Feisty, my wolf says with a chuckle.

Need I remind you that you're the one who warned me to keep our species a secret? I snap back.

True, but I hate to always be the responsible one, he replies with a mental shrug. Besides, you know that I can't resist a strong woman. This little bottle of humanity definitely holds more power than I initially thought.

"You're right," I say, lifting my hands up in mock surrender. I've made my decision. "Let's have another drink. You're going to need it if I'm going to tell you the whole truth."

"I already do," she murmurs, her hands balling into fists at her sides.

Thanks to my wolf's healing abilities, the alcohol does nothing to get me drunk. Cassidy, on the other hand, is already tipsy. Maybe I should slow down, otherwise, she won't be able to help me.

Or maybe you should keep pouring, my wolf suggests. If this goes bad, you can always blame it on the alcohol.

I sit down first, then gesture for Cassidy to join me on the sofa. This time, she remains careful not to touch me. I feel cold, almost cut off, when we both sit at least a foot away from each other. She's on the edge of her seat, her posture erect and her eyes glued to the screen to the spot where the wolf used to be.

The man is long gone now, too. I should turn it off before Grayden and his task force arrive, but I can't bring myself to move. Besides, what's the point when I'm about to tell her everything anyway?

"Cassidy," I say, using her name for the first time.

Fuck. Even her name tastes hot.

Focus, my wolf growls. He's clearly feeling responsible again.

Her green eyes shift to mine. There's a spark of anger in them and my cock responds, getting hard in my pants.

"I don't know how to tell you this, so I'm going to go ahead and just say it, okay?" I say, and she gives me a barely perceptible nod.

I take a deep breath.

Just spit it out, my wolf urges.

"Humans aren't the only species on Earth," I blurt out. "What you saw was a shifter. A human wolf."

CHAPTER 4

Cassidy

I burst out laughing.

Graham's eye twitches in surprise. "You think this is funny?"

"I'm sorry," I choke out, trying to swallow the remaining saliva to keep myself from throwing up. Not because of the alcohol, although, I had a few drinks just now.

No, it's because of the man sitting next to me. The scent of cedar cologne rises through my nostrils, making me heady. I gulp for air to clear my head. "I think I drank a little too much. Passed a little beyond the limit that normal people drink. Just ignore me and please continue with your explanation."

It's impossible.

I've just witnessed the impossible. There's no denying it. But that doesn't mean I have to accept it.

A wolf-man hybrid is...well, it's unlikely, for starters. Those sorts of creatures only exist in the old books that my foster parents used to read when I was small. Nowadays, young people don't really bother with fairytales. We like the realistic books. The kind where you can see the main character's struggles with a logical solution in sight. Not the bloody bickering between a warlock and a witch.

Or was it between a man and his mate?

I don't remember the story very well because I've been a geek since middle school, and I ignored the fantasy genre altogether, but I know it revolves around a wolf that shifts into a man and a vampire that shifts into a bat. I snort out loud. Of course, I could've forgotten about any other details, but I remember that.

Fantastic.

"How can you think that's funny?" Graham continues his attack, completely ignoring the fact that my mind is malfunctioning, and if I do accept what he's telling me, I'd be calling myself crazy.