Primal Fortune

Chapter 8 Ash's Savagery

"They were human."

It was incredible really. While Kenji didn't possess any magic, those three words and the accusations buried within them wielded far more power than even the darkest of curses. No longer did blood flow through Ivy's veins. Pure, unadulterated panic did.

A half-hidden whimper caught in Ivy's throat. "Kenji, I promise, I can explain. Maybe you should sit down first, though."

Ivy knew from personal experience that telling your boyfriend you were a witch was hard, but informing him that you were a werewolf was even worse. Witches depending on who you asked were terrifying, humorous, or sexy. They generally didn't have fangs unless their name was Penelope and they happened to be furious with their ex, of course. Werewolves on the other hand were conjured up more savage archetypes.

Fangs and claws scared more people than spell books and tarot cards. A handful of Ivy's former boyfriends had made it beyond the 'Witchy Reveal.' Unfortunately, none had stuck around after they found out that she could transform into an apex predator.

"I think we're passed the sitting down stage, but I guess it's the thought that counts." Kenji sighed as he shifted his weight from side to side in a stationary version of pacing.

She could smell the rain pouring off the enormous leaves of Kenji's rainforest scent. Fear and anger were surrendering to confusion and Ivy didn't know what she could possibly say to soothe the kind human who never should have been thrust into her world with no preparation.

Ivy knew she need to say something. No, she needed to do something. Before her conscious mind had caught onto her body's schemes, the gap between them had been closed. She heard Kenji's breath hitch, but he made no active protest as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I like you. I like you a lot, but this is only our second date. Kenji, I would have told you eventually, but I didn't want my fang-tastic smile to scare you off." Speaking of which, Ivy's canine's had already begun their treacherous transformation. Her tongue glided against a sharpening canine, praying that somehow Kenji wouldn't run away screaming if she transformed in a nervous fit.

His bewitching brown eyes never wavered from hers, his hand sliding against her cheek in a tentative caress. "I can understand why you didn't tell me. It would have been stupid to tell someone you just met." His hand trailed further south over the gentle slope of her neck. "Your heart rate is normal. I just, don't know how to deal with this. Any of it. Tarot card reading is one thing, but this is going to take some getting used to."

Hope sprouted within Ivy's heart like a garden at those words. Kenji wasn't saying that he accepted her exotic heritage, but he wasn't running away in terror either. He needed time. That was all.

"That's fair." Hope and audacity were first cousins as far as Ivy was concerned. Audacity could be sneaky and it was that very emotion that led to her request. "That's fair, but you can't tell anyone what you saw. I understand if you're not ready to date a werewolf, but for everyone's safety...my kind's existence has to remain a secret. None of us are ready for the Reckoning."

Confusion danced in Kenji's eyes. "What's the Reckoning?"

Ivy smiled. There was so much that Kenji had to learn about her world, but at least he was curious. That was a good sign. She was about to give him a rudimentary explanation of the Reckoning when she saw it.

At first, it was little more than a dark gray blur. It moved at an almost impossible speed and was growling.

Ash was here!

"I'm sorry, Ivy, but he's seen too much." The bulky werewolf charged towards them, slamming his entire body weight at Kenji, knocking him over with ease. "I will make it quick. He won't suffer." Ash snarled as he sank his fangs into the human's neck.