Page 13 of Howling Holidays

Morning drags on slowly until our usual breakfast date. I arrive early, nerves and anticipation warring within me. Logan's eyes widen slightly at my breathless appearance before schooling his features. We take our seats and I wait until coffee is poured to retrieve the journal pages from my satchel and slide them across the table.

"Look at what I found going through my grandmother's study," I gesture to the journals spread out before us. " These belonged to my grandmother. They're filled with stories about Everwood, but not just any stories. These are... They're about shifters, Logan. And not just any shifters, but wolf shifters. The journals mention wolf attacks, strange occurrences in the forest, and some kind of pact between the town elders and a mysterious family. It all fits with Everwood's old legends! And you clearly know more than you've told me. Please, help me finally make sense of this."

Logan reads slowly, brow furrowed. When he looks up, worry and awe shine in his gaze. " "Interesting," he murmurs. "But what makes you think these stories are true?" He speaks carefully, as if confessing state secrets.

I recite the sparse facts. "Amelia's grandmother must have passed them down. Why would these stories be kept closely guarded if they’re just folklore? I just need help interpreting their meaning. Please, can you tell me what you know? I feel like I’m going crazy."

As I watch Logan grapple with his thoughts, the fire crackles in the background, casting flickering shadows across the diner. I can feel my heart hammering against my chest, a nervous anticipation surging through me. The connection between us seems stronger now, charged with something inexplicable.

Logan runs a hand through his exquisite chestnut hair, exhaling heavily. I hold my breath, sensing he has reached some tipping point. His next words do not disappoint.

"Very well, though what I’m about to tell you is extremely dangerous.” He states solemnly.

My eyes widen as I nod, gesturing for him to continue.

"Emily," he finally says, his voice ragged and hesitant. "There's more to Everwood than you know. And there's more to me, too. But telling you... it comes with great risk."

"Risk?" I echo, not understanding but knowing that I need to hear whatever it is he has to say.

Logan's jaw clenches as he wrestles with his decision, amber eyes filled with conflict. He takes a deep breath, and when he looks at me again, there's a newfound determination in his gaze. "You deserve the truth."

"Thank you," I whisper, my curiosity piqued even further.

"Your grandmother's journals are true, Emily. Shifters do exist, and they've always been a part of Everwood." A heavy weight settles upon his words, and his eyes hold mine, waiting for my reaction.

"Shifters? As in... werewolves?" I ask, hardly daring to believe it.

“Shifters are different from werewolves since we can change freely regardless of the moon phase. But everything you read about Everwood's curse is true.” He lowers his voice and glances sharply around the room before continuing.

“My family descends from the ancient wolf shifters referenced here. I...am one of them."

His confession lands with the weight of long-awaited truth. I have to consciously close my gaping mouth. He lays bare his palms on the table between us. "There is a lot to explain. But know for now that my kind have lived in secrecy alongside humans for generations, our existence bound by a powerful curse."

I struggle to process this revelation, my mind racing. I cover his hands with mine, blinking back grateful tears. "Wow…thank you for trusting me. Can you tell me more about it? What’s it like being a…wolf?"

The relief shining through Logan's fear emboldens me further when he realizes I’m not scared by his admission. This remarkable man, mythic creature, whoever he is at core - our destinies are intertwined beyond unraveling now. Even though we just met, it feels like fate has pulled us together. I know it with bone-deep certainty. Now I understand why I’ve felt so drawn to him since I’ve been here.

Logan continues, his voice filled with emotion. "My father was the alpha before me, and he died protecting Everwood from a rogue shifter. I was just a teenager when I had to take on the responsibility of leading our pack."

As Logan shares his past with me, I find myself drawn even closer to him. This man, who has shouldered so much pain and responsibility, is now entrusting me with his deepest secrets.

"Logan, I'm so sorry," I murmur, my heart going out to him.

"Thank you, Emily." He gives me a sad smile before continuing. "The curse you read about in your grandmother's journals is real, too. It's tied to an ancient power that we must protect at all costs. The curse prevents us from revealing our true nature to humans, and from leaving the town we were created to guard. It's my duty as alpha to ensure that this balance is maintained.”

“So, then what happens now?” I ask curiously.

“Well, there’s been something evil lurking about the forest since you came to town. I guess it senses your presence and doesn’t like you digging for information about the curse. Terrible things have happened to anyone who’s gotten too close to the truth before, which is why I was trying to persuade you from looking into it further."

“The shadows,” I whisper, realizing the unseen eyes I’ve felt watching me are in fact a very real threat.

“The shadows, you’ve seen them too?” He questions, his eyes darkening with fear.

“Yes, mostly it just feels like I’m being watched whenever I walk around town. But the shadows came to me the other night…”

“They approached you? What happened?” His voice grows louder with his concern, and he glances around the room again anxiously making sure no one is hearing our conversation.

“Nothing really, I just saw the shadowy figure off in the distance while I was walking back to the inn. It warned me that I shouldn’t keep looking for the truth. But I told it I wouldn’t back down.”

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