Bonds

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

-Maya’s POV-

The familiar scent of stale beef and leather greeted me as I pushed open the door of The Rusty Compass. My eyes scanned the bar, immediately landing on Riley. She was hunched over, concentrating on pouring a drink, her hair cascading down her back like a fiery waterfall.

As she straightened, our eyes met. A jolt passed through her, and she flinched, taking a step back. “Hi,” I greeted, my voice softer than usual.

Her response was a shaky, “Hey.” Even from a distance, I could see the dark circles under her eyes, a stark contrast to the vibrancy I remembered.

Concern tugged at me. “Ar

me. “Are you okay? Can you

take a break so we can talk in the back?”

She hesitated, her gaze flickering around the room, before nodding slowly. She excused herself to a nearby coworker, who readily agreed to cover her duties.

As soon as the swinging door closed behind us, shutting out the bar’s low murmur, I blurted out, “You look exhausted. Haven’t been sleeping?”

She sighed, rubbing the circles beneath her eyes. “Yeah, not really. These past two days… I don’t even know who to trust anymore. I mean, anyone could be like you, right? And all it takes is one bad mood for them to rip me to shreds.

”

“Riley, interjected gently, placing a hand on her arm to stop her from spiraling. “Werewolves aren’t bad people. And I’m so sorry I’m putting you through this but no one is going to hurt you.”

Her eyes, wide and searching, locked onto mine. “How do you even ex st?” she whisper yelled, “Were you bitten by one? Do you, like, transform every full

moont

I chuckled, the sound offering a welcome break from the tension, “No, not at all, I was born this way. Being a werewolf is part of me, it’s in my blood. And actually, werewolves can shift wheneverthey want, not just at full moons.”

A shadow crossed my face. “Although, I haven’t let my wolf out much lately.”

replacing some of the

deeper into the worn leather barstool across from

studied me intently. “So, this wolf… is it

head. “Not exactly. It’s more like… a primal part of me. Think of it as strong emotions and instincts; raw and

with a mix of awe and apprehension. “So, when you, uh, shifted a bit the other night, that was

the surface. That night with the bikers, though… everything happened so fast. My wolf

did control

off and then… she hesitated, her voice dropping to

observation hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Yeah, about that. Werewolves have heightened senses, and our eyes change when we shift or when our wolf is close

control how much of the wolf you let out?”

20 Jun

Chapter 23

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to manage the wolf’s urges and channel its strength without

you have, like, a secret werewolf gym or

packs, communities of werewolves, and they have ways to train and control

She repeated, leaning forward in her chair.

“But the werewolf world is a complex one, with its own set of rules and secrets. Which is why it’s important that you keep what you saw the

forget something like that? And what about the whole monster

mock surrender. “Hold on a second. Werewolves aren’t monsters out

people. We

last resort. Mostly, we just try to live our

shaking her head. “This is all so much to take

trust me, I wouldn’t have told you any of this if I didn’t think

flushed a faint pink, “Stronger

“But you have a good heart. And

her gaze searching. Then, a small, hesitant smile touched her lips, “Alright, Mays. I’ll try

sounds really dumb after you just poured one for someone else, but I just got a job and my best friend is

into a small laugh. “Sounds good. Just promise me you won’t turn into a giant wolf and devour

dimly lit backroom. “No

swinging door, she called out, “Hey, Sarah! Can I take a ten–minute break? I just need to chat with a

behind the bar. “Sure thing. Take all the time you need. I can handle things here

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