The first thing you need to know about me is that I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of school dances. When I first watched Cinderella Story as a kid, I was enraptured by the sight of Hilary Duff walking down the staircase in her flowing white gown. I never wanted to be anything more than to be her at that moment. Immediately, I took to Pinterest and began planning my perfect prom night down to the smallest detail. So, you can imagine my devastation when my family forbade me from ever attending.

The second thing you need to know is that I come from an eccentric family. I’m part of a pack of six wild sisters. In our cozy, little Vermont town, the Howletts have a reputation for being the oddballs of the community. The locals typically blame us whenever things go wrong around here; in their defense, it usually is our fault. Most people are afraid to associate with us for fear we’ll infect them with our weirdness.

The third thing you should know is that my Nonna, the matriarch of the family, is very superstitious. She blames every minor inconvenience on a curse. The faucet is dripping, it’s cursed. You spill your coffee, you’re cursed. There’s a hole in your underwear, you’re cursed. The most infamous curse in our family is the Howlette Prom Night Curse. Anytime a member of our family goes to prom, chaos and casualties ensue. This is why I’m not allowed to leave the house on prom night. 

There’s one last thing you need to know about me and my family. We’re a lycanthropic bunch. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it’s a rare genetic trait that’s been passed down through generations in our family, and it’s a secret we must protect at all costs. I respected my desire to protect us, but I wouldn't give up on my dream so easily.

… 

As I sat in math class on Friday, I doodled in my notebook, trying to formulate the perfect argument to convince Nonna to let me go. So far, I’d written down, Number 1: Prom is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Number 2: I promise to be home by midnight, and Number 3: I promise to be on my best behavior and to suppress any lupine-related urges that may arise. I shook my head, knowing none of these points would sway her. All week I'd been planning on confronting her, but I’d been avoiding it, knowing how she'd react when I broached the subject.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. I stood, threw my bag over my shoulder and trudged to my locker. As I rounded the corner, my heart raced when I saw the infamous Nikhil Mishra. He was standing in front of my locker with his hands in his pockets and a shy smile on his face. Nikhil had moved here not long ago, and he instantly became the talk of the town. He’d been enrolled in our school for less than a year, but he’d already secured a spot as one of the most popular kids in school. I didn’t mean popular in a Mean Girls kind of a way; I meant popular in the sense that everyone liked him. He was a star pitcher on the baseball team and the head of the yearbook committee.  He had this natural charisma that drew everyone to him like a magnetic force. It also helped that he was unquestionably handsome, with his luscious black curls, smooth brown skin, soft, full lips, and twinkling amber eyes. In a small town like this one, he was a certified ten. At least half the school was madly in love with him, and he was so gosh darn humble, I didn’t even think he was aware of it.

I halted several steps away, suddenly feeling too shy to ask him to move so I could access my locker.

Nikhil’s eyes met mine, and his smile grew wider as he spotted me. “Quinn!”

Nikhil Mishra knows my name? I was so surprised by his acknowledgment of me that I dropped my notebook by his feet, revealing a page covered in doodles of myself being crowned prom queen.

Nikhil crouched down and picked up the book. He took a moment to study the sketches before handing the book back to me. I felt like melting into the floor from embarrassment. “I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute?”

I blinked twice in disbelief. “You want to talk to me?”

“Don’t act so surprised.” He chuckled, but I sensed a twinge of nervousness in his demeanor. “I actually wanted to ask you something.”

I looked up at him expectantly, too stunned to speak. I commanded myself to act normal, but it didn’t help.

He took my silence as an invitation to keep talking. “I was wondering if you had any plans for prom? Because, you see, I haven’t asked anyone yet. And I was hoping you would consider going with me? I know it's a bit early to ask, but I wanted to make sure I got the chance to ask you out before anyone else did,” he rambled as he waited for me to respond.

My jaw dropped as Nikhil’s words registered in my brain. I looked around the halls, waiting for a hidden camera crew to jump out and announce that I’d just been pranked, but none appeared. Cool kids like Nikhil don’t ask out Howlette girls. It’s an unwritten law. Not because we were unattractive; my sisters and I were often admired for our silky copper hair and jade-colored eyes, but as a unit, we’ve committed too many social faux pas to ever be considered girlfriend material. For instance, the time my sister Talia got invited to her first and last house party. She was so overwhelmed by her wolf-like urges that she completely forgot how to act like a normal teenage girl and decided to show everyone her best wolf call for ten 10 minutes while listening to her favorite song. Not to mention the time my sister, Stella, bit her softball referee for making a bad call. The Howlette sisters were absolutely feral, and everyone knew to stay away from us, besides Nikhil Mishra, apparently.

My mind raced as I tried to come up with a response. Should I say yes? What if it was a joke? But his gaze was so sincere, and I felt a flutter of hope in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, this could be my chance to finally break the Howlette Prom Night Curse.

I would love to go to prom with you,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. Nikhil’s face lit up, and he took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Great!” he exclaimed. He scribbled his number on a crumpled-up note card and handed it to me. “You won’t regret this!” 

…

When I stepped off the school bus, I'd finally worked up the courage to ask Nonna for one night out.

She stood at the kitchen counter, tenderizing a fresh hunk of deer meat. Her long gray hair was tied into a messy braid, and her apron was covered with a spattering of blood. She looked up and smiled at me as I walked in. “How was school today, Quinn?”

I sat on the kitchen stool across from her. “It was fun. We dissected pigs in biology class.” 

Nonna waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t want to hear about that. Tell me the latest gossip! Did Trent Plonski end up asking Rebecca Fattore out to the dance like he said he would?”

I leaned in conspiratorially. “He did, and she rejected him in front of the entire cafeteria. She said she'd rather die than go out with a guy that looks like the one percent of germs hand sanitizer can’t kill.”

Nonna cackled. “That's what he gets for growing that disgusting chin beard. No wonder he’s never been kissed.” I had her full attention now. “Did anything else juicy happen today?”

“Actually, yes,” I said, my legs bouncing with excitement. “Nikhil Mishra asked me out after math class!”

Nonna paused for a moment, trying to place the name.  “The new boy on the baseball team? I hear he’s a real looker and humble too.” She gave an approving nod.

I couldn’t stop myself from blushing. “He’s a catch, for sure.”

“I hope you told him yes. A date with him is too big of a score to pass up on.”

I forced a smile, despite my increasing nervousness. “I did. He gave me his number, and we’re planning to meet up soon.”

Nonna gave an approving nod. “Did he say where he’s planning on taking you?”

I fought to slow my racing heart as I seized my moment. “He’s taking me to prom!” I blurted before I had the chance to take it back.

All of a sudden, the room went deathly silent. The atmosphere was as taut as a high-wire act.

Nonna couldn’t suppress a low growl. “What?”

I bit my lower lip, avoiding eye contact with Nonna. I could feel her piercing gaze fixed on me.

“Prom!” Nonna repeated. Her voice held an undertone of danger that sent a shiver down my spine. “You told him you’re going to prom?”

I swallowed; the dryness in my throat making it hard to speak, so I just nodded.

Nonna slammed her hand down on the table, causing me to flinch. “How could you do something so foolish? You know about the curse! By merely accepting his proposal, you have unleashed misfortune on our entire bloodline.” She frantically paced back and forth, muttering expletives to herself, before pulling herself together. “There may still be time to undo the curse. You must call Nikhil and tell him you can’t go to prom. You can go out with him another time.”

“No! I won’t let you ruin this for me!” I screamed, shocked by my boldness. “This is my one chance to be a normal teen! I’m done with your stupid, made-up curses!”

Nonna’s eyes glistened with a wolf-like fury. “Do you think this is a game, girl? Your second cousin, Luna, ate her prom date! What if you can’t control your transformations? What will happen then? How do you think Nikhil will react when he sees that you’re a monster?”

I took a step back, and my eyes burned with unshed tears as I took in her harsh words.

Nonna’s demeanor softened. “I’m doing this to protect you, Quinn. There’s more to life than prom. You’ll see that someday.”

I didn’t want to hear another word. With one last glance back at Nonna, I fled to my bedroom and slammed the door, not saying another word.

I flopped down on my bed and stared at Nikhil’s contact on my phone.

I’ve followed my grandmother’s rules my entire life. Never once have I disobeyed any of her wishes. All teenagers rebel against their elders at least once. Didn’t I deserve one night of happiness? The chance to live my dream? No one even believed in Nonna’s dumb curses anyway. the family simply played along to appease her. I knew I couldn't let Nonna's make-believe curse control my life.

I took a deep breath and tapped on Nikhil’s contact, watching as the phone rang. He picked up after a few seconds, his deep voice filling my ears. “Hey, Quinn! I was just about to text you. How’s it going?”

“Everything is great!” I said, fighting to keep the quaver out of my voice as I spoke. This small act of rebellion was far more nerve-wracking than I anticipated.

“I’m happy to hear that. Can you give me your address so I can pick you up?”

“No!” I protested a bit too loudly. I lowered my voice so Nonna couldn’t hear. “I want to drive. I’ll pick you up.”

“Oh okay. That works for me. I’ll see you around six-thirty.”

“Great! See you then, bye!”

……

I spent the week leading up to prom glued to my sewing machine, assembling the prom dress of my dreams. I opted for my favorite design in my sketchbook, a lacy, long-sleeve emerald gown with a heart-shaped neckline. I had tons of sewing experience from mending my family’s torn clothing after werewolf-related mishaps, but this was my first time undertaking such a massive endeavor.

The dress was gorgeous; the soft fabric draped over my figure as if I was born to wear it. Little emerald beading covered the lacy bodice, creating sparkles of light with each of my movements. The skirt had several layers that opened like petals in the breeze – a delightful surprise as I stepped out the back door. Unfortunately, one of the beads had come loose in the back, and I had to be extra careful while wearing it so it wouldn’t unravel.

I crept around the side of the house, careful to be extra stealthy. If Nonna caught sight of me in this dress, it was game over. 

Suddenly, I was startled by a loud howl echoing through the night. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that perhaps Nonna had heard me and was now outside looking for me. I quickly glanced around, hoping no one had seen me. There was no sight of Nonna or anyone else, but I knew her keen senses would catch even the slightest movement or sound. I tiptoed to my pickup truck and prayed that it would start, knowing that a dead battery would mean definite trouble. As I turned the key, the engine roared to life. A surge of relief washed over me as I put the car in gear and sped away without a single glance back.

The drive to Nikhil's house was filled with an anticipation that I'd never felt before. I’d done it! I’d really done it! I was going to prom! Everything I’d been dreaming about my entire life was finally coming true! The night was alive with stars in the ink-black sky. Fireflies danced under the light of the full moon. 

I parked in the driveway of the Mishra’s residence. I took a moment to reapply my lipstick and tuck away any loose strands of hair before knocking on their front door. I stood there for several moments, waiting for someone to respond, but no one came to answer the door. I knocked again, much harder this time, but I was still met with no response. I double-checked my text messages to make sure I was at the right house when I heard muffled arguing coming from inside the house. 

“I told you, I have everything under control!” Nikhil shouted. 

I crept over to the window to witness the fight transpiring in the living room. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop on them, but just like my Nonna, I’d always had an unquenchable thirst for drama.

“How can we trust you after what happened last time? We can’t afford to move towns again to cover up your reckless mistakes!” His father yelled back. Nikhil’s mother stood by, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. 

Nikhil paced back and forth, his face contorted with emotion. “Things are going to be different this time. I swear, I've changed. I'm not the same stupid kid I used to be. I’ve been trying really hard to get my act together. I promise I'm not gonna disappoint you again.”  His voice cracked with genuine emotion on the last syllable. 

His parents exchanged a look of skepticism. "We want nothing more than to believe you, Nikhil," she said gently, her voice soft and soothing. "But you have to understand that it's difficult for us to keep trusting you after everything that's happened."

“I know, Amma, but I’m not the same person I was before. Let me prove to you that I can do better. That I am better,” Nikhil pleaded. 

I was taken aback by the conversation I was overhearing. I always assumed Nikhil was perfect, and he had always been the upright and responsible human being he was today. What could he have done that would upset his parents so much? That made them doubt his trustworthiness? I was having a hard time reconciling what I was hearing with who I always perceived Nikhil to be. 

Just then, Nikhil’s mother’s icy gaze met mine through the window, and he scowled at me. 

Nikhil spun around to see what she was glaring at. 

I smiled awkwardly and waved at him. 

Nikhil couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from tugging upward at the sight of me. “Quinn! You look beautiful!”

“I know, right?” I did a little twirl to show off the flowiness of my gown. “You look beautiful too.”

He blushed and grinned. Nikhil had dressed up in an all-black tux that was tailored to fit his every move. The midnight fabric hugged his broad shoulders snugly, and the way it fit against his slim waist gave him a suave and debonair look. He topped off the outfit with a pocket square that matched my dress. His naturally wavy hair was brushed neatly back and styled with just enough product for it to hold the perfect shape for our special night. Even though he looked sophisticated in his tux, he maintained his trademark boyish charm. 

“Amma, Appa, this is my prom date,” Nikhil introduced me.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Quinn.”

Nikhil’s mother regarded me with a stony expression. “Do you always spy on people through their windows, Quinn, or is this a special occasion?” 

My cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I tried to knock, but no one answered.” 

Nikhil's mother continued to stare at me with narrowed eyes. I fidgeted nervously under her scrutinizing gaze, feeling as though I was being interrogated by an FBI agent.

Nikhil's father, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward. He turned to me and offered a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, Quinn. Nikhil talks about you all the time. He seems to be rather taken with you.”

“Really?” I said, my eyes widening with genuine surprise. I found it hard to believe that Nikhil thought about me at all, much less all the time.

Nikhil, his face red with embarrassment, tugged at the collar of his shirt. “Umm...yeah…I mean...um….”

Nikhil's father clapped him on the back and winked at me. 

 “Let’s just go now, Quinn. We don't want to be late for the prom.” He hurried over to the living room window and hopped out of it to join me outside. He waved goodbye to his parents before grabbing my hand and leading me to the truck.

We opened the doors of my truck, which was littered with food takeout bags and smelled like grilled meat. I cursed under my breath as I realized what a mess it was. Not exactly the best first impression. Why didn’t I think to clean before he got here? “Sorry about the mess,” I said, clearing off the passenger seat so he could sit.”

Nikhil studied the mile-long receipt from my last takeout order. “Is all of this food yours?” There was no judgment in his voice, just genuine astonishment.

Yes, I did eat twelve burgers, forty chicken nuggets, ten large fries, and a milkshake. Werewolves gotta eat, okay? I chuckled awkwardly and tried to play it cool. “You know, my sisters and I live a very active lifestyle, and we have to keep our calories up.” 

“Oh, I didn’t know you were so into fitness. What kinds of things do you like to do? Are you into sports?” Nikhil asked. His face brightened with genuine interest as he hopped into the passenger seat.

I froze, debating how to answer honestly without revealing the lupine nature of our activities. “We do all kinds of stuff, hunting, fishing, jogging through the woods, that kind of stuff.”

“Wow, so you're the outdoorsy type, then. That explains why you always show up to school with leaves in your hair. But isn’t it dangerous in those woods? Aren’t there like wolves out there or something?” Nikhil said, shivering at the mere thought.

I watched him squirm with unease at the notion of wolves in the forest as I turned the key in the ignition. I wondered how he would react if he knew the truth about my true nature as a werewolf. I imagined him backing away in fear, or worse, reporting me to the authorities. I shook my head, brushing the thought away. I didn’t need to worry about such things tonight. I was here to have a good time; everything else could wait. “My sisters and I are pretty tough. We can handle ourselves out there.”

I watched as his muscles relaxed and his posture straightened. “You do seem pretty tough," Nikhil said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I wish I was brave like you.”

We drove in companionable silence for several moments before Nikhil spoke up. “So when you were listening in on me and my parents’ conversation, how much did you hear?”

"I wasn’t listening in,” I said, not taking my eyes off the road, my stomach churning with guilt.

He shot me an incredulous look. “Come on, Quinn. I know you were eavesdropping, and I want to talk about it.”

“You don’t have to,” I assured him. “That was a private conversation, and it was wrong of me to listen.”

Nikhil stared at me for a moment, his eyes darkening. “I don’t mind, really,” he said finally, his voice low and soft. “I just want to know what you heard.”

“Not much. All I heard was your parents talking about some incident in your old town, and you promised things were going to be different this time, but I don’t know any of the details.” 

He nodded, staring blankly out the windshield. Then he let out a long sigh. “Listen, Quinn, I’m not the person everyone thinks I am.”

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Nikhil. There was a hint of sadness in his voice that made my chest ache. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him that it was okay, that he could trust me, but I held my tongue and waited for him to continue.

“Before I moved here, I was a total punk. I was constantly getting into trouble, and I drove my parents insane with my rebellious antics. I only did it so the cool kids would accept me into their inner circle. It was like I was living in a constant state of chaos, and I couldn't stop it even if I wanted to."

I glanced in his direction, appraising him. “Really? But you're such a nice, unassuming guy.”

He laughed. “I wasn’t always. I was quite the bad boy back in the day.”

“What made you change?”

He let out a deep breath before continuing his story. “One night, after I snuck out of the house, I was attacked. Nikhil brushed back his hair, revealing deep scars zigzagging across his neck. “I almost died that day. As I was lying in the dirt, bleeding out all alone, I reflected on my life, and I realized I hated the person I’d become.”

“Nikhil, That’s awful. I’m so sorry that happened.” I gently rubbed his arm to offer him some comfort as he poured his heart out to me.

“Don’t be; part of me is glad it happened. "It was a wake-up call. It pushed me to become a better person, someone my parents can be proud of, you know?”

I nodded, admiring Nikhil's resilience. It was difficult to imagine him as a rebellious teenager, but I could tell he wasn't lying. Us werewolves can sense insincerity in others, but Nikhil's story hit me in a way I couldn't explain. As I looked into Nikhil's eyes, I realized that there was so much more to him than met the eye. His past was a mystery that I wanted to unravel. I could sense that there was more to his story than he was telling me, and I wanted to know everything, but before I could ask a follow-up question, Nikhil changed the topic.

“That’s enough about me,” he said. “I want to hear about you. Tell me about yourself, Quinn.”

“Oh me?” I said, caught off guard by the question. I’d never been asked about myself before. Everyone knew my family’s reputation, and no one cared to learn more. So I blurted out whatever I could think of. “Um, let’s see. I have a large, close-knit family with a lot of sisters. My favorite color is green because it matches my eyes. I like to collect vintage records, and I have a pet tarantula named Mr. Tickles. I know 297 different bird calls. I want to major in fashion marketing when I go to college. I keep a collection of all my favorite rocks I’ve found in the woods. My favorite movies are chick flicks, and it’s my biggest dream to be crowned prom queen.”

Nikhil let out a thoughtful hum as he processed my rambling. Then, a smile slowly spread across his face. “Prom queen, huh? " he said, leaning back in his seat. “That’s your big aspiration?”

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. It sounded ridiculous when I said it out loud. “I know it’s silly, but it’s all I ever wanted, ever since I was a kid.”

“Can I ask why?” There was no judgment in his expression, just the desire to understand.

“I guess I just want to feel special for once. As the middle child, I never really had the chance to stand out, but if I became the first Howelette to be crowned prom queen, everyone would have no choice but to pay attention to me, at least for a little while.”

Nikhil's expression softened as he listened to my explanation. “I can understand that,” he said. “Everyone wants to feel like they matter, like they're important. I think you have a real shot at winning that crown, but even if you don’t win, I still think you’re pretty special.”

I smiled at his kind words, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. Nikhil was different from anyone I'd ever met before. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me, quirks and all. As we continued to talk, I found myself opening up to him.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the venue for prom. As I stepped out of the car, I took a deep breath and savored the moment. I was ready to take on this night with confidence, and I had Nikhil to thank for that. He made me feel so seen and valued, like I was more than just a weirdo with a rock collection and a dream of being prom queen.

As we stepped out of the car, my phone blew up with a barrage of text messages from Nonna. Quinn, where are you? 

Quinn? 

Answer me!

I typed out a quick response. We ran out of milk. I ran to the store to buy more. I’ll be back in a couple hours. Then I powered off my phone and took Nikhil’s hand as we walked into the school.

The moment we stepped into the school, I felt like I was in a completely different world. The gymnasium was transformed into a magical wonderland, complete with flashing lights, and giant balloons of metallic gold. The sound of people laughing and chatting intermingled with the blaring music and booming bass emanating from the DJ booth. The scent of sickly sweet fruit punch, cheap body spray, and sweat filled the air. The overwhelming atmosphere was an unexpected assault on my sensitive werewolf senses. Throughout all my years of dreaming of prom night, I assumed everything would be like the movies. I never considered how overwhelming the sensory overload would be.

Nikhil must’ve sensed my trepidation because he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Hey. Quinn, are you okay?”

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my racing heart. “Yeah,” I replied, my voice shaking slightly. “It’s just a lot to take in.”

Nikhil nodded sympathetically. “I can imagine. But just remember, I’m here with you. We can take it easy and just enjoy the night.

I nodded appreciatively, grateful for his calming presence. As we made our way further into the gym, I noticed something sparkling on a pillow at the edge of the gym. Stepping closer, my eyes widened in amazement when I noticed what it was: the prom queen tiara! It was a thing of beauty - a gorgeous crown crafted with delicate silver filigree and dazzling crystal rhinestones. The intricate detailing was breathtaking. My heart skipped a beat as I imagined what it would be like to wear it. I reached out to gently run my fingers across it, but before I got the chance, one of the chaperones grabbed my arm and sneered at me. “Get your grubby hands away from there! That crown is for prom queen’s only, and you, honey, are no prom queen.”

I took a step back, stung by her words, and Nikhil put a comforting hand on my back. “Let's just go enjoy the dance,” he whispered in my ear.

I nodded solemnly and followed him to the center of the room. I couldn't help but notice everyone staring at us. We were an unconventional pair, the most eligible guy in school with the famously weird girl. I could feel their confusion and jealousy emanate through the gymnasium, but I didn’t let their judgmental stares bother me. All my attention focused on Nikhil as we walked toward the dance floor. I curtsied playfully and extended my hand toward him. “May I have this dance?”

His gaze darted around the room nervously. “Everyone is staring at us.”

“Let them. This is our prom night, and we’re here to have fun. Don’t worry about what others think.” I pulled him onto the dance floor and wrapped my arms around his neck.

He hesitated for a second before shaking his head. “I can’t do this, Quinn. I’m not brave like you. I’ll always care what people think. I can’t dance with all these eyes on me. I’m sorry.”

I placed my hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “Just keep your eyes on me and follow my lead. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

Nikhil took a deep breath and nodded, his hand finding its way to my waist. As the music started, I twirled around him before dipping down low and bringing him back up. His face was etched with a mix of excitement and fear, but as the music went on, he slowly let go of his inhibitions. I moved gracefully, my red hair swaying with every step. Nikhil followed my lead, his movements awkward at first but gradually becoming more confident. We danced and laughed, the worry and judgment of others slowly fading away. Nikhil’s hands tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to him as the music rose to a crescendo. I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at his touch and the way he was finally letting go.

As the song came to an end, I leaned in close to Nikhil's ear. "See, that wasn't so bad now, was it?"

He smiled at me, his eyes sparkling with newfound confidence. "No, it wasn't. I had fun,” he said, his hand still resting on my waist.

 We broke apart suddenly as if waking up from a dream. Nikhil smiled apologetically at me.

“I hate to ask, I need to take a few pictures for the yearbook. Do you mind if I go take some now?”

“Of course not. I’ll go fetch us some cupcakes while you work,” I said, stepping away in the direction of the snack table.

Nikhil gave me a relieved grin and thanked me before turning and walking away.

I walked towards the snack table, eager to get a few bites of something sweet. But as I was about to grab a cupcake, I heard an unmistakable voice behind me. It was Trent Plonski, the school’s resident douchebag. I tried my best to ignore him as I filled up a dessert plate.

"Hey Quinn, I saw you dancing with Nikhil earlier. Those were some interesting dance moves you had going on. I guess it just takes someone as weird as you to come up with that. It must have been really embarrassing for him to be seen with you."

“Is there something I can help you with, or are you just here to insult me?” I said through clenched teeth.

A devilish smirk spread across his lips. “No, I just thought you’d want to know that your date thinks you’re a total freak, and he only asked you out as a prank.”

“Just shut up, Trent. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I have no interest in participating.”

“It’s true. He told me so in the locker room after baseball practice. He said it would be funny to trick the weird girl into thinking that he actually liked her, just so he could break her heart.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and felt my heart sink into my chest. I wanted so badly to believe that Nikhil had asked me out for real that he genuinely liked me for me, but a wave of doubt crashed over me. Could there be some validity to what he was saying? A part of me always suspected Nikhil was too good to be true. “I said, shut up! Okay? I don’t want to hear it!”

“You know it’s true, don’t you? You know no one in their right mind would ever date a degenerate like you. But hey, whatever. If it makes you feel better, go on believing that he likes you. Just know that he doesn't and he never will.”

The words stung, and the urge to lash out at him was overpowering. I felt a wave of anger rage inside of me like a storm, transforming my body from the inside out. My teeth sharpened and grew longer as my nails became claws, and patches of fur sprouted all over my skin. I could feel my body transforming into the beast that I had been trying to keep hidden. The primal, uncontrollable rage coursed through my veins, and before I knew it, I was leaping at Trent with claws outstretched.

“What the hell!” Trent shouted as I knocked him over like a pile of dominoes and he fell face-first into the dessert table, sending the whole thing crashing to the ground. I leaned in close and growled, warm drops of my saliva dripping on his face. For the first time in his life, Trent Plonski was well and truly terrified. Good. It was about damn time someone put him in his place.

Onlookers scrambled back in horror, desperate to escape from the monster I’d become.

Before I had time to cause any more damage, I heard a familiar voice reverberate through the auditorium. “Quinn! What on earth do you think you’re doing?”

I turned my head to see Nonna standing next to me with her arms crossed. “This is an absolute catastrophe. You should be ashamed of yourself! This is the curse in action, and it is exactly why I forbade you from coming here! You are grounded until the end of time, young lady!”

Realizing the consequences of my actions, I knew that it was time to run. Before running off into the night, I took one last glance at Nikhil. His expression was a mix of surprise and bewilderment. “Quinn?” He whispered, his voice trembling.

I couldn’t bear to look at him any longer. The shame I felt was unbearable, so I ran.

“Get back here this instant!” Nonna screamed, but I was already long gone.

I barreled out the gymnasium doors and into the forest, tearing up my delicate prom dress in the process. I didn’t stop running until I knew I was in the clear. I hid under a bridge beside a trickling stream. I prayed the pungent scent of algae would hide my scent from Nonna. I wasn’t ready to face her yet. I never wanted things to end this way. I just wanted to do what I wanted for once, and now I’d ruined prom and exposed my family’s secret to the entire town. If Nikhil didn’t think I was a freak before, he must think so now. I shifted back into human form. Tears streamed down my face as I ugly-cried under the bridge. I wiped my snot with my sleeve as I tried to figure out what I was going to do now. Maybe I should become a lonely old hermit who lives in the forest. That will fix all my problems.

I heard the sound of crunching leaves and snapping twigs approaching me. I hugged my knees close to my chest, curling up into a ball, fearing Nonna had found me. I didn’t think it was possible for any human to run fast enough to catch up with me. Surprisingly, Nikhil’s voice was the one I heard. “Quinn?” he called out tentatively. “Are you there?”

I held deathly still and tried not to make any sound.

Nikhil poked his head under the bridge and said, “Come on, Quinn. I can hear you sniffling under there.”

I looked up to meet his gaze, and I was surprised by his haggard appearance. I'd never seen him look so disheveled before.  His tux bore massive tears, providing a glimpse of his muscular chest, and his wavy hair clung to his forehead in matted clumps.

“What the hell happened to you?” I said.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m more worried about you right now,” he said, his voice full of concern.

I looked at him in surprise. I was expecting him to be mad at me for ruining prom. Instead, he was sincerely worried about me.

“Come here,” he said, giving me a tight hug.

“Why are you being so kind to me? You just watched me turn into a monster and ruin prom.”

“I don’t care about that, okay?” He said.

“How can you not care? Wait, do you have a thing for monsters?

He shook his head. “Not like that, but I understand what it’s like to lose control and make mistakes.”

“So you’re not mad at me?”

“No, of course not. I just don’t understand what made you freak out like that. What happened?”

“I was afraid that you secretly thought I was a freak, and you only asked me out as a joke,” I said, burying my face in the palms of my hands so I wouldn't have to face him.

Nikhil looked like he’d just been slapped. “That’s not true. Why would you think that?”

“Trent told me,” I sobbed.

Nikhil shook his head and crouched beside me. “You took Trent Plonski’s word for it? Listen to me. You can’t believe a word he says, okay? He’s just jealous that he’ll never be as carefree and happy as you.”

I nodded and looked into his eyes. I could see nothing but sincerity there. Slowly, I nodded. The tension I had been feeling melted away as I felt a warmth tingle through my body. I wanted to kiss him but was too scared he’d reject me. It felt crazy to think that he liked me. Instead of voicing my secret desires, I asked him, “How’d you catch up with me so fast?”

Nikhil paused for a long moment, deliberating how much he wanted to tell me, before removing one hand from behind his back, revealing a hairy paw with sharp talons at the tips. 

I gently stroked his paw, still in disbelief at what I was seeing. “You’re a werewolf, like me,” I whispered.

Nikhil nodded. His eyes bore the same fear mine had held when he watched me transform. A sense of shared understanding passed between us.

“Have you been a werewolf this whole time?”

He nodded again. “Yeah, at least as long as you’ve known me. I left out something important about the day I was attacked. It wasn’t a person that mauled me, it was a werewolf. I think they were feral or something, I don’t know, but afterward, I shifted for the first time. I didn't know what to do, so I ran home. My mom almost shot me with a hunting rifle, but somehow my dad recognized my eyes, even when I was in my beastly form. If it weren’t for him, I’d probably be a throw rug right now. Afterward, I couldn’t control my transformations, and someone saw me shift. That’s why we had to move towns.”

I scanned him up and down, trying to make sense of this new information. I now noticed how much the scars on his neck resembled canine bite marks. “Does anyone else know you’re a werewolf?”

He shook his head. “I can’t bring myself to tell anyone because I'm scared, Quinn. I’m afraid of myself and what I’m capable of. I don’t want to hurt anyone."

I nodded in understanding. "You don’t have to worry anymore. I can help you control it.”

Nikhil's face lit up with relief, and for the first time, I noticed how beautiful his smile was. “Thank you, Quinn. That would be incredible.” Nikhil removed his other hand from behind his back. “I got you a present.”

I looked down, and in his hand was a shimmering silver tiara with dazzling diamond gems encrusted along the edges. My eyes widened in surprise. “You stole the prom queen tiara?”

Nikhil rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “I know prom wasn’t everything you dreamed it would be, but I wanted to make at least one of your dreams come true. With all the commotion, I figured they wouldn’t notice it was missing. Do you like it?”

I threw my arms around him in a tight embrace. “It’s perfect!”

He gently placed the tiara on my head. “You look like a queen,” he said.

and pressed my lips to his. It was a soft, tentative kiss, but it felt like fireworks were going off inside of me.

Nikhil responded immediately, deepening the kiss and wrapping his arms around me. We broke away, breathless, and rested our foreheads together.

“So, where do we go from here?”

“I have no idea,” I confessed.

He took my hand into his furry paw. “That’s alright. We’ll figure it out together.”