Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Paul pulled me further into the dark forest, and the familiar sight of the campfire on the beach grew smaller until it was just a faint glow in the distance. The shadows of the trees around us seemed to thicken, and I felt my pulse quicken. The cold night air enveloped me like an icy veil, and I began to shiver, despite the warmth radiating from Paul, whose hand I held tightly. His grip was strong and reassuring, but the chill still crept into my bones.

We continued onward, and the darkness seemed to swallow us whole. Suddenly, Paul stopped. Before us, a clearing opened up, illuminated by a silver moonlight filtering through the dense treetops. It was as if the forest had held its breath for a moment. The silence was overwhelming. Only the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind and our own breaths could be heard.

Paul turned to me, and in his eyes was an expression I had never seen before—nervousness, almost fear. Had it really been the right decision to follow my heart and come with Paul? Was this all some kind of test of courage, the reason for his sudden interest in me over the past few weeks?

"I know this is crazy," Paul began, his voice low and slightly trembling. "I don't want you to be afraid of me or start avoiding me. I just want you to know the truth."

His words made me pause. The Paul I had known was always joking, confident, and steadfast. He always had a quip ready and seemed to view the world with unwavering trust. But now he stood here, in the darkness, looking vulnerable. This uncertainty was new and unsettling.

"You hinted that the wolves are real?" I asked hesitantly, my heart racing wildly in my chest as I interrupted him. My gaze searched his, and despite the darkness, I could see the determination in his eyes.

"They are real," Paul said, taking a deep breath and pausing as if gathering his thoughts. "And I am one of them." If his expression hadn’t been so serious, I might have laughed. But I realized he was dead serious.

"What do you mean by 'one of them'?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. It felt like I was standing at the edge of a precipice, staring into the darkness without knowing what awaited me.

"I can transform, Mary. Into a wolf," he explained, and his words seemed to hang in the cool night air. "It's a gift that ties in with the legends. I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth."

The reality of his statement hit me like a blow. A part of me didn't want to believe it, wanted to shake him and ask him to tell me it was all just a joke. But the expression on his face left no room for doubt.

I was speechless. The idea that Paul was not just an ordinary boy, but part of an ancient, mystical legend, was overwhelming. The longer my silence stretched, the more nervous Paul seemed to become.

"Please say something. Anything!" Paul pleaded, and there was a vulnerability in his voice that I had never noticed before. His fingernails scratched nervously against the rough bark of the tree beside him, as if he were trying to hold onto something solid to keep from falling. I paused, considering. What did he expect from me? Did he want me to show fear? Joy? Or perhaps something entirely different?

"Okay," I finally said. If my books had taught me anything, it was that there was always a reason why someone shared their secrets. Paul didn’t seem like a villain about to reveal his evil master plan, so there must be other reasons for his openness.

“Okay?” Paul asked, his tone almost desperate. “What does ‘okay’ even mean?”

“It means that I’m ready to listen,” I explained, trying to sort my thoughts. “It’s just… this is all so overwhelming. I’ve never really believed in things like this.”

His face relaxed a bit, but the look in his eyes remained tense. “I understand,” he murmured, his voice soft and thoughtful. “Do you want me to… should I show you?”

Paul looked at me expectantly. The thought hadn’t occurred to me until now. Did I want Paul to show me what this world held hidden? Was I ready for everything I knew to change? If he showed me that he was really a wolf, everything would become real. But would that even make a difference? In my heart, I had already accepted it.

“If you want to. But I believe you. Whether you show me or not,” I conveyed to him. At that moment, I suddenly sneezed, and the sound broke the tense silence between us. It was a small, insignificant noise, but it seemed to dissolve the tension in the air for a brief moment. Damn, the weather really was too cold for a visit to the forest at night. I should have brought the blanket, but unfortunately, it was still by the campfire.

Paul’s eyes widened, and I could almost see the thoughts forming in his head. “Damn. I forgot how quickly humans get cold,” he murmured as he unconsciously rubbed my arms, as if he could feel the chill on me. “My body temperature is higher than yours. I don’t notice when it gets too cold.”

He took off his jacket, a dark blue one that suited him well and that he had wrapped tightly around himself until now. With a gentle but firm motion, he draped it over my shoulders. Instantly, a comforting warmth enveloped me, cutting through the cold like a gentle glow. I gasped as I felt the softness of the fabric, and an involuntary smile spread across my face. In that moment, I realized it wasn’t just the jacket warming me; it was also the gesture itself that gave me a sense of security. Transforming into a wolf was one thing. But never feeling cold? That really sounded like a superpower.

“Shall we maybe head back to the others?” I finally asked as the cold reminded me of its presence and I began to feel the first signs of shivering. However, when I saw Paul’s disappointed face, a shadow crossing his features, I quickly added, “I don’t have anything planned for tomorrow. We could meet up, and you can tell me more about the legends, the wolves, and about you. So… only if you have time, I mean. I don’t want to impose, and besides…”

“Sure!” Paul interrupted me, his eyes lighting up as if a light had turned on inside him. The expression on his face brightened instantly, and I felt the previously heavy atmosphere between us shift into something light and carefree. “I’ll pick you up, and then I can tell you everything in peace.”

His enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a warm feeling spreading in my chest. It was as if I had discovered a small treasure—a connection that went beyond the ordinary.