Page 32 of Big Bad Wolf

“That angry stare thing. Like you want to kill someone.”

He swallowed his next sip too fast. It burned the back of his throat. “I would never hurt you.”

Ruby’s eyes widened slightly. “I know.”

Her confidence in him was unnerving. He’d given her no reason to believe he wasn’t a monster. In fact, he’d just confessed to the exact opposite, and yet she still sat across from him.

“But you would have killed that other wolf. Werewolf?”

He nodded yes to both of her questions. “I would have killed him, if I had to. And yes, he was a werewolf.”

It was Ruby’s turn to nod and sip her coffee. It had been a long time since he’d confessed to any human what he really was, and he was shocked that she hadn’t run away. Instead, she studied him with a focused curiosity.

“So why did that werewolf attack us?”

Rafe glanced toward the kitchen, not sure how much of his story Ruby would want her sister to hear. He wasn’t sure how much he wanted to tell her either.

“Lena has gone out to pick up some breakfast.”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, replaying the attack in his head. “I don’t think he was after me. I think he wanted you.”

“Me? Why the hell would he want me?”

The wolf was the guy from the bar. The asshole that had the audacity to touch Ruby. Rafe spotted him before he shifted, but he didn’t know if he should tell Ruby that yet. He didn’t want to freak her out too much. He needed to be careful with her.

“I don’t know why he would attack you. It’s not done anymore. We have a strict policy…” Rafe trailed off, noticing the sick expression on Ruby’s face.

“Anymore?”

Rafe swallowed hard. “We didn’t used to be on the best terms with the humans around here.”

“Define best terms.” Ruby pulled the closest pillow onto her lap as though she could use it as a shield.

“We didn’t kill them. Usually.” Rafe ran a hand up the back of his neck, no longer able to meet Ruby’s eye. “Just scare them.”

“You did that? You terrorized humans?” She squeezed the pillow tighter.

“Well, no. But my pack did.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Too many apex predators in one place, or some bullshit like that, but it got more dangerous for us than for them. We lost a lot of wolves. I don’t know what the hell that wolf was up to.”

Just the thought of that wolf lunging toward Ruby had his stomach twisted in angry knots. The need to go after him, track him down, and rip his throat out burned hot beneath his skin. Humans were off limits, but animals, even other wolves, were fair game.

Ruby frowned. “Were you born like this?”

“Yes.”

“Can someone turn into a werewolf, though? Like if you … bite them?” She hesitated on the word “bite,” her voice catching on something. Fear? Disgust? Desire?

Damn these tight pants. Rafe pressed what he hoped was a discreet hand over his lap, but the way Ruby’s eyes flicked down, her blush deepening, told him that it wasn’t as discreet as he hoped. But it was impossible to deny that the idea of biting Ruby’s soft flesh made him hard as hell.

“No. Werewolves are born, not made.” His lust quickly cooled with the unwanted memory of the last time he’d confessed to what he really was. It had been over a decade ago, but the scars were still there, though they were worn smooth by the years. He’d been foolish enough at the time to think that Scarlet would accept him for what he was. The look on her face when he’d told her the truth… It had been an expression of pure horror. He had been wrong. She only saw the beast.

He shook the memories of his confession from his head, and every horrific thing that had happened after.

This time would be different. And he had completely different reasons for telling Ruby the truth. First of all, he didn’t have much of a choice. Ruby had caught him in the act, so to speak. And secondly, if any of this knowledge kept her safe then he would freely give it.