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.”

some of the fear in

leather barstool across from

me intently. “So, this wolf… is it like a separate being inside

exactly. It’s more like… a primal part of me. Think of it as strong

when you,

can usually feel it coming on, a sort of simmering beneath the surface. That night with the

you did control

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

control how much of the wolf you let out?” Her

20 Jun

Chapter 23

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

eyes widened. “Do you have, like, a secret werewolf gym

of werewolves, and they have ways to train and control their woll natures. It’s more of

her chair. “So, there are other werewolves

hint of unease creeping into my voice. “But the werewolf world is a complex one, with its own set of rules and secrets. Which is

can I just forget something like that? And what about the whole monster thing? Don’t werewolves eat people?” She looked genuinely terrified

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

people. We have

Mostly, we just try to live our lives

head. “This

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

a faint pink, “Stronger than a

good heart. And that’s something

touched her lips, “Alright, Mays. I’ll try my best to keep your secret. But you have to promise to answer all

buy you a drink? I know you work at a bar and now it sounds really dumb after you just poured one for someone else, but I just got a job and my best friend is coming and you can join us if you want to

good. Just promise me you won’t turn

out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing warmly in the dimly lit backroom. “No promises,” I countered playfully, “but I’ll

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

woman with brown hair popped her head out from behind the bar. “Sure thing. Take all the time you need. I can handle things

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