AHAN

at the ends of her lips. She was looking down at the plate of

" she said at last. "So I was t

taking a salacious

are from her g

o this conversation, instead of diving head f

y head. "So you're sugge

pport, I suppose. Makes us feel a little more comfortable. Maybe then we could slowly

ed, picking up one of the f

'thanks' and began to twirl the

d to save her from the awkward task

on got he

u said sm

couple of heartbeats before she conced

ne

d before shoving a forkfu

en in the middle of a battle," I said, making it a point to loo

in my chest as I watched the pretty

e

she had swallowed down

r go wrong wit

he remarked with

at suppose

redator in

There was an underlying jab there, straight at the

ned jokingly. "You're

hen said, "Min

my forkful of noodles ra

about sweets. Just ice cream.

k, before finally bringing the

r tu

nt as I continued to chew. It was after the foo

. I paint, but

a well. After all, she seemed

er painting

I also love gardening. I have this small and private garden back i

odd

s that

r quizzically

inted her eyes a little in mild suspicion and said, "No

rling more noodles around my fork. "For

That'

r her with a smirk. "I know.

ve a knack for ru

ent. It will never get bo

atab

you are

, leaving her face carefully impa

adi

causing her to lift a hand to cover t

are I didn't seem to be the type. Nearly everybody who didn't really know me

to my temple, "is not empty. I can't be all face an

're failing the

er her remark, but she quickly adde

Just be thankful that at least you aren't st

elief, as though she couldn't even imagine me with a bo

es, sweetheart. To ke

e said indulgently, as if s

gnation. My shoulders sagged, letting the tension fizzle out o

and the mirth dancing in her pretty eyes. Sh

ow old

y-two.

We're still p

me replying in the s

t unsaid-the weight hanging

ready soldiers

say it out loud for

roat and said,

h of them. Every question grew more personal than the ones before, and I knew then that we wer

hting in your h

idge. It was plain vanilla, but then knowing she liked ice cream with nuts, I

es discarded uncaringly on the countertop in the kitchen. But our conversation remained in the bedroom, wi

just think I fight better in my human form. While my wolf is agile and quick, I am not in th

y? Can

eyes. "I had already given very usefu

saying, "Hey. We ceased to be enemies the moment we learned w

ered chocolate, a wistful smile on her

f we want

on our relationship. We will forever be fighting about this until one o

in the river of denial and said, "Who said a

it. You hate humans, but I am partial to them. I... How would we live happy

ess

y. Unless we leave

my stomach dropped in o

uldn't," she said, the sadness

ngue. "I can't just leave. I know you can't too. You

mussed up hair, while Willa waited

ng the battle in the Ferndell Forest, bu

lla exclaimed, vo

an attempt to sway her back into c

tempt was

his matter. I didn't want to admit it, but I could see it in the way

e, seeing my father go on a rampage as he tried to save me, my mother and

R

rutalized by humans. Instead, I became the monster they fear

eyes, misting a little with te

mean, Han? Please..

out. Maybe it was because I knew deep down that

be that was why, even though I didn't want to break the fragile peace between Willa and I, I admitted to h

t of ice cream sat on her lap, her hand loosely wrapped around it. The color

our real n

dry over the reaction I was getting from her. "I am Gallahan Wick,

fu

rolled down her cheeks was enough to raise all my

e for my pain and how I handl