Chapter 10 #3
"That's why you're so protective of the territory.
Why everyone defers to you. You're not just the Alpha of a community.
You're the Alpha of a pack. A werewolf pack.
" She's talking faster now, processing out loud.
"The contamination affecting the prey animals.
It's not just about the ecosystem. It's about your food supply. Your survival."
I shift back and grab my clothes, needing to be able to talk to her, to answer her questions properly. The transformation in reverse is just as painful, but I'm used to it. Within moments, I'm kneeling in front of her in human form, breathing hard from the exertion.
"Yes," I say once I can speak. "Everything you just said is exactly right. We're werewolves, Ava. All of us. And we've been living here, protecting this territory, for over a hundred and fifty years."
She rocks back on her heels, staring at me. "How? How is this possible? What's the biological mechanism? Is it genetic? Viral? Some kind of mutation?"
Despite everything, I smile. Of course her first instinct is to try to understand the science.
"I don't know the how," I admit, reaching for my jeans. "We just are. We're born this way, we live this way, and we die this way. Some of us can pass it on to humans through a bite, but it's rare and dangerous. Most of us are born wolves."
"And the full moon? The folklore about transforming during the full moon?"
"We can shift any time we want. The full moon just makes it harder to resist the urge.
" I pull my jeans on, then my shirt, suddenly very aware of her gaze on me.
"We're not mindless monsters, Ava. We're people who can become wolves.
We have families, jobs, relationships. We just happen to have fur and fangs once in a while. "
She's quiet for a moment, processing. "Curtis. You said he chose you to lead. How does that work?"
"He recommended me to the pack when he knew he was too old to keep doing the job.
The pack voted to confirm his choice. They could have rejected it and called for challenges, but they didn't. I've been Alpha for five years, waiting for someone to challenge my position, but...
" I shrug. "So far, no one has been strong enough or bold enough to try. "
"And if someone does challenge you?"
"We fight. Whoever wins is Alpha." I say it simply, but I can see her understanding the implications. Leadership isn't just a title. It's something that has to be defended, proven, maintained through strength.
"And the other wolf that day. Was he trying to hurt me?"
"I don't know. That's what worries me." I move closer to her. "By the time I got there, he was standing between you and the cliff edge. I thought he was threatening you, so I intervened. He backed off and disappeared into the trees."
"It was you out there. You were the second wolf."
"Yes. And then I shifted back, grabbed my clothes from where I'd stashed them, and came to help you as a human.
" I reach out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm sorry I lied about the wolves. About what I am.
But I couldn't tell you the truth, not then. Not until I knew you could handle it."
"Handle it," she repeats, almost laughing. "Hunter, I just watched you transform from a human into a wolf and back again. I don't think 'handling it' really covers what I'm feeling right now."
"What are you feeling?" I let my hand linger against her cheek, and she leans into the touch.
She's quiet for a long moment, and I can see her cycling through emotions.
"I feel like everything I thought I knew about the world just got turned upside down," she says finally.
"Like every scientific principle I've ever studied became a little less certain.
But I also feel..." She pauses, her eyes meeting mine.
"I feel like things make sense now. All the little oddities, all the impossible observations.
They weren't impossible at all. I was just looking at them through the wrong framework. "
"And you're okay with that? With me being?—"
"A werewolf?" She reaches up, covering my hand with hers. "I don't know yet. Ask me again when my brain stops trying to make sense of the impossible. But right now, I'm okay with you being honest with me. That's what matters."
Relief floods through me so intensely that I have to close my eyes for a moment. She's not running. She's not screaming. She's sitting here in the moonlight, touching my hand, trying to understand.
"You have questions," I say. "Ask me anything."
“Everyone I met tonight. They're all..."
"Werewolves. Yes. Willow Creek is a werewolf pack that's been living here, protecting this territory, for over a hundred and fifty years."
"And the contamination you mentioned. That's why you're so concerned about my research."
"Partly. The prey animals are getting sick, which affects our food supply. But also..." I pause. "You have the training and equipment to prove what EnvironTech is doing. To make your findings public in a way we can't. We need evidence that will hold up, that can't be dismissed."
"So my research really could help the pack."
"More than you know."
She looks up at me, studying my face. "What happens now? Now that I know?"
"That depends on you." I take a breath. "If this is too much, if you can't accept what we are, we have ways to protect our secret. The witches we work with can modify memories, make you forget what you've learned. You'd go back to your life thinking Willow Creek was just a weird small town."
"And you'd be okay with that?"
"No." The word comes out rougher than I intend. "But I'd survive it, because protecting the pack has to come first. I can't let my personal feelings put hundreds of wolves at risk."
"Personal feelings?" She steps closer. "What personal feelings?"
My heart is pounding. "Ava, I think you know how I feel about you."
"Maybe I do. But I'd like to hear you say it."
"I care about you. More than I should after such a short time. More than is probably smart given everything that's at stake." I cup her face with both hands. "You're important to me. And the thought of you leaving, of forgetting we ever met—it kills me."
"Then it's a good thing I'm not leaving," she says softly.
"You're not?"
"No. I'm terrified and overwhelmed and I have about a thousand questions. But I'm not leaving." She covers my hands with hers. "I want to understand this. I want to understand you. And I want to help with the contamination. That's still a real problem whether you're human or wolf."
Relief floods through me. "You're sure? You don't need more time to think about this?"
"I'm sure I don't want to forget. I'm sure I don't want to walk away." She pauses. "I'm not sure about everything yet. What it means to be part of this world, how all of this works. But I know I want to find out."
"That's enough," I say. "That's more than enough."
"Is it?" She's looking up at me with those green eyes. "Because you said this affects the whole pack. What if they don't accept me? What if Marcus and Garrett are right to be worried?"
"Then I'll deal with it. You're not the first human to be brought into pack life. Rachel proved it can work. And Ava, you're not just some random person asking questions. You're..." I trail off, not sure how to explain without getting into territory we're not ready for yet.
"I'm what?"
"You're important to me," I say again. "And that matters. The pack will see that, and they'll accept you because I'm asking them to trust my judgment."
"That's a lot of pressure."
"I know. And I'm sorry for that. But I meant what I said—if you choose to stay, to be part of this, I'll be honest with you. No more secrets." I brush my thumb across her cheekbone. "You deserve that much."
"Thank you." She rises up on her toes slightly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Are you going to kiss me, or are we going to stand here talking about it all night?"
The question surprises a laugh out of me, breaking some of the tension. "I was trying to be a gentleman. Give you space to process everything you just saw."
"I've been processing for days. Right now, I just want—" She breaks off, biting her lip.
"What do you want, Ava?"
"You," she whispers. "I want you to kiss me."
Our lips meet, and the world narrows to this. Her mouth on mine, soft and warm and perfect. The kiss is tentative at first, exploratory, like we're both afraid of breaking something fragile. But then her other hand slides into my hair, and I pull her closer, deepening the kiss.
She tastes like wine and courage and home, and my wolf is singing with joy. Mine. Finally.
I pour everything I can't say into the kiss.
Every fear I had that she'd reject us, every hope that she'd accept, every promise I'm making to protect her and cherish her and stand beside her.
My hand slides into her hair, tilting her head to change the angle, and she makes a small sound that goes straight through me.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. She's looking up at me with wonder and desire and something that might be love, or the beginning of it.
"Wow," she breathes.
"Yeah," I agree, resting my forehead against hers. "Wow."