Page 13 of Baiting the Werewolf

Wes glares at me. “Yeah? Why didn’t you then? You clearly don’t care about me. You don’t—”

“What? What are you even saying right now?”

“C’mon, Logan. You could never tell me about you because I was spooked by a giant wolf in my backyard that one time? That’s an obvious cop out.”

I don’t want to talk about this. I can make up a lie about a werewolf I hear nearby and get him out of here. Then what? The jig’s up. He knows the truth, and he might decide he doesn’t want me in his life anymore. But the way he’s looking at me right now, waiting for me to confirm his worst fears, I know he’ll never talk to me again if I don’t fess up.

And he’s one thing I can’t live without.

“Everyone warned me about telling humans the truth. But I had to tell you. I told you everything.” I focus on the tree’s roots right beside him. I can’t look at him. “I was so excited to show you what I can do. But then you… you were scared of me. So, I didn’t want to do it again.”

Wes’s gasp makes me look at him. I smile to lighten the mood, but his lips press into a deeper frown of pity.

I let out a breath. “That obviously couldn’t last long since I had to learn stuff. But yeah, I started to believe you’d hate me if you knew, or worse, you’d be scared of me. So, I stopped going around you in my wolf form, only using it for emergency purposes.”

His face didn’t change. It’s already concerning that he hadn't interrupted me once. Then his eyes go wide. “You came all the way to Berkley. You made sure I reached home when I was too drunk to walk.”

I chew on my bottom lip. He keeps looking at me, his gaze accusing. I sigh. “Fine. I kept an eye on you after you left. I missed you, okay.”

His mouth stretches into a smile, but then he abruptly goes still. “You shifted in front of me that day.”

I huff out a laugh. “You were too drunk to open the door, and I needed my opposable thumbs to help you with that.”

His jaw hits the floor. “So, you did kinda tell me and I… I…”

“Forgot? Yeah.” I nod.

“No.” His eyes go wide again. “Did I— fuck. I did, didn’t I?”

I know what he’s remembering.

When I had to shift in front of him, I almost wished he’d remember just so I didn’t have to hide this from him anymore. But when I opened his door, he finally looked at me. Really looked at me.

I stood in his room hoping for squeals and hugs. Instead, he stumbled towards me and planted his lips on mine. It was surprising, but I was more surprised by how I reacted.

I didn’t push him away. I kissed him back, pulling him even closer. It was the sloppiest kiss of my life. But I’ll never forget the electricity that went through my entire body the second his lips touched mine.

I buried that memory deep inside, never to be examined, and left the city before he woke up.

When he didn’t mention any of it the next time we talked, I was relieved.

I shrug now. “You were drunk.”

He nods quickly. “Yup. Alcohol, crazy thing.” He laughs awkwardly. “Hey, look, we're in a forest. We should really leave.” He turns and starts walking away in the wrong direction.

But I doubt that’s the reason my hand snakes out to pull him back. “It was just a kiss, Wes.” I look at his surprised face. “Are you embarrassed?”

He tries to snatch his arm back, but I don’t let go. What’s the big deal? He was drunk. It doesn’t count. “Let me go, Logan,” he says.

I search his face. He is looking behind me, avoiding my face. What the fuck? “It’s really not a big deal. Why are you being so weird about this?”

His gaze finally meets mine. He looks hurt. That makes me drop his arm and walk closer. I cup his face, so he doesn’t avert his eyes again. I hate when he does that. He doesn’t pull back, but his expression doesn’t change.

“I don’t get it. Did I say something wrong?” I ask softly.

“I hate you,” he says so seriously my heart drops down to my stomach.

“What? Why?”