Truth

RORY

Freya looks so peaceful.

She’s asleep in her bed surrounded by her stuffed animals. Dangling above her is a photo display. Mostly pictures of us throughout the years, attached to twinkling fairy lights with tiny pegs.

I sit in her wicker chair, hugging a pillow in a ruffly case, and examine the photos.

There’s a picture from the time our class went on a field trip to a cider factory, and one from our first debate championship.

A couple of us just messing around over lunch in the cafeteria.

There are so many and we look so young. But I can’t help wishing some of them weren’t taken at school.

My old pack wouldn’t allow me to visit the human world outside of school hours. So all of my memories with Freya have occurred within those walls.

At least now some of those walls are coming down.

Literally, in the case of the gym.

I’m so thankful to Everett for letting me have just a little taste of what a full human high school experience is like.

Even if it does come with murderous former alphas trying to kill the entire graduating class.

But looking at these photos, I can’t help but wish I’d been given this opportunity sooner.

There would have been so many slumber parties and trips to the water park and school dances that didn’t end in flames if I’d been allowed out.

Freya begins to stir, rolling onto her side and yawning.

She hasn’t woken up since she passed out outside the gym. Everett helped me get her home and told me I could stay with her until she comes to.

Pale morning light is sneaking through the gap in the curtains.

I know he’s waiting outside in his truck. He’s still on edge about the attack.

But he told me Nickolas and Victoria died in the fire. Not that I wanted anyone to die, but with them finally out of the picture the danger is gone.

Maybe now Everett can chill and not be so protective all the time.

“Rory?” Freya says, opening her eyes and squinting at me.

“Hey, you’re awake.”

I hop up and go to sit on the edge of the bed.

“How are you feeling?” I ask.

“I feel amazing,” she says, sounding kind of shocked. “And somehow I think that has something to do with you. Right?”

I keep my mouth shut.

“Rory.” She sits up. “I saw your boyfriend turn into a wolf and back again and I know you did something to save me.”

I start to shake my head—~nope, not talking~.

“Rory, you can’t dodge my questions anymore. Explain!”

I take a deep breath.

“Okay, tell me what you think you saw.”

Freya rolls her eyes. “I ~think~ I saw your boyfriend running into the gym and turning into a wolf.”

I’d hoped she’d forgotten that part at least.

“My legs were completely messed up so he dragged me out of the gym and that’s where it gets a little blurry. But I remember you putting your hands on me, and then waking up and my legs were fine.”

I nod along. She remembers way more than I thought—hoped—she would.

“Not only were my legs fine. You were there with a wolf—or, sorry, your boyfriend—who turned back into his muscley human self.”

“Are you sure the smoke inhalation didn’t make you see things?”

“Are you asking if I’m sure I saw your boyfriend naked? Because that isn’t a sight I’m likely to forget anytime soon.”

She raises her eyebrows at me. Everett naked is pretty memorable to be fair.

Still, I don’t say anything. I’m not sure where to start.

“Come on,” she says, slapping my arm. “Dish. It’s time to fess up. What’s going on?”

“Fine,” I say, sighing.

“The truth is Everett isn’t just my boyfriend. He’s my mate. And he’s a werewolf, well, a wolf shifter.

“He’s the alpha of a pack and now I’m their luna and also I’m kind of a goddess, or I was, and I can bring people back from the dead.”

Freya stares at me like I just sprouted a second, third, and fourth head.

“That’s…”

~Oh Goddess, she’s going to freak. She’s going to think I’m insane or a complete weirdo and never want to see me again.~

“That’s so cool!”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

“Rory, you’re like a superhero or something. This is amazing,” she says. “Don’t you realize if you told people you could be the most popular girl in school? Or…at least, the most interesting.”

“That’s the thing,” I say. “You can’t tell anybody. I’m not even supposed to tell you. The wolves are skeptical about humans. They don’t trust us. So you have to keep this a secret.”

She considers this tricky proposition for a second and then nods. She zips up her lips and throws the key away.

“I promise,” she says. “But wait…I have so many more questions.

“When did all this happen? Is there some wolfy reason you’ve never hung out outside of school? Is that why you ran out after you won the debate championship?”

“It was the same day as my mating ceremony,” I say, blushing.

“Your what?!”

“It’s kind of like a human wedding.”

“RORY! Are you married?!” Freya presses her fingertips against her temples. “Okay, okay, wait. Start from the beginning. Tell me everything.”

For the next hour or so, I sit and tell Freya my entire life story. How I was abandoned as a baby and raised in my old pack.

I tell her about Nickolas and Victoria and about Everett and how I became the luna of my pack.

She’s a captivated audience and hangs on my every word.

It’s kind of fun. Any fears I had that Freya would reject me or think I was a freak of nature disappear. If anything, she thinks this is the best thing to happen since we both got boobs.

The more I talk, the more I feel as if a weight is lifting off my shoulders. As if hiding this side of me from her for all this time has been pressure, pushing down on me. I feel free.

And I want to keep feeling this feeling.

“Can I come to visit your pack?” Freya asks when I’ve got her up to speed.

“I’d love that!” I say, gushing. “But, I don’t know if Everett would go for it. The other wolves are still a little uneasy around me and I’m his mate.”

Freya slumps back against her pillows. “Right, I get it.”

I imagine what it would be like to share my life with Freya, to introduce her to my mama and Ophelia.

I almost burst out laughing thinking about Ace and Lucius having to adjust to having another human around the place.

It would be amazing.

Finally, my human world and my wolf world could coexist, and I wouldn’t feel torn between the two of them anymore.

“You know what?” I say. “There’s no harm in asking, right?”

“That would be so cool,” she says.

“It really would,” I agree. “I’ll ask Everett and text you tonight.”

EVERETT

“Absolutely not,” I say as we take the exit off the highway. We’re nearly back at the packhouse, and I’m in desperate need of a shower and something to eat.

Defeating Nick and Victoria took it out of me. Rory has promised to heal my wounds as soon as we get back, and I can’t wait because their teeth marks are starting to itch.

“Please,” Rory says again. I agreed to let her tell Freya the truth about her powers and us. About me and my pack.

But I never expected she would think Freya could come to visit. With Nick and Victoria out of the picture, the world is a safer place.

But I know there are still wolves who would think poorly of an alpha letting humans into their pack lands.

“It’s not safe,” I say, indicating and turning the wheel, directing us down the lane that leads into the forest.

“But you said Nick and Victoria were dead.”

“Yes, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg.”

I can’t get their threat out of my head—that other wolves think like them. My knuckles turn white as I grip the steering wheel harder.

“What iceberg?” Rory asks. “Some people may not be as accepting of outsiders as you are, but no one is a psychotic murderer like they were.”

She has a point there. Even if there’s distrust between the wolf and human communities, a wolf has to be pretty radical to go full-on homicidal.

“It’s just,” Rory says, turning in her seat to face me, “I’ve never been able to share my life in a pack with anyone in the human world. And Freya is my best friend. For the first time in my life, I don’t have to lie to her.”

She looks so earnest, and I can’t help but feel tingles in my stomach thinking about how happy I could make her.

“I know she’ll keep our secret and won’t tell anyone. I trust her with my life. Just like I trust you.”

Damn, she knows how to tug at my heartstrings. I can’t even believe I’m considering this.

Maybe I’m just exhausted after the prom and the fire and worrying about losing Rory.

I want her to have this. Besides, I’ve spoken a big game to my pack and the council about being accepting of humans.

~How can I enforce my beliefs on others if I don’t practice what I preach?~

“Okay,” I say.

Rory perks up. “Wait, what?”

“She can come and visit one time,” I say. “But she has to swear she will never tell a soul about what she sees.”

“Oh my Goddess! Thank you!”

She bounces across the gear stick and wraps her little arms around me.

“Careful,” I say. “Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Everett, this is so amazing. You have no idea what this means to me.”

“This is serious, Rory. It has to stay a secret or it won’t ever be able to happen again.”

“Cross my heart, hope to die. Or, well, I guess I can’t die, but you know what I mean.”

I shoot her a stern glance. “If Freya lets anything slip it will ruin the progress I’ve made with the council. There’s no telling how they’ll react.”

She nods, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“Thank you,” she says, rubbing my knee. “You know I love you, right?”

“I know,” I say. I make the final turn up the drive to the packhouse.

I trust my mate. I just hope I’m not making a mistake.

RORY

Rory

Omg! Guess what????

Freya

whaaaaaaaaaaat?

Freya

tell me

Freya

👂👂👂👂👂

Freya

i’m all ears!

Rory

everett said yes!

Freya

i thought you were already married or mated or whateva

Rory

not like that!

Rory

about you coming to see the pack!

Rory

he said it’s okay

Freya

OMG!!!!

Freya

🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾

Freya

that’s so awesome, i’m so excited!

Rory

But you have to keep it a secret, it’s really important.

Freya

I swear on my life.

Freya

⚰️

I can hardly believe that the day is finally here. A couple of days after the fire at the gym, and after Freya learned my secret, she’s here to visit the pack.

Everett and I drove out to pick her up. We’re sitting in the back seat giggling like kids.

“I can’t wait for you to visit the orphanage where I help out sometimes and meet my mom!” I say.

“This is so wild, I like, can’t even,” she says, squeezing my hand.

We emerge from the forest and the pack lies in front of us. I see it through Freya’s eyes like I’m seeing it for the first time.

Green grass and towering stone buildings. The sun is glinting in the windows, making the whole place look magical.

It’s magnificent. I love it here and I love that I get to share it with my best friend.

“I just want to say thank you again, Everett,” Freya says. “And I promise I won’t ever tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me.”

I smile at Freya; I know I can trust her.

And I can’t wait to show her everything!

As we pull up outside, I notice a few people giving us strange looks.

They don’t look happy. They’re glaring at Freya like she’s a bug they want to squish.

“It’s okay,” I say and take Freya’s hand.

But is it? Will my pack be able to accept her as well?

Pssst, did you know this book is also available as Paperback? [Check it out here.](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWNWFNR4?maas=maas_adg_4707836A5AA3468EE5AE46F6265DD720_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas)