"You're talking about werewolves." It wasn't a question.
He went very still. "What makes you say that?"
"Your eyes. The way you always know where I am without looking. How you heard me talking to Fred from outside. The fact that you run around in winter with barely a coat and 'run hot.'" She paused. "And because Faye's been dropping hints about Adam being 'different' for months. Plus I watch a lot of paranormal television."
"You're not... freaking out."
She was quiet for a moment. "Yesterday morning, when I saw your eyes change, something clicked. All the little things that didn't quite add up. And I realized I had two choices. I could run. Or I could trust that the man who's been protecting me, watching over me, keeping me warm... that man wouldn't hurt me. No matter who or what he really is."
"Jules—"
"Am I wrong? Are you dangerous?" She went very still as she waited for his answer.
"Yes." The admission hurt. "But not to you. Never to you."
"So, Adam is one of you?"
"Yes."
"And Riko?"
"Riko is our new alpha. That's why he came back, to take his father's place. Well," he corrected. "Not at first. But after he met Addison and decided to stay."
She was quiet for a long time as she took all of that in, then she turned in his arms until she was facing him, kneeling between his thighs. "Show me."
"What?"
"Your eyes. Show me."
"Jules—"
"Please." She smiled sweetly at him.
With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes, letting the wolf rise just enough. And when he opened them, he knew they were gold by the way her breath caught.
But she didn't pull away. Instead, she touched his face, fingers tracing his cheekbone as her eyes bore into his. "Beautiful."
"I'm a monster."
"No." She kissed him softly. "You're mine." Then she pulled back, blinking fast, like she hadn't meant to say that out loud. "Shit. Is that okay?"
The words broke something in him. Or maybe they fixed something that had been broken all along. Either way, between one second and the next he was kissing her like his life depended on it, and she was kissing him back just as desperately.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, she asked, "What happens now?"
"Now?" He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now you decide if you can accept this. All of it. The pack, the secrets, the danger that comes with being with someone like me."
"I've already decided."
"Jules, I still haven't told you?—"
"I choose you, Lex. Wolf and all."
He should argue. Should give her time to really think about it. Should explain all the reasons this was a terrible idea.
Instead, he growled deep in his throat and kissed her again. Slower this time. Reverently. Like she was something precious.
Because she absolutely fucking was.
