Centuries of Sin (Mature)

Evidence

“How am I supposed to believe any of this? You must just know someone in the police department or something. I need more proof than that to believe you’re some kind of f*****g shapeshifting werewolf.”

“Alright. I can prove it.”

“I doubt that.”

“My sense of smell. It’s a lot more sensitive than that of a normal person. I can tell you use a shower gel which is scented with lavender and lilac. That you used something with shea butter on your hair yesterday,” he noticed her eyes had narrowed as she considered whether these were things he could just have figured out as a normal man.

 “You don’t eat meat – or at least have none in the house at the moment.  You had a one-night stand with a guy about a month ago and he left an item of clothing which he never came back for, but you’ve felt bad about throwing away. It’s in the hamper in your bathroom.”

She was looking at him in disbelief now, but he carried on to press the point.

“The black lace dress you wore yesterday smelled like a perfume, but you weren’t wearing any. I think it was Flower Bomb by Viktor and Rolf, but I’m not totally sure. Your sheets smell like you last changed them about a month ago – I’m guessing that’s down to the depression, and if you pressed me I would guess you last changed them the day after your one-night stand with the guy who left something – he wore way too much cheap aftershave to try and impress you, by the way. And if you still think I could have figured that out I can also tell you’re on some kind of hormonal birth control. Yesterday I wasn’t sure if it was that or just an infertile day on your cycle but today you smell exactly the same which implies it’s the birth control. That’s why I didn’t ask if I should…”

“… that’s enough. Jesus Christ.”

“Do you believe me now?”

“You’re right about everything. I don’t know how you did it, and I don’t know what to believe. If it’s true why am I not… like you? You wounded me. Isn’t that how it works?”

“Not for everyone, no. I was born into this. My family have been this way for generations. That’s why I was going to be the Alpha – in that pack it’s been the men in my family leading for a very long time. Casting me out when I had no male siblings old enough to lead was a very big deal. Some people can turn others when they wound them – that’s down to a mutation I don’t have as my bloodline is older and more pure than some others. For you to turn you would either have to find a male with the mutation and trust him to have the level of self-control needed to wound you without killing you, but you wouldn’t be a pure wolf like me. Or you would have to take part in an ancient ritual which is highly likely to kill you in a horrendously painful way over the course of months. That would also be dangerous to me - or whoever you chose to perform the ritual for you- but you would be pure if it was successful.”

“Why the hell would I want to turn myself into a monster like you?”

He looked deeply hurt and she regretted saying it for a few seconds before she was angry at him again.

“I guess I just assumed you would want to, eventually.”

“Do you seriously think that I want to have anything to do with you after this?”

“No… I guess it was just a fantasy. I have never been as happy as I was before I told you about this. I don’t want to lose you again. If there’s anything I can do so you give me a chance, I will do it in a heartbeat.”

“Can you bring Ethan back?”

“No. You know that.”

There was a silence again. This time it was uncomfortable. Elizabeth sipped the tea he had given her, but it was cold now and didn’t comfort her at all.

Eventually she spoke again.

“Is that why you left last night? Because you turn into that thing at night?”

“No. I can control it now. I spent a long time locked away learning to tame myself after it happened. It takes a lot to keep myself a human for extended periods, but it’s easier than it is for some. The myths you’ve heard about werewolves aren’t about people like me. They’re about those of us with impure bloodlines. Centuries ago a pack turned to dark forces – they performed some terrible dangerous rituals and the result was the mutations. They can’t control themselves at all during a full moon, and they can’t transform fully anymore. I’m the wolf you saw all those years ago, not a half human half wolf monstrosity. I feel a deep shame for what I did – their kind wouldn’t care at all.”

He shifted a little closer to her and she stood up.

“I’m taking this cup down to the kitchen.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No. I have more to ask you,” she considered for a second before adding, “do you want a drink?”

“Sure. I’ll have a tea.”

“No. I mean a drink. I need something strong right now.”

“Just one. It’s harder to control when I don’t have a clear head.”

She returned with two glasses and a bottle of 20 year old Irish whiskey, and sat down beside him again, close enough that her scarred thigh brushed against his. His hand rested on her knee.

“What else do you want me to explain?”

Elizabeth sighed and knocked back the glass of expensive whiskey. It was a drink you were supposed to savour, but she didn’t care right now.

Setting the glass down, she rested her head on his chest so she could feel his heartbeat against her cheek.  There were tears running down her face. She made no noise, but she was certain he knew.

“Please, just hold me.”