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.

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

sudden, unexpected sound filled the air-laughter, Sharp, disbelieving laughter that echoed strangely in the small room. A hysterical edge

the back of her hand. “Where are the cameras? Because I’m definitely being punked

searching for some hidden

laughter, but the terror in her eyes was worse. “Riley,”

away.

“You’re serious?” she whispered.

nodded slowly, the weight of

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

Chapter 19

I pleaded. “I won’t hurt you I promise”

promise that?” she shrieked, her voice cracking with fear. “You’re a monster!

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soothing murmur. Every instinct in me screamed to hug her, to offer physical comfort, but! knew it would only terrify her further. “I understand

a shuddering breath, her eyes wide and frantic. “You…

I gestured to myself, hoping the normalcy of my human form would offer some reassurance. “I’m Amaya. The same Amaya who you just poured a drink and listened to vent about her day. The wolf is

face, carving clean tracks through the grime of the bar. “But… but how? Why? And how did you…”

voice thick with confusion.

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

a moment, her eyes darting nervously between me and the doorway. Finally, with a shaky hand, she wiped her tears away and took a deep, ragged breath, I followed suit, the

We can talk about

sigh. The raw fear in her eyes began to subside, replaced

her voice barely audible.

begun to settle. I pulled it out, my heart sinking

planned this conversation. This wasn’t the time, not with her eyes still wide and her voice shaky. But

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

furrowed,

There’s a lot to unpack, about me, about what just happened. But right now,