Chapter 10: Chapter 10

EVIE

I made up my mind that I was done with bonfires. They were just too much drama, especially the ones in the bayou. My emotions were all over the place. I couldn’t even identify what I was feeling.

Fear, anxiety, curiosity, excitement, and the most terrifying of all, love, were all swirling inside me. I couldn’t dispute anything Noah had said. It didn’t make any logical sense—not one bit.

But deep down, in my heart and soul, I knew he was speaking the truth. The feelings I had for him, the feelings I experienced around him, were inexplicable. Only the unbelievable seemed to make sense.

And it was this unbelievable that scared me the most. It was the reason I chose to study folklore: the need to understand the unexplainable and the fear of never being able to. What frightened me more than anything else was his wolf.

Not the idea of him transforming into a giant wolf, but the thought that another being—a wolf—resided inside his mind. Noah had assumed that the mate bond would be the hardest thing for me to comprehend. And it was challenging, no doubt about it.

The mate bond was overwhelming, but deep down, I knew it was right; it made sense. But a wolf living inside Noah’s mind? That was something I couldn’t rationalize.

It was a little past noon on Sunday. I hadn’t slept a wink the previous night. My mind was consumed with the events of yesterday, and sleep was the last thing on my mind.

I was sitting in my living room, staring at the blank TV screen that I hadn’t even bothered to switch on, when a knock at the door startled me. I jumped off the couch in surprise. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and I half-expected to see Noah at the door.

A part of me even hoped it would be him. I snapped out of my daze and walked over to the door, pulling it open to see who it was.

“Molly?” I was taken aback to see her standing on my porch.

“Evie! Thank the Goddess you’re okay!” she exclaimed, pushing past me and entering my apartment.

“Sure, make yourself at home,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind her. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I asked.

“Are you serious? Yesterday was intense.” She flopped down on my couch and let out a dramatic sigh.

“I’m fine, Molly.” I sighed, settling down on the oversized chair across from the couch.

“The alpha said you were strong. I guess he was right.” She gave me a sidelong glance, and I suddenly felt like an exhibit in a zoo.

“Anyway, I’m glad you know now. I hated lying to my friend!” she exclaimed.

“You mean you hated lying to me for the whole week we’ve known each other?” I chuckled.

“Well, yeah.” Molly frowned.

“Did Noah send you here?” I asked, suspecting that Molly was here to keep an eye on me.

“No way. I was worried about you, especially after you didn’t answer your phone.”

That made me wonder—where was my phone? I got up and went into the kitchen where I last saw my phone. It was on the kitchen counter, plugged in and untouched since last night.

I woke up the screen and saw a dozen missed messages from Molly and a few from Noah. I ignored all of them and turned back to Molly.

“I know you set me up with him at the bar on Friday,” I accused her.

“Okay, yes, I did that. But to be fair to Noah, I did it without his knowledge. I didn’t tell him until that day that you were coming,” she admitted, looking slightly guilty.

“Really?”

I was genuinely surprised. I was certain that Noah had something to do with it.

“Really. After the bonfire last Saturday, Noah just asked me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you were okay. I decided to play matchmaker on my own. I think you’re perfect for the alpha!” Molly gushed, her grin stretching from ear to ear as her voice steadily rose in pitch.

“Molly, you’re at a ten right now, and I need you to dial it down a bit.” I winced, walking back to the chair.

“I can’t.” She was practically bouncing on the sofa.

“Do you always act like this, or is it just for me?” I questioned.

“Nah, it’s pretty standard for me,” she responded nonchalantly.

I shook my head, a small smile creeping onto my face despite myself.

“But seriously, Evie, how are you handling all this?” Molly’s face contorted in a way that I assumed was her attempt at a serious expression.

“I won’t lie, it’s freaking me out. I’m trying to make sense of it all. It would probably be easier if I didn’t believe him, but I do. It’s like I’ve been thrown into a different world that I know nothing about.” I let out a sigh.

“I can’t even begin to understand what you’re going through. Especially after hearing about your attack and how terrifying wolves must already seem to you. And I know the whole mate bond thing isn’t a concept humans are familiar with, so that must be overwhelming.”

Molly looked like she wanted to comfort me, and I had to admit, it felt good to have a friend like her around. Even if she was a whirlwind of energy that drove me crazy half the time.

At least she was easy to talk to and was genuinely the most authentic person I had ever met.

“The thing that scares me the most is the idea of you guys having a wolf living inside your head,” I confessed.

“Yeah, that’s a bit hard to explain,” she conceded.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Is it okay if I ask about your wolf?”

“Absolutely! Her name is Kira.” Molly beamed.

It was so strange how casually they discussed their other personality. In the human world, having another personality wasn’t exactly seen as a positive thing.

“So how does it work? Can she speak when you’re in human form?” I inquired.

“Yeah. She can take control in human form just like I can take over when we’re in wolf form. Do you want to talk to her?”

I wasn’t exactly thrilled about interacting with their wolves, but if I had to meet one, I’d rather it be Molly’s than Noah’s right now.

“Sure, okay,” I agreed, albeit reluctantly.

Molly’s grin widened as she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were no longer blue, but pitch black.

“Hello, Luna. I’m Kira.”

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but Kira sounded just like Molly.

“Actually, my name’s Evie,” I corrected her.

“I know, but you’re the luna.” Her tone was different from Molly’s. She was more confident, less bubbly.

“I don’t know what that means,” I admitted.

“You’re the alpha’s mate, which makes you luna,” Kira clarified.

“Oh,” was all I could manage.

“Molly is a good girl; she’s a good friend.” Kira smiled.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t wrap my head around how you two coexist in one body,” I said, my voice strained with frustration.

“I know it’s hard for a human to understand. But we’re content.” Kira’s words took me by surprise.

I hadn’t considered that they might be happy. I hadn’t thought about wolves having emotions at all.

“Noah always refers to himself in the plural, too. Are you two really that connected?”

“Molly is my soul, my favorite person. I love Molly. Wolves can’t survive without their soul. I wouldn’t exist without Molly.”

Kira’s words left me speechless. She genuinely cared for Molly, loved her like a sister. I had thought of the wolves as some sort of parasite, like a succubus. But that wasn’t the case at all.

“What does a mate mean to you?” I asked Kira.

Her eyes lit up.

“A mate is a gift; a mate is my life. I hope Molly and I find our mate.”

“You’re okay with sharing your mate with Molly?”

I had this image of a wolf battling Noah for control over me, like two jealous boyfriends.

“Molly and I are one; we have the same mate. Our mate gets to be loved by both of us!” Kira declared joyfully.

“Noah mentioned that he struggles for control with his wolf. What does that mean?” I asked, a bit apprehensive.

The idea of something battling Noah for control of his body and mind didn’t sit well with me, especially when that something was responsible for beating Sawyer to a pulp when he touched my shoulder.

“Compared to me, Molly is more human, more intricate,” Kira began. “Wolves are straightforward. We desire our mates and view anyone who stands in our way as a threat. I only challenge Molly for dominance when I’m angry and itching for a fight. I believe once we find a mate, I’ll crave control to communicate with our mate or to shield him.”

Kira’s explanation started to bring clarity. Noah had described the wolf as more beast-like, while Kira claimed they were simpler. They were driven by the instinct to safeguard those they cherished, even if it meant overriding logic.

“Would you ever harm Molly to gain control?” I questioned.

Kira’s eyes widened in shock.

“Nobody harms Molly!” she snarled.

“I apologize; I didn’t mean to upset you. I just feel a strong need to protect Noah, and I’m worried that his inner wolf might try to harm him,” I explained.

“No, no! Alpha Remi adores Alpha Noah; he safeguards him. He would only inflict harm on Alpha Noah if Alpha Noah threatens the luna.”

Kira’s voice held an unexpected innocence. I found myself visualizing a puppy rather than a colossal demonic dog.

“Thank you, Kira. You’ve been a great help.”

Kira lowered her gaze. “It’s my privilege to serve you, Luna. Would you like to see me?” she asked, her voice filled with eager anticipation.

“What?” I wasn’t certain I had understood her correctly.

“You see, Molly, would you like to see me?” she reiterated.

“Do you mean your wolf form?” I queried.

“I am wolf!” Kira retorted defensively, clearly upset that I might have mistaken her for Molly.

“I’m not sure I’m prepared to confront a werewolf,” I admitted in a timid voice.

“I’m significantly smaller than Alpha Remi; I’d be a more suitable wolf to encounter first,” she stated matter-of-factly.

I tilted my head, considering her words. She had a point. I was inevitably going to have to face a wolf, so wouldn’t it be better to start with a smaller one?

“We’re in the middle of town,” I pointed out, attempting to find a reason to avoid a direct encounter with a wolf.

“We can head to the bayou, on pack land—we’ll be safe there,” she suggested excitedly. “I’ll relinquish control to Molly, and she can drive us.”

Before I could protest, Molly’s eyes returned to their normal state.

“That seemed to go well,” Molly beamed at me as if no time had passed.

“Were you able to hear all that?” I asked.

“Yes, I’m still present,” she replied, tapping her forehead. “I’m just not in control. Like right now, Kira is communicating with me, and she can hear everything we’re discussing. She’s just not the one steering us.”

“~Interesting~.” I mused, processing the new information.

“I know Kira can be a bit overwhelming.” I chuckled at Molly. ~Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.~ “But she has good intentions. If you don’t want to see her wolf form, she won’t be ~too~ offended.”

I could tell from Molly’s expression that Kira would definitely be offended if I declined to see her.

I let out a sigh. “No, I want to. I need to.”

I had to take this leap and confront my fear sooner rather than later.

“All right, would you prefer to ride with me or drive yourself?”

I wanted to drive myself, but I was fairly certain that if I did, I would never make it to the bayou.

“I’ll accompany you, if that’s all right.”

“Let’s get going, then!” Molly exclaimed, bounding out of my house.

I grumbled as I dragged myself across the living room. I collected my phone, keys, and jacket before trailing after Molly to her car.