Chapter 4
Bolton
The moon cast long shadows across my backyard as I stacked firewood for tomorrow night's bonfire. Dad had been clear about my responsibilities: tend the fire, watch the new kids, and report back anything unusual. Simple enough, if I wasn't already distracted by thoughts of Maya.
I checked my phone for what felt like the hundredth time. She hadn't replied to my text about the bonfire. Not that I expected her to.
"Need any help with that?"
I looked up to see my sister, Lila, leaning against the porch railing. At sixteen, she was only a year younger than me, but sometimes the gap felt a whole lot wider, especially when it came to family obligations.
"I'm almost done," I said, placing another log on the pile. "Shouldn't you be helping Mom with the preparations?"
Lila rolled her eyes. "Mom's busy planning the ceremony and stressing about the moon phase. You know, the usual full moon frenzy."
She hopped down from the porch, boots crunching softly on the gravel, and picked up a piece of kindling, twirling it between her fingers like it was a baton.
"So, the new girl. Maya. You're into her, aren't you?"
"I'm just being friendly," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral as I shifted a log into place. "Dad asked me to keep an eye on her."
"Right. Because that's all it is," she said, the smirk practically audible in her voice. "Totally normal for you to be tracking a girl’s schedule, sitting behind her in every class, and getting all moody when she talks to Rick."
I shot her a glare. "Maybe stop spying on me and worry about your own life."
Lila laughed lightly. "You’re not exactly subtle, Bolton. Half the pack noticed. And if Dad didn’t assign you to her, you still would’ve made it your mission. Admit it."
I stood up and wiped my hands on my jeans. "Look, she’s different, okay? She’s not like anyone else around here."
"Yeah," Lila said, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully. "She’s not stupid. Which is probably why I’m worried about her. She sees more than she’s supposed to."
"She’s not going to figure anything out." I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly tense. "She’s not even from here. She probably thinks the bonfire is just some cheesy small-town party."
Lila tilted her head. "But you want her to come anyway."
I didn’t answer. She didn’t need me to.
"Just be careful, Bolton," she said after a beat. Her voice had softened, just enough to make me stop stacking. "You know what happens to outsiders who get too close."
I straightened and looked her in the eye. "Nothing's going to happen. It's just a bonfire."
"Sure," she muttered, tossing the piece of kindling onto the pile. "Like it was just a bonfire last year with that kid from Portland?"
My jaw clenched. "That was different."
"Was it?" she asked quietly. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks the same. He didn’t know what he was walking into either. There was a shift near the edge of the ridge, someone panicked, and he ended up in the ER with a broken arm and a story no one believed. We’re lucky it didn’t go further."
She crossed her arms. "Look, I’m just saying—if something goes down tomorrow night, who’s going to protect her?"
"I will," I said, my words low but decisive.
Lila’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing. Then she nodded once, slowly. “You better. Because if this goes sideways, no one’s going to blame her. They’ll blame you.”
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Maya.
I’ll be there.
"Who's that?" Lila tried to peek at my screen.
