Page 20 of Vow Of A Fox

While I knew he’d seen me shift, an explanation was still needed.

Wasn’t it?

Also, I should explain about Xander and his raven. Ben needed to know everything. My fox agreed. Still, she seemed unfazed by the fact that Ben now knew what we were or that he’d been dragged into the chaos with Xander. Her attention was fixed on the feather safely tucked inside his jacket pocket and the role he’d played in getting it.

That held weight with her.

When I stepped back out of the woods, Ben was still there, waiting for me. His hands were crammed into the front pockets of his jeans and he stood, leaning against his truck. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes said everything.

“I know you have questions,” I said before he could speak. “You probably have things you want to say too, but it’s not safe here. Xander—I mean, the raven—isn’t going to sleep for long.”

He pushed off his truck and shook his head. “He’ll most likely wake in a few minutes.” His jaw tensed and his brows furrowed. “Xander. So, that raven—is it like you? He can transform?”

“Yes. We’re called shifters,” I said simply, not daring to elaborate yet. “Please, Ben. Just follow me to my place. I promise I’ll explain everything once we get there.”

All I wanted was for us to get the heck out of here, to put distance between us and Xander.

He nodded again. “Lead the way.”

I exhaled a slow breath, then walked toward my car. Cranking the engine, the weight of what I needed to tell Ben settled heavily on my shoulders. I liked him—a lot—and the thought of him walking away after hearing everything twisted painfully in my chest. My fox nuzzled me gently. It was her way of saying she believed he wouldn’t do that. Even so, my grip on the steering wheel tightened as I drove, my knuckles turning white while I tried to piece together how this conversation might go.

Unusually calm, my fox curled up in the corner of my mind, radiating a sense of safety and certainty that things would work out fine, one I didn’t share.

It wasn’t logical—not after everything that just happened.

Even so, she trusted Ben.

Deep down, so did I.

When I pulled into my driveway, Ben’s truck rolled in behind me. Some of the tension in my chest loosened as I swept my gaze over my sanctuary.

This place wasn’t much, but it was mine.

It was safe, and it had been the fresh start I’d built for myself after everything with Lucius and the Ashen Tribe first settled.

I drew in a deep breath, bracing against the nerves clawing at my stomach while I cut the engine on my car.

This was it.

Ben had seen too much tonight for me to deflect or dodge any questions. There was no other choice besides telling him the truth.

My only hope was that it didn’t scare him away.

8

BEN

The glass of water felt cool in my hand. It was a gesture I hadn’t asked for but appreciated more than I expected. Sienna moved to the other side of the kitchen, keeping distance between us. I could feel the tension radiating off her. Hell, I wasn’t exactly calm either. My mind was stuck on one thing—she was a fox.

A shifter.

It didn’t feel as though any of this could be real. It all felt like something out of a novel or that would be seen in a movie. I knew it was real, though.

I’d seen it with my own eyes.

Sienna crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes dipped to the glass of water in my hand before lifting to meet mine.

“I owe you an explanation,” she said finally, her voice softer than usual. “I know that.”

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