Chapter 14: Moonlit Whispers
The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows across Damien's backyard. I hugged my knees to my chest, perched on the wooden steps of his back porch. The night air was cool against my skin, but I barely noticed. My mind was too preoccupied with the events of the past few days.
Damien emerged from the house, two steaming mugs in his hands. "Thought you might need this," he said, offering me one.
I accepted it gratefully, wrapping my fingers around the warm ceramic. "Thanks," I murmured, breathing in the comforting aroma of chamomile.
He settled beside me, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. For a moment, we sat in companionable silence, sipping our tea and gazing out into the darkness.
"So," Damien finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "How are you holding up?"
I let out a mirthless chuckle. "Oh, you know. Just trying to process the fact that werewolves exist, I can somehow sense them, and oh yeah, I might be developing some kind of supernatural connection with one." I glanced at him sideways. "No big deal."
He winced. "I'm sorry, Isabella. I never meant to drag you into all this."
"Hey," I said, softer now. "You didn't drag me into anything. If anything, I kind of stumbled in on my own."
Damien's lips quirked into a half-smile. "You certainly have a knack for finding trouble."
"Pot, meet kettle," I retorted, nudging his shoulder with mine.
His smile faded, and he stared into his mug. "I should have told you sooner. About what I am."
I considered this for a moment. "Would you have? If I hadn't seen you transform that night?"
He was quiet for so long I thought he might not answer. Then, barely above a whisper, "I don't know."
I nodded, not surprised. "I get it. It's a lot to drop on someone. 'Hey, nice to meet you. By the way, I turn into a wolf sometimes.'"
That got a genuine laugh out of him. "When you put it that way..."
"Damien," I said, turning to face him fully. "I meant what I said before. I'm not afraid of you. This doesn't change how I feel."
His eyes met mine, a swirl of emotions in their depths. "And how do you feel, Isabella?"
My heart thundered in my chest. We were treading into dangerous territory now. "I feel... drawn to you," I admitted. "Like there's this invisible thread pulling us together. Even before I knew about... all this. Is that crazy?"
Damien shook his head slowly. "No. I feel it too. It's stronger now, isn't it? Since that night?"
I nodded, relieved he understood. "It's like... I can sense you. Not just when you're near, but..." I struggled to find the right words. "It's like I can feel what you're feeling sometimes. Is that normal for... your kind?"
He frowned. "No. I've never heard of anything like this before. James might know more, but..."
"But you don't trust him," I finished.
Damien sighed. "It's not that I don't trust him. It's just... the fewer people who know about this, the safer you'll be."
A chill ran down my spine, and not from the night air. "You really think I'm in danger?"
His jaw clenched. "The hunters are still out there. And now with Sophia back..." He trailed off, his expression darkening.
I set my mug down and placed my hand on his arm. "Hey. We'll figure this out. Together."
Damien's eyes softened as they met mine. Slowly, carefully, as if afraid I might bolt, he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sent a jolt through me, like static electricity but warmer, more alive.
"Isabella," he murmured, his face inching closer to mine.
My breath caught in my throat. Was this really happening? After everything we'd been through, were we finally going to—
A howl pierced the night, long and mournful. Damien jerked back, his body tensing like a coiled spring.
"What is it?" I whispered, my heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "Another werewolf?"
He shook his head, nostrils flaring as he scented the air. "No. That wasn't one of us. It sounded like..."
Another howl, closer this time. Then another, from a different direction. My blood ran cold as I realized we were surrounded.
"Damien?" My voice shook slightly.
He stood, pulling me up with him. "Inside. Now."
We rushed into the house, Damien locking the door behind us. He moved through the rooms with fluid efficiency, checking windows and drawing curtains.
"What's going on?" I demanded, trying to keep the panic from my voice.
"Wolves," he said grimly. "Real ones. They shouldn't be this far into town. Something's driven them here."
A crash from upstairs made us both jump. Damien was in front of me in an instant, his body a shield between me and whatever threat lurked above.
"Stay here," he ordered, eyes flashing with an inhuman gold.
"Like hell," I retorted, grabbing a fireplace poker. "We're in this together, remember?"
For a moment, I thought he might argue. Then he gave a curt nod. "Stay behind me."
We crept up the stairs, every creak of the floorboards setting my nerves on edge. The sound had come from the spare bedroom at the end of the hall. As we approached, I could hear scratching, like claws on wood.
Damien reached for the doorknob, then hesitated. He turned to me, his expression grave. "Isabella, if anything happens—"
"Don't," I cut him off. "We're both walking away from this. Got it?"
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Yes, ma'am."
With that, he threw the door open.
The room was dark, moonlight streaming through a shattered window. Glass crunched under our feet as we entered. My eyes darted around, searching for movement in the shadows.
"I don't see anything," I whispered.
"It's here," Damien growled, his body coiled tight as a spring. "I can smell it."
A low growl emanated from the far corner of the room. My grip tightened on the poker as a pair of gleaming eyes emerged from the darkness.
But it wasn't a wolf that stepped into the moonlight.
My breath caught in my throat as I took in the impossible sight before us. It stood on two legs, its body a nightmarish blend of human and wolf. Saliva dripped from razor-sharp fangs as it fixed its gaze on us.
"Damien," I breathed, my voice barely audible. "What is that?"
His answer sent ice through my veins.
"Something that shouldn't exist."
The creature's muzzle pulled back in a horrifying grin, and it lunged.
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