Chapter 28: 6


    As promised, Aurora returned at noon and again at six after she closed up for the night… and she had


    brought take out. Like with breakfast, they sat at the kitchen table talking and getting to know one


    another. Aurora answered all of the questions Katelyn had about Lycanthropes and the pack. Much of it


    was difficult to believe.


    At seven, Darrell returned home. He walked into the kitchen, putting an end to the conversation as


    Aurora greeted him. “Evening, Cowboy. How was your day?”


    “Uneventful. Just the way I like it,” he said, stealing a piece of fried chicken off Aurora’s te. “What is


    going on here? Are you giving away all our secrets?”


    “Just getting to know one another,” Aurora said. “I thought if she understood us, maybe she wouldn’t be


    so gung-ho to turn us it.”


    “And what have you been telling her?”


    “Just what little I know, given I haven’t known myself for long.”


    “I see. While youdies talk, I’m going to go shower and clean up from work,” he said, finishing the


    chicken and tossing the bone on the te before heading for the washroom.


    “Oh, Baby, take it off,” Aurora hooted like she was front row for Magic Mike. Even Katelynughed.


    Darrell winked at them both as he removed his shirt and threw it at Aurora before closing the door


    removing him from their sight. With Cowboy home, Aurora stood up. “Well, I’m going to head home.


    Got to go feed my beast.”


    “Aren’t you going to tie me back up?” Katelyn asked as Aurora made no effort to restrain her again.


    She had untied Katelyn’s handspletely this time.


    Aurora looked at Katelyn. “Do I need to?” She asked with a trusting smile. “Give him a chance. He’s not


    a bad guy,” she said, heading for the back door. “I will see you tomorrow,” and with that, Aurora was


    gone.


    Katelyn could hear the shower running. Darrell was upied, and Aurora was gone. Katelyn bit her


    bottom lip as she considered using this time to run. She might have done so, too, if she had not spent


    so much time talking to Aurora. Katelyn still was not sure about this Lycan thing, but she had to admit


    she was curious. How could a man turn into an animal? She could not leave. She had to see this with


    her own eyes to believe it. Katelyn decided to stay.


    Ten minutester, the door opened, and Darrell came out just wearing his jeans. He looked surprised to


    see Katelyn sitting there alone, unbound and not trying to flee. “Where did Aurora go?”


    “She said to feed the beast.”


    “And she didn’t tie you up?” Katelyn shook her head no. “And you are still here?” He sounded amazed.


    “I want to see it,” she said outright.’


    Darrell looked at her funny. “You want to see it? You want to see what?”


    “The wolf. Aurora said you could be a wolf. Not just a half-human monster but a full wolf. Is that


    true?”


    He took a moment to think. “Yes,” he eventually confessed.


    “I want to see. Can you change, or do you need a full moon?


    Darrell chuckled at herment. “No, I don’t need a full moon. I can change at will.”


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    “Will you show me? Let me see the wolf.”


    “I don’t know if that is such a good idea. It is not a pretty sight.”


    “I don’t care. If you want me to understand why you are holding me against my will, then I want to see


    the wolf.”


    Darrell stared at her for a long time. “If I change, you are going to run.”


    “I promise I won’t. Please. I want to understand, but I need to see what you are.”


    He was clearly unsure. Darrell sighed as he gave in. “You want to see? Ok? But you need to remember


    no matter what you see. It is still me. I’m not going to hurt you,” Katelyn nodded. His hands went to his


    jeans to remove them.


    “Hold up. What are you doing?”


    “Taking off my pants.”


    “Why?”


    “So I don’t ruin them.”


    “You have to be naked to change?”


    “It does help,” Darrell snickered and shook his head. “Mortals are always such prudes. Lycan’s don’t


    care about nudity. I have seen everybody in this pack naked, and they have seen me naked… and


    nobody cares. It is just flesh.”


    “But do you have to be naked?”


    “Yes, I have to be naked. Do you have any idea how much I would have to spend recing my


    wardrobe if I changed while dressed?”


    “I don’t see why you….”


    “Do you want to see it or not?” He snapped, annoyed by this conversation.


    Katelyn decided if it had to be done naked, then she would have to deal with it. She would just keep her


    eyes on his face and try not to look lower. “Ok.”


    “You sure?”


    “Yes.”


    Darrell removed his jeans, stepping out of them. He moved the chair closest to him to give himself


    space. He now stood in front of her naked as the day he was born, and… oh God, she looked down.


    Holly hell, a heated grin curved her lips. Darrell was well equipped. She heard Darrellugh as he


    noticed how her gaze drifted down, and now, she was flush with desire.


    “Do you still want me to change, or would you prefer I stand here a little while longer?” Katelyn looked


    up to see the spark of cocky mischief in his eyes and that wicked little grin.


    “Sorry. By all means, yes, change.”


    Darrell pointed to his face. “My eyes are up here,” Katelynughed, and then herughter ended


    abruptly when his amber eyes began to glow. Katelyn sat up a little straighter. Soon his eyes were so


    bright she could have been looking into the headlights of some sports car. Darrell let out an animalistic


    growl and bared his fangs, which he had not had moments ago. Her eyes dropped to Darrell’s hands at


    his side, and she watched him grow ws.


    Katelyn gasped and slid her chair back against the wall when she started to hear his bones crack and


    break as his body reconfigured itself. He hit the floor on all fours as his spine elongated, and he


    sprouted a tail. His arms and legs became animalistic. A tanned fur began to spread over his entire


    body. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched his jaw dislocate as his face extended, bing


    wolfish. The whole horrifying transformation took only seconds, and now the most magnificent beast


    sat in front of her. It was the wolf from her pictures. He was massive up close. He was so beautiful.


    Katelyn rose from her seat as she approached the beast slowly, her arm outstretched. She did not


    know if in this form, it was still Darrell in control of his faculties and if he even recognized her. He felt


    slow was the way to approach him. He made no move to stop her. Katelyn’s hand gently caressed the


    fur on the top of his head. It was soft. As she petted Darrell, he leaned into her rubbing his head


    against her arm just like a dog might. She ran her hand down his back, and the wolfid down,


    squirmed a little and then rolled onto his back with his belly exposed as he looked at her with his


    tongue out. Katelyn giggled and rubbed his belly. It was funny he behaved like a happy ten-pound dog


    and not a vicious three-hundred-pound demon wolf.


    Darrell rolled over onto his belly, but he did not get up. He just looked at her. Katelyn sat on the floor


    with him, looking into those eyes. He had told her their eyes did not change. She understood now he


    meant more than physically. Looking into his eyes, Katelyn could see his soul. She could see how he


    communicated with just a look. There was a man looking back from the body of a beast.


    “Can you speak when you look this way?” She asked. He said nothing. Darrell simply looked at her,


    and she knew his answer. He could not speak in this form.


    His eyes began to glow again, and Katelyn watched as the transformation reversed, and soon, the man


    sat face to face with her on the floor. They still held eye contact, and Katelyn was speechless. That had


    been the most amazing and remarkable thing she had ever seen. After a long, intense silence, Darrell


    spoke. “Would you be so kind as to hand me my pants?”


    Katelyn had totally forgotten he was naked. Which was one hell of a feat because he was gorgeous as


    a man, but when he was a wolf… there were no words. She reached for the discarded jeans next to her


    and handed them to Darrell. He stood up, yanking his pants back on. Then he offered Katelyn his hand


    to help her up from the floor.


    Once standing, Katelyn dusted herself off and stared at him with awe. “That was amazing… horrifying,


    but amazing. You are the most beautiful animal I have ever seen,” and she had seen a lot of animals.


    “Thanks,” he said, smiling at her.


    “When you are the wolf, you understand me, don’t you?”


    “I do, yes. The body changes, but the mind doesn’t.”


    “But you can’t talk?”


    “No. I could have howled, but I was trying not to be threatening,” she appreciated that.


    “I’m astonished that something as amazing as what you are hasn’t been known to the rest of the world?


    How do you all hide?”


    “In the past, the humans knew about us. They started hunting us. As the world changed and our


    numbers became fewer and fewer, mankind started to forget us. Soon we became a folktale, then a


    myth, then an invention of Hollywood. We decided that not existing was the best way to exist. So


    technically… we don’t exist, and we want to keep it that way.”


    She understood. If the world realized these creatures existed, they would band together to eliminate


    them. She could not be a part of that. “I won’t tell anyone,” she promised. “You have my word.”


    “Thank you.”


    “On one condition.”


    He looked surprised. “I’m sorry, what?”


    “I have a request. If you want my silence, you have to grant it.”


    “Like what?”


    “I want you to let me hang around you and the others. I want to study you.”


    “I’m not a science experiment. You can’t write a book about me. Why could you possibly gain for


    studying me?”


    “I love wildlife. I made a career off of watching it. You are the most remarkable animal I have ever seen,


    and I want… I need to know more. I have so many questions. Please, I just want to observe. I won’t


    interfere.”


    “The pack is never going to allow it.”


    “Well, can’t we lie to them?”


    “And tell them what? What possible reason could I have to have you following me around?”


    Katelyn thought about it for a moment. “We were on a date when things went sour. Maybe we made up


    and started dating.”


    “You have a fiancé,” he reminded her.


    “Screw him. This is life-changing. I don’t care about Nigel. He was a cheating asshole anyway. I want to


    be where you are,” she frowned when he did not speak. “Or is there a rule against dating humans?”


    He seemed thoughtful for a minute. “It happens, but they don’t usually let us bring them around.”


    “Well, they know I know, so maybe they won’t be as uptight about the rules since there is nothing left to


    expose.”


    “It is not going to be easy. The pack may not just ept this as truth.”


    “Why not?”


    “Because I never date… like ever.”


    “You are celibate?” She asked, shocked.


    “God, no! I screw around all the time; I just don’t date.”


    Katelyn frowned. He was one of those guys. “Well, you do now because I’m a delight.”


    Heughed. “I see. If I don’t do this?”


    “Then you are going to have to kill me because I’m going to walk out the door and tell everyone about


    you,” she threatened. Katelyn feltfortable making this threat. If he was willing to kill her, he would


    have done so in the alley.


    Darrell sighed in defeat. “Ok, but only for a few months, then we break up and go our separate ways.


    You keep our secret. If you go back on your word, I’ll expose you to Gordon. I might not kill you, but


    you better believe he will.”


    “Deal,” she said, offering him her hand. “Shake,” she said with a teasing smile.


    Darrell chuckled and shook her hand. Once he had her hand in his, Darrell pulled her forward while


    leaning into her. “I’m not a dog.”


    “Where can I sleep?”


    “Well, I only have one bed.”


    “I hope you don’t snore.”


    ***


    Darrell allowed Katelyn to stay with him. He even insisted she shares his bed, iming the couch


    would be far too ufortable for a long stay. Having slept on it the night before, she agreed. At the


    end of the night, Darrell turned in early, iming he had to work in the early morning. Ince Nigel had not


    cancelled the contract. He was still obligated to go back and finish the job. With that knowledge,


    Katelyn turned in when he did. She followed him up the stairs to the loft above.


    It was smaller than she had thought it would be. The room was shaped like a half-moon, and the


    curving wall had five triangle-shaped windows floor to the peak of the triangr roof. In the middle of


    the loft was the bed. It was arge queen-sized bed with dark bedding. The loft was extremely rustic.


    Standing by the wooden banister, Katelyn looked down at the kitchen below.


    Walking to the windows, she looked out into the night. His ce had a lovely view of the trees and


    mountains. Katelyn turned to see Darrell getting undressed. “What are you doing?” Katelyn asked,


    watching him as he took off his pants and got into the bed naked.


    “Going to bed. Why?”


    “You sleep naked?”


    “Mostfortable way to sleep,” he said, pulling the nket up around his waist and fluffing his pillow.


    “Why does it make you ufortable?” He snickered as hey down, closing his eyes. “Humans are


    way too uptight.”


    Darrell did not look like he was nning to take advantage, so Katelyn stripped down to her t-shirt and


    panties then climbed into bed next to him. After a few minutes of nothing happening, Katelyn rxed


    and fell asleep.