FINN
“Ms. Marshall,” I started as we sat at the table across from each other. But she cut me off at once.
“Stop with the Ms. Marshall crap,” she sneered. “Just call me Clare. We both know you’re much older than you look.”
“Not much at all. But yes, we age slower than normal humans. Let’s just say that I’m already old enough to know things. And right now, I know what scares you so much, and why you decided to run. It’s clear now that you’re not the wolf. It was Spencer’s father. And by getting together, you two broke the law. You’re afraid that if wolves find you—”
“It’s not me I’m afraid for!” she snapped. “You know they’ll take us both. And Spencer, both of us, will be doomed. Also, if you know about the law, then you must know about the curse. You know there’s no way she will survive the transition.”
“You don’t know that for sure. And even then, I still don’t understand why you would hide who she is from her.”
“That’s because you’re not a mother. If I’d told her that werewolves existed and her father was one, she would try to learn as much about them as she could. She would eventually learn about the curse, that only the men born from a wolf and a witch can survive the transition. Women always die. I hid it from her because I wanted her to have a normal life. Enjoy the time she had instead of spending her days in fear and thinking about death. Isn’t it obvious?”
“No. She needs to know the truth so she can fight for her life, and who knows, maybe it will help her survive.”
“Don’t be delusional,” she shook her head. “That hasn’t happened for more than a hundred years. And even if she did, it would mean that she’s the heir of the Great Alpha. I’m sure you know the whole story. And I’m sure you know what will happen then. The wolves will know that an heir was born. She will become every alpha’s nightmare, and it wouldn’t take long before they find her. I prefer her to die with me next to her, holding her in my arms, than let them rip her away and kill her.”
“I promise you, I won’t let that happen. Clare, like I already said, I’m a lone wolf. I’m not a threat to you, and there’s no need for you to run. Let her finish her school, and then I’ll take you somewhere safe. I can protect her. Both of you.”
“And why would you do that? No wolf would ever do that. What’s in it for you?”
“You’re asking the wrong questions.” I pierced her with a gaze. “Ask me why I’m a lone wolf.”
She stared at me in silence for a moment.
“I see,” she finally said. “Which one was it? Was it your mother, or your father?”
“My father. He was a very powerful warlock. I was wondering why I felt such a strong connection to your daughter. Now I understand. We have a lot in common.”
“I doubt magic is the reason. It must be more your wolf side. I know what happens to men like you. When your kind turns into a wolf the very first time, the wolf takes over and the man loses his witch powers. There are no male wolves with magic, and that’s the reason they’re not hunted. They present no danger because none of them can be the heir of the Great Alpha.”
“No, we can’t. But even then, we’re not welcome. Not in the packs, and not in the covens. There are others like me out there. Outcasts. The rare kids of the rare lawbreakers whose parents were sentenced to death for their forbidden love, and their kids were left behind with a mark of a traitor burned into their skin.”
I lifted the short sleeve of my shirt to show her the mark on my forearm. A ring with an arrow shot through.
“I’m not your enemy, Clare,” I said quietly. “Spencer needs a wolf by her side. Let me help you.”
Her shoulders sank.
“Okay.” She absently nodded a few times. “I’m so tired,” she whispered, barely moving her trembling lips. “All those years I’ve been on the run, all alone with my fear. It’s been so hard to keep a secret from the only person I could trust. I love her so much, and the thought of losing her . . .” She shook her head and her eyes teared up. “I can’t lose her. She’s my everything.”
My blood stirred at the thought.
Spencer can’t die.I can’t let this happen. I need to find a loophole. Even a curse should have one.
“You need to tell her the truth. Then I can prepare her for what’s coming.”
“Okay,” she nodded with a deep sigh. “I’ll talk to her. I’ll tell her that her father was a werewolf and that she’s going to turn on the next full moon. But not about the curse. Do you understand me? Not a word about the curse.”
“I understand.” I sighed. “Then you’ll have to find another reason to explain why you were hiding the truth from her.”
“I’ll come up with something.”
“I know how hard it is, Clare, and I’m sorry.” I got up. “I need a word with Spencer, if that’s okay.”
With a heavy heart, I climbed up the stairs and knocked on the only closed door in the hallway.
The door opened at once.
“Finn?” She stepped back, letting me in.
“I came to say I’m sorry for losing it there for a moment. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I’m just glad Mom didn’t kill you. And that you’re not saying goodbye.” She nervously pushed her hair behind her ears. “This isn’t a goodbye, is it?”
“No. This is more like hello. Your mom and I are on the same page now. So, no secrets.” I smiled. “Hello. My name is Finn, and I’m a werewolf.”
“And my name is Spencer, and I’m a witch,” she beamed.
“You’re much more than that, Spencer Marshall.”
“Does this mean we’re not leaving?”
“Yep. You’ll fini—” She hugged my neck with a squeak, and in a reflex, my hands wrapped around her.
“Sorry,” she pulled back.
I looked into her blue eyes glowing with happiness and my heart sank even more. She had no idea what a dangerous path she had ahead of her.
I removed my hands from her waist.
“Your mom has something to tell you. And,” I paused, “if you need me, I’m only one call away.” I headed to the hallway. “See you, Spencer.”
SPENCER
If I was hit by a train, I would probably be less crushed than by the news Mom dumped on me a few minutes after Finn left. At this point, I would easily agree to take the false fireman version instead of what I just learned about my father.
“All my life, every time I brought up that subject, you made me feel like an idiot.” I stared at her from where I sat at the kitchen table. “You said there’s no such thing as a werewolf.”
Leaning at the counter across from me, she stood with her hands clutching the edge of the wooden surface and her look pinned to the floor.
“Mom,” my voice shook, “why did you lie to me? How could you hide such an important . . . such a huge part of who I am and what I’m going to turn into? When Finn said that I’m a . . . I laughed at his face. Wait a minute. So if it wasn’t for Finn, you wouldn’t have told me at all.” I jumped to my feet. “How could you do this to me?”
“Honey, I know you’re shocked—”
“Well, duh!” I shouted. I pressed my trembling hands against the table and leaned forward. “Look at me! Why would you do this? Why?”
“I was afraid . . .” she finally raised her eyes to me, tears dripping from her eyelashes. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I was just afraid that if you knew, you would want to join a pack. I’m not a wolf. They would not allow me to come with you.” She ran both her palms over her wet cheeks. “You’re all I got. I was afraid that you would leave me.”
She was devastated. I could see her shrivel from the pain she was trying to withhold from me.
“Mom?” And just like that, my heart cracked. “Mom,” I rounded the table and pulled her into a hug. “I would never leave you. Didn’t I tell you I’m taking you to college with me?” I kissed her on the temple. “Who needs a pack? Though,” I chuckled to cheer her up, “I would like to keep Finn.”
She laughed through sobs, squeezing me tighter in her arms.
* * *
Only when I was alone in my room, I took off my we’ll-be-okay mask and set my emotions free. Sobbing into the pillow, I lay in my bed, trying to wrap my head around the fact that next month I’ll turn into something I never even knew existed.
Hiding from people that I was a witch was one thing, but this . . . And breaking every bone in your body wasn’t something you can prepare yourself for. What if I don’t survive?
I always wondered what my life would be like if I had a father, but I never needed him as much as I did now. If he was around, Mom wouldn’t have kept this a secret from me. He would’ve taught me everything I had to know about becoming a wolf from when I was a kid, and it wouldn’t be so terrifying.
Fresh tears pulled into my eyes, but I couldn’t let myself fall apart like that. I grabbed my glass of water from the nightstand, drained it, then sat up, hugged the pillow, and tried to imagine myself as a wolf. I closed my eyes and pictured myself on four legs, all covered in fur.
I hugged the pillow tighter as a cold shiver ran down my spine.
What was going to happen after I changed? Will I be dangerous? Should I lock myself up? That’s what they did in some movies. But wasn’t Finn running free the other night?
Finn.
I sighed and reached for my phone.
“Finn, I’m scared,” I whispered the moment I heard his voice.
“Don’t be,” he murmured back. “I’ll be right there with you.”
“Does it mean you’ll stay here until the next full moon?”
“Not exactly. But after your graduation, you and your mom will come to my place for your first shift. It will be much safer there for you.”
“And Mom agreed? Less than an hour ago, you were about to kill each other.”
“She was just scared. I hope you’re not too angry with her for hiding the truth from you. I’m sure she had her reasons for that.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. She’s more broken by this than I am.” I heaved a breath. “And all this time, I thought she was sad about me going to college and leaving her behind. Can I even go to college after . . . when . . .”
“Of course, you can. But first, you’ll have to learn how to control your strength.”
“Will I be strong like you?” I clung to this one appealing quality to lift my mood.
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll be stronger.” He sounded convincing.
If he said it to cheer me up, it was working.
“No way,” I giggled. “You’re saying I’ll be strong enough to kick your ass?”
“Not just mine.”
The excitement in his voice made me giggle again. “You do believe in what you’re saying, don’t you?”
“I already imagined you fighting a couple of wolves all on your own, and how you put them both down.”
From that point, the conversation took on a much lighter tone. He entertained me with tales about all the positive sides of being a powerful animal. And when the pain in my bones came back, he insisted on drinking the potion, convincing me that it was a bargain considering all the goodies I’ll receive later.