Chapter 261: The confession

Chapter 261: The confession

~Three months later

Adeline's POV

Zara stepped inside my room as I opened the door for her. My heart was drumming nonstop inside my chest. I'd returned to school about a month ago, and Muna finally decided to open up to her sister who she was dating and that she was pregnant. She mentioned the werewolf part to her, but Zara brushed it off completely, thinking it was a joke. Now I was left to prove it to her.

I talked to Killian about it earlier, and he encouraged me to go ahead. If they don't accept that part of me, it only meant that they were never truly my friends. I understood that perfectly. But it would hurt me still.

"So how long have you known?" She didn't sound angry—just in shock. She was asking about the pregnancy.

"Just three months ago. I've known my brother was dating someone, I only got to see her that day they forced me back home."

Zara's gaze met mine. I tried to imagine how she would take the truth. Among our friend group, she and Cindy were the most rational ones, but Zara was the most principled. She was always straight to the point, not tolerant of people she thinks were not worth it. She had no problem cutting them off and treating them like she wasn't aware of their existence. Hell, even her father was dead to her.

"I didn't mean to keep it from you, I just..."

She frowned as she stared at me. "You have no need to explain. It's not in your place to tell me. It's Muna that kept it from me."

I heaved a sigh, but I didn't fully relax.

"She's been pregnant for six whole months, and she didn't even tell me," she clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Hell, she's been pregnant and had still been managing to pay my bills." I could see the frustration roll off her.

Zara wanted nothing more than to be done with school and land herself a decent job so she could make money. Her sister had been the one taking care of her, since her mother was late, and her father was, well... Useless. She feels indebted to Muna, and she always talks about how she could not wait to pay her back.

I could easily help her with her bills, but the only attribute she had that was bigger than ten of her stacked together, was pride. She didn't like to accept help, as she hated being pitied.

"She's even increased what she gives me recently. God, I don't want to burden her."

I shook my head. "This is exactly why she didn't want to tell you. Trust me, you're not a burden to her at all."

She walked to my bed and slumped on it. "Is your brother taking good care of her?" Her voice softened as she asked. I could even see some moisture pool at the corner of her eyes. "I mean, is she in a space where she doesn't have to feel so responsible for everyone anymore?"

I joined her in bed, though I didn't lie. "Fredrick loves every bit of her. Believe me, he prioritizes comfort and care when it comes to her. I didn't think I would see my brother acting like a lovesick puppy until I saw him with your sister."

"You think she's happy?"

"I know that she's happy," I said with a reassuring smile. "Besides, it's not just Fred fussing over her. The whole pack house too..."

"Pack house?" Zara asked in confusion.

I shut my eyes and allowed myself a breath. It was now or never.

I opened my eyes and met hers. No turning back now.

"Pack house," I repeated, voice softer. "Because my family… we're werewolves, Zara." There, I finally said it.

I waited for a snarky remark, or for her to roll her eyes in disbelief. But all I got was silence. The kind that makes your ears ring.

She blinked once. Twice. Then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Okay. Very funny. Did Muna put you up to this?"

I didn't laugh. I also didn't argue because I knew she wouldn't believe me. I knew how ridiculous it would sound to any human. So I did the the thing I knew would work. I let my pupils shift—from their usual blue to golden yellow. My canines lengthened just enough to press against my bottom lip.

Zara's smile died instantly.

She scrambled back on the bed until her spine hit the headboard, clutching a pillow like it could shield her. Her skin—even though it was a darker shade—went pale.

"Holy shit! What the hell?!" Her voice rang out, shrill and terrified. And I felt a pang in my chest.

"I'm still me," I said quickly, raising both hands, palms out. "Still Adeline. Nothing has to change."

"I don't understand," her voice slurred, head shaking from side to side. "Why do you have fangs? And your eyes... Is this some sort of Halloween costume?"

"No, these are real. Because I'm not human. I'm a werewolf."

"Those exist?" Saying that she looked horrified was a giant understatement.

I nodded. "You're staring at one. I can shift completely if you want me to."

Her eyes widened as her hands stretched out. "No, please." As if she realized that her words were kind of hurtful, she added; "not yet."

She shut her eyes tightly, counting her breaths. When she opened them again, she was calmer. "Your brother is also a werewolf?"

I nodded, retracting my fangs. "My whole family. My oldest brother is the Alpha of my pack."

Zara looked like two wrong wires connected in their head, and now they were sparking out of control. "And Muna is pregnant for him? How does that even work?"

"I promise you, our biology are very similar."

She readjusted herself on my bed, wrapping her hands around her knees. "This is... insane."

"I know how crazy it sounds." She still looked shocked, but at least, she didn't looked like she was about to enter inside her own skin anymore. "We have mates. Muna and Fredrick are mates."

A small laugh escaped her lips. "And the crazy gets crazier."

"And Killian—my boyfriend—is my mate. He's also the Alpha of his pack."

She readjusted again, as if the new position would help her understand better.

"That's like... royalty, right?"

I nodded.

"So... You're like... a princess?"

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. "If you put it that way."

"And your mate is also royalty. You're going to be a Queen."

"Luna," I corrected.

She remained still, her eyes darting around like visible signs of her brain processing information. When her gaze returned to me, she was calmer. Quieter. "And you've kept this to yourself all along?"

I gestured at her. "I don't want you people to be scared of me or see me differently."

"You can easily rip out my throat if you want to, right?"

I threw my hands in frustration. "Now why would I do that?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just curious."

I let out a sigh. "Fine. I technically could. But I'm not a savage."

Something that was close to understand I'm flickered through her eyes. "You should have ripped out Albert's throat when you had the chance."

It took me a second to realize that she just joked about my werewolf abilities. And it warmed me up from the inside.

At the same time, I felt the ultimate mortification hearing Albert's name. The fact that I once dated him made me cringe so much. What did I see in him?

"Sooo...," I swallowed nervously, "We're cool?"

Her brows creased together. "Why we will not be cool?"

"You almost flew out of your own body when I showed you who I truly am. So I can't make assumptions."

She shifted closer to me. "It sounds unbelievable that werewolves exist. In fact, a part of me is still trying to convince myself that this is just a dream that I will wake up from very soon. That is why I freaked out." Her gaze softened. So did he voice. "Not because of you. Never because of you."

"So you have no problem being friends with a wolf?"

She rolled her eyes in that way that reminded me of everything Zara. "I don't care if you're a werezebra or a basilisk. You're my friend. You're Adeline. That's all that matters."

Goddess, my eyes clouded with tears, and I nearly cursed myself for it. At this point, I would attend some classes on how not to cry at every little moment during my Luna training.

But this was important to me. It was one of my biggest fear since I started making friends. They were other werewolves in the college, but I ended up bonding well with Zara, Lisa and Cindy.

"I just wish you didn't have to hide yourself for long. That must have been really difficult carrying all the burden alone."

When she shifted close to me again, one hand wrapped around my head, and she made me rest in on her shoulder.

"We're technically family now." She murmured, and a smile I couldn't hold back even if I tried, curled my lips.

"I guess so."

We stayed that way for some time, the silence anything but awkward. Until she spoke again.

"Are you going to tell Lisa and Cindy?"

I nodded.

"Is this why you have refused to take us to your house?"

I bit my lower lip, smiling. "Sort of."

"And here I thought it's because you didn't want Lisa to have a threesome with your twin brothers."

Oh for fuck's sake! "Zara!"

I didn't blame her though. Lisa's thoughts were unhinged.

Zara just laughed. "I think you owe me a tour of your pack. Bonus if you live in a castle."

I fell back in the bed, feeling more relaxed now. "Well, it's a packhouse, and it does look like a castle. Just modern."

"You know what? Let's plan this."

After we were done with each other, we went to meet Cindy and Lisa, and I told them everything. While Cindy was calm throughout the confession, Lisa had fainted at the first sight of my eyes turning gold.

But in the end, instead of my fear of rejection, I turned into some sort of curiosity project. They continued asking questions, and each answer made her more unhinged that the last. Lisa could not shut up about the fact that I was from an Alpha family, and was an Alpha female. She kept bowing to me mockingly.

Killian was right after all. If they were truly my friends, I had nothing to worry about.