Page 34 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
“Good. I didn’t really want to stab you.Yet.I need you alive to get the proof of your existence first. Then, I can stab you. So how is it that you were able to shift without the full moon? I thought that was the only time werewolves shifted from their human forms.”
“Oh, for the love of—there is no such thing as werewolves,” he snaps. I’m about to snap right back at him, my mouth fallingopen to point out I saw him and shot him in the woods. “I am not a werewolf. I am a shifter. There’s a difference.”
My jaw falls open even farther. I don’t know how to respond to that. The wheels in my head begin to spin and finally start connecting some dots. He’s not denying it was him anymore. Now I can get some real answers.
“What’s the difference? Are there werewolves out there or just,” I gesture up and down at him. “You?”
“The difference is I wasn’t bitten, I’m not a wild animal, I have control over it, and I don’t eat people. Also, werewolves don’t exist. So now that you know, you can be on your way and leave everyone else in town alone.”
I narrow my eyes at him. He’s still hiding something. “Why?”
“Because.”
“Because there are more of you and you don’t want me to know who?” He averts his gaze and glares at the brick wall of the bookstore next to us. Bingo! There are more shifters and he’s trying to hide them from me. “You’re a shit liar, you know that?”
“You’re annoyingly persistent, you know that?”
“It’s one of my best qualities.” I toss my hair over my shoulder, proud of my stubbornness. “So, how many of you are there? Is it the whole town? Is that why it’s not on any map? Do you bribe people to conceal the town or just kill anyone who discovers you?”
“We don’t kill anyone!” Ryder snaps, his expression shifting in horror at the idea. Good to know.
“If you weren’t bitten, how did you become ashifter? Does silver have any effect on you? Is the whole full moon thing garbage?”
“You may not believe this Tess, but I’m just a normal person like you. I have a job, family, hobbies and I just want to live like anyone else. Did you ever consider that on your hunt forwerewolves? That you’re hunting a person who may not want to be the center of your expose?”
I pause for a moment, because no, I hadn’t thought about the human part. The beast is all I’ve ever been able to think about since that night they attacked those campers when I was a kid.
“No one wants to be the center of an expose, but people deserve to know the truth. To know that there are creatures out there that can hurt them. Whether you intend to or not.”
Ryder’s jaw clenches and his hands tighten in to fists at his side. I eye them, momentarily wondering if I’m going to need to stab him after all.
“You have your answer. Go home,” he growls out.
“Not a chance.” I cross my arms over my chest in defiance. “I have too many questions you still haven’t answered and I’m sticking around till they are. If I’d have been more alert in the forest I would have already gotten a picture of you as proof, but since I didn’t, I’m not going anywhere until you shift for me and prove you’re not a werewolf but a shifter like you say.” I poke him in the chest avoiding the area of his wound.
“That’s never going to happen,” Ryder says darkly.
“Why not? It would be the fastest way to get rid of me.”
“It would be better for everyone if you just forgot you ever came here.” His words are softer than they have been, a quiet pleading for understanding.
I understand him to a degree. But I can’t forget, not now. Not when I’m so close. Not after all the years of doubt and escaping that institution my parents put me into that was more suited for a horror movie than rehabilitation. Leaving now would be like letting myself drown a foot from the surface. Just one more push and I’ll reach my goal. Break through the surface and inhale a deep breath. Finally able to let go and move on.
“I can’t do that. I’ve been called crazy for too long to give up now that the truth is within my reach. You’re stuck with me.”
Ryder begins to pace, wiping a hand down his face, catching glances of me every so often. I stand defiant, arms crossed over my chest not giving an inch. He can protest all he wants, but this is still a free country and I can stay here as long as I like. He finally stops pacing, his eyes shining with resolve.
“Do whatever you want Tess. But I’m not going to let you hurt anyone in this town, whether that be by taking their picture or shooting them with a crossbow. Which, by the way, if I catch you with again, I will arrest you.” He points at me with one hand the other going to his hip, drawing my attention to his badge and gun strapped to his belt. I’d almost forgot about him being a real cop.
I hold my hands up in supplication. Not like I go waltzing around with it strapped to my back anyways. “That’s fine. I’ll just follow you around then and bug you.” I give him a wide toothy grin. “Eventually I’ll wear you down and you’ll tell me what I want to know.”
He groans and rolls his eyes rubbing at them. A common response to my presence, I’m used to it.
“Whatever, I need a coffee.”
“Ooh that sounds great. I love everything Tobias has made me so far. I think I may be addicted to his coffee. He’s not a shifter, is he? He seems too nice if you’re the standard for shifters. Are all shifters as grouchy as you? Considering everyone else I’ve met in town is super friendly and nice I’m going to guess no. I think it’s just a you thing.”
Ryder doesn’t say anything else as we walk toThe Ugly Mug. I’ve just turned the tables on him and I’m going to be even more annoying now until I break him.
