Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 37: Unlimited Cold Pizza

"So how are you and Lila? I didn't mean to stir up trouble the other day," Matt said.

I had taken him up on his offer to hang out and, to get away from Lila, we went out for a walk. It was starting to warm up outside, but only just. But I'd freeze before being near Lila.

I waved a hand at him. "Don't worry. Its not your fault Lila doesn't trust me."

Matt winced a little at my tone. "I don't think its about trust. I think its more about safety."

"Safety?" I asked dubiously. What a lame excuse.

"I'm serious," he insisted, eyes wide. "She doesn't want to rehash those painful experiences so she kept quiet for her own comfort and protection. And maybe shes keeping things from you because she thinks that they might hurt you or hurt her if you take it badly."

"Why would I take it badly? Like unless she brutally murdered someone I think I'll be okay," I said with a roll of my eyes. While my tone was casual, I couldn't help the bite of irritation under it.

Matt choked.

"Whoa are you okay?" I eyed him worriedly. He coughed and hacked and cleared his throat. A few watery eyed moments and throat clearings later he nodded.

"Sorry. Choked on spit," he said gruffly, coughing a little. "Maybe shes afraid of your reaction. Or afraid of how she will react while telling you. It might just be too much for her to relive it right now, you know? Seeing as it all happened so recently?"

I kicked at a particularly large chunk of ice. "I get that, I do. But not all her secrets are so dramatic right?" Like her stupid boyfriends identity. "And even if they are, cant she just come out and explain why she doesn't want to tell me? I'm tired of hearing 'sorry I cant Ivy'".

Now Matt shrugged. "Look I don't know whats going through her head right now. As far as I know, nobody knows what happened to her except those involved."

"Her and Caleb you mean?" I asked tentatively, keeping my eyes straight ahead. If Devin/Dom was telling the truth, was Wyatt also involved?

"Yeah. Her and Caleb," he said slowly.

"Matt?"

"Yeah?"

Still staring ahead, I dared ask. "Was Wyatt involved too?"

He sucked in a breath, hand going up to cover his eyes.

"Matt?" I prodded, turning to him now.

"Ivy I don't...I don't want to lie to you. But I also don't want to betray Lila." He looked torn and helpless, like he wanted so badly to tell me but he couldn't. His hand rubbed at his eyes and when he pulled it away, I noticed the darkness of the skin around his eyes. How tired he looked. He hadn't been his usual cheerful self lately.

"I dont need details Matt, but I just want to know. The way Wyatt acted...he was so cruel and terrible. It was so strange. And then all of a sudden he was normal and himself again. It doesn't make sense. Did Caleb do that him?"

Matt grit his teeth, carefully planning and picking his words. "Yes Caleb did have something to do with Wyatt acting that way. And yes Wyatt was involved. But even I dont know really to what extent. It was all very confusing," he said slowly. I measured what he said and decided from his somber look and guarded eyes that, while he was reluctant and nervous, he was being honest.

I breathed out. So Dom had told the truth. "Do you think Wyatt ever hurt her?"

Matt's face exploded into surprise. "What?!"

"I just...I wondered. Caleb must have abused her but what if Wyatt hurt her somehow too? I mean, that scene with Caroline and Blake in the cafeteria...that couldn't have been the only time he picked on her. I know they're good friends but he acted so oddly and mean at the time...I dont know." Like Matt had said, it was all very confusing. It was hard to leep track of all these stories. Worse to figure out which parts were true and which parts were false.