Chapter 25: Secrets of the Heart

DANICA

Time seemed to be dragging its feet. We were all huddled in Creed’s house, waiting for the wolf to transform, with someone occasionally going to check on him. Hugo was right next to me.

Most of the others had left, having jobs to go to and families to care for.

Creed was pacing the living room like a caged animal. I decided to seize the moment.

“Why are you so certain that…beings like that pose a threat to humans?” I asked.

He shot me a look that could freeze lava. “You were the one who said they are dangerous, that you want to protect your people. Why are you questioning it now?” he retorted, clearly offended.

“I… I just wanted a different perspective,” I stammered, realizing how foolish it sounded. They all shared the same opinion, which was why I was here in the first place.

“I mean, no one here has explained to me why they are such a threat.”

Creed moved a little closer, his gaze intense. “They are a glitch in the system, something that shouldn’t exist.” That was his entire argument, but it felt like he was trying to prove a point, to show that he was more than just the town oddball.

As darkness began to fall, I decided it was my turn to check on the wolf. “I’ll go see how he’s doing,” I told Creed, who was slowly calming down.

He nodded in response. Hugo looked surprised by my decision to go alone, but he wasn’t the only one who could make decisions.

I descended into the basement, and the wolf looked up at me. I approached him, stopping just inches away.

“It’s almost time,” I whispered, and he seemed to understand. “Just a little longer in this chaos.”

I reached out and touched his cheek, the soft fur brushing against my skin. I could hardly believe I was touching a werewolf.

“I will do everything in my power to protect you, but I need you to give it your all when you run. Even if you’re exhausted and weak, I need you to push your limits. Be strong,” I urged him, then returned upstairs. I desperately wanted this to work, for him to be safe.

Hours passed until it was pitch black outside. “We should probably head home soon,” Hugo suggested to Creed, who was still pacing.

Only a few others remained. “I’ll check on him before we leave,” he said, shooting me a glance that told me to open the door.

As he walked away, I noticed his hand was no longer bandaged. The wound had vanished. He looked completely unscathed.

I moved toward the front door, passing a small table adorned with daggers, likely intended for the wolf. I opened the door, pretending to enjoy the fresh air.

Unfortunately, Creed decided to join me. It wouldn’t have been an issue, except he was standing next to a gun. I wasn’t an expert, but what were the odds it was loaded?

If the wolf tried to escape, Creed could shoot him. I needed to think fast. Suddenly, I heard a noise from the basement. Creed turned toward it, starting to move.

I noticed a knife on the table. I grabbed it, accidentally cutting my hand. I let out a yelp of pain as blood began to pool on the floor.

Creed stopped and came over. “I’ll find something to bandage it with,” he said, and I nodded.

As soon as Creed was out of sight, I heard something rushing up the stairs. A wolf emerged, weaving through the furniture.

Creed returned, but it was too late. The wolf darted past me, giving me a quick glance before disappearing into the nearby woods.

“No!” Creed yelled, his cry echoing through the room. For a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for him. It was as if he had just lost his one true love.

But then, relief washed over me. The wolf was safe. Creed didn’t chase after him. There was no point. Instead, he ran to the basement, where Hugo should have been injured.

There were three others present. I noticed a young woman, petite and plump with short blonde hair, observing me. She didn’t seem shocked or upset, just kept her gaze fixed on me.

I couldn’t fathom why she’d suspect I was doing this intentionally, but I had a hunch she knew.

She approached me, pointing at my hand. I’d forgotten about it, and now it was a bloody mess, pooling on the floor. “Lucky for you, I can add two and two,” she said, her tone ominous.

I felt my breath hitch. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I protested, but she wasn’t fooled, which only complicated matters.

“I hope you two know what you’re doing,” she said. Before she could leave, I found my voice.

“Are you going to tell?” I asked. She turned to look at me.

“Is it real?” she whispered. I wasn’t sure if I’d made the right choice.

“Yes,” I replied, trying to sound confident.

“Then I won’t tell. But this isn’t over,” she said, before exiting the house.

My hand still bleeding, I grabbed some paper towels from the corner of the room and dashed downstairs. Creed was kneeling next to Hugo, who had three nasty gashes across his stomach, the mark of a wolf’s paw.

Hugo was conscious but panting heavily, sprawled on the floor. The chains were all shattered, as if exploded.

“I don’t know what happened,” Hugo said weakly. “He was already free when I got down here. I have no clue how he escaped,” he explained to Creed.

“You need help!” Creed insisted. “I’ll call an ambulance,” he said, rushing to his phone.

“No, Danica will take me. I’ll be okay,” Hugo said, struggling to his feet with Creed’s assistance. Once upright, he glanced at his right palm, squinting, then looked at me.

I realized he could feel the searing pain in my hand. It seemed unfair that he had to share my pain, yet I couldn’t feel his.

Creed helped Hugo into the passenger seat. “Don’t worry. We’ll catch him,” Creed reassured, patting Hugo on the shoulder.

Hugo didn’t respond, just let his head fall back. The wolf didn’t need to injure him so severely—something must have gone wrong. Perhaps Hugo had underestimated the wolf’s strength.

I circled the car and slid into the driver’s seat. “Can you drive?” he asked, his eyes shut tight, swallowing hard and clutching his stomach.

“I’ll manage. But just to clarify, we’re not going to a hospital, right?” I asked.

He shook his head, eyes still closed. “Just drive. Preferably to the forest. You’ll need it soon anyway,” he said.

I was impressed that, despite his injury, he could still think clearly. More clearly than me, even.

I knew I was due for one of my transitions soon, but my only concern was Hugo’s needs. He was injured, and I could see sweat trickling down his face. I drove as fast as I could until we reached a secluded spot where the road ended.

Hugo opened his door and swung his legs out. I hurried to his side, but he was already on his feet. I supported him as best I could, and he didn’t resist, which told me he was in worse shape than he let on.

He finally stopped at a large fallen tree. Instead of sitting on it, he sat on the ground, leaning his back against it. I knelt beside him.

“How can I help?” I asked, my voice shaky with worry. I wasn’t sure there was anything I could do. My breathing was even more erratic than his.

He removed his jacket, and I helped him. “There’s a red crystal in there,” he said. I fumbled through his pockets, which were filled with crystals and other odd items.

How he kept track of everything was beyond me. I finally found it—a red crystal that seemed to pulse with life. I handed it to him after he took off his shirt, my hands trembling.

His torso was a mess of blood and raw wounds. He was in a lot of pain. He placed the crystal on his stomach and muttered words I couldn’t understand.

It didn’t seem like anything was happening, but then he reached for my bandaged hand. He didn’t place any crystal on my skin, instead, he just held my hand in his, exhaling a sigh of relief.

He glanced at me, a chuckle escaping his lips, which I took as a positive sign that the crystal had done its job. “That went well,” he said, his laughter filling the air.

A comforting tingle spread through my hand, the pain gradually subsiding. I kept my gaze on him until he noticed.

“You could have died,” I said, my gaze dropping as I felt the sting of tears.

His gaze met mine again, his grip on my hand tightening. “I’m not that easy to kill. Even if I had died, it shouldn’t matter to you…,” he whispered, causing my tear-filled eyes to snap back to his.

I yanked my hand away from his, still kneeling beside him. “How could it not matter to me?” His words left me shocked and angry. “Do you really think your death or even your absence wouldn’t affect me?” I asked.

His eyes softened. “I want you to understand our positions. I can’t risk you…” His voice trailed off, his jaw tightening as he forced out the next words. “Caring too much.”

He was hinting at the possibility of me developing feelings for him. My heart, which should have been pounding, was now aching. Just because it couldn’t beat at a normal pace, it hurt.

I couldn’t control how my heart felt now. And I was certain that he wasn’t oblivious to my heartache. I was sure he could feel it, his gaze slowly returning to me.

“Why do you assume there’s no other relationship between men and women? I can care about you without being in love with you,” I said, struggling to believe my own words.

“How does that feel?” he asked, causing me to furrow my brows. “To care for someone so deeply without feeling the burning desire for more? To not feel like you’re dying inside because the law forbids even thinking about what feels so right?”

I didn’t need him to clarify what he was referring to. His eyes told me he was talking about me. “I highly doubt you feel just care for me because I would know the difference. The pain in your chest now isn’t from a simple act of care.”

It was as if a magnetic force was pulling us closer. “My heart is in the same pain right now. That damned fiery pain.” He leaned in closer, his palm resting on my cheek.

“Never have I felt my soul burning like a thousand swords. But then I became your guardian angel and I’ve felt every pain a soul and heart can endure.”

He was now only inches away from me, his breath softly brushing against my skin. I felt a yearning in my stomach. With just the slight touch of his palm on my cheek, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Our breaths quickened in unison. I was waiting for his lips to meet mine but… I never expected him to pull away, leaving my heart shattered in his hand.

He averted his gaze. Part of me understood why we couldn’t be together. And part of me despised him for this unrequited love I harbored.

I stood up, swallowing my pitiful sobs. Maybe in another life, things would be easier. We could dance on the edge of danger, teasing each other as our souls burned together…

I didn’t want to wait for another life. I wanted him now. Maybe my expectations were too high. I wanted to be his, but the cost was too steep.

“Hugo…,” I called out cautiously. “What do you mean when you say you’ve done everything to keep me safe?” I asked. Why did it always feel like there was more to the story?

He stared into the distance, blinking heavily. “Exactly that,” he whispered.

“What have you done?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

His eyes met mine and a sorrowful smile spread across his face. “Because you’ll hate me.”