Trapped: the Truth (Book 2)

Chapter 2

It has been two days since we found out about the hunters. Chris told Nate right away. I expressed my concern for Luke but I did not have the courage to tell him myself about the hunters. Therefore, Chris promised me that he would inform Luke.

"Isn't wolf hunting illegal?" I ask Chris as we enter the coffee shop and take a seat at the last table.

"I thought so too but things changed since the attacks."

The waitress stops by our table to ask us what we would like to drink.

"A large still water to share," Chris tells her. We always order water unless we have a night out with friends.

The waitress leaves us to have a look at the menu. They have quite the variety of food considering it is a coffee shop. I order a cheese sandwich and Chris orders a ham and cheese baguette.

I lean forward so that only he can hear me. "It's a full moon next week," I state. "Do you have a plan?"

He nods. "There is a place... a shelter. I need you to lock us in there."

"Is it safe? Is it a place that cannot be easily found?"

"It is quite remote," he assures me.

"How do we get there then?"

"We can drive to a deserted cabin and then we have to go on foot. I already checked out the cabin. You can sleep over there if you want."

On my own in a cabin in the woods? It does not sound good. "I'd rather sleep at home in my own bed. I can come back to open the door for you."

He gives me an uneasy look.

"What?" I ask curiously.

"First of all, you have to lock us up using chains and padlocks and second of all, Luke will be joining us."

I hang my head down and take a deep breath. A moment later I look at him again and say, "Fine, but I'm still not talking to him."

"You can't keep this up forever," Chris counters. "He is leaving for college at the end of the summer."

"Good."

"You don't mean that," he insists.

The waitress arrives with our food and we stay silent until she walks away.

"You know it wasn't his fault, right?" He is being very serious about this. "He didn't bite Nate on purpose."

He is getting on my nerves. "It's not just about that. He didn't tell me what he was through all these years. I could have helped him avoid losing control like that."

He does not say anything because he knows I am right. I could have helped him control himself and not lose his temper. I was a mess too back then so I understand perfectly what he was going through. We could have helped each other.

We stay silent as we enjoy our food.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly after finishing his baguette. "I didn't want to argue with you."

"Apology accepted, but you still have to make it up to me somehow," I tell him with a wicked grin and he mirrors my grin.

Chris does not take the route home.

"Where are we going?" I ask confused.

"I'm making it up to you. It's a surprise." His eyes stay on the road but he smiles widely. He knows I hate being kept in the dark.

I stay silent for the rest of the ride no matter how bad I want to know where we are heading. Chris takes a left turn onto a track between tall pine trees. What is this place? Chris stops the car because the track is a dead end.

"We have to walk from here," Chris informs me.

I look at him in confusion. What is he up to? He gets out of the car and I follow him quickly. We walk for a bit and I hear the sound of water splashing.

"Is that water?" I ask.

He grins at me but does not answer. He just keeps walking. We finally stop and I am amazed by the scene in front of me. The most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen. The water falls into a river and the whole scene is pulchritudinous.

"Do you need any help picking up your jaw from the ground?" he jokes.

I look at him then back at the waterfall. "This is... amazing."

"I know."

I walk closer to him and embrace him tightly. "Thank you."

He takes my head into his hands and kisses my lips softly at first. I kiss him back for a moment but suddenly his head snaps back and he looks anxious.

"What is it?" I am stunned by his reaction.

"I think I am about to turn," he rushes out, his breathing quickening. This cannot be happening right now.

"Can't you control it?" I ask. I am starting to panic now.

He steps away from me and raises both hands in warning so I do not approach him.

"This feels different. I don't feel in control," he breaths out. "Go to the car."

I shake my head and before he can warn me off again, he shouts out in pain while arching his back. He regains his posture and removes his shirt.

"Leave!" he shouts at me.

I cannot just leave him here so I stay frozen on the spot.

He cries out in agony again and drops down to his hands and knees. His body starts changing slowly and painfully. His clothes are ripped apart as he takes the form of a wolf. He growls, looking at me with fiery, blue eyes. I take a step back when he takes a step in my direction. I remind myself that this is Chris and he will not hurt me so I stand my ground as he slowly takes another step toward me.

Before he takes another step, his head snaps to the left. I glance in the same direction but there is nothing in sight. Chris, however, bolts in that direction. I do not have time to think before I decide to run after him. With the hunters around, I should not leave him on his own.