"...when you touched me." I whispered, "It was the first time our hands touched."
Eli silently looked out at the people around us, "The spark." He said defiantly, "She is mine and mine alone, I am hers and hers alone, to be rid of her would be the greatest offense to our people."
"This is impossible." Owen whispered again, but he sank back down into his chair, "How has this happened?"
"We're leaving." Eli said, leaning down and pulling me up into his arms.
I clung to him, glancing towards Aubrey, who stood by the door. For a moment, it looked as though she were going to stand in our way.
"How can we be sure that we can trust her?" Aubrey asked, hands moving to her hips, "As soon as she leaves, she could contact the news, she could call the police, she could start a war!"
"I won't." I said sincerely, glancing out at the werewolves.
They had no reason to trust me, and though I had little understanding of what had just occurred between us and them, I could only hope that it was enough to gain temporary favor until I could prove my trustworthiness to these strangers.
"We have to let them go." Owen spoke, "Aubrey, you have to let them leave."
"I need to explain this all to her, we need time." Eli said quietly, "You can trust her. I will watch her, when she understands, she won’t speak a word."
Aubrey finally moved from the door, shaking her head viciously, "This is a mistake." She snapped, "This all a huge mistake."
As the door to the coffeehouse swung shut, the last image I saw was Aubrey's dark glare.
Silently, Eli placed me in his bright red jeep, climbing into the front seat.
For a moment, he didn't even move, just holding the steering wheel and staring forward, as though he were in the middle of a dream.
"We have a lot to talk about." He finally whispered, as he started the engine and chugged along the road.
Though we did have much to say, the car ride back to the apartment complex was silent.
Chapter Ten
We sat together on opposite ends of his wide bed, simply staring at each other, surrounded by silver chains and crimson sheets.
He’d insulated the windows and the doorways in an attempt to hide his monthly transitions.
“So,” I began casually, “You’re a werewolf.”
Eli nodded glumly, eyes shifting away in deep shame, “I’m sorry.”
“Err, it’s okay?” I whispered, unsure if that was the appropriate response one should say in this situation. Couldn’t say I’ve ever been in a position like this before.
A smile almost twitched on his lips.
“And Aubrey’s a wolf too.” I mused.
Funny, how sometimes secrets are kept like that.
“Aubrey is the pack leader.” Eli corrected, “She’s the wolf.”
“Ah.” I responded, the only response that I could come up with.
Then, once more, we were plunged into silence.
“They were really going to kill me, weren’t they?” I suddenly asked, my palms going clammy.
I’d been so close to death that I could almost feel it. How was it possible that yesterday morning, I’d been thinking about wine and Netflix, and by this morning, I was facing my own demise? I wonder if that’s how life with a werewolf would always be.
“Preservation of your species is a strong instinct, especially when you’ve been hunted your entire life.” Eli said softly, “Aubrey is strong, quick, and smart. She was thinking of her pack, those that she has even sworn to protect.”
“Not that I wanted you or anyone else to die.” He added quickly, holding his hands up in a flustered type of way, “We’ve never had anyone find out our secret before. At least not since I joined the pack.”
“How did you join it?” I asked, “Were you attacked by a rabid wolf on your walk home from school one day?”
A giggle almost left my lips, but I was still recovering from almost dying.
He smiled weakly, shaking his head, “I was born this way.” He sighed, “Though my parents died when I was young and I had no biological siblings. I had no pack to run with until I came to this town for college.”
“And then you met Aubrey?” I asked.
He nodded, “They join together for a run under the moon each month, but I…I like to be on my own. I’ve always been on my own. I feel the most comfortable that way.”
“Is that why you keep to yourself so much?” I asked quietly, “You’re afraid of getting too close.”
His eyes flickered over to me, searching my own gaze. There was more he wanted to say, but he could not bring himself to speak.