Bonds

Chapter 18

-Maya’s POV-

The silence after the bikers stumbled out was like a physical thing, thick and suffocating. My heart hammered, the adrenaline slowly fading away, leaving behind a cold dread. The primal satisfaction of defending the bar, fueled by my wolf, warted with a creeping foar.

“I, uh….” I stammered, my mouth suddenly dry. I took a tentative step towards Riley, then another, needing to explain, needing something. But before could get close, she recoiled, her hand shooting up to ward me ofl.

Her eyes, wide and fearful, flicked from me to the retreating figures of the bikers, then back to me. I glanced around and relief washed over me momentarily at least the others hadn’t seen my wolf lunge to the surface.

But the relief was short-lived, replaced by a sinking feeling in my gut as I met Riley’s gaze again.

“Riley, please.”Twhispered, my voice barely above a croak. “We need to talk, but not here, I promise I won’t hurt you,”

Her lips moved silently for a moment, her expression a mask of confusion and dawning horror. Then, in a voice barely audible, she rasped, “The back.”

She spun on her heel and headed towards a swinging door at the rear of the bar. I followed her quietly, the weight of her unspoken questions hanging heavy in the air.

The backroom was small dominated by a battered metal counter and stacks of empty crates. Riley moved straight for the counter, her back to me, her hands gripping the worn wood as if seeking solace in its solidity. Honestly, I couldn’t blame her.

The silence stretched again, broken only by the ragged breaths escaping my own lungs.

Then came the question, the one I’d dreaded, “What… what are you? How did you… Your eyes. What are you?”

There were a million ways I could answer. I could lie, tell her she’d imagined the whole thing, the adrenaline messing with her mind. But the thought of it left a bitter taste in my mouth. The past four years had been a living hell, broken by someone else’s actions and I wouldn’t subject anyone else to that.

I knew how this story ended. The suspicion, the doubt, the slow erosion of sanity as she tried to convince herself it wasn’t real. It would break her differently, not like I was.

Taking a deep breath, I braced myself. “I’m a werewolf,” I said, the words tumbling out in a rush.

deafening. She stared at me, her face’a canvas of disbelief. “A werewolf?

that echoed strangely in the small room. A hysterical edge crept into it, and

she gasped, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Where are the cameras? Because

trailed off, and she looked around the room frantically, searching for some hidden device, some

heart sank, I hadn’t expected laughter, but the terror in her eyes was worse. “Riley,” I said

away.

“You’re serious?” she whispered.

slowly, the weight of her fear

backwards, her voice rising in panic. “How are you…? How are werewolves real? Werewolves

Chapter 19

promise” But the words seemed to have the opposite effect, fueling her

shrieked, her voice cracking with fear. “You’re a monster! A creature out

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to a low, soothing murmur. Every instinct in me screamed to hug her, to offer physical comfort, but! knew it would only terrify her further. “I understand why you’re scared. Believe me,

shuddering breath, her eyes wide and frantic. “You… you can turn into

offer some reassurance. “I’m Amaya. The same Amaya who you just poured a drink and listened to vent about her day. The wolf

her face, carving clean tracks through the grime of the bar.

voice thick with confusion.

I think it’s more important that you calm down. Can you take a deep

shaky hand, she wiped her tears away and took a deep, ragged breath, I followed suit, the

alright. We can talk about this, but first, you need to

lips, followed by a long, shuddering sigh. The raw fear in her eyes began to

audible. “But where

fragile calm that had begun to settle. I pulled it out, my heart sinking as I saw the message.

I’d planned this

so sorry, but I have to go. Something just came up, something I can’t

furrowed, “Is

a lot to unpack, about me, about what just happened. But right