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“Orders…military again. Look, I think I’ve got a pretty good grasp on you, so how about you just tell me what the hell is going on here and we can be done with it? I mean, clearly you’re in danger if people are coming to this place and attacking you, and frankly I don’t want to be caught in the middle. What you tried to do to me was…unspeakable, but if there’s a way for me to help you and keep safe then I’ll take it. What do you need from me? If you tell me, I might be able to give it to you willingly and then we can avoid any…unpleasantness.”
Jackson inclined his head and raised his hand, wincing as he did so. He stroked his cheek as he looked at me, his piercing eyes staring right through me. I could look at Jamie and not feel threatened, and even Logan ha a playful gleam, but looking into Jackson’s eyes was something else. He was a powerful man and he wasn’t going to let anyone force him into anything. He studied me for a few moments and then opened his mouth.
“There are many secrets I and my brothers have held close to us, and I’m not sure you are ready to hear them. But I understand how challenging this experience must be to you. Believe m
e, I would not be doing this if it was necessary. I think I have been too zealous in my pursuit of this goal.”
He leaned his head back and rubbed his temples.
“What goal? What are you talking about? I’m ready for any secret you can give me. All I want to know is what you’re doing here and why I’m apparently so special?”
Jackson was evidently struggling with something, but I wasn’t sure why. “Jackson, I saved your life, all you have to do is tell me the truth. Is that really so difficult?”
“All my life I have been taught that telling the truth could get me killed,” he said absently, so quietly that I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear it, but I couldn’t ignore it.
“And I’ve been taught that nobody is ever going to have any use for me. You need to tell me what’s going on. You owe me.”
“I do, I suppose,” he sighed wearily and adjusted his position to sit up more. I saw his abs tighten as he curled his body. “Perhaps I have handled this matter incorrectly. But once you know of our story you will understand. But if I tell you, do you promise to listen to me until I have finished, no matter what I say?”
I nodded, glad to finally be getting some answers.
“Then I suppose I should begin. You might think that you have a good estimation of our lives by your observations, but I’m here to inform you that you’re wrong. We do not have any history in the military at all, rather we have been part of a clan, and our clan was attacked. Our family, everyone we knew and loved was killed, and we are all that remains. It is our duty to continue the traditions and the way of life, and to make the clan strong again, to see that it doesn’t turn into dust and ash. We are on a spiritual mission to reclaim our heritage and ensure that the sacrifices of the clan were not in vain.”
I stared at him blankly, unsure if any of that actually went to answering my questions. I frowned and started to wonder if actually I had been completely wrong and these people were all just insane. This talk of clans and wars was too unbelievable for me. It seemed as though Jackson had become delirious. I imagined he must have had an infection.
“I’d better call Logan. I think you’re losing your mind.”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand,” he said, laughing dryly, and his laugh immediately turned into a cough.
“Okay, then tell me more, what even is a clan? I mean, you’re not Native American. Is it like some kind of club? I’ve never heard of anyone having a clan before.”
“Tell me one thing Millie; do you believe in a world greater than your own? Do you believe in things that at first glance don’t make any sense?”
“I’m believing in this conversation…I believe things when I see them. If someone tells me something that seems outlandish I will wait for proof. There are too many fake people in this world for me to do otherwise. And no, I don’t really believe in a bigger world or some hidden realm. We have this world, and that’s it, no more, no less.”
“I see.”
“Do you? Because I certainly don’t. I don’t want a part of your war Jackson. If you’re being attacked then you’ve got to let me go, or tell the police or something. You can’t just stay in this cabin and wait for whoever it is to find you. There are other options. Why are you so determined to live in secrecy? What is so special about the three of you that you can’t go to the hospital or live in a city? Why can’t you tell me anything? This doesn’t make any sense and I’m getting so fed up with the way you’re just sitting there staring at me with the stupid smirk and you expect me to take whatever it is you say at face value. I’m done with this. This is all some sick game and I’m not going to play anymore. I’m going to leave, and if you want to try and stop me then you can just go ahead and kill me because you’re not giving me any answers at all. You’re just inventing a story to amuse yourself, and I’m not going to be a toy.”
I rose from the bed sharply and turned on my heels, ready to storm out. I knew a man like Jackson would appreciate a showing of strength, and I was right. But more than that, I was getting frustrated with all this obfuscation. I wasn’t going to stand there and be insulted by having my mind toyed with. I wasn’t going to be a part of this ridiculous game. Either he could tell me the whole truth, or I was going to risk it all by leaving. Frankly I didn’t mind because I didn’t see that much good awaited me anyway even if I stayed alive. Jackson was out of his mind.
“Wait,” he said as I reached the door, stretching out my hand to turn the knob. “I’ll tell you,” he said. “I and my brothers are werewolves.”
13
I stared at him and then I threw back my head and burst out laughing. “Are you kidding me? Jackson, I’ve had enough of this. I don’t know why you brought me here but I’m done,” I said, and turned away from him again. But, behind me, I heard movement on the bed. I heard the crack of bones and a growl. My skin prickled and I slowly turned around, and when I did the color drained from my face and I pressed my back against the door, holding myself rigid. Where Jackson had been sitting now was a wolf, with dark fur, beady eyes, and a wet smile filled with sharp, jagged teeth. The breath rushed out of me and I went weak at the knees. This had to be wrong. This had to be a trick. Had my orange juice been spiked? Was this some kind of nightmare? I clawed at the door as I stared at the beast. He was a wolf, and yet was bigger than a traditional wolf; he had the build of a man, using his arms as arms and hands rather than just legs and paws. There were great claws stretching out of his fingers and his nose twitched as he sniffed the air.
Then, before my eyes, he shifted back to a man. The snout receded into his face, the fur was welcomed back into the flesh, and the jagged teeth returned to their normal appearance. I blinked and could barely believe that there had been a wolf sitting in front of me where now there was a man. I shook my head, my mouth still hanging open like a fish gasping for air.
“Please don’t make me do that again. It takes a lot out of me in my current condition,” he said.
“What…what…?”
“You asked to see the truth. This is the truth. This is what I am, what we are.”
“But you’re a…you’re a werewolf.”
“Yes, I am,” he said, speaking in a matter of fact manner. His calm demeanor was at odds with the raging thoughts in my mind. I couldn’t believe this. I couldn’t believe him.
