Call Wolf

Chapter Seventeen

EndinG

Maria wasn't often cold - but that night her skin was prickly and sore. The night loomed; the mighty trees stood back and watched as the feral cold bit onto her cheeks. She thought about warming herself but each time she began reaching for the small ball of burning within her, the word "Spy?" popped up in her head. So did others: New York. Did her fate truly lie there? Or had Charles lied to her?
Charles - another word she could not seem to shake.

He lied, her mind hissed time and time again. He lied and he would not hesitate to do it again, you dirty little killer.

Maria's foot got lodged in a hidden root. She flailed but to no avail. The ground was even more merciless on her body than the air. She stayed lying.

Killer, the voice spat again. Nasty little murderer. That is what you do. You kill. You destroy. You're dangerous.

Dangerous!

Dangerous!

Dangerous!

"Fuck off!" Her hand slammed into the ground. A wave of warmth surged through the hardened earth surrounding her, making it into slimey soil. Her body sunk into it. Yet she couldn't bring herself up. "I'm not a killer."

She didn't expect the forest to respond.

"I know."

The wolf looked down at her, his face as indecipherable as ever as the moon only found its way to his eyes. They gleamed. He reached forward a hand.

"Maria," Charles said and put his palm closer. "Get up."
"Get the fuck away." She not-so-gracefully got to her knees. From there she quickly jumped to her feet. "Don't even look at me."
"Maria," he began, but his eyes did move down to her muddied clothes and bare feet. "I need to speak to you. But not here. Please-"
"You changed your mind, huh? You decided to kill me after all." Her eyes were flaming in every way except literal. It was clear she had no fuel left to light.

Before Charles could even respond, Maria charged. She got less than a fingertip's distance away. Then she stopped. Just as Charles thought he was definitely getting killed, perished in a fiery death, she closed her eyes.
"Do it then. I can't fight back so do it. But don't fucking look me in the eyes when you do."
"Maria-"
"Be quiet." Her voice became snow; soft, gentle snow instead of sparking flames. Her head angled upward. "I don't want my last moment to be words."
Charles' face was darker than ever. He was grateful she could not see his hands morph between human ones and feral, livid claws. "You truly think I came here to kill you?"
"I killed my brother, fair is fair, right? You may hate me."
"It was an accident."
"Don't tell my story for me. No, it wasn't. I burnt the house down, I knew he was in there." Her mouth remained open for a second, her shut eyes twitched a little bit. "It was the only self-defence I had left after he broke my hands."

Silence.

Maria wondered how death would be like. She had avoided it multiple times, ran from it even, but never imagined it. And now, it had found her in the form of Charles. Charles. She found herself listening for chirping birds even in the night, and hoping that death felt a little bit like her time with Charles. Like burnt meat, safety - comfort.

Two palms slowly came upon her cheeks. They were so warm it made her eyelids flicker open for just a second. She saw Charles eyes were closed as well as he moved his hands to rest by her jaw. She felt a tear disintegrate on her lips, the salt spread across her tongue.

She shut her eyes harder as the grip tightened.

"Not once have I hated you."

Soft, soft lips. They slowly graced hers. At first, she thought they were feathers. Then, as he breathed into her, she thought it was death. Her eyes fluttered open, eyelashes clumped by tears. Charles was close, closer than she'd thought - his lips were still feathery on hers.

"Please," he whispered, "forgive me. If you don't... I do not know what to do."

Maria felt how her body had gone limp, the fear of death draining along with any and all energy, and Charles was practically holding her up by her cheeks. She swallowed. Hard. Yet no words came out.

"Forgive me," he said again, this time not even daring to look in her eyes. "Forgive me, forgive me. Please. I need you, in any way I may have you. Don't leave, please do not leave."
"You mean...?"
He nodded, still close to her lips.
Maria said the only thing she could think of. "Are there truly more of me in New York?"
"Yes. I know where." Charles tried to collect himself. It was clear she could not forgive him. Although it made his instincts so conflicted that a sharp pain shot through his head, he backed away. Just one step.

They looked at each other.

"We have a lot to talk about," she trailed, her voice just as frail as his. She harshly wiped a tear from her cheek, leaving it red.
"We do." Charles ran a hand through his hair, heard how his breath trembled as he exhaled. "But you deserve to know the truth. I will help you find it. If you even wish for my help any longer, that is. We'll go to New York and--"

Maria's arms landed perfectly across his shoulders. Her lips smashed onto his, not feather-light as his had been but instead vibrating with energy. Her hair sparked like fireworks in the dark woods. She moved to get closer but before she knew it, Charles had brought her into his arms.
Maria placed a hand on his chest, pulled back a little. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you--"
The growl rising from Charles' throat didn't leave room for apologies. He pulled her closer, his hands strong yet the most careful pair that had ever touched her. She felt the claws tease her skin.
"You truly believe I deserve a family?" she asked, breathless as he let her part just an inch.
He nodded. His eyes were darker than ever, so deep that the night seemed more safe. Yet she got closer.
"Please, return with me to the Den."
"I can't."
Charles' face fell. His grip loosened. "Why not?"
Maria felt how his his heart quickened against hers. She noticed once again how sharp and rugged his features were while somehow suiting well together. Even riled up, he seemed in control of most things. She patted a small spot where her hair had caught on fire and pulled a few strands behind her ear.

"Because your jacket sleeve is burning."

××

A/N

Here! I hope I did it justice. Either way, I really was happy to write out a better ending. To write at all, actually, for the first time in many months.

Thank you once again, I can't believe more than 100 people have read the book.

I wrote this quickly because I got such a surge of inspiration and didn't want to waste it. I apologize for any errors.

I love you!