A Howling Heart
Chapter seven

When I arrive at the house, my eyes move to the driveway where I first spot him. I take a deep breath and try to muster the confidence I had before I hopped in the car. Raindrops lightly fall, which perfectly represents how horrible my mood is. What if I'm wrong? Oh god.

What am I doing?

I nibble nervously on my fingernails before I give a sharp shake of my head, reach for the driver's side door, and push it open.

One step at a time. Just breathe.

I can't do this.

I hop back into the car and begin leaving when I notice a wolf in my backup camera. Just sitting there staring into the lens like it can see me through the screen.

I yelp and slam on the breaks.

No way!

Is that really a wolf?

I watch as it dashes, disappearing from the backup camera, and instead of my usual bone-crushing fear, I feel a weird calm and curiosity settle over me.

They really get close to the house out here... and he's not even remotely frightened by them? I don't understand that man.

I reach for the door handle and push, listening intently for the pattern of paws on the ground or the discernable howl that makes the hairs along my body stand on end. Nothing.

It's like the wolf has faded into the night. Nothing but the wind whistling greets me now.

Where did it go?

I slowly edge out of the car, moving towards the front of the house in search of the thing before realizing I'm only a few steps away from the front door.

I came here for a reason, and cowering now is pointless.

Whatever happened last night, I'm sure he knows how I got back in bed because even my mother remembers me being awake last night. There's no denying that.

I hesitate when I reach the door and lift my arm to bang my fist on it.

Last time, he ripped the door open as if he knew I arrived, but this time, I must catch him off guard because the door wasn't yanked open, and I was not met with his brooding gaze. Watch him not answer...

He's probably all about being upfront when it's convenient for him. Not when he's on trial...

I knock on the door, cross my arms, and tap my foot. I can only imagine what I must look like. A disheveled maniac whose hair is still in disarray despite being brushed, and my clothes are wrinkled paired with my ghastly pale face. That shouldn't matter. I'm not trying to impress Matias.

I know that's a lie the minute I think about it. Whether I find Matias likable or not, I care about how I present myself to him. It comes with that undeniable attraction I feel every time I'm in the same room as him. He's not answering...

I pound my fist against the door, almost convincing myself to leave well enough alone and stomp back to my car. A rustling causes me to halt.

Matias rips open the door, and my eyes narrow on a bottle of something in his hand and the cork wedges between his teeth.

"Uh..." Words elude me.

But it's not the bottle that makes my cheeks flush. I can't help the way my gaze cuts to the thick muscles along his naked torso, roaming and admiring how sculpted he is. I notice sweat beading certain areas of his skin and wonder what he could've been doing that would make him sweat.

My mind fills with naughty images that stain my cheeks and cause me to shift my stance by crossing my legs a little.

Wow. I didn't expect him to be shirtless.

His eyes move to my lips, and I swear I hear the rumbling of a growl stirring within his chest, but it's gone before I can truly tell.

"Hi."

That's not what I came to say.

I swallow, aware of how dry my tongue has become, as words suddenly elude me. Every time he's in front of me, it's like my tongue is tied. "Fae."

My name is a melody on his tongue. A husky, possessive-sounding melody. As if I'm owned by him. It's stifling.

"Yes. Hi. I came here to confront you."

Wow, I'm off to an amazing start.

I swipe my hair out of my face and clear my throat.

"About last night."

His emotions are hidden behind the stone mask he has on his face. His eyes are the only things that reveal a smidge of his emotions. His gaze dominates me and commands me. I'm breathless beneath its controlling energy. "I want to know what happened."

He yanks the cork out with his teeth and spits it out toward me. I sidestep out of the way and firm my lips with distaste.

"Have you asked yourself that question?"

"What? I was here." My brows furrow as my confidence wavers under his eyes.

"No, you weren't. You never showed up."

What the hell is he talking about?

"No. That's not true. I did come. I was here last night. I was attacked."

"Are you sure about that?" He presses the bottle to his lips and gulps. When he pulls his lips away, I'm blasted with the smell of alcohol.

Is he drinking? This early?

"Yes, I was. Why are you acting confused?"

"It seems like you're the one confused. I don't remember you showing up here, Fae. Bad first impression."

He's lying. He has to be.

"I'm not lying."

He sounds so sure of himself. I don't know what to believe.

I tilt my head as a look of confusion wrinkles my facial features, and I find myself rolling through the events of last night, hoping to see things a little clearer.

"I was here!"

"Who would've attacked you? My bedridden uncle? He's too weak to piss on his own, let alone get up and attack you."

"Maybe it was someone else who lives here."

"No one else lives here."

This is insane.

"Sounds like deja vu to me."

Deja vu. Is he really implying I'm just losing my mind, and it's just something from my past?

"No. I don't know why you feel the need to lie to me. Tell me the truth!"

He steps into me swiftly, his dominating heat sluicing over my body, making my breath hitch in my throat. The moment I raise my hand, prepared to push him away, our skin makes contact, and electricity pulses through me, causing my heart to hammer wildly.

Oh....

Images swarm my head: me, wolves, the forest. A yearning so potent I find my eyes fluttering closed and my knees buckling. He wraps an arm around my waist to steady me as I sway.

I reach out to grab his shoulders, clutching him for dear life. "What is happening to me?" Those words are breathless. I'm sure he didn't even hear them until he spoke. "Fae, vos anima mea."

I gasp, reaching up to stroke his cheek as his dark eyes render me breathless.

"Those words..."

Memories slip through the darkness in my mind and hit me with such force and pain lances inside my gut.

He said that last night..

I was here!