Chapter Eleven
1025 Words
Lilith’s POV
I stared at him like he’d grown a second head.
“Werewolf?” I repeated, almost laughing at how ridiculous it sounded.
James gently reached for my hand again.
His thumb slowly brushed across the back of my hand.
Instantly, warmth spread through my skin, followed by those familiar sparks racing all the way up my arm.
I sucked in a quiet breath.
“I…” I whispered.
My eyes met his. “What does that mean?” I searched his face, hoping to find some sign that he was joking. “I want to believe you…” My voice cracked. “But I don’t.”
A small, understanding smile crossed his face.
“I know.”
I glanced down at our hands before looking back at him.
“So what are you saying?” I hesitated for a moment “… Do you turn into a monster or something?”
James chuckled in response
His laugh was warm and contagious.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “We’re not monsters.”
His smile slowly faded.
“At least… We don’t have to be.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re people.” He paused. “We laugh. We love. We have families, we make mistakes. But we become wolves.”
I blinked.
“Actual… Wolves?”
He nodded.
“Not half-man, half-wolf monsters. Real wolves.”
My mouth fell open.
“So…”
I gestured toward him.
“You’re telling me that somewhere inside of you… There’s a giant dog waiting to come out?”
James covered his face with one hand, trying and failing not to laugh.
“My wolf is deeply offended that he heard you call him a dog.”
I smiled.
“Sorry…”
I paused before adding,
“…giant puppy?”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“I don’t think that’s any better.”
“If you are telling me the truth, could you show me your wolf?” I asked in almost suspicion, I wanted to see it for myself even if it might scare the hell out of me
He nodded in response.
And smiled at me reassuringly.
“Okay. But remember I’m still me.”
He stepped back, giving me plenty of space.
I held my breath.
His eyes slowly closed.
a soft golden glow surrounded him.
The air around us seemed to shimmer as if touched by sunlight.
His body gradually changed, his hands became paws.
His clothing around his body tore around his body falling to the floor
Dark chocolate-brown fur spread across his skin.
His height shifted as his body lowered gracefully to the floor.
It wasn’t violent, it wasn’t gruesome. It was almost beautiful .
Within seconds, the man standing before me was gone.
In his place stood an enormous wolf.
His coat was a rich dark chocolate brown that gleamed in the light.
His golden eyes looked back at me.
The same gentle eyes.
The same eyes that had been watching over me since I woke up.
He slowly lowered himself onto his belly, making himself look as small and non-threatening as possible.
His tail gave one careful wag.
I couldn’t help but blink.
“…You’re…”
My voice caught in my throat.
“…beautiful.”
His ears perked up.
A soft huff escaped him, almost sounding pleased.
Slowly, he crawled closer to my bed instead of walking, stopping several feet away.
He never broke eye contact.
Never growled. Never bared his teeth.
He simply waited.
Giving me the choice to pet him
My heart pounded in my ears
Everything I’d ever believed told me to run.
But those eyes… They were still James’s. With trembling fingers, I slowly reached out. His large head gently leaned into my hand. His fur was unbelievably soft.
A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“Oh my God…” I smiled brightly “You really are just a giant puppy.”
His tail thumped happily against the floor.
I watched as he transformed back into a human, the gold light flickering around him.
There stood James in the wolf’s place
There, standing where the wolf had been, was James.
Naked.
My traitorous eyes did the quickest scan imaginable.
Of course he’s built like a Greek god.
My cheeks instantly burst into flames.
“Oh my God!” I yelped, slapping my hands over my eyes. “Put some clothes on!”
“You like what you see?” I heard a smirk in his tone.
“I-I”
“It’s okay. It’s all yours anyways.”
I felt my cheeks betray me feeling the heat from my skin burn from being flustered. I quickly gabbed my blanket from my bed and covered my whole head.
I heard James laugh as the sound of cupboards opening opened and closing.
“I’m decent”
I cautiously pull the covers from over my head
Seeing James in some gym shorts. His chest was still bare. Seriously? A shirt was too much to ask?
I couldn’t stop myself from staring at his eight pack and his toned arms.
I felt a heat coming from my body as I kept my eyes on his chest examining every inch.
“I see you staring”
I turned away I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
“Honestly your my mate, sooner or later your gonna have to get used to me naked”
I covered my face in it felt like shame but mostly embarrassment
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the whole… werewolf and mate thing.”
I gave a small, nervous laugh.
“Could we… take things a little slower?”
“Of course,” he answered without hesitation.
“I don’t want to rush you into anything.” He smiled gently, genuinely
“I’d rather earn your trust than expect it.”
Something inside my chest fluttered.
He hadn’t argued.
He hadn’t looked disappointed.
He hadn’t tried to convince me otherwise.
He had simply… understood.
For the first time since waking up in this strange place, I felt like I could breathe.
- Writer
