I look at her, confused. “But Nick said…”
“He volunteered, yes. But generally, for sightings, we only interact with the human once or twice, especially if there weren’t any traumatic events. Humans are eager to find an explanation that works and move on with their lives. Even if they don’t, it’s not easy to find proof of our secret.”
“So, Matt didn’t do a good job?” I ask, still very confused.
She laughs. “Oh, he was horrible. But he really didn’t want you to find out he’s a werewolf.”
Right, he really doesn’t want me in his life. I nod at Meena because I think she expects me to.
She must have seen something in my face because she continues, frustrated. “I’m not explaining this well.” She sits back down. “When I met my husband, I didn’t want him to know the truth either. I didn’t want him anywhere near this world.”
Understanding clicks into place.
But no, she can't be saying what she's saying. That’s way too much optimism for me right now.
She gets up to leave again, seeming pleased with herself. “We'll be in touch.”
I finally take in my apartment. Everyone has left, and myfront, bedroom, and bathroom doors are all fixed.
“Your new keys.” Meena dangles the keys in her hand, then places them on the coffee table.
Wow, they’re efficient.
When I hear the door shut softly, my eyes are already closed.
I slide back down the couch until I’m lying flat and let sleep erase the last few hours of my life.
Chapter Twenty Two
Matt
I lie in bed, sleep, a distant thought. Something I probably don’t even deserve.
I can’t get Oliver’s face out of my head, terrified on the bathroom floor. How he sighed in relief when he saw me. How his body relaxed.
Until he really saw me, partially shifted. How his eyes immediately widened. How his body jerked away from me, recognizing a predator.
He doesn't just hate me. He fears me.
The worst thing that could have happened has happened. Now Oliver will live an isolated life with this big secret, his family permanently in danger. He’d never shake off WRB. They’ll be there, always.
He’ll never want to see me again. I don't deserve to see him again. I was given onetask,one fucking task, and I failed. I didn't just fail my organization and my friends. I failed Oliver.
After I dealt with Dalton, I had to get out of there. I couldn’t be the cause of Oliver’s fear again. Besides, he didn't need me anymore. I’d done enough damage.
My apartment was empty when I returned. I don’t know how my friends convinced Elliot to leave, but I didn’t care. All I could focus on was how I destroyed Oliver’s life.
Bree and Camilla sat with me for hours while I tried to stop the tears. No words were exchanged. Just the silent grieving of a relationship that never existed. The secret we didn't want to keep. The consequences no one deserved.
After they left, Nick tried to get me to eat. I forced him to leave. I assured him I was alright, but he didn’t look convinced. Eventually, he left.
Meena came to see me later and told me Oliver took it all well. She’s sure he won't tell anyone.
I already knew. That wasn't why I didn't want Oliver to know. But I didn’t tell this to Meena because she also knew. If anyone understands how bad this was, it’s her.
She left after hugging the stuffing out of me. My face must have looked really bad if I made a strict, stone-cold WRB agent like Meena want to hug me.
I fully give up on sleep and reach for my phone. I have to find a solution, some way I can make things normal for Oliver again. Maybe I can move? Of course, I need to move. Oliver will if I don’t, and I can’t let him do that.
