Page 46 of Campfires & Canines
"Ah, yes, we have wolves in these woods. Which is why I've tried to keep you from going out alone after dark."
"You could have told me,” I grumble half-heartedly, my mind still spinning.
Sable clears her throat. "What did you see, Hazel?"
Her tone is gentle and my anger cools. I chew my lip, willing myself to go back in memory. "Um, two wolves came at us. And then Slate was there, and then he wasn't and there was another wolf, and then a bunch of them, and they ran off. And Slate..."
I look from Sable to Heath. His face is pensive. I wish I could read his thoughts, to know what he is keeping from me. The memory and my own words keep turning over in my head.
At the risk of sounding truly unhinged, I turn to Slate. “Please tell me you didn't magically somehow turn into that wolf. ‘Cause that would be ridiculous.” My attempt at a joking tone fails. “But it kind of looked like it. I mean, where were you?"
Slate's face is stone. He doesn't reply but instead looks to Heath. There is something challenging in his expression.
"Never mind, I was so freaked, I couldn't see straight. Sorry, I'm out of it." I force a weak laugh. No one responds.
Sable breaks the silence, addressing my uncle. "Someone needs to reassure this girl."
Heath sighs. "Alright." He gives Slate the slightest nod.
"Hazel." Slate's voice is cautious and gentle. My skin prickles with apprehension. "You saw right. I shifted into my wolf to protect you."
Suspicious, I narrow my eyes. They had to be pranking me. I try to come up with a joke or snarky response. But after seeing those two predators racing towards us, I’ve got nothing.
"I would never hurt you. I'd only ever protect you." Those green eyes are wide and sincere. Is he concerned I’m scared ofhim?
I slowly inhale. "So, is this something you do often?"
The corner of Slate's mouth quirks up the smallest bit. "Yeah."
"Oh.” He sounds more like he’s admitting he strips on the weekends, not that he’s some sort of supernatural. “For how long?"
"Since I was eight," he answers without missing a beat.
"Cool." I need a second. I squeeze my eyes shut, pressing my fingers on the bridge of my nose. "Okay, does anyone else do this?"
Heath answers, "Everyone living here is a wolf shifter."
To learn an entire small community I'm hoping to join turns into canines on the weekends is next-level bonkers.
"Are you kidding me?" I grind out, swallowing.
"I’m sorry." Heath rests his forearms on his knees, leaning towards me.
"You're telling me I've been staying in a literal fucking wolf pack?" I can't decide if I'm hysterical again or simply amused and exhausted. Or some mix of all three.
"Hazel." Heath's tone is severe. "This is our biggest secret. Absolutely no one can know; you can't tell even your mom or Aurora."
"Of course, I would never."
"I appreciate that." Heath runs his hand through his hair, looking as tired as I feel. "I would have trusted you with this secret years ago, but humans are not allowed to know." His mouth tightens. "If the other packs find out you know, there will be consequences."
"Oh."
"That's why I wanted you to go. So something like this couldn't happen. It endangers you." All of his protectiveness and concern over safety starts to make sense.
"Wait." I shift my weight, tugging my blanket around me. "Does this mean my dad could...?"
Heath hesitates, a sad smile curving his mouth. "Yes. Your dad was a wolf shifter."
