Chapter 10
Alaric Dawnsworn
After the whole footprint disaster, Father somehow becomes even more suspicious. Which is impressive. I didn’t think that was possible.
Every time I leave the house, he asks where I’m going.
Every.
Single.
Time.
And every time I have to come up with a different excuse.
“I’m going for a walk.”
“A walk.”
“Yes.”
“In the woods.”
“…Yes.”
Father just stares at me. I stare back.
Mother eventually saves me by asking him to chop wood.
I love her.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
The moment evening arrives, I’m out of the house.
The forest is peaceful tonight.
Fresh snow blankets the ground, making everything glow silver beneath the moonlight.
As I make my way toward the pond, I find myself smiling. Which is embarrassing.
Because I’m smiling about seeing Ronan.
If Valka ever finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
I spot him before he notices me.
He’s sitting on a large rock near the frozen pond. One knee pulled up.
Arms crossed. He isn’t grinning like an idiot.
He’s actually quiet. Thoughtful.
The sight feels strangely intimate. Like I’m seeing a version of him that most people don’t.
Then a branch snaps beneath my boot. Ronan immediately looks up.
And just like that, the thoughtful expression vanishes.
“Look who finally showed up.”
“There it is.”
“There what is?”
“The annoying version of you.”
His grin widens.
“There he is.”
I roll my eyes and sit down beside him.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
For a while, we simply talk.
About nothing.
About everything.
The fox kits.
Valka’s latest attempt to sneak one into her bedroom.
The village baker who somehow burned soup.
I still don’t know how that’s possible.
Eventually, the conversation dies down.
Comfortable silence settles between us.
The kind that doesn’t need filling.
I stare out across the frozen pond.
Then a thought occurs to me.
A dangerous thought. A curious thought.
“Can I ask you something?”
Ronan glances over.
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether it’s another interrogation about werewolves.”
I grin.
“Maybe.”
He groans dramatically.
“Fine. Ask.”
I hesitate. Then—
“Can I see your wolf form?”
The silence that follows is immediate. Ronan blinks. Once. Twice.
“That’s what you’ve been thinking about?”
“Among other things.”
His eyes narrow.
“I’m not sure I want to know what the other things are.”
Fair.
For a moment, neither of us says anything. I half expect him to refuse. After all, he’s spent weeks avoiding questions about himself. Avoiding questions about his pack. Avoiding anything personal.
But instead, he sighs.
“You won’t run away?”
“I didn’t last time.”
“You screamed.”
“I was surprised.”
“You screamed.”
“That’s not the point.”
Ronan laughs.
A real laugh.
Then he stands.
“Okay.”
My eyes widen.
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
Suddenly, I’m nervous.
Very nervous.
Because asking is one thing.
Actually seeing it happen is another.
Ronan walks a few meters away and turns toward me.
The forest grows quiet.
The wind seems to still.
Everything feels frozen in place.
Then he transforms.
I’ve seen it before.
Twice.
Yet somehow, watching it now feels different.
Because I’m not afraid this time.
Not really.
I’m watching.
Learning.
His body shifts.
Bones crack softly.
Muscles stretch.
Dark fur spreads across skin.
Within seconds, the man is gone.
And the wolf stands before me.
I completely forget how to breathe.
Holy shit.
He’s huge.
Bigger than I remembered.
Much bigger.
Moonlight catches on his black fur, making it shine silver along the edges.
His golden eyes never leave mine.
Still Ronan.
Still familiar.
Just… different.
Beautiful.
The thought slips into my mind before I can stop it.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
The wolf sits down.
Waiting.
Watching me.
As if he’s trying to figure out what I’m thinking.
Honestly?
I’m not entirely sure myself.
Slowly, I stand.
The snow crunches beneath my boots.
One step.
Then another.
The wolf doesn’t move.
Not even a little.
I stop directly in front of him.
Up close, he’s even larger.
His paws are enormous.
His teeth could probably bite through a tree.
Yet somehow, I don’t feel afraid.
Not anymore.
Because it’s Ronan.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
My hand hovers awkwardly in the air.
The wolf’s ears twitch.
Waiting.
Giving me the choice.
Trusting me.
The realization settles heavily in my chest.
He trusts me.
Slowly, I reach forward.
And touch him.
His fur is unbelievably soft.
Warm, too.
Far warmer than any normal animal.
My eyes widen.
“Oh.”
The wolf lets out a low rumble.
Not threatening.
Almost amused.
I run my hand through his fur again.
Then again.
“You’re fluffy.”
The wolf immediately looks offended.
I burst out laughing.
“You are.”
His ears flatten.
Which only makes me laugh harder.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
After a few minutes, the nervousness completely disappears.
I scratch behind one of his ears.
The wolf freezes.
Then leans into my hand.
My jaw drops.
“No way.”
He immediately pulls back.
Too late.
I saw that.
“You liked that.”
The wolf turns his head away.
Very dramatically.
I grin.
“Oh, you definitely liked that.”
His tail flicks.
Betraying him completely.
“I’m never letting you live this down.”
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
Eventually, I sit down in the snow.
The wolf immediately lies beside me.
Close enough that his fur brushes against my shoulder.
Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
For a while, neither of us moves.
Snow drifts lazily from the sky.
The forest remains quiet around us.
Peaceful.
Safe.
I find myself absentmindedly running my fingers through the fur on his neck.
The wolf closes his eyes.
And suddenly, I understand why Ronan showed me this.
Not because I asked.
Not because he wanted to impress me.
Because this is vulnerable.
Because he trusted me enough to see this side of him.
The real him.
Not just the teasing idiot who throws pinecones at my head.
Not just the mysterious werewolf hiding secrets.
Just Ronan.
˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
When he finally transforms back, neither of us speaks for a moment.
The forest feels different now.
Lighter somehow.
Like an invisible wall has disappeared between us.
Ronan sits beside me again, brushing snow from his hair.
“So?”
I glance over.
“So what?”
“What do you think?”
A smile tugs at my lips.
I pretend to consider it.
“Hmm.”
Ronan narrows his eyes.
“Hmm?”
“You’re still annoying.”
He groans.
I laugh.
Then, before I can stop myself, I add quietly,
“But I’m glad you showed me.”
For once, Ronan doesn’t make a joke.
Doesn’t tease.
Doesn’t smirk.
Instead, he simply smiles.
Small.
Genuine.
And somehow, that means more than any answer he could’ve given.
Because for the first time since meeting him, I don’t just trust Ronan.
I know he trusts me too.
