Page 11 of Nyctophilia

He seemed to be carefully constructing his response in his head. I wanted honesty, not a run-around answer. When he responded, his words were slow and measured. “There are dangerous things in those woods right now. But I’m taking care of it. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

A half answer. “What is so scary?”

His eyes seemed to speak for him, pleading with me to accept what he had given me. “You don’t need to worry about it. I will take care of it.”

Few things got on my nerves like being placated. I huffed. “I’m really not sure what a private investigator would be able to do about such a dangerous problem. And I was also promised answers if I came to dinner with you.”

Jasper grinned. “Actually, I recall promising to try to answer your questions. And I did try.”

He was so frustrating. I had been more annoyed with him in a few days than I had ever been with anyone else. As good as his hands did feel on me, I wasn’t about to sit around and be made a fool of. “I’m sorry, maybe this really wasn’t a good idea. I had a long day and I think I should be getting home.”

Jasper took both of my hands in his before I could get up. His gaze didn’t move from mine. “No. Stay. Please.”

“You’re treating me like a child. I’m capable of hearing whatever it is you’re hiding from me. And if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. But don’t expect me to stick around while you laugh about it,” I told him, my anger rising to the surface.

“I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere. “Please, stay. I’ll try.”

My head was telling me to leave, but my heart was saying stay. I slowly sat back down, and looked up at him expectantly.

Jasper ran both his hands through his hair, causing it to look even more tousled than usual. I urged myself to pay attention to his words, not his looks. He seemed to be battling with himself about something, and I waited patiently for the result. Finally, he stopped, and when he met my gaze his eyes were bright. “What I’m going to tell you will not sound believable. But I’m asking you to trust me.”

Did I trust him? I had known Jasper for all of a few days. And yet every bone in me knew the answer to that question. “Okay.”

With a brisk nod he began. “Many years ago, before Merrillan was a town, there were animals that used to live here in the area. As the people came and the town grew, the animals spread out, becoming stories instead of something people knew and understood.”

I was confused. “Like, a mountain lion?” There had been talk of one in the area a few years ago, but no one I knew had actually seen it.

“No.” Jasper’s voice was tight. “Less believable.”

I was trying to add up everything he was telling me, and kept coming up blank.

He tried again. “Do you believe in myths?”

“Like, unicorns and stuff?” I shrugged. “Some of it I guess, if I had proof…” I trailed off, wondering where this was going.

Jasper made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “Think more serious.”

“Jasper, if you tell me there’s a ghost haunting my apartment building, I’m leaving right now.” I smiled, trying to make a joke. In reality, my stomach was in knots, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear what he had to say anymore. But I had fought for the truth, so I was going to hear him out.

He slowly shook his head, not cracking a smile. “No, Green. I’m talking about a predator that hunts werewolves.”

Chapter 5

I couldn’t believe what Jasper was saying. All those times in the woods I thought I’d felt something watching me, I hadn’t been crazy. Things that weren’t human were out there. I had sensed it before my mind even allowed me to believe it. How? “So you’re telling me werewolves exist, and there are some in my woods.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “But they aren’t the bad guys. There’s something even worse out there.”

Jasper simply nodded. His whole body was tense, waiting for my reaction. I had definitely changed my mind -- I didn’t want to hear any of this. I wanted to go back to my whiskey and his hands on mine. But my curiosity was also getting the best of me, and I could always play along. Until I got some answers at least. I couldn’t help the excitement I felt. Maybe this was all a big joke. But there was a taste of a memory on my tongue. Somehow I knew what he was saying was true. I leaned forward. “Start at the beginning.”

Jasper laughed. “You sure you’re not a private investigator, Green?”

I ignored him. “How does one become a werewolf?”

Jasper mimicked my posture, leaning forward. “You’re born with it. Most of the ones I know actually started phasing when they were teenagers.”

“Phasing.” I turned the word over in my mouth. “You mean like changing into a wolf?”

“Exactly.”

“Do they howl at the moon? Change under the light of the full moon?” My mouth was working faster than my brain.

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