THE TRUTH

Holy fuck

The look on Elijah's face has me scooting from underneath him and retreating until my back is pressed against the headboard. My eyes take in his appearance, and I can visibly see his entire body shaking, his eyes transforming from black to green; his fists were tightly clenched until the skin looked translucent over his knuckles. Confusion, desire, and lust all swirled around in his mind making it harder for him to control himself.

Calm down. She is only a human.

Okay, here I go hearing this lunatic's thoughts, so I need to do what he suggests. Make him calm down. I relax my shoulders, take a deep breath, and crawl towards him, letting my hand cup the side of his face. "Shh, focus. It's okay. I am right here." While taking another deep breath, I can see my calm demeanor affect him, and I watch apprehensively as he regains control.

"Are you alright?" I whispered.

"Forgive me, my love. My wolf wants to claim you as his own. I'm constantly fighting him to take things slow with you. I did not mean to frighten you." He said uncomfortably.

Admittedly, I was a little shaken up, but I wanted to understand what was happening with him. I got off the bed and started pacing back and forth, mumbling about how crazy this shit was. Like, I need some answers before I check into a mental asylum.

I stopped mid-pace to glare at him, then continued while picturing everything that transpired these last couple of days. "Why in the hell do your eyes turn black like that?" I asked.

His annoyed expression tells me he is tired of all the questions even after saying I will be patient, but I can't help it.

"I know you are confused and scared, but sweetheart, you have to give me some time. You're not in any danger with me. Sometimes, I easily forget that you're a human female, and I need to use caution with you."

I cock my eyebrow, "Of course, I'm human, and so are you. That doesn't make any sense in less your a damn alien." I half-screamed, and panic was written all over my features. Soon, as that alien remark left my lips, I wondered, what if? What if he was some alien in a human sex meat suit sent to kidnap a female virgin, me, then impregnate her so they can have some freaky extraterrestrial hybrid baby. Something peculiar is going on here, no doubt about it.

I'm still pacing back and forth when I feel his hands grip my shoulders, stopping me in my track with a determined look. "Helena, I am not a damn alien. I will never hurt you or allow anyone else to hurt you. You have nothing to fear; please calm down." He leans his forehead to mine.

I closed my eyes, feeling comfort wash all over me, which wasn't mine. It was Elijah. He was comforting me somehow with his own emotions. I was just too confused to fight it, so I welcomed it. Slowly my shoulders relaxed, my breathing returned to normal, and I opened my eyes. He is staring at me with so much intensity I instantly blush. God, why does this freak have to be so damn sexy?

"You know what? Before we even think of having sex, we are going to lay down some safety rules because you're not going insane like that when you're inside me." I scowled.

A burst of laughter that sounds like music to my ears fills the room, and dammit, I would give anything to hear him truly laugh like that again.

"Don't worry, love, your pussy is the most valuable thing I own. Especially since you can't bear my pups with a broken womb."

What in the blue hell are pups? Does he mean like actual fucking puppies? Does he expect me to birth a four-legged animal? You know what? I am completely over this conversation with this beefed-up Jabroni.

I bring my hand to my head, close my eyes, and impatiently rub circles into my temple, "God Dammit, you're insane. I need a drink before I continue talking to you." I turned on the ball of my heels and headed for the door, but I turned around to see him still standing there. "Hey, nincompoop! You have to take me to the good booze. Are you coming?" I outstretch my hand for him to grab.

His eyebrow cocks as he accepts my gesture leading me out the door to a small office across from his room. He walks over to a chestnut-colored cabinet opening it, revealing top-shelf liquor. "What would you like to drink, my dear?" He leans back to get a good view of the inventory with an arrogant smile. My eyes roam over the many neatly organized bottles, and I notice a brand I never thought I would taste. Oh my God, he has Remy Martin Black Pearl Louis XIII. This liquor is worth almost sixteen thousand dollars a bottle, and he has it stuffed in a cabinet like its backwater moonshine.

I grab the bottle, and the design is exquisite; I can't help but twirl it in my hands as the light glistens off it. "Elijah, this Cognac is worth sixteen grand bottles, and you have it just sitting in a liquor cabinet. This is unacceptable. Do you understand?" My eyes narrow.

"Whoa, Helena, why does it matter where I store it? It's just liquor, sweetheart." He said dismissively.

"The ideal temperature to store liquor is between fifty-five and sixty degrees. Chilling it preserves the alcohol. If you pay that kind of money for it, you must keep it fresh for any guest you serve it to."

"My precious human, why do you know how to store alcohol? Are you secretly a drunk?" He teased.

"My father was a cicerone or what some call a beer sommelier, so when he would go to vineyards, hotels, and restaurants, I would go with him, and I guess I picked up on certain things. He enjoyed wine, though. He loved that it was something that got better mature over time. He used to say it reminded him of people and how we mature with age."

I haven't talked about my father in years, but somehow with Elijah, I wanted him to know about everything in my small world. He gave me a thoughtful look, walked to a glass stand, grabbed two tumbler glasses, putting a few cubes of ice in them. I cracked the bottle, and the smell was magnificent. I took a moment to appreciate the aroma before I half-filled our glasses, earning me a side smirk from him.

I held my glass in the air, "Here's to walking an unknown path with a devilishly handsome might be alien. May the universe protect and guide us toward true happiness." We clink our glasses. "Cheers." We say at the same time, pushing the cool liquid down. My face frowns once I feel that familiar burn down my throat, and he laughs.

"Holy fuck balls, that is some strong liquor. It's good but it's rough on my throat." I giggle while pouring another drink, earning me an exasperated sigh from the alien standing behind the desk. I stifle the laugh threatening to come out of my tight lips, knowing he would probably have a brain meltdown if I did, so instead, I lean over the desk gripping his forearm. "Trust me, Elijah. I need to relax a little, and this is the best and most efficient way to do that; besides, you need to drink a little if you're spilling some secrets." I pull my arm back, leaning into the back of my chair.

"God Dammit, Helena! I thought you were going to fucking wait." He yelled.

I'm slightly taken aback by his reaction, but I'm not surprised. The fucker acts like an asshole when he doesn't get his way. He is an entitled little prick, and I am over his inflated ego. I swallow the rest of my liquor, gaining liquid courage before speaking.

"Elijah, would you just freaking relax. You are way too intense, have anger issues, and want to have your cake and eat it too. News flash, everyone doesn't get what they want. This is the real world where you have to work for something, have disagreements, debates, make mistakes, and compromise. I want to do all these things with you and more since I am still here despite the fact you're an alien." I half-smile.

He throws the glass back, slamming it on the table, "I will try to relax; what is that you wanted to ask me?" He spits.

"Your tone suggests you are not relaxing, but you will." I pour another drink, "Can you tell me, is your chef able to prepare anything I request?"

"He is but the best chef on the east coast. Whatever you want, he will prepare it." He mused."

I grin at his response, "Perfect, can you have him bake us a four-ounce salmon, lightly seasoned with baked asparagus seasoned with salt and pepper." I paused; we need a fruit tray with mostly berries and melons.

"Love, why does your meal sound like more than just a meal?" He asks.

I'm super surprised that he caught on that there was a reason why I specifically asked for these things to eat. Maybe, he does know me more than I thought.

"Well, salmon is good protein, and there are twenty-two grams of protein in a four-ounce serving. It will help slow the absorption of alcohol, and asparagus has many antioxidants that will help prevent any cell damage from drinking too much."

I hope he doesn't think I'm weird.

"I don't think you're weird. I think you're intelligent, and I love when you voice your knowledge. It is the sexiest thing about you, my love. Shall, I show you what your sexiness is doing to me." He licks his lips as he stares at me.

"Good Lord, you are insatiable. I need to be careful with you." I pour us another drink as we wait on our food. "We will make love soon as we both fully trust each other. So, can you tell me what in the hell is pups?"

"It is just a slang that we used to reference babies." He casually stated.

"So, you want me to have your child?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Duh, you're my mate. My life is quite simply your life."

Okay, drinking one bottle of expensive cognac will not be enough to make it through tonight with this guy.

"How do you even know that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together. People fall in and out of love all the time."

His robust features take on a thoughtful look. "Helena, the mate bond is not something that we take lightly. It is a gift to find your other half and an insult to the moon Goddess not to accept it; besides, I have been waiting for you a very long time. I almost lost hope that you didn't exist, but now that I finally have you, touched you, tasted you, I will be damn if I just let you go." He declared.

Oh, man, he does not play fair. How can I stop falling so deeply for this man without looking like a damn fool? I started to say something, but a slight knock on the door stopped me, and he got up to answer it. His chef could prepare anything I wanted, and the aroma was intoxicating. He placed the food in front of me. I instinctively leaned down to inhale the scent coming from the salmon.

Elijah retreats to his chair behind the desk and says a small prayer to himself before lifting a fork to eat his food. A small smile plays on my lips while my eyes roam around the office, taking in all the art he has decorated on the walls.

"Why do you like art so much?" I asked

"Art makes us feel, think, and see the world from another's perspective. It grants us a new connection to a world we thought we knew."

"That makes sense now that you put it like that, and if I am being honest with myself, it is exactly how I feel about the stories I read. I love picturing myself in the story twisting it to fit my imagination and personal experiences." I laughed.

He stuffs a massive piece of salmon in his mouth, and I notice he has twice the amount of food I have, if not more. "Why do you have so much food? Are you that hungry?" My lips twist up.

"My aura uses much of my energy more than anyone else in my pack. On average, we can eat up to ten pounds of food, but for me, twenty or more depending on how much energy I used throughout the day."

Dammit, a pack? You know, I will not even entertain this fucker anymore tonight. Every time he says some bullshit or thinks some bullshit, I'm going to ignore it. He is insane. Hell, I'm insane for continuing to follow up with this mess. Realization dawns on me as I process that thought. I'm not insane, not at all actually; I'm brilliant, observant, and dammit; I have a three-point five GPA. I can figure out his secret; he has given me hints the entire time I've known him. Instead, that secretive meat market has given me my answers consciously or subconsciously.

The look on my face gets even more stern as I stare at his handsome face. I will figure out your little secret with or without your help, pretty boy. His confident smile lets me know he heard my thoughts. Something in my peripheral view suddenly catches my attention. My eyes drift to the window on the side of me, noticing a huge dog but not an average-looking one; no, this thing had to be six feet tall on all fours. My legs immediately start walking to the window to get a better view.

As I look closer, the dog looks more like a wolf. A giant ass wolfs. One of its hind legs is more significant than my body. Come to think of it, my entire head looked like it could have fit into its mouth. I was so entranced by the size of the thing when I finally noticed the person it was stalking towards. Daisy is so close to it that she could be killed. From its looks, she was in the southwest corner of the garden. Without hesitation, I take off running through the office door, down the stairs, and through the patio doors.

My heart is beating so fast with the thought of me being too late. I can't fail my friend; I must get her to safety. When I turned the corner, I noticed the miniature rose bush she was standing next to while the wolf stalked closer to her, but no one was there. Where did she go? I start panicking, walking towards the forest where she must have gone. Strong hands grip my waist before I can walk through the trees.

"Helena, it is okay."

I turn around, looking at him with a dumbfounded look. Seriously, okay, really, my friend is out here with some hybrid wolf that could rip her damn throat out.

"Retard, I just saw the biggest damn wolf I have ever seen, and it was stalking Daisy. I try to turn to continue walking, but his iron cloud grip doesn't allow me to move an inch. "She could be seriously injured right now. That thing probably dragged her body in the woods nibbling on her limbs as we speak."

"Oh, he is probably nibbling on Daisy, but I assure you she likes it; he smirks, "Helena, the wolf, belongs to me; in fact, you can say he is family just like Daisy is family. She will be fine."

A lot of memories hit me all at once. The dream, the woods, how everyone seems to sniff the air like dogs, the unnatural tallness and strength, just every freaking weird unexplained shit I ever saw or felt came flooding back. Elijah told me he was a werewolf in my dream; Daisy acted weird the night we talked about it, the mate bond, him referring to them as his pack. Suddenly, it all makes sense, and I can't believe it took me this long to figure it out.

"You're a werewolf," I whispered.