The silence in the car was oppressive, an unspoken tension that filled every inch of space between them. Emiliano stared out the window, his face carved into a sharp, unreadable mask. His mind churned with possibilities, each worse than the last.
What if she doesn’t believe me? What if she laughs? What if she’s afraid?
He could feel his confidence unraveling, each scenario stripping away another layer of his resolve. Beside him, Fia was also lost in her thoughts, though hers were far less grim.
What’s wrong with him? Did I do something?
Her gaze drifted to him more than once, lingering on the hard line of his jaw and the way his hands rested tensely on his thighs. She wanted to reach out, to touch his arm, his hand—something to bridge the gap between them. But every time she worked up the nerve, one glance at his distant expression made her hesitate.
The silence grew heavier with every passing block, thick and suffocating. By the time the car pulled up to her apartment, Fia felt like she could hardly breathe.
“Thanks for the ride,” she murmured to the driver, her voice barely cutting through the tension. Emiliano handed over a generous tip, nodding silently, and followed her out of the car.
They walked side by side to her apartment door, their steps hurried but their connection strained. Emiliano’s hand hovered at her lower back, a protective gesture he didn’t even think about, but the touch made Fia’s heart skip.
The door clicked shut behind them, the faint echo settling in the quiet apartment. Fia set her keys on the counter and turned to face Emiliano. He stood near the door, his shoulders rigid, his dark eyes cast downward as though the weight of what he carried was crushing him.
“Okay,” Fia said, crossing her arms. “Out with it. What’s going on?”
Emiliano’s head snapped up, his gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, he just stared, his mouth opening as though to speak, then closing again. The usual unwavering confidence he carried was absent, replaced with something raw.
“I...” he began, his voice lower than she’d ever heard it. He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. “I need to tell you something. And it’s… it’s going to sound crazy.”
Fia’s brow furrowed. “Crazy how?”
He took a step toward her, his hands curling into fists at his sides as if steeling himself. “You’ve probably noticed by now that I’m… different.”
She tilted her head, her confusion deepening. “Different how? Like, you’re rich? A little too intense sometimes?”
Emiliano huffed out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “No, Fia. Not like that.” He exhaled sharply, as if each word cost him something. “I’m not exactly human.”
Silence stretched between them.
Fia blinked, a dry chuckle slipping out. “What?”
“I’m serious,” he said, his voice steadier now. “I’m not human. Not fully.”
She let out another laugh, but this time it was edged with nerves. “You’re joking, right? Like, this is some weird way of telling me you’re vegan or something?”
Emiliano didn’t laugh. Didn’t even smile. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence nearly suffocating, his gaze never leaving hers.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
The air between them crackled. Fia’s laughter died in her throat, replaced by an uneasy stillness.
“What are you talking about, Emiliano?” she asked, her voice quieter now, cautious.
“There’s no easy way to say this, but I need you to listen and not freak out.” He hesitated, then finally said, “I’m a lycan.”
Fia blinked, shaking her head as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “You’re a what?”
“A lycan,” he repeated, his tone even, but his jaw tight. “A werewolf. Not like the stories in movies, but something… real. Something old.”
A hollow laugh escaped her. “Right. Okay. Is this some kind of prank? Did Mia put you up to this? Because it’s not funny.”
“It’s not a joke.” Emiliano stepped forward again, the air between them shifting. “I wish it were. But it’s the truth.”
Fia stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deception, but all she saw was sincerity. And something else—a plea.
“Prove it,” she shot back, crossing her arms like a shield.
Emiliano exhaled, resigned. His gaze flickered to the kitchen counter where a block of knives rested. Without a word, he strode over, plucked a small paring knife from the block, and, without hesitation, dragged it across his palm.
“Emiliano!” Fia gasped, lurching toward him.
But instead of blood, she watched in horror as his wound began to close almost instantly, the skin knitting itself back together as though it had never been cut at all.
She froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. “Oh my God.”
Emiliano turned his hand over, showing her the unbroken skin. His expression was both apologetic and resigned.
“I told you,” he said softly. “I’m not human.”
Fia stumbled back, her hands trembling as her mind scrambled for a logical explanation. But there wasn’t one.
“This… this can’t be real. This kind of stuff doesn’t exist.”
“It does,” Emiliano murmured. “And I’m proof.”
She sank onto the couch, clutching a throw pillow as if it could ground her. Emiliano remained by the counter, his dark eyes watching her carefully, waiting for her to process what she had just witnessed.
After what felt like an eternity, she lifted her gaze to him, a war of emotions swirling in her eyes.
“Why are you telling me this now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emiliano’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Because I didn’t have a choice.” He hesitated, then said, “Last night, when we were together… something happened. Something I didn’t mean for, but it did.”
Her brows knit together. “What are you talking about?”
The silence between them was thick, suffocating even, as they stood in Fia’s apartment. Emiliano lingered near the door, his shoulders taut with unspoken tension, while Fia sat on the couch across from him, arms crossed, watching him with wary eyes. The weight of what he was about to say pressed heavily on his chest, threatening to crush him. But she needed to know the truth.
Taking a steadying breath, he finally spoke. “Fia… there’s something I need to tell you. And I need you to hear me out before you react.”
Her brow furrowed. “You’re making me nervous, Emiliano. Just say it.”
He hesitated for a moment, then forced the words out. “We’ve started the mating process.”
A long pause stretched between them before Fia let out a startled laugh. “I’m sorry, what?”
He met her gaze, his expression dead serious. “The night we were together… it triggered something in me, something primal. And because of that, your body will soon go into heat.”
Fia’s mouth fell open in shock before she choked out, “Like a dog?”
Emiliano couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him. “Kind of,” he admitted. “It just means your body is preparing for us to complete the process and… have pups.”
The last part came out in a hushed whisper, but Fia heard it loud and clear. Her skin paled instantly.
“You mean… I’ll have actual puppies?” she shrieked, her voice rising in panic.
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them. Emiliano rushed to her side but hesitated before touching her, afraid she’d recoil from him.
“No, not actual puppies,” he quickly clarified. “That’s just what we call our children.” He exhaled heavily, running a hand down his face. “I’m not explaining this right.”
Fia sniffled, wiping at her damp cheeks. “Then explain it the right way, because right now, I’m confused and scared out of my mind.”
Emiliano swallowed hard, gathering his thoughts. The fear of rejection gnawed at him, but she deserved honesty. “Do you remember the first time we met? How strong the connection was between us?”
Fia nodded slowly. “Yeah. I thought it was just… chemistry.”
“It’s more than that,” he told her. “My kind—Lycans—we have something like soulmates. You’re mine, and I’m yours. It’s not just attraction, Fia. It’s fate.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers tightening into fists at her sides. “So… you’re saying that because of fate, I’m stuck with you?”
His jaw tensed, and he lowered his voice. “Not if you don’t want to be. If this isn’t what you want—if you don’t want me—you can reject the bond.” He hesitated, then added quietly, “And it’ll be like we never met.”
Fia stared at him, her expression a mixture of disbelief and something else—something vulnerable. “You’re saying I’d forget you?”
“No,” he admitted. “But the connection, the pull between us, would be severed. We’d feel nothing for each other.”
She chewed on her bottom lip, her mind racing. “So, it has to be all or nothing? I can’t be with you without being part of… your world?”
Emiliano shook his head, regret shadowing his features. “No. My family name holds too much weight in our world. As my mate, you’d be a target. A high-priced hostage for some.”
Fia’s breath hitched. “What else?”
A flicker of pain crossed his face before he answered. “You’d also face… prejudice.”
“Why?” she pressed, her tears momentarily forgotten.
“Because I would have to turn you,” he said carefully, watching for her reaction. “That would make me your sire.”
Fia frowned. “And that’s… bad?”
“In our world, turned Lycans—werewolves—are looked down on,” he admitted. “They retain less of their human form when they shift, resembling actual wolves. And unlike Lycans, who can transform at will, werewolves can only shift during a full or crescent moon.”
Fia took an unsteady step back, her heart pounding. “And what happens to Lycans during the full moon?”
Emiliano hesitated before answering, “That’s when our instincts take over. We want nothing more than to mate and hunt.”
Fia’s eyes widened as realization struck. “The full moon is in a couple of days, isn’t it?”
He nodded solemnly.
A pit of dread formed in her stomach. How had she ended up here? Why couldn’t she attract normal men?
Her breathing became uneven, her vision tilting as the weight of everything pressed down on her. Her mind spiraled, her thoughts racing in chaotic circles, unable to latch onto a single coherent plan of action.
And then everything went black.