Chapter 7

"You are a what?" Evelyn asked again to confirm if she had heard right.

"I am a werewolf". He moved closer to Evelyn.

She went out of the bedroom to the main room completely freaked out.

"Wait, hold on, love," Michael said as he followed after her.

"Don't you dare come close to me? Why are you just telling me this now?"

"I didn't want to involve you in this part of my life..."

Evelyn interrupted" But you married me. Doesn't that involve me already?"

"Yes, I know and I am sorry. I planned on keeping you out of this, but I failed". Michael told her "You are now part of the supernatural community."

"Tell me about the ritual," she asked him.

"I think you might want to sit for this one," he said, as he immediately sat on the couch.

Evelyn told him. "No, I think I am alright."

"Any new members married into the Wolf family must undergo various rituals to make them certified members of the clan," he continued" The ritual involves inserting a syringe filled with wolf's venom into the body of the person."

"Why?" Evelyn asked.

"Well, to make them immune to wolf bites and scratches" he answered.

"I overheard you talking to your sister about it, and you were pretty much against it. What is the reason?"

Michael took a deep breath before answering. " There is a chance that partaking in the ritual might kill you"

"My God Michael, what have you done?" she started pacing around the room. "What is the probability of the ritual leading to my death?"

"You don't need to worry. It has not happened in decades," he told her.

"Well, thanks for trying to put my mind at ease. it is hardly working" Evelyn said.

"I tried to find a way out of this, but there is none"

"So I have to partake in the ritual?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Vampires, now werewolves is there any more secret that I am not aware of?" Evelyn asked as she sat on the other end of the couch.

"That is pretty much everything," Michael told her. "Also we will be moving to Wolventin castle during the weekend"

"This is just too fast. I can't..." She took off to the bedroom and locked the door.

Michael knew that he should have told her everything before they got married. He had been keeping a huge secret from her, and if she left him he would not blame her. He stood up from his seat and went close to the door to ask if she was okay, but before he could he heard Evelyn crying behind the door. Michael sat on the floor next to the door and stayed there all night till it was morning.

Evelyn woke up the next morning. she had fallen asleep while crying the previous night. She pondered on how she was going to face him. She still loved him but she needed time to process the fact that she married a werewolf.

She opened the door after a while little by little to check if Michael was still in the main room but he wasn't. He had left earlier that morning to clear his head, and to give her some space because he knew she needed it.

Evelyn took out some picture albums to reminisce about the good times she had with Michael. She remembered the first time they met in the hospital. He brought in an injured person and she was in charge of the operation. He thanked her, invited her for dinner and the rest was history.

But now she wondered if that person was injured because of his relationship with her husband. She needed someone to talk to. "If only her parents were still alive," she thought to herself

Evelyn had lost her parents when she was six years old due to a road accident and so she grew up in an orphanage.

While checking the albums her phone rang and Rebecca's name popped up on the screen. Evelyn canceled the call because she wasn't in the mood to talk to her friend.

Rebecca sent a message to her after several attempts to call Evelyn.

"_Evelyn I am sorry about everything. I heard from your husband about what transpired between the both of you. Michael said he told you the truth yesterday. I know you need someone to talk to right now, and I want to let you know that I am right in front of your hotel room and I won't leave until you open the door_".

Evelyn chuckled after reading the message. Her friend was right about her needing someone to talk to so she opened the door to let Rebecca in.

"Hi. Darling" Rebecca hugged her. " I am so sorry about everything"

"Apologies accepted," Evelyn said.

She entered the room and sat down. "So what are you up to?"

"Nothing much just looking at the photo albums"

"Evelyn if you need to talk about anything. I am here for you you know that right?"

"Of course I do dummy"

"Okay? Is there anything you might want to get off your chest?" She tapped the couch indicating for Evelyn to sit next to her.

She sat down next to Rebecca and told her. " I don't know"

"Are you sure you don't want to talk?"

Evelyn paused for a while before replying. " I don't know what to do". She said with tears rolling down her eyes.

"Do not worry everything is going to be alright. I promise" Rebecca said comforting her friend with a hug.

Evelyn calmed down after a while and adjusted herself a little. " Can I ask you a question, Rebecca?".

"Yes of course. You can ask me anything?"

"Okay, thanks. In your perspective do you think that it is a must that I should partake in the ritual?" Evelyn asked.

"Well... Although I detest the idea of poisoning someone to accept them into a family, I think that it is important to do it. The Wolfs like most elite families have enemies both at home and abroad, and so not fully recognized as a member of the family is like putting a target on your back. You need to be accepted as a part of the Wolf clan to be safe" Rebecca answered.

"There is no other way then. I must partake in the ritual"

"Yes, love. I am sorry," Rebecca told her. "I think It is for the best"

Evelyn looked at the wall clock. " Aren't you going to work today? The time is past nine already?"

"I took a day off from work today to be here for you," Rebecca said.

"I called in sick so I also won't be going to work today," Evelyn told her. "Why did your father call you yesterday? He sounded a little worried on the phone"

"There had been several attacks of recent. First, it was the humans that were being attacked and kidnapped but lately, vampires and werewolves are being targeted too. He told me that a war is brewing and so he wanted me to be cautious" she said.

"Wow. That is terrifying. I just hope things don't escalate into a war"

"That is why the three major families are putting a lot of time and money trying to catch the culprits," Rebecca said.

"I am aware of the Wolfs and Knightons being part of the major families in WestHaven but which family is the third?"

"How do you not know the three major families in Westhaven?" Rebecca asked

"I did not care to know about them until recently" Evelyn answered.

" The third family is..." She was interrupted by the bang on the door.

The bang on the door continued and Evelyn and her friend wondered who it was. She stood up to check by looking through the peephole.

"Who is that?" Rebecca asked still sitting on the couch.

"It is Jocelyn" Evelyn answered and opened the door.

She saw Jocelyn standing in front of the door crying. Evelyn asked her to come in but she didn't want to.

"My mother has been trying to reach you. Where did you put your phone?" She said tearily.

"My phone is on silent. What is wrong Jocelyn? Why are you crying?" Evelyn asked

"It is Michael... He was shot five times" Jocelyn told her "It is bad Evelyn. He is in a critical condition"