Chapter 8: The Reveal

The wolf gnarls its white fangs at Adam, who can’t stop trembling. Gasping, he tumbles off of me, trying to gain some space from the beast, but it keeps closing the gap. With one loud bark he has Adam shrieking.

“M-Monster!!” He screams in panic and takes off sprinting back to the camp to alert everyone.

However, I’m left alone. Glued to the floor, my eyes are unable to look away at the beast in front of me. I feel many things. Terror, fear, shock, but the most of all…curiosity? The wolf turns to me now, and I straighten my back out of instinct. It comes closer to me, but not as threatening. Almost as if it’s curious, just like me.

Still my body can’t help but tremble. I’ve seen wolves in animal science videos, but this creature is something else. Probably double, if not triple the size.

It's breathing blows against my face, pushing my hair back. I find it hard to breathe in front of it. Am I even allowed to breathe? Is that considered offensive to them?

Even though it’s so close, and could quite literally bite my head off at any moment, my fear subsides and is replaced with unexpected fascination. I must be crazy, but why do I want to pet the bridge of its nose?

It suddenly huffs, making me shut my eyes tight. The feeling of dread comes back. I, Anna Brown, am going to die at 21 years old. Cause of death, eviscerated by a wild wolf on steroids.

“Pfft. Was he supposed to be a Greek God? That’s hilarious.”

Huh?

My brows crease at the familiar voice and I gasp aloud. I don’t even want to open my eyes. There’s no way this is real. It cannot be real. Where did the wolf go? It couldn’t be…

“Miss Interviewer?”

I slowly open my eyes to see Ray. It really is him. He’s staring down at me with a feigning innocence, as if I was the weird one.

“Ray…but you…?” I look around for the wolf. Only its tracks remain, but the prints lead up to where Ray is, crouched down in front of me. That’s when I realize he’s only in a pair of jeans.

“This is a dream isn’t it?” I laugh it off, mumbling to myself. “My own brain is psyching myself out before I even go to the party.” Yes, clearly this is the only rational conclusion. I’m still at home in my bed. I just turned in my report for class. And now I will wake up.

I shut my eyes tight, trying to trigger my body to get me out of my head. Flashing them open, I notice that I’m still here in front of an amused Ray.

“Maybe try again?” He smiles, putting a hand under his chin. “Try sticking out your tongue. That could wake you up.”

I close my eyes again, following his instructions. But after some time, I could hear him chuckling.

“Even in my dreams you torment me.” I groan, pulling at my hair.

“Alright, fine, fine, for real this time.” His laughs die down as he scans my face. “Close your eyes, but gently. No need to force ‘em.”

I raise a brow. “No jokes?”

“No jokes.”

Taking in a breath, I close my eyes.

“Now imagine the layout of your room, and picture yourself on your bed.” Ray says.

I feel a sudden touch on my face. It glides over my cheeks a few times, easing the tension in my shoulders. “You feel something right? Might be your pillow.”

Somehow his voice is a lot closer than before.

Ugh, it’s going to be so awkward seeing him tomorrow if he goes to the party.

“Another breath in.”

I breathe. Another touch.

This time it's a gentle and sweet sensation on my forehead. Something in me stirs, like a hot ball of fire that’s trying to burst out of my chest.

Once it leaves, my eyes flutter open to see Ray looking at me with an unreadable expression.

He smiles. “Good morning.”

I stare at him. The heat simmers in my stomach, but it quickly transfers to my face, now fully registering that he actually caressed my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

“That–that didn’t even do anything!” I stammer, trying to hide my embarrassment. I’m not doing a good job.

He leans on his arm, grinning like a fool. “Well obviously it didn’t because this is all real.”

“You were teasing me again?” My eyes narrow at him.

“Yeah.” Ray chuckles.

“And you expect me to believe that you were that wolf just now?”

He smiles, seeing me pester him with questions again. “I do.”

“Then…you’re a werewolf?” Is this really happening like it does in the movies? So those weren’t purely fiction? How many of those are actual autobiographies…?

“Wolf shifter,” he corrects, “But yeah.”

“And I just have to accept that?”

“Yep,” he pops the ‘p’ nonchalantly.

Seeing how casual he is about all this makes my blood boil. He thinks he can just throw this on me and act like it's natural? “You are so-!”

“But I can’t let you go scotch free now that you know.”

The dark change in his voice silences me. A sense of danger washes over me, and the air becomes thinner. He’s no longer goofing around.

“We walk among you, but are forbidden to expose our abilities. So, if any human catches wind of our packs’ existence, they are promptly executed.”

I’m sorry, did he just say executed?

I instinctively reach for my neck. The thought of having my jugular ripped out of me drains the color out of my face.

“But,” he starts, catching my attention, “If you make a deal with me, I’ll let you off the hook.”

“A deal…? What is it?” I ask.

Ray smirks. “Agree to it first, and then I’ll tell you.”

I raise a brow. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll die.” He states bluntly, and goosebumps crawl on my skin.

We sit in silence for a moment, but that’s when I realize that it isn’t very silent at all. I turn my head to the screams and shouts at the bonfire, people fleeing left and right. Adam must’ve alerted them of the huge wolf. That guy really just left me to fend for myself. A slight prick festers in my heart.

“Time’s ticking, Miss Interviewer.”

I look back to Ray who is even closer than before, his nose barely touching mine. “What’s your answer?”

Groaning, I put a hand to my face. “You really didn’t give me much of an option.”

He laughs at that. “All the more reason why you shouldn’t have to think about it.”

“Ugh, fine!” I surrender. “What do you need me to do?”

Ray grabs a piece of my hair, twirling it around his finger then tugs it so my forehead bumps into his.

“We’ll go over it in depth later, but if I could put it simply,” his lips curl upward, revealing his canines. “You’re going to be mine.”

With that, he pulls away and gets on all fours. The onyx fur suddenly covers him and, once he stands on his feet, the wolf within is revealed; eyes shining like bright amber.

His…?

Speechless, I watch him take off into the woods, blending in with the night.

Did that really just happen? I just…saw him shift. Right in front of me. Was that real?

I look down at my shaking hands. Pinching my arm, I feel the tight sting of pain as a patch of my skin turns red.

So, this really isn’t a dream?