The Wolf's Song

The Ultimate Truth

Diana

There was madness, and there was rage, but what I felt as I paced the length of Michael’s massive room was a combination of both with a little spice added to it.

It wasn’t that he was out all night, I was not his keeper, but his lack of respect for my intelligence. Surely, he knew I had heard more than I should, and I had guilt over my actions, but now I wished I showed up sooner, seeing as he was determined to keep me in the dark. Parents didn’t hide the fact that the stove is hot and then get mad when they come to that conclusion without getting burned. What harm was there in telling me what I already know?

I growled internally. I peeked out the window, but again there was no sign of them. I was not sure what I was looking for. I half expected the trees to shake as they do in the dinosaur movies, as I knew how big the shifters were. I had cracked the window, listening for any howling that was accustomed to wolves.

The full moon dimmed as the light of day pushed it aside. I had spent the better part of the night accompanied by the moon and now it seemed the sun would take its place since Michael was yet to return. What was he doing out there?

A movement caught my eye finally and three naked male bodies emerged from the tree line. I found Michael instantly and fought down the chill that coursed through me. I was pissed at him, I chanted to myself. Another figure appeared, a woman, no, a girl… she too was naked, her long dark hair covering her chest.

Her nudity didn’t seem to cause her any discomfort as she followed after the others. Though her frame was thin and short, the way she walked with the confidence of a full-grown woman had me thinking she was older than she looked, or at least wiser to how the world worked than I was.

Not wanting to ambush a herd of naked wolves, I waited for Michael to return to me, for I knew he would. I didn’t wait long for the door to open. He seemed surprised I was up but crossed to kiss me quickly before throwing himself down on the bed. He was wearing a white tank top, but it did nothing to hide the new bruises and what I could assume as new scars on his chest.

I walked over to him, crossed my arms, and glared down at him. He sensed me and cracked his eye open to me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, half sitting up.

“You were gone all night. I was worried,” I confessed, though it was only half true. He talked so frequently about me being in danger, he seemed to forget that Damien could easily bypass me at any time and go after him. If I was in danger, then he was in the same danger. His current state was proof enough.

He threw his legs over the bed and finally felt the energy I was sending him. He grabbed my waist and tugged me to him. I tried to resist, but couldn’t help but shuffle forward, my arms still crossed though.

“You don’t have to worry about me, my love. I was with Francis, just business,” he explained without speaking fully. Sure, it was business, but which one, his human one, or his wolf one?

“Found another dam to repair?” I mocked, bringing up his modified story from our date. He sighed and released me, realizing I wasn’t going to be swayed by my physical attraction to him. He didn’t know, but neither of us was leaving until he started speaking and not half-truths. He leaned back in his hands and blew out a breath as he studied me. I let him, wanting him to see the seriousness in my body language.

“Have you been up the whole time I’ve been gone?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Pretty much, for a wolf you’d think you’d walk a bit softer,” I taunted him, trying to force a confession. He didn’t fall for it and laughed instead.

“What happened to me being a cat? Or has that ship sailed?” he teased, but I found no humor in it. He was trying to veer me from my course, but little did he know I had the focus of an eagle and I had my sights on his big reveal.

“I’m being serious,” I nearly cried out, my control ebbing as he smirked up at me, thinking this was me throwing a tantrum.

I could try that, but it wouldn’t get me the answers I wanted, probably another speech about how I shouldn’t toss my hands about as I might hit something and hurt myself. So keen to protect me and yet he settled, into living a double life instead of trusting me. He said our relationship would progress naturally and that meant being honest with each other. I hid nothing from him, not even the uneasiness of what I did during the festival. I confided in him and still, he kept me at a distance.

He raked his hair and sighed; I could see his exhaustion, but nothing could be done about it until he shared himself with me fully. He had run out of time; I would know now.

“What do you want from me, Diana?” he dared to ask, almost exacerbated with me. My temper snapped and the ‘city girl’ was unleashed.

“The truth!” I shouted. “I am done being treated like a naive child, some weak woman who can’t handle dangerous or scary situations or damned honestly. I flew all the way over here from New York just to learn about myself, leaving the only home and family I knew. I did that, alone. I stayed after I was attacked and eleven people were killed. Friends, the family I just met. I stayed when a werewolf literally tracked me down and hunted me, nearly killing me, and then your old friend tells me to my face that he will find a way to get to me somehow just to hurt you. I’m not weak, Michael! I’ve allowed you your secrets long enough, but that ends now,” I hissed.

I puffed my chest at him, my breath catching as my bravado got away from me. Perhaps provoking him wasn’t smart, but the words wouldn’t stop coming. I wouldn’t call myself brave, crazy, or fit better, as any sane person would have been on a flight the next day after the attack. I hadn’t realized it until I spoke it now, but I was right, I was stronger than he gave me credit for. He sat up from his hands and stood, forcing me to take a step back. He began to stalk me.

“You order me?” he questioned, following me after each step I took back. But as I looked at him, I could finally see him, and the realization that I was not scared of him bathed me with courage. To prove to myself and him that he could never scare me, I stopped retreating.

“Yes,” I gasped, my voice betraying me slightly.

“No one orders an Alpha,” he said. I c****d my head at him. Of course, he was the leader of the pack; it explained why Francis and Robert followed his orders without hesitation or rebuttal.

“Is that a confession?” I asked. He worked his jaw as if realizing his mistake.

“Damn you,” he cursed as he turned from me. I grabbed his arm, yanking him back. He clearly let me, as dragging me would have been a simple enough chore for him.

“Say it, Michael, what are you scared of? I’m not scared of you and I’m not going anywhere. I want to understand everything about you. Do you think I would leave after learning the truth?” I asked when he couldn’t meet my gaze. “Michael!” I barked when he still refused to speak.

He shifted his hand and gripped my hand, not in anger but a mixture of nerves and excitement. He swallowed and turned those blue eyes to me.

“Yes, I am a werewolf, Diana. Though, we prefer to be called shifters,” he confessed.

I knew the truth before he spoke it, but hearing and knowing were worlds apart. Seeing him tell his truth, unashamed, unapologetic for it, was not only powerful but sexy. I refrained from grabbing him as questions flooded my mind.