understand. If the werewolves do not eat, they terrorize Ravens Pass. This keeps them calm until the full moon has passed.”

“But why us?” Nelson called.

“You are not from here,” Grandma said. “No one in Ravens Pass will miss you.”

“Now we must go,” Luna said. “Gary’s son — the other werewolf — is still out there. We’ll capture him and bring him back. He will have supper with his father.”

Jack turned to the others. “These people are crazy,” he said.

Paul nodded. “Tell me about it,” he said.

Nelson ran to the door. “But if you can catch them,” he said, “why don’t you just chain them up for good? Don’t feed them at all!”

For a moment, there was no reply. Jack and Zeek ran to the door and tried to listen. “Did they leave already?” Zeek said.

“No,” Luna said. “We’re still here.”

“Why won’t you answer?” Jack asked. “Why don’t you just not feed them at all?”

“Your questions have upset Grandma,” Luna said. “If we don’t feed the werewolves human meat during the full moon, they’ll die.”

Nelson shouted back, “So what? Let them die!”

A great sob came from the other side of the door.

“There, there, Grandma,” Luna said. “They’ll be gone soon.” Then her voice got suddenly louder and angry. “You’ve made Grandma cry,” she snapped at the boys. “Don’t you see? We can’t just let them die!”

“Why not?” Jack asked.

“Because Gary and his son are family,” Luna said. “Gary is my uncle. Grandma’s son. Caleb is my cousin.”