Chapter Fourteen

                                    

                                          
I had never intended to tell anyone what happened. Glancing towards him I made a split-second decision to be truthful, after all, he told me he was a werewolf. My secret was nothing compared to him being a supernatural entity. I started by telling him that my reaction wasn't his fault and that it was a part of what I assumed was PTSD due to what had happened. As I recounted the tale, he grew visibly more upset with each passing word. The muscle in his jaw ticking away.
                          
Max stood up and began to pace in front of me. His eyes began to glow an ice blue as his agitation escalated. A guttural growl came from him and I finished my portrayal to look up and find his face contorted by rage. One second Max was standing there, and the next there was a giant dusty brown wolf with clear blue eyes standing in front of me. Shrieking I pulled my legs onto the couch as it howled. 
                          
The wolf whined and it clicked. This was the wolf from the other day. Max was the wolf from the woods. We sat there staring at each other until he put his paw on my lap. When I didn't scream he crawled onto the couch and layed with his big furry head against my chest. His cold nose nuzzled my cheek and sent shivers down my spine. There was no way this was happening to me. It was one thing to be told I knew a werewolf, but another to actually see one, let alone cuddle with one.
                          
"M-max?" The wolf yipped at me. It hopped down gracefully and sauntered around to the back of the couch. I tried to look around to see what it was doing but got a warning growl instead. I turned around and sat back down staring straight forward. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking behind me and seeing sinewy naked torso my cheeks and ears reddened immediately. I snapped my head back to looking out the window. Why I'd imagined he'd be fully clothed when he changed back was beyond me. Having read enough books I should've known otherwise.
                          
A deep bellied laugh escaped Max from behind me. I heard rustling and could only assume he was getting dressed. He came around and sat back down beside me sporting a pair of sweats and a baggy black shirt. 
                          
"Do you believe me now?" a hint of laughter still in his eyes. I nodded my head vigorously. "I apologize for changing so suddenly," he said tilting his head to the side and looking down. "Raw emotion often doesn't help with reigning the wolf in. He was so upset at you having to go through with something so terrible, I couldn't keep him in."
                          
Curiosity got the better of me. "Did you follow me home as a wolf the other day?" He nodded. "Was that the first time that you had changed?" Again he nodded. There was one more question I wanted an answer to, so I squashed down my insecurity and blurted out. "How is it that you think were mates? What would lead you to believe that?"
                          
"Well from what I remember," he scratched his head. " when a wolf is close to his mate he just knows." He took a moment to compose an explanation. "It's hard to explain. When I first moved here, I felt a pull towards you. I didn't think anything about it until we bumped into each other that day and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. When you got hurt, I went batshit. Four teachers had to pull me off of James. I wanted to be right by your side." He took my hand. "I was going to take things slow and get to know you better, hang out. When you wouldn't talk to me, it hurt. I was terrified that I'd pushed you away by telling you the truth too soon." I put my hand up to stop him from saying anything else.
                          
"I thought you were pranking me, to tell the truth." I bit my bottom lip nervously. "I assumed Jenna was trying to get to me again." 
                          
"Well, in any case, I'm glad you're not ignoring me anymore." Someone began knocking at the front door. "That should be the boys, I'll be right back." The crashing noises that ensued startled me. I didn't know what else to do except getting onto the floor and crawl behind some furniture. I heard growling as more glass and furniture was being smashed. They tumbled into the living room, snapping at each other. The other wolf was a silvery-white color and he was much bigger than Max was. With nothing I could do to help I just sat tight out of the way. 
                          
Max lunged and caught the other wolf's shoulder. The red is a bright contrast against the white of its coat. The white wolf yelping in pain. It lowered its head and tail and backed away slowly. Then a man sat where the wolf was moments ago, leaning against a wall. His shoulder-length blond hair had streaks of blood in it where it rested on his injured shoulder. He grabbed at his shoulder, his naked body laden with muscle. His pale skin was smooth, devoid of imperfections such as freckles or scars. 
                          
Max chose then to change back, and my eyes snapped shut before they could discern something unsavory. My mind raced at the thought of peaking. For a moment there was heavy consideration, I won't lie.
                          
"You win," the stranger grunted. "there's no wonder they meant for you to be our next pack leader." He winced as a chuckle escaped his lips.
                          
"And who the hell might you be?" Max snapped angrily. I squinted one eye open, yep still nakey. 
                          
"G-guys..... clothes, p-please.?" My heart jumped into my throat hoping they didn't decide to eat me in the end.
                          
"Shit, hold on Elly." I could hear shuffling about. "Alright, your good to come out now." I crawled out of my hiding place behind the recliner in the corner. Max was turned toward the man, his hands on his hips as if he were chiding a small child. "Your name...?" He questioned.
                          
The man gave a brilliant grin, his moss-green eyes twinkling. "I am Juda, Current Alpha of the Winter Moon pack," he stated matter of factly as if we should already know. "and you are coming with me."