Cry Wolf

Chapter Seven - The Mark

The Mark

I did not just say that...

I can feel the blood draining from my face.

Stupid.

The last thing you do is tell an insane person that they are freaking insane!

Really stupid.

Liam is staring at me, completely quiet and still. It's more terrifying than if he were shouting at me from the top of his lungs.

I can't seem to move, my bare feet frozen to the floor.

After what seems like an eternity he lets out a slow breath. "You think I'm insane?"

"I don't...it just...I mean a werewolf...?" I stammer in disbelief.

He cocks his head, looking at me as if I'm the insane one. "You've seen my fangs. My eyes. You've seen what I can do."

The memory of him snapping Noah's neck makes my head swim. My brain just can't fathom that such a creature really exists. And yet I've seen things with my own eyes that can't be explained other than supernatural.

Suddenly, I feel faint, my legs buckling under my weight.

Liam moves fast, so fast he's a blur. He catches me as I start to fall, his warm hands gripping my arms. "Sit down before you pass out." His tone broached no argument and honestly I don't dare push him any further.

"Okay." I let him lead me to the couch, his touch doing funny things to my stomach. Even after all he's done I'm still attracted to him. I must be sick in the head.

Sitting on the couch I pull the blanket tight around me, using it as a shield. We're close enough to the fire that I can feel it's warmth. I wish I could draw it inside me. I feel so cold.

Detached. I feel detached.

Liam sits in the chair across from me, resting his elbows on his knees. I'm both thankful for the distance and strangely agitated to have him so far away. I have a strong impulse to go over to him, to be closer to him.

What the heck is wrong with me?

He's watching me with those eyes. Watching every flicker of emotion on my face, every twitch of my nervous body. "Are you alright?" he finally asks.

"Yes," I reply meekly. "I think I'm in shock."

He rubs a hand over his face in agitation. "You really didn't know that one of your parents was a werewolf? You never saw one of them turn? Never saw anything strange?"

I think back, dredging up memories of when my parents were alive. They were loving and warm but normal, completely normal. "No..."

He gives me a look, as if he doesn't believe me. "Did you move around a lot as a kid?"

I shake my head. "Not really. We moved once when my dad got a better job. He was a history professor."

Frowning, Liam asks, "And your mother, what did she do?"

"She was a librarian," I murmur. I can still remember playing hide and seek with her among the bookshelves. It was because of my mom that I loved books so much.

"Have you ever turned?"

"Into a werewolf?" I scoff. I didn't mean to be snappy but this whole situation is ridiculous. I feel like I'm under interrogation. I just want to go home and forget all of it.

His eyes narrow with irritation. "Yes, Abigail. Have you ever turned into a werewolf?"

"Obviously, I haven't." I frown as a thought occurs to me. "How do you know my name?"