A Howling Heart
Chapter eleven

Time to have me?

A cold chill rolls down my spine, but excitement follows.

"Patience, vos anima mea."

"What does that mean?"

He snickers and releases my chin. "Come."

With a quick nod, he spins back around, and I follow him as he moves through the house. The house is filled with a mixture of modern and old furniture, but the pieces flow well together. As I walk after him, the smell of old oak and incense fills my nose.

I wonder who owns this house? Does he? If so, why? Why would he need two houses?

I'm uncertain about a myriad of things.

Where is he taking me?

I scurry after him, attempting to keep up with his long strides, only to stop when I get to a lounge room that's scattered with people. I don't know how I didn't hear them earlier, but now, immersed in the stomach of the house, the noise finally reaches my ears but begins to die down as they all move their gaze on me.

Oh no. This isn't a cult, is it?

I'm not about to be sacrificed, am I?

Matias has left me to fend for myself as the hushed tones and obnoxious staring make me undeniably anxious.

Who are these people?

"These are our people, et nos unum sumus."

He acts like I can speak whatever language he is speaking.

"Soon enough." He turns and reaches out for my cheek before his hand slowly slides to my neck, and he yanks me into him once again. His firm chest is welcoming. I've never felt like I belonged more than I do now Like his arms are my home. In the distance, I hear a howl that breaks the tension, and I'm reminded of the almost attack at Matias's. This shift in the air causes me to jump back from him and shake my head.

I need to be level-headed. I'm not fawning over a man I've just met.

"You keep denying your truth. That will end soon."

Denying my truth? Does he always speak like a biblical character?

Matias grunts and steps back from me.

"Who are these people?" My gaze drifts around the room, spotting a few familiar faces from his house yesterday-the woman still glaring at me now. There is a zealous brunette guy whose face has a permanent boyish grin as if he knows a dirty secret no one else is in on. There are three more people: a woman with deep chocolate-colored skin and large dark eyes who's on guard, watching my every move, along with the Hispanic man who's almost the size of Matias. Is that some kind of club hangout for his friends?

Unease settles like a stone in my gut.

Maybe I should leave?

Well, he hasn't done a lot to ward me away yet. If I want answers, I should stay. This is my mother's hometown. It's strange. But if she won't give me answers and tell me about what went down when she was younger, I'll have to find them out for myself.

This would probably be easier if Nate was here.

"Where's Nate?"

Matias's lip curls upward, bearing his teeth as he makes a deep, disgusted sound in his throat. "Nathaniel... he's no concern of yours."

I almost believe Matias is jealous. His nostrils flare, his jaw tight as he clenches his teeth, and his breathing ragged. "Meus es tu!"

I notice the expressions around the room fall and become serious as Matias raises his voice. It's not until that exact moment that I realize the power and dominion he holds over this group. Something's not right.

I should go.

I whip around, feet in a desperate haste as I move back the way I came. I set my gaze straight ahead, unwilling to look back at Matias because even though I can't hear him, I feel his presence behind me.

I don't know why he brought me here, but frankly, I don't want to know.

"I'm done with this whole stupid town. I need to have a conversation with my mother."

She already doesn't like this place. It shouldn't be much work getting her to agree to move.

"Fae!" He calls to me as I spot the front door and make a beeline for it. "Do not go out there!"

"You should've never brought me here," I whisper. I suspect he doesn't hear me, and that's fine because I don't want any real confrontation. I want freedom from the madness that's surfaced in my mind. "I'm telling you, do not go outside."

I dismiss his warning tone, jogging down the front steps, and lift my gaze from the ground. A scream bubbles in my throat until it pierces the sky. My eyes move over the two wolves hovering above a deer as they chomp loudly on its bloody flesh.

Why does this keep happening?

This is too damn weird!

I feel Matias's hand on my shoulder, and then he's wrapping his arm around my waist to spin me into his chest and hide my eyes from the scene unfolding.

"Sh.. sh... anima mea, I warned you. I told you not to go. Not to leave me as you have."

"Matias... What the hell is going on?" My words are broken by the sobs stuck in my throat that I keep trying to suppress. Matias strokes my hair, a gentleness that seems odd for a man of his size and mannerisms, but it consoles me swiftly. "What is this? Why do I-"

I don't know how to finish that sentence. Why do I feel so drawn to him? Crave him animalistically. Why does contact with his skin ignite me and make my head swarm with an array of images that I'm unfamiliar with but evoke intense emotions?

"Why can I not make any sense of this?"

"Because you cannot look at this with logical thought."

"What?"

"This. Everything we are - is incomprehensible. You don't need to fear. These people are ours. Yours. They will not hurt you."

What about the one that almost attacked me?

"Didn't seem that way at your house." My words are muffled by his broad chest.

"I have corrected him for that. Rest assured."

I feel his rough fingers move over my back, and a deep sigh comes from me. I swear I hear him curse 'Omega' under his breath, but I don't ask.

"You don't need to run away."

"I- I just don't understand. Why me? Why all this? This hidden house? Everything?"

I hate being frustrated! I'm gonna cry!

When frustration takes over, I feel tears stinging my eyes. I step back from him and hide my face from view so he can't see such a blatant display of weakness, but he doesn't let me budge. His arms wrap tighter around me. "Ask me what you need to ask me. Appease yourself, anima mea."

Questions? Will he truthfully answer?

"I will not deceive you."

Will anything he says soothe the torment inside of me? Am I some game?

He growls. I'm scared by the sound as he steps back from me and grabs ahold of my wrist to bring it to his chest.

"I won't lie. Feel."

As before, his heart beats steadily in his chest as he takes deep breaths.

"Fine. How did you know to find me?"

He leans into my hand, the stubble of his chest hair tickling my palm. I flex my fingers and clench, feeling my belly clench with excitement. "I could feel your pain."

Wow.

"Feel my pain? How?"

"We are connected. I've told you this."

"How are we connected?"

"Blood bound for each other."

Okay... what the fuck!

"You're crazy!" I whip around, prepared to escape somehow.

"This is where you belong, Fae. Ubi lupi pertinent. A wolf's home."

"What is with the damn wolves? It's dangerous to have them here... all of you guys could get hurt! Multiple times, we've almost been attacked!"

His eyes gleam with amusement, and I wish for once I'd be in on all the damn jokes that move through his head.

Am I the damn joke?

His eyes move past me.

I slowly follow his gaze as a wolf begins to pant and yelp like it's in pain. That's when I see it. It's clear as day.

No way.

The bones shift, cracking into place, hair shedding into dark, familiar skin, until the wolf is gone and a man is in its place.

I scream.