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

the small room. A hysterical edge crept into it, and for a horrifying moment,

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

room frantically, searching for

in her eyes was worse. “Riley,” I said gently, reaching out a hand towards her, but

away.

“You’re serious?” she whispered.

slowly, the weight of her

voice rising in panic. “How are you…? How are werewolves real? Werewolves only exist in stories and this is definitely

Chapter 19

pleaded. “I won’t hurt you I promise” But the words seemed to have the

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

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screamed to hug her, to offer physical comfort, but! knew it would only terrify

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

doesn’t mean I’m a monster. Look at me.” 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

continued to stream down her face, carving clean tracks through the grime of the bar. “But… but how? Why?

voice thick with confusion.

more important that you calm

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

We can talk about this,

by a long, shuddering sigh. The raw fear in

her voice barely audible. “But where

phone vibrated in my pocket, shattering the fragile calm that had begun to settle. I pulled it out, my heart sinking as I saw the

hesitant curiosity. This wasn’t how I’d planned this conversation. This wasn’t the time, not

sorry, but I have to go. Something just came up, something I

brow furrowed, “Is everything

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