Fate or Destiny

Chapter 7 - Confessions

The coffee shop exuded a cozy atmosphere, the soft hum of conversations mingling with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The two strangers, both with an air of intrigue about them, settled into plush chairs near the window. Greyson shifted in his seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. "Well, what do you want to know?" "Um, I don't know." she mused, pretending to ponder, her brows furrowing slightly. "Everything." He emitted a faint sigh, his throat clearing as he readied himself to share a secret that had been hidden for so long. "Well, for starters, I'm a werewolf." he confessed, his voice steady. "My friends are werewolves, and you were in my soon-to-be pack house. Everyone who lives there is a werewolf."

"I'm sorry? Werewolves like --grrrr?" Her eyes widened in a mixture of disbelief and amusement as she mimicked a wolf's growl, her fingers playfully curling like claws. He rolled his eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, unimpressed by her playful antics. "Yes, like that." he affirmed. As he continued, his demeanor shifted to one of earnest explanation. "Now, mates are like soul mates. With time, the bond between mates grows stronger. It's like a romantic relationship, but much more--" He clicks his tongue trying to find the right word "-- intense. See, if regular couples break up, nothing happens to them physically. But if mates break up, it can drive them mad. Those who don't move on can even die from heartbreak. First, they lose their wolf side, then themselves. They isolate themselves, neglect their well-being, and can even fall gravely ill. And us werewolves, don't get sick so you know it's bad. "

She gazed at him in shock, absorbing the weight of this revelation. "Wow, okay." she exhaled, the weight of this newfound knowledge settling in her thoughts. This was far more than she had bargained for, but she appreciated his willingness to share. "Why are you telling me about mates?" she inquired.

He leaned back in his chair, a contemplative expression on his face. "You wanted to know everything, right?" "Yes..." she trailed off, not knowing if she was ready for the information he was about to give her, but intrigued nonetheless. His pause was brief, his gaze fixed on her as he continued, his words gentle yet laden with a sense of inevitability. " You're my mate, Scar." Her breath hitched, her chest tightening as the weight of his words settled around them. Despite the shock, he pressed on, recognizing that the truth he was unveiling was a lot for her to process.

"During intercourse, the two souls connect. The resulting child, usually a male, grows up to becoming an Alpha. This is how I'm set to become the Alpha of our pack, unless my brother interferes." he added, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. "Long story short, our pack has a rule against having human mates. Such mates would be killed, and any werewolf who kept the secret would also face death for betrayal."

"How would they know they kept it a secret?" she wondered aloud, her brow furrowed in thought. "They'll find out eventually." he replied confidently. "The mate bond has a way of revealing the truth. Anyway, when I told you wolves don't get sick that doesn't mean they can't get hurt. We can be poisoned by a substance called wolfsbane. It weakens us, makes us vulnerable. If we touch it or inhale it, it burns our insides. " As she nodded, a spark of recognition gleamed in her eyes. Her grandmother's stories had painted a picture of werewolves and packs, but this was an entirely different level of reality.

"Those guys from earlier, those are your friends, right?" she asked, her curiosity ever-present. He gestured to their orders, momentarily diverting his attention before resuming. "Yeah, Kai Graham and Connor Shay. Kai is my beta, and Connor is my second in command. You'll meet Trainer, my third in command, soon enough."

She nodded, accepting the response before she asked another question. "Alright, now for the million-dollar question: why am I here and not at home?" He nodded, understanding her need for answers. "My brother compelled you to come here. He made you read a note in your locker, you met him at the location he had written for you, then drove you to our house." "How come I can't remember anything?"

"That's what compulsion does. You follow orders without having control over your body and actions, and then he usually likes to erase one's memories, makes you forget you ever done anything." He continued as he remembered his brother's explanation. "You were also drugged.  My father put you in a jail cell that we have under the house. Then I figured it out that Ryder, my inner wolf took control over me and moved you in my bedroom." 

Since they were in the topic of his brother that compelled her, she decided to ask if he was the same species as him. Mostly because she was curious if he had the same compulsion abilities. "Are you a hybrid too?" "No, my father had a hybrid son from a previous relationship before he met my mother. His girlfriend was a hybrid. They eventually broke up and my dad got custody of him. He met my mother and then my sister and I came along." "So, brothers from another mother, huh?" he nodded answering, her question. He nodded in agreement, a faint smile gracing his lips. As they continued to talk, the coffee shop buzzed around them, their connection deepening with every exchange of words.

Her understanding deepened as she absorbed the layers of their conversation, her features transitioning from curiosity to a sudden realization that settled in her furrowed brows. "When your wolf controls you, do your eyes get all... black?" Her voice held a mixture of astonishment and intrigue, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sought confirmation for her newfound revelation.

He nodded in affirmation. "Yeah... how did you know?" "Yeah, um, I think he helped me out last night." she continued, her words carrying a hint of surprise. "He was the one who tied my hands for some reason."

His gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing as her words unveiled yet another layer to their connection. "That bastard! What did he tell you?" His voice, tinged with a mix of concern and frustration, reflected his protective instinct. "If I remember correctly, he said something about me being drugged and that I was tied up, and then I fell asleep." The gears of his mind whirred as he processed the information, his expression shifting from frustration to understanding. "Why were you tied up?" 

His thoughts danced around the possibilities, as he hoped that his wolf's more impulsive inclinations were kept at bay. Her lips parted, and a soft, almost bashful chuckle escaped her. "Uh, so I wouldn't run, apparently." His nod acknowledged her response, and he understood that his concern might have been unwarranted.

Their conversation seemed to draw to a close, the lingering questions having found their answers, and the weight of their shared understanding settling around them. He broke the silence. "So, uh, that answers all your questions?" he ventured.

"I-I think so. Thank you." she replied, her words carrying a sense of gratitude for his openness and willingness to share. "Yeah, yeah, no problem." he affirmed, his throat clearing as their orders came into view. "Hot chocolate and a jam donut for the lady and a black coffee, and red velvet cake for the sir." the waiter announced with a warm smile, handing them their carefully prepared treats. As they savored their food, a comfortable silence enveloped them, punctuated by stolen glances that held a promise of a connection yet to fully unfold.

I'm sorry it's short but It'll get better, I promise