Cry Wolf

By Edo Van Belkom

This Aurora Award and Silver Birch Award-winning series is the inspiration for the hit show on Paramount+

When the woods become a trap, where does a wolf pack run?

Everyone at Redstone High is talking about the strange Brock kids. How they keep to themselves at school—and spend way too much time in the woods. But Noble, Argus, Harlan and Tora aren’t normal teens—they were born with the power to become wolves. And the more the siblings try to hide their secret identity, the greater they struggle to fit in. Then Noble falls mysteriously ill, leaving the pack without a leader just when he’s needed the most…

With a little girl lost in Redstone Forest, the authorities suspect a wolf attack. Which means the search team is intent on hunting—even killing--wolves and their kind. It’s up to the pack to find the girl and bring her back to safety--before someone finds them first. Suddenly the woods are a very scary place. With the world turned against wolves, is there anyone in the world the wolf pack can trust?

Praise for Cry Wolf
"...story is full of action but also interesting bits of character development.... Let's hear it for the werewolves!" — CM Magazine

“[Cry Wolf] will make you want to read them all. The author has perfectly captured the essence of growing up different in a small town. Fans of the character Jacob Black from Stephenie Meyer’s series will love this wonderful series.” — YA Book Central

“While obviously light on gore and violence, there’s plenty of suspense here. It’s wonderful to see kids’ issues broached in the trappings of a genre story, especially one structured to get grade-schoolers thinking and talking. All in all, Cry Wolf is a great stepping stone for monster kids who aren’t quite old enough to partake in the monster bloodshed.” — Rue Morgue

“In my opinion, this book has an equal amount of thrilling, awesome, and exhilarating quality as Wolf Pack, another book in the series-but both of them are on my list of top ten books I’ve read. Cry Wolf is a thrilling and exciting book, and I would recommend it to people who love adventure books.” — Ask Pippa

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781625675651

Book preview

Chapter 1

Red and green streamers hung from the gym ceiling like wrapping-paper ribbons, and the words Happy Holidays were stretched across each of the gym’s four walls. At one end of the room, just below the stage, Principal Terashita was acting as DJ, doing his best to play something his students might like—maybe even dance to—but without much luck.

The girls were standing on one side of the gym, talking amongst themselves with their hands folded awkwardly over their stomachs. Every once in a while a couple of girls would dance to a song, but after a few minutes they would be back standing with their backs against the wall. On the other side of the gym the boys were doing almost the same thing, talking sports, moving their heads up and down to the rhythms of each song, and daring each other to walk across the room and ask one of the girls to dance.

Go ahead, Argus told Harlan. "Unless you’re too chicken to do it."

I’m not chicken, Harlan said with a sniff, still struggling with a stuffed-up nose and cold that he hadn’t been able to shake for days. "I just don’t like any of those girls."

Argus turned to Harlan with a look of disbelief on his face. But that’s all of the girls in the school.

I know that, said Harlan. I don’t like any of them, that’s all.

Argus laughed. "You are chicken, aren’t you?"

Harlan said nothing in response. Instead, he pulled a wad of tissues from his pocket and blew his nose. When he was done, he looked his bigger brother in the eye and said, "If you’re so brave, why don’t you go over there and ask a girl to dance?"

Argus looked left and right. I will, he said. It’s just that I have to go to the bathroom right now.

Sure you do, Harlan said, as Argus hurried away. Just don’t take too long, the dance will be over in an hour.

Argus walked away, leaving Harlan standing alone with the other boys. He sniffed again, then turned to the left and saw that the boys in that direction all had their backs to him. He turned right and saw Jake MacKinnon glaring at him. Harlan gulped and found that his throat had suddenly gone dry.

Jake MacKinnon was the school bully. Or perhaps, had been the school bully was more accurate. He’d picked on Harlan and others in the school for months, until Noble had figured out a way for Jake and Harlan to settle their differences without the pack’s secret being discovered. Harlan had given the bully a beating in a darkened boys’ change room, embarrassing him in front of the school and putting an end to his constant teasing, hopefully for good. But looking at him now, Harlan just knew Jake was thinking about revenge.

Harlan swallowed again and decided to head over to the refreshment table and buy himself a soda to soothe his dry, sore throat. Water would be better for his thirst, but buying a drink would give him something to do while he stood with the other boys. As he walked past Jake, careful not to look the bully in the eye, one of Jake’s friends made a barking sound, an obvious reference to Jake’s favorite nickname for Harlan: Dogface.

Harlan did his best to ignore them all. If anyone had a dog face it was Jake MacKinnon, whose surly look reminded Harlan of an angry mutt. The thought of someone calling Jake MacKinnon Muttface made Harlan smile.

What would you like? asked the girl behind the table. Her name, if Harlan remembered right, was Kiera Kennedy. She was in his computer class, but she had never spoken to him before. She had long black hair, a kind and pretty face, and a smile that seemed warm and genuine.

What do you have?

Ginger ale, diet cola, cream soda, and root beer, Kiera said.

Diet cola, please? Harlan asked.

That’ll be a dollar.

Harlan handed her the money and watched Kiera empty a can of cola into a plastic cup. Thanks, he said.

You’re welcome, she said, smiling at him as if…well, as if she knew who he was and she sort of liked him.

Harlan couldn’t believe it. No girl at Redstone Secondary had ever smiled at him like that before, and this girl, Kiera, was way too pretty to waste her time on him. In fact, Harlan was sure none of the girls at the school even knew he was alive. Harlan gave Kiera a slight nod, then quickly turned around to see if anyone was dancing.

But before he got all the way around, Harlan bumped into someone and half his drink spilled onto the floor.

Oops! said a voice, followed by laughter.

Harlan looked up and saw Jake MacKinnon standing there with a drink cup in his hand and a scheming little grin on his face. His friends, including the two Del Zotto boys—Nicholas and Noah, the latter having recently transferred to Redstone from a closed custody youth facility in Prince George—stood behind Jake like a wall, laughing at the soda that was running down the front of Harlan’s pants.

You should really watch where you’re going, Jake said.

But you bumped into me, Harlan said.

Are you saying I did it on purpose?

Harlan wasn’t feeling up to a fight, but he wasn’t about to show someone like Jake MacKinnon any weakness. You bet I am, he said.

Jake turned his head sideways to share a laugh with one of the Del Zottos, then turned back around to look Harlan in the eye, his face serious and stern. Sounds to me like you want to fight.

Harlan let out a sigh. The last time they’d fought, the darkness had allowed Harlan to partially transform himself into a werewolf without being seen. There was no way he could fight Jake like that in a crowded gym with people all around them.

C’mon, MacKinnon, said a voice. You don’t want to get your ass kicked again, do you?

Harlan looked over his right shoulder and saw his brother Noble standing off to the side, close enough to say a few words, but far enough away so as not to interfere.

I just want a fair fight, Jake said. No tricks.

Yeah, no tricks, said the Del Zottos, as if they were a single person.

What tricks? Harlan beat you fair and square! said another voice.

Harlan turned and saw that Argus had returned from the washroom and had taken up a spot at his left side.

It’s time you stopped crying about it, Argus continued, and faced the fact that you’re just not as tough as you think you are.

Jake MacKinnon’s eyes narrowed and his face seemed flushed with anger. He took a step forward, cutting the distance between himself and Harlan by half.

Harlan could feel the hair bristling up on his skin and his muscles coiling like snakes in anticipation of a fight.

Just then, Principal Terashita pushed his way through the crowd and positioned himself between Harlan and Jake. If someone doesn’t start dancing in the next ten seconds, this dance will be over and we’ll all finish out the day back in the classroom.

There was a groan from the crowd, but people slowly began to make their way onto the dance floor. Most of the dancers were girls, but there were a few boys dancing now, including Michael Martin, who was doing his best to keep up with Harlan’s sister, Tora.

Despite all the commotion, Jake and the Del Zottos hadn’t moved. The bully was still staring Harlan down, and dancing seemed to be the farthest thing from his mind.

But then Harlan felt a hand on his arm and heard a voice whisper in his ear, Let’s dance!

It was Kiera Kennedy, the girl from behind the refreshment table, and she was pulling on Harlan’s arm.

Go on, said Noble, with a nudge of his shoulder. I think she likes you.

Harlan handed Noble his drink and followed Kiera onto the dance floor. Moments later he was dancing…badly. But no one seemed to care. The dance floor was full of people now, including a couple of teachers, and everyone was moving to the music as best they could.

Noble, with Argus by his side, looked over at Jake MacKinnon, who was staring at Noble as if he were still looking for a fight. What’s your problem, MacKinnon? Noble asked, when Argus was by his side.

Jake flashed a devilish grin, looked at Noble and Argus in turn, then shook his head and walked away.

Noble took a sip of Harlan’s soda…and cringed. What’s wrong? asked Argus. This tastes funny.

Leave it, Argus said, setting the cup onto the refreshment table next to the empties. There’s a girl I want you to meet.

Really?

Yeah, Argus said, leading Noble away. I don’t know why, but for some reason she thinks you’re cute.

Chapter 2

After introducing his brother to Maggie Baird, a girl from his science class who was always asking about Noble, Argus retreated to the edge of the dance floor and watched everyone else dance.

But less than a song later, Noble was back by Argus’s side, alone.

Argus put a hand on his brother’s shoulder, leaned in close, and asked, Where’s Maggie?

She’s dancing… Noble answered, lifting his head in the direction of the dance floor. …with someone else.

That didn’t make sense. Maggie Baird had seemed crazy about Noble, calling him cute and dreamy all the time.

What happened?

Noble shrugged. I don’t feel much like dancing.

What are you, sick?

Yeah. Noble nodded. I think so.

Argus pulled back and looked Noble over. Now that you mention it, you don’t look so good.

Noble’s skin was damp and his hair looked to be pasted with sweat. One hand was resting protectively on his stomach. Well, I don’t feel so good, either.

Did you catch Harlan’s cold?

Maybe. I don’t know. I just feel sort of…weird.

’Cause if you are sick, we should go home, Argus said. Do you want me to call Ranger Brock to come get us?

Noble shook his head. No. If the ranger comes for us now we’ll all have to go home, and I don’t want everyone to have to go home early on my account. He took a deep breath and stood up. I’ll stick it out till the end.

You sure?

"Yeah. I’m not going home until I see you out there dancing."

Tora had been dancing with Michael Martin most of the night—especially the slow dances—and Harlan seemed to have found a new friend in the girl from the refreshment table.

Argus leaned forward and spoke directly into Noble’s ear. I’m not a very good dancer.

I know, Noble said as he looked out across the floor. But don’t worry…nobody is.

That much was true. The girls at least had a sense of rhythm and had learned a few dance moves from the videos they’d seen on MTV and MuchMusic. The boys, on the other hand, seemed lost out on the floor, struggling to keep time with the music without stepping on their partners’ toes. It was utter chaos, but somehow it seemed to work. Best of all was that no one cared. So what if nobody knew how to dance? Everyone was having fun, and that was all that mattered.

It does look like fun, Argus said.

Trust me, it is, replied Noble.

"And there are a few girls who actually said they wanted to dance with