The Moon Goddess

Truth

Chapter 7

I pulled away and watched him with furrowed brows.

“What do you mean?”

“Okay, Rose, this is going to sound crazy; however, I need you to bear with me all right?"

I pulled away from him. “Apollo you’re scaring me”

“Come take a walk with me.”

“Where?”

“Out to the forest.”

“What. why?” I fully trusted him, but I was also worried. What had he not told me?

“Please. Trust me.” I took a moment to consider but nodded and took his hand as he led me down the stairs, out the back door, and into the tree line.

We walked about 100 feet in before we came to a small creek that spanned around five feet across and two feet down, at its deepest.

“So, what are we doing here?”

“Rose, do you remember on your birthday when I took you to that cave?”

“Yeah.”

“And I told you about Selene, the Goddess of the moon.”

“Yeah, and how she was supposed to be the mother of all supernatural beings. What about it?”

“There are three main species that occupy the supernatural world, Vampires, Witches, and Werewolves. They are supposed to be the main predator or the hierarchy of the supernatural world. Then there are the lesser magical beings that are around to assist mostly. Like familiars, for witches. Or goblins for Vampires, Werewolves usually depend on the forest and mother nature to help them out. And then there are things like fairies and pixies who do their own thing.”

“Okay. Apollo, what does this have to do with anything?”

“These supernatural beings are real. All the stories, all the fairytales. It is all real. You only know the truth about half of this world. The human half.”

I let out a laugh. What the hell was he saying? “What are you talking about. How is that possible? Wouldn’t humans start to notice if they were sharing the earth with Vampires, Witches, and Werewolves?”

“Well, they have. That’s where all the stories come from. Unfortunately, they mixed a few facts up.”

“I can't believe I'm asking this right now, but like what?”

He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, for example, vampires don’t generally drink human blood. Usually, it’s just from animals. Werewolves aren’t forced to shift into ugly awful beasts during a full moon, they can shift whenever they want, and they don’t turn into a monster. Just a big wolf.” He let out another nervous laugh. One I did not return. “And witches, well, they don’t worship the devil.”

“I’m still very confused. How do you know all of this?”

“Wait so you believe me?”

“I’m still deciding. Now, how do you know all these things?”

“Because I’m a werewolf.”

I couldn’t do anything but laugh. He had lost his mind.

“Are you kidding? Do you think I’m that gullible?”

“No one is saying you’re gullible. I’ll prove it to you.”

“You’re gonna what?”

“Just know that I’m not going to hurt you okay? We are in full control of our wolves.”

And with that, he started removing his pants. I whipped around and covered my eyes.

“What are you doing?!”

“I like these shorts. I don’t want to tear them. To fully prove it, you have to turn around. I need you to see what’s happening.”

“This is crazy.”

“Please. I don’t want to hide this part of myself from you anymore.”

I took a deep breath and turned around. I could see EVERYTHING. My eyes immediately went upwards.

“Just focus on my eyes okay?” I lowered my eyes cautiously and nodded.

“Okay. I’m going to shift now. My wolf form is much larger than regular wolves. Even larger than most werewolves, since I’m Alpha of my pack. So please, don’t be scared. I promise it’s still me okay?”

I just nodded and watched both in terror and curiosity as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then the cracking began. It sounded like bones were breaking. But it only lasted a moment, because soon, standing in place of Apollo was a very VERY large wolf. His head towered above mine and I shook in fear. The wolf’s face suddenly changed and it walked closer to me. I took a step back. It noticed my hesitation and rescinded its step. He studied me for a moment before lying down and placing his head on the ground. I cautiously took a few steps and when the wolf did nothing in response I got closer. I could see his paws now. They were at least twice the size of my hand. Without thinking I started to place my hand on top of the wolf’s head and began stroking his fur. The wolf seemed surprised but didn’t object.

“Apollo.” I was speechless. In no way did any of this make sense. But, there was an odd familiarity to it. For the first time, maybe ever, I felt a small piece of me was home. The wolf let out a little huff and stood up, I assumed that meant Apollo wanted to shift back, so I stepped back and turned around. I heard the cracking again soon followed by Apollo’s voice.

“You know you don’t have to face away from me. You can have a look whenever you’d like.” A blush crept on to my face.

“Just put your clothes on please.”

“As you wish.” Soon I felt him behind me. His chest pressed against my back. His hand moving up my arm giving me goosebumps. And finally his lips on my shoulder. I let out a gasp.

“Apollo-”

“Yes?”

“We have to talk about what just happened.” He sighed.

“I suppose you’re right. Come, sit down.” He led me into the Sun and sat down, pulling me with him.

“I’ve said my piece. Um, do you have any questions? I mean, what’s going through your head right now?” He said shyly. It was funny to see how quickly he could go from confident to shy.

“Honestly, I’m just processing. I guess one question I have is, why? I mean, why tell me now, or at all even?”

“There are a couple of reasons, but the biggest is that I’ve found myself falling for you. And I don’t like lying to you.”

“Isn’t it kind of dangerous for you to be telling me this?

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if I didn’t know you, or trust you as I do, I’d probably be freaking out right now. And I’d imagine most humans would have the same reaction.”

“Well in that case yes, it would be dangerous. But you do know me, and you do trust me. Just like I know and trust you. But that also leads me to my next reason for telling you.”

“What is it?”

“I think you may be a werewolf too.”

I scoffed. “What? Me? Don’t you think I would have noticed if I turned into a giant dog?”

“Wolf, and not necessarily. You were raised by humans-”

“Because I am human.” I interrupted.

“My point is, you have to be taught how to shift. So there’s a possibility, while slight, that you are one.”

“Okay well, what about my family?”

“Well, it’s genetic, so It would either mean you were bitten as a child or, you were adopted.”

“What. No. That’s my family. Those two knuckleheads are my brothers. My father died, and that woman is my mother, even if she may blame my father’s death on me.”

“Rose, think about what she said to you in the hospital. I mean it kind of all adds up.”

“Apollo, enough. I am fine to accept what you are, but I will not accept that my family isn’t my family. Please don’t push it.”

“But Rose, you have no idea-”

“Stop. Please stop. And leave.”

“What?”

“Go. Or I will, I just need space.”

“Rose if this is about what I just showed you-”

“It’s not. I just need time to think.”

“If that’s really what you want.”

He got up and I could see the hurt in his eyes as he turned away from me and walked deeper into the forest. I let out a sigh and quickly ran to my room before I allowed the tears to fall.

What was happening to me? To my life? Everything was so much more simple before we moved here. I needed to learn the truth. Even if it meant meeting up with the person who wants to kill me.