Coywolf

"I don't want to talk about it"

Lupe's POV

School just ended and now we're all headed back to Emily's. After the whole morning incident, nobody even dared touch Paul. Which is a mission accomplished by me.

Lately though, it seems like he's been wanting to ask me something. Not only him but also the rest of the guys.

Arriving at Emily's, Paul jumps out of the truck and opens my door. I smile as he picks me up from my seat to set me down carefully on the ground. His little acts of affection are things that make my stomach feel weird and funny. But it's a good weird and funny.

Grabbing his hand, I laugh and pull him to the entree way of the house. Greeting Emily as we pass her.

Heading straight for the living room to sit down, we see Sam and the rest of the wolves and imprints there as well. They stop talking as we enter.

By the salty smell drifting into my nose, they're nervous. I cock my head to the side as I think of why they could be this way.

Clearing his throat, Paul begins, "um..Lupe. Now that you're settled and going to school and stuff, we've been wanting to ask you something." I stare at him, waiting for him to continue.

"We wanna know what happened that made you stuck as a coyote." I gasp in shock. A strange jump or leap is felt throughout my body, mainly in my heart.

"That was a..long time ago. I don't know if I remember." I lied. My eyes dropping to the ground. I remember that day clearly. It's been haunting me in my dreams since it happened.

"Can you just....try? For me?" Sensing my mate's urges to know, I give in. Nodding and heading to sit down. Paul sits next to me in comfort.

Looking up at the others, they're already looking intensely at me. Curiosity over taking their eyes.

"It was the day of my 9th birthday. It was just me and my parents. It was a small celebration. Nothing much. Just a cake and balloons and whatever. My mom was out, going to run a quick errand. My dad told me to go wash up for dinner. I changed into my birthday dress and washed my hands. Then ran downstairs, expecting to see my parents lighting the candles. Instead I saw my father getting shot at and men swarming the living room. He told me to run, but every instinct in my body was saying to stay and help him. That I could've done something to help him. So instead I went into hiding. Somewhere where I wouldn't be seen. I watched them beat him, while I just stayed hidden like a coward." I paused taking a breath. Paul pulls me closer, him holding me closer to his frame. "And then my mom came. She saw what was happening and went to protect him. The urge to protect her mate consuming her senses, that she didn't notice me hiding. I saw her eyes and how they glowed. They glowed like mine. She had control over it. She didn't totally phase into a coyote, but you could see it was there. The claws, the teeth, the eyes. She was like me. She attacked them and was winning until one of them shot her. Then, they decapitated my dad." By now, tears where streaming down my face. But despite the tears, I continued.

"They split up to find me but I ran. I went to go hide in a small cave that we went to. It was by a small lake and it had a nice clearing. I stayed there until the niece morning. Next morning, I went back to the house using a trail that was a shortcut back to the house. I went inside and saw the blood. I saw the bullets and blood and ripped up decorations. I couldn't find the bodies. The hunters or whoever they were took them. I just sat there crying, wanting my parents to be alive. It was quiet until I felt my bones breaking and readjusting. I went from crying to screaming in agony. Until it just stopped. I was on four legs, fur covered my body, my senses were heightened. From there I was on the run, running into hunters occasionally. Another coyote. I lived as a coyote for the next 8 years."

I finished and looked at the others. Emily with tears in her eyes and flowing down her face, Sam holding her. The guys with shocked expressions. Paul shed a tear, kissing my head.

I cough awkwardly before getting up to walk outside. Hearing steps behind me, I ran. Shifting into my coyote. I ran like I did when my parents died. Just wanting to be alone and grieve the memory of them.