I’m silent until she asks again. “Why, Calix?”
“Because,” I inhale deeply before saying the words I’ve dreaded saying since I first saw her. “That’s what we are.”
“We?” Blair echoes, the blood draining from her face.
I keep driving, my foot heavy on the pedal. I need to get her home. She could go into shock.
“Cox and the others you heard last night on the porch,” I reply flatly. “Billy Marshall and his friends? Them too.”
“No, werewolves aren’t real.”
I roll my head and give her an eye roll. “Trust me, darlin’, we’re real.”
Blair looks like she’s going to vomit.
I can’t blame her. I haven’t even delivered the best news to her yet.
“Is that…” Blair swallows and breathes heavily before continuing, “Is that why you’re so big?”
I nod, feeling her gaze running over me.
“You can turn into a wolf?” she asks weakly, her voice faint.
I nod again, and that’s when I have to pull over to let her empty her stomach contents onto the road. I lean against the truck while she throws up and decide I better wait until we get to the packhouse before I tell her she’s my mate.
Fucking hell.
The sun is rising slowly, and I await its warmth eagerly. It feels better on your skin as a human, but running in the early morning sun is pretty special as a wolf, too. I scan the treeline, wondering how many wolves are out here, trying to burn their energy before the day begins. Wolves don’t do well being restless.
“Calix.”
Blair stands shakily, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. Even now, she takes my breath away.
“Am I in danger?”
I tilt my head. “From?”
Her eyes trail over my body until she waves a hand at me. “From you.”
“No, my little bookworm. You have nothing to fear from me.”
She nods warily and then looks back at the truck. “Can you take me home?”
I blink at her, utterly confused. “Why would you want to go home?”
“I need to call the police, the FBI, animal control…” Blair dashes to the truck, but I’m too fast for her. I slam the door shut before she can jump in and cage her against the door.
“You aren’t going to call anyone, Blair. The only people who can protect you are the same as those who are hunting you.”
Blair’s eyes fill with tears as she tries to break free, elbowing me and trying to knee me in the balls.
“Goddess above me,” I mutter, holding her hands above her head and pressing my body against hers. “Stop fighting me, you stupid girl. I’m trying to help you.”
“Fuck you! You want to eat me!”
A laugh escapes my lips then, and it’s of a full-belly variety. “Fuck yes, I do.”
Just not in the way she thinks.