Heat

IV.

Ethan and I made it back to the house. I was awkward with his shirt and nothing else on my lower half so U had hurried up the stairs and quickly to find a bathroom.

"On the right" Ethan called out. With his instructions I found the bathroom and quickly shut the door. I let out the air I didn't know I was holding and rest my palms on the counter.

"Hey Ethan" I call out shyly. I could hear him approaching the door. He has his hand on the knob ready to turn it.

"Edan, you okay?" He asks opening the door a bit.

"No!" I shout and push my body into the door. "I mean yes, I'm fine but can I please get some clothes?" I hear him lightly laugh before giving me a yes and walking away. I look at myself in the mirror and see a bit of dirt stuck with sweat. Ethans navy blue shirt was baggy and hid my body just enough to get me here but lifting my arms exposes my complete bottom. I drop my arms quickly as soon as I hear the door open. I make a move to close it when I hear Ethan.

"I'm not coming in, relax. Just passing on some clothes" he chuckles offer a neatly folded stack of clothes. I quickly grab it and close the door almost on his fingers.

"Sorry... thanks" I say a little quietly, I hope he heard. I quickly unfold the clothes or item. He only gave me a pair of sweatpants. I guess wearing his shirt out would be fine. I can just give it back to him tomorrow. I put the pants on and open the door to see Ethan sitting still shirtless on the bench in the hallway.

"Ready to go?" He asks glancing and getting up. He starts towards the front door and I follow after him.

"Thanks for this, I think in the long run it'll help me" I keep my eyes planted on the ground not daring to look up and show my gratitude.

"I wish we stepped in sooner but I hope you understand why we hadn't" he says offering a somewhat half ass apology.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask him keeping my distance behind him as we walk to his truck.

"Yeah what's up?" He says looking for his keys to the truck.

"How do you know if I'm adopted" my voice broke a bit thinking that my parents didn't even mention it to me that I was adopted. If anything it would've helped me write college scholarships.

"Edan I'm so sorry" he says realizing that he might've uprooted my life in more ways than one.

"No, Ethan it's ok I just I don't know I'm still trying to understand the whole wolf thing too and you are answering me on a lot of my questions" I watch him from the opposite side of the car and play with the hem on my shirt. I nervously chew the inside of my bottom and wait for his response.

"Edan I don't know even know where to begin" he confesses and looks at me with a bit of defeat.

"How would you know if I was adopted?"

"Two humans can't create a wolf. Both your parents smell human" I nod glumly and open the door to get in. He follows me and jumps into the drivers seat. I don't look at him and just focus on my hands. Adopted. It never once crossed my mind that my parents might not be my biological parents. Sure we might not look exactly alike but they have loved and cared for me in the ways I needed.

"How do you tell if someone is human?" I ask him when the car starts. He begins backing up to pull out onto the main road and once we start driving he then answers.

"You'll know, most wolves smell wet or of dirt" he was following all the roads we took to get there but I realized, did he know where I lived?

"Do you need me to direct you where I live?" I asked sheepishly. I think I know the answer already but I don't want to get lost.

"Yeah... I do" he says dragging out the 'o'.

"How do you know... out of curiosity" not to imply that he's a stalker.

"Everyone in the pack knows, it was an area we were told not to go because there was a dangerous rogue. That and I ran into you when you the first time" he confesses. The whole pack knew where I lived because they thought I was dangerous? That kind of makes my heart clench a little with pain. Ethan saw me my first time?

"Is that why you came up to me today? Because you saw me shift?"

"No. When you had your fever you were going through a bit of heat. You produced a smell that was alluring but it was new too. As a pack leader I had to make sure everything was alright and because you are a wolf on my land it's important for me check it out" we were now approaching my house and he turned down the long driveway. Parking the car just in front of my house and turning towards me he gave me a small smile. I quickly got my bag and everything to rush out of the car so he can get going. He puts his hand on my arm and gives a reassuring squeeze. I smile and open the door.

"I really appreciate this, a-and thanks for the ride" I stammer and almost fall out. Ethan laughs a little watching me struggle getting out of his truck.

"I will see you tomorrow Edan" he smiles sincerely which takes me off guard for a second. I shake my head a little and smile back at him before closing the door. I walk up the steps to the front door and turn to watch Ethan pull off onto the main rode and disappear from my sight.