Moonlight Surrender

Chapter 4: Truths Unveiled

His honesty was a double-edged sword, cutting through her fury and leaving her exposed. She hated that he was reasonable, hated that she needed him. But most of all, she hated the fear that had crept into her chest—fear of an unknown world and fear of the truth that he seemed so desperate to reveal.

"Fine" she finally spoke and her voice barely above a whisper "But this doesn't mean I'm going to let you do all the dictating."

Asher's lips curved into a ghost of a smile "Wouldn't dream of it."

He rose to his feet offering her his hand. She paused and then her hand slipped into his, his palm warm and strong. As he drew her up, she realized that for better or for worse she was now a part of his world.

And there was no turning back.

Rory stalked back and forth along the length of her small cabin, the wood floor groaning under each troubled stride. Asher's final words to her at their last meeting danced in her head like a maddening incantation "You're bound to this world and more than you imagine" Her hands ached to reach out to the phone and dial Lena's number but she stopped herself. What would she have to say? That's she'd nearly been killed by a werewolf? That her savior was some enigmatic hybrid who knew more about her existence than he let on?

The cabin's faint warmth did not assuage her nervousness. Every shadow seemed to come alive and every creak menacing. When the booming knock at her door came, she sprang up and her heart trapped in her throat. She grabbed the fireplace poker, her trusty friend and crept toward the door.

"Who is it?" she asked trying to keep her voice away from trembling.

"It's me" Asher's voice was even but she felt a cold edge underneath that made her grip on the door itself become white-knuckled.

Rory hesitated then pushed the door open a little way. It was a relief to see him and a challenge. He was so tall and imposing and his silver eyes gleaming even in the dim light. Rain dripped from his black coat pooling at his feet.

"We need to talk" he declared coming in without invitation.

Rory huffed, closing the door behind him. "You have a bad boundary problem, you know that?"

Asher remained silent, his gaze scanning the room before it landed on her. "There isn't time. The rogue from the other night wasn't acting alone."

Her heart dropped. "What do you mean?"

"There's a pack on the move," he growled. "Led by someone who's been looking for you."

The world swirled around her. "Looking for me? Why?"

Asher's jaw set and for a moment she feared he'd say nothing but then he replied "Because of what you are."

Rory's stomach churned "What I am? I'm merely a reporter trying to make a living in a town that is too far gone on myths and legends. What do they want with me?"

Asher stepped in, his size filling the little room. "You're not human, Rory. Your ancestry—it's linked to the goddess of the Moon. That means you're something. Something valuable. Something risky, too. To them, you're a threat or an asset to be exploited."

She was shaking, her knees wobbling, and she fell into the nearest chair. "This is insane. You're telling me werewolves and goddesses are fighting over… my DNA?"

"It's more than that," Asher said, his voice soft. "Your connection to Selene isn't random. It's the reason why you're drawn to this world, why you survived the attack in the woods. The Moon goddess. she's claimed you."

Rory shot him a dirty look and her mind reeling "Why didn't you ever mention this to me before?"

"Because I wasn't sure if you could handle it" he admitted "And because knowledge makes you a target."

“Well, congratulations!” she snapped “I’m already a target. Thanks to you.”

Asher’s eyes darkened and a flicker of guilt crossed his face “You don’t understand how dangerous this is. Cormac’s pack isn’t like the other rogues. They’re organized and ruthless. They want to control the supernatural world and they’ll kill anyone who stands in their way.”

Rory's voice escalated and her fear spilling over into anger "So what am I supposed to do? Hide? Run? Pretend none of this is happening?"

Asher moved in closer and his tone firm but laced with an unexpected vulnerability "No. You're going to stick with me and i'll protect you."

She laughed and her head shaking "Protect me? You can't even tell me the truth. How am I supposed to trust you?"

Asher's hand shot out and his fingers closed gently but firmly around her chin holding her captive until she had to look at him "Because I've risked everything to keep you alive and i'll keep doing it whether you trust me or not."

The ferocity in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine and she saw for a fleeting moment behind the stoic mask he assumed, a glance into the weight he carried and the sacrifices he had made but before she could act, a resounding crash broke the moment. The window nearest to them exploded inward and glass fragments spilled on to the floor.

Asher rushed between her and the window. Rory saw them from the spot where the pane had broken: eyes aglow in darkness, more than a dozen of them. The wolves had arrived.

Asher growled, the rumble deep and bestial, as he began to shift. His voice, now growled out over his changing form, boomed, "Stay back."

Rory’s heart thundered as she grabbed the fireplace poker again, clutching it ever so tightly. The wolves outside began to advance and their snarls filling the night air. For the first time, she understood the true stakes of this world and she wasn’t ready to be a bystander.

“Asher” she said and her voice steady despite the terror gripping her “I’m not hiding, not anymore!”