A Shifting Love

Chapter 8: The Ugly Truth

“No," Nicholas said, shaking his head frantically, his wild, onyx mane hitting his face. “None of that is true."

He had not taken the news about his history well at all. I quietly watched him, unsure of what to say.

“My dad wouldn't make it up, Nicholas," I blurted out, and instantly regretted it.

“Well, he's a liar!" Nicholas barked. He jumped up off the couch and began pacing back and forth. “My dad would never sit by and watch people get tortured, even if they were shifters. Your dad or the Alpha before him made that up to justify your Moon Goddess punishing innocent people."

“Nicholas, I understand you're upset," I said cautiously, not wanting to upset him more. “But my dad was very serious when I talked to him this morning. I can tell you that this isn't some made-up tale. Besides, the Moon Goddess doesn't operate like that."

As frustrated as I was about her late interference, she never did anything unjust.

“According to you, he hates us," he replied, throwing his hands in the air.

Telling him how my dad felt about his people probably wasn't the brightest idea, but I wanted him to see I had nothing to hide, even if that meant sharing the ugly truth. “He only feels that way because of what happened to our people."

He stopped his pacing and faced me. “My dad never killed any shifters, Autumn."

“I never said he did, Nicholas," I retorted. “But he, along with several others, watched multiple times as their peers tortured and murdered them." The loyalty and respect that Nicholas showed for his father were admirable. Unfortunately, he was in denial.

His jaw clenched. “What's the point of telling me this bull**** anyway? Is this some twisted plan to tear my group apart?"

“Of course not!" I replied, appalled. The nerve of him to accuse me of such a thing. “I know all of this sucks, but neither of our dads have been completely honest, and I thought you deserved to know the truth."

“But why do you care, Autumn, huh?" His light green eyes almost looked glowing, like the shadow wolf he would transform into at sundown.

The truth was that I didn't know why I cared about him. He was a stranger, a monster, according to legend, but something compelled me to be there despite the danger.

“No one has given a d*** about my people for forty years, not even my mom or dad's families. We were deemed outcasts and forced to live in isolation like the monsters everyone thinks we are." He dropped his gaze and stared into the darkness of the room.

We had agreed that it was wise to keep the lights off, so no roaming Night Stalkers would know Nicholas was awake and stop by. This conversation was the second one we had in the dark; it sure would be nice to talk under normal circumstances.

I got up from the couch and stood beside him, lightly brushing his arm with my fingertips. He stiffened but didn't move away. “Nicholas, you're not a monster, and you don't deserve to be living in isolation, lurking in the shadows," I said, gesturing around the room. “You should be out enjoying life, not hiding."

Nicholas took a few steps forward, moving away from my touch. “Autumn, I know you're just trying to be kind, and I appreciate it, but there is nothing you can do," he said. “The Moon Goddess isn't going to lift her curse because the Alpha's daughter wants to befriend the creatures from the woods."

I scowled. Sarcasm was a big pet peeve of mine, and Nicholas was acting like a thoughtless d*ck. “You can crack jokes if you want to, Nicholas, but it doesn't mean that's impossible."

“What are you talking about, Autumn?" He asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.

“What if there's a way for you to break the curse?" He shook his head and turned away from me, but I wasn't going to back down. “I'm serious, Nicholas."

My discussion with Dad had piqued my interest in a cure for the Night Stalkers. Now, I was more determined since Nicholas brought it up, even if he was joking. Deep down, I knew he wanted to be free.

“Autumn, please," he groaned. “As I already told you, this is how things are for us."

“See, that's the problem," I said irritably. It bothered me that Nicholas didn't even want to try. “None of you are making an effort to fight this and have become complacent in a world of chaos. I expect this behavior from those initially cursed, not the offspring."

“Get out, “ he whispered, his eyes equally angry and sad.

“Nicholas, I-"

“Please, just go, Autumn. And make sure no one sees you," he said, exiting the room, leaving me alone in the darkness.