He knew… he knew what I was and kept it from me. Why though? It didn’t make any sense. But… did it really matter? Even if my father did know, it didn’t really change anything about my situation. It just added more questions that I would most likely never get answers to. After all, it wasn’t as though I could confront him about it. If he sensed even the tiniest bit of rebellion from me, I was sure that he would sooner lock me up than lose me. “…Raven?” Right… Kieran. He was still waiting for me to reply… only I wasn’t sure what to do. I was in yet another dilemma of choosing two sides. Both of which had high prices with uncertain outcomes. To tell him the truth, the real truth, meant inviting him in to see that side of my life. A side where he would most likely learn the dark actions of my father, our business, and of the work entailed within that. This, in itself, was a dangerous thing to divulge to anyone, the information thereby placing a target on Kieran. …But I had to acknow
“I mean… there is no biological way that Eric Reid could have fathered you.”I stared at him blankly.Was this topic really coming up again? He’d already questioned this on the night of the charity event. A presumptuous perspective from someone who didn’t know any better.…From someone who grew up with real parents.“Yes… I know,” I said, somewhat annoyed.But, for whatever reason, this response took Kieran by surprise.“Wait, you know?” he asked.“Yes…,” I said again. “I should hope he isn’t. Because if he were my biological father, I’d imagine that would have made our first meeting very awkward. What with him picking me up from the orphanage and all.”“I don’t understand,” he said. “If you know he’s not your father, why are you being so loyal to him?”“Why?” I asked, unable to hide my irritation now. “Because he is still my father. He still raised me and took care of me. He rescued me from a shitty house where I was severely bullied, one where I was just another unwanted, unloved si
*knock* *knock* C’mon… please…*knock* *knock* *knock*Please open the door…*knock* *knock* *knock*Kieran… *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *kno—.I was beginning to panic, thinking that I’d left it too late but then, finally, the door opened.“Raven,” Kieran said, almost in disbelief. “You actually came. You’re—.”But I didn’t wait for him to finish.Without missing a beat, I instantly moved forward and threw my arms around his waist.His scent was mixed in with soap and water, clearly having interrupted him from a shower. But it was the best thing I had ever smelt. Already, I could feel my body start to relax from the warmth coming off of him. Something much needed to help calm the adrenaline pumping through me.Hesitantly, his arms then moved to encircle me, reciprocating the hug. Almost as if he was still in shock I’d arrived.“I was starting to think that you weren’t going to change your mind,” he said. “I’ve been putting off leaving for a few h
“KIERAN!” I screamed, throwing the car door open.After the initial shock of watching the scene unfold, my senses finally kicked back in and I jumped into action. There was no longer any hesitation within me. I just immediately sprinted towards him.Moving as fast as I could, I was already reaching for my dagger before my feet had hit the ground. And the closer I got, the more of the commotion I could hear.There was growling, a significant amount, and grunts of pain as the two rolled along the ground engaged in combat. But it was only as Kieran finally placed the man in a headlock that something truly bizarre happened.Strange enough to make me instantly skid to a halt, now only a few feet away.…Because despite the attacker being made completely powerless, he just easily gave up the fight without a fuss… and started to laugh.I stood wide-eyed with adrenaline as I tried to figure out the situation, however Kieran proceeded to just smile and help the assailant to his feet. A man with
We exited the vehicle and I began walking to the front door, thinking that Kieran was next to me. Only, as he called out to me, I realised he was still at the car.“Come here for a second,” he said, crooking his finger for me to return.I did as he asked and he stood in front of me, a smirk on his lips.“I hope you don’t find this too weird,” he said, and I merely raised a brow in question.He then gently grabbed my hand and placed it across my chest. “It won’t be a very formal setting but you’re still going to meet my father. It means I need to teach you this. It’s the same thing that Daniel did. You place your hand here and bow your head a little. It’s a sign of respect for those ranked above you, as well as those amongst allied packs.”Oh, I did remember the gesture. Though I hadn’t known what to do at the time and just stood there. Was I meant to have done it back? Was I considered “allied” despite not being from a pack?“Like this?” I asked.And I mimicked what I’d seen.But it i
“Here you go,” Kieran said, showing me to a door. “You’ll be staying in here. All your luggage should be inside already.”I snapped myself out of my thoughts to give a smile. “Thank you. I really do appreciate it.”“And if you need anything, I’m just across the hall in the room over there.”There was a door where he pointed, and I promptly nodded.…And then… silence. Not quite awkward but not entirely natural either, but it spread between us nevertheless.“Um… well, I guess I’ll get some rest—.”“I’m really sorry,” he said quickly. Almost as though he’d been holding onto it. “Today could have gone a lot smoother and I think I may have overwhelmed you a little.”I stared at him, a little shocked that he was the one apologising to me rather than the reverse.“What? No, no, I’m fine,” I said. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I honestly am thankful just to be here.”“Well, just with the whole thing with Daniel being a bit aggressive… and then Allison maybe coming off a little strong. I
“Please sit down on the bed over there,” said the doctor, pointing in the direction. She was an older lady and quite pretty for her age, her most notable feature being her gentle eyes. She had introduced herself as Doctor Melissa Chambers. “Kieran, did you want to sit in the chair?” she asked without looking. A question met with a second of awkward silence between the two of us. We hadn’t discussed him being in the room whilst I was examined. I’d just assumed that, like human doctors, they normally were more of a private thing unless the person was a spouse or relative. But before any of us could talk, the doctor quickly shook her head. “Oh, right, I forgot… I suppose just wait outside then.” “No… hang on,” I said, hesitating. “Kieran should probably be here. You know… in case I don’t understand parts of what you tell me. I may need him to help explain later….” I then turned to look at him. “If that’s okay with you?” He nodded. “Of course,” he said. “Whatever is most comfortabl
“…Is that a phone?” he asked, still appearing shocked. “…Yes?” And he immediately walked over to me, starting to scan the area around us. Almost as if he were checking to see if anyone else had seen me. “Quickly put it away,” he said. “What’s wrong, Kieran?” I asked the question but still did what he requested, stuffing it back into my pocket. “Communication and recording devices like that aren’t allowed here,” he said. “It’s the only way we keep ourselves safe. They potentially jeopardise our entire kind’s secrecy. You’d be best to just leave it switched off in your suitcase and don’t let anyone know you have it.” …I guess that made sense. I’d been wondering myself how they’d managed to keep their existence so unknown all this time. If someone started taking videos of people turning into wolves, I could see how that would quickly uncover the truth. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know,” I said. “My friend was worried about where I disappeared to. I just called to let them know I was safe