Page 20 of Puck of My Life

And it might be if a) I didn’t tell him the truth and b) he didn’t want to be with me. Everything we’d built in the short time we’d been together was a half-truth, and there was a hole where the complete truth should be. If I didn’t speak up, he was going to topple into that hole and not be able to get out.

It was better that he heard it from me rather than accidentally discovering me furring up. Or seeing me sneak out at night to hunt.

“Can I get you more tea?” I needed to do something before I told him.

“Nah, I’m good with lukewarm.”

Lukewarm was twenty minutes ago, so I got up and began pacing.

“Is this a new hockey move?” He scrunched up his face. “I don’t think it’s going to be effective.”

“I need to tell you something, and it’s going to be hard to swallow.”

Walter gulped the tea and choked but held a hand up and spluttered that he was okay. Perhaps I should reschedule this, but my wolf urged me to tell him.

You’ve been hiding me.

“You might think I’ve lost my mind.”

Water sat up straight. He didn’t appear to be scared, though how well did I really know him? But judging by his expression, he looked like how I imagined a reporter would when he got a hint of a great story. Except this was something that couldn’t be broadcast or written about.

“I’m listening.”

“I have something inside me that you don’t.”

His eyes went wide, and he dragged me back to the couch. “Like a tumor?”

“No, as in I’m not human.”

“You haven’t got another you in there, have you?” He fixed his eyes on me before lifting up my shirt. “I saw that in a movie once where a guy was controlled by the baby on his belly.”

“No and yes. No weird babies, no aliens, but the thing that’s inside me is a wolf.” I held up a hand. “Let me get through this before you say anything.” Or run for the hills.

I spoke at twice the normal speed and explained our history, how we shifted, and how humans couldn’t tell the difference between us and them. “We’re not dangerous in human or beast form, and I’m still me.”

I studied his face and braced myself for fear and disbelief. That was what I’d been taught if humans found out about us.

“Okay.” He steepled his hands. “Okay. This may sound strange…”

After what I’d just told him, he was going to tell me something even more weird? I almost laughed.

“My uncle used to enjoy a beer or two on the back porch before bed, and when he was tipsy, he’d ramble on about people he went camping with once who changed into animals late at night and hunted.”

“What?” I leaped off the couch and ran both hands through my hair. “The same uncle I met at the store?”

He nodded. “Trevor.” He pulled his legs underneath him. “He traveled a lot for work, and he used to come back with these stories.” Walter told of tales about families who lived apart from others and said he’d witnessed the changing or shifting. “I half believed him sort of, but now you’re telling me this is true and you have this ability.”

I had to show him, and I warned my beast not to show off when I offered to show Walter a partial shift. I allowed fur to cover my arms and for my wolf to appear in my gaze. It took a lot to control a half shift, but this was my mate, and I owed him a reveal.

He didn’t cower or gasp but leaned forward. I took back my skin and eyesight and checked to his left and right, making sure he wasn’t recording our conversation. That was what I would have done, especially as he was a journalist.

“Wow. That was amazing.” He let out a shaky laugh. “Uncle is going to be insufferable when I tell him.

“You can’t.” I took his hands. “For shifters’ safety, we can’t tell humans.”

“Humans.” He shook his head. “I never expected to be talking to someone who wasn’t one.”

I kissed him. “You’re amazing.”