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.”

not?” she pressed, curiosity replacing some of the fear in her

long story,” I admitted, sinking deeper into the worn leather barstool across from her. “One I don’t

“So, this wolf… is it like

like… a primal part of me. Think of it as strong emotions and instincts; raw and untamed. It’s the fight or flight response turned up to

apprehension. “So, when you, uh, shifted a bit the other night,

I confirmed. “But I can usually feel it coming on, a sort of simmering beneath the surface. That night with the bikers, though… everything happened so fast. My wolf sensed danger and reacted before I could fully control

you did control

hesitated, her voice dropping

keen observation hadn’t gone unnoticed. “Yeah, about that. Werewolves have heightened senses, and our eyes change when we

wolf you let out?” Her

20

Chapter 23

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certain extent,” I replied cautiously. “There’s constant training involved, learning to manage the wolf’s urges and channel its strength without

you have, like,

tugged at my lips. “Not exactly. There are packs, communities of werewolves, and they have

her chair.

complex one, with its own set of rules and secrets. Which is why it’s important that you keep what you saw the other night

just forget something like that? And what about the whole

whoa, whoa,” Theld up my hands in mock surrender. “Hold on a second. Werewolves aren’t monsters

people. We

with humans, but violence is a last resort. Mostly, we just

“This

I wouldn’t have told you any of this if I

flushed a faint pink,

have a good heart. And that’s something

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

just poured one for someone else, but I just got a job and my best friend

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

a hearty laugh, the sound echoing warmly in the dimly lit backroom. “No promises,” I

out, “Hey, Sarah! Can I take a ten–minute

“Sure thing. Take all

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