I Just Want You to Know Who I Am | shiver fanfic

Chapter Fourteen

Grace.

The boy whose name I haven't learned yet leans against the counter, his arms crossed firmly across his chest, looking expectantly at Sam.

Sam talks quietly and without confidence at first, confirming that Isabel and I did in fact see him shape-shift into a wolf. His eyes pass over objects in the room, not wanting to rest anywhere for too long, his anxiety easily seen through the naked eye. I find myself watching his hand gestures as he moves, the look in his eyes, and find myself utterly fascinated with everything about him.

It's hard to imagine that this boy in front of me has impacted my life so greatly. He was the wolf who watched me as I was almost torn to pieces, he was the one who watched me from the sanctuary of the woods, who now watches me in a boy's body, his eyes flickering to me quite frequently, then looking away. His black hair isn't messy to the point of unhygienic, but is askew enough to be charming. His golden eyes are the same as they always have been--captivating and intriguing. His voice is smooth, and I wish I could listen to it forever. He looks like someone who at my school would keep to himself, which judging by the way he is communicating with everyone in the room, I expect my assumption is correct.

I am mesmerized by the way he speaks, the way his lips form words, everything. I have grown up with this boy standing in front of me, and I haven't even met him. It's complicated in the most fascinating way.

Sam's story is relatively short, sweet, and to the point. Isabel looks dubious through the entire speech, looking as though she expects Sam to sprout wings and fly away. If I'm being honest, with the way things are going, it wouldn't really be quite the shock to me, either.

Sam explains that being a werewolf isn't contagious, or anything like that. If you are bit, you will shift. He says that the cold somehow triggers their shifts in ways they can't explain. When they're wolves, they can't remember human-like things, such as processing thoughts, or emotions. However, they can communicate through pictures in their mind, or just as normal, not-human wolves would. It's all very overwhelming. He doesn't mention anything personal, such as who bit him or anything, and I can't help but wonder.

Sam finishes speaking, letting out a long breath, and turns to the brown haired boy leaning against the counter. "Did I get it all?" his voice is more sarcastic than genuinely questioning.

His green eyes dance as he gives an over-enthusiastic thumbs up. "You get a gold star for the day, Ringo. Couldn't have said it better if you paid me." He turns slightly to face Isabel, angling his hips in her direction. "Did that answer your prying curiosity, princess?"

Isabel is quiet for a moment before responding, which is odd. Under normal circumstances, she would attack someone with as much ego as this guy with no filter. Granted, this is not a normal circumstance.

"Yeah. Okay. So who's your pack leader? Your alpha. Whatever."

"Beck." Sam answers at the same time the boy answers "Me." which is obviously a lie.

Isabel rolls her eyes in a more menacing way than I ever thought an eye roll could be. "Okay, so who's Beck? Did he change him, too?" she jeers her head at the boy.

"Yeah, Cole is our newest." Sam responds. "He just came to live with us not too long ago."

Cole holds out his hands, palms extended. "Whoa there, no need to spout my life story. Who says we can even trust these two?"

Sam and I both give each other a knowing look simultaneously, making me duck my head and blush. It goes unnoticed by Isabel, but Cole cocks an eyebrow. He opens his mouth to say something, but Sam cuts him off.

"I think they're harmless." he says. His gaze flickers to Isabel momentarily, as if she makes him rethink that theory. I can't help but chuckle.

"Well I'll be damned and skinned on the wall if you're wrong." Cole sings, and turns around, waltzing over to the couch, confidence radiating from him by the way he strides across the room. It's admirable. Usually, I'd be irritated by a guy like him--too cocky to be taken seriously. But somehow he pulls it off, like he actually has a right to be all ego.

"So," Cole begins. "Shall we surf the channels? Perhaps there's a special of wolf habitats on the Discovery Channel." he emphasizes wolf more than is completely necessary, given we all known he's being sarcastic to begin with.

"God, does he ever shut his fat mouth?" Isabel scoffs, crossing her arms, looking like she'd rather be in the burning pits of Hades than here. However, she doesn't make a move to the door, and I'm grateful.

"I need to talk to you." I blurt suddenly, surprising even myself. My eyes are locked on Sam, Multiple emotions cross his face--worry, anxiety, excitement. He nods once, and motions with his hand for me to follow him into the basement.