Page 97 of The Secret Mate Society

Calder's face went pale."What?No!Ethan, I would never?—"

"You were gone last night," I said, the pieces suddenly fitting together with horrifying clarity."My boss saw a wolf running through the neighborhood while you were supposedly asleep next to me.But you weren't there, were you?You were out killing Jake!"

"That's not what happened," Calder said, his voice desperate now.He took another step forward, and I grabbed the nearest object—a heavy ceramic mug—and held it up defensively.

"Stay back!"I shouted, my hand trembling."Your eyes...they're glowing.Just like...just like the monster's did that night in the woods."

Calder stopped, something like resignation washing over his features.He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.When he opened them again, the gold had receded, but I knew what I'd seen.

“Let me explain?—”

“I know what you are!”I shouted, brandishing the mug once more.“You… You’re a werewolf!”

The word echoed through the house and Calder stopped in his tracks.

“Tell me I’m wrong, Calder,” I growled.“Lie to me again, like you always have.”

Calder let out a long sigh and shook his head.“I… I won’t lie to you anymore,” he muttered.“You’re right.I… I’m a werewolf.”

November 1st, 2009

This is the only photo I found in Jake’s belongings.There’s no date, only a location.

Just off U.S.Route 302, Portland, Maine.

I can’t believe he’s dead.I wish I’d been nicer to him.

-Ethan

Chapter41

Ethan

Ithought my heart had stopped.What was Calder talking about?Was he telling me the truth?How could I not have noticed?Was I really so blind?

A thousand questions raced through my mind, each one more terrifying than the last.But that look in Calder’s eyes, it told me everything I needed to know.He was telling me the truth.Jake’s letter was right.He really was… amonster.

But had Calder really killed my father?Was he so twisted and sick that he’d followed me across state lines just to find me, befriend me, and fuck me as some cruel form of torture?He’d seemed so genuine in his affection for me.Was I really that fucking stupid and blind?

"Ethan, please," Calder begged, taking a tentative step toward me."I can explain everything."

I backed away until I hit the wall, still clutching the mug like it could protect me from a supernatural predator.My mind flashed to the night my father died, to the gleaming teeth and glowing eyes in the darkness.Had they really been Calder's?

"Don't come near me," I warned, my voice breaking."You've been lying this whole time.Pretending to protect me from the monster when you’re the monster."

"No!"His voice cracked with emotion."I mean, yes, I'm a werewolf, but I'm not the one who killed your father or Jake.I swear to you."

I laughed bitterly."And I'm supposed to believe that?After all the lies?"

"I lied about what I am, not how I feel about you."His eyes—those eyes that had looked at me with such tenderness—were pleading now."Everything between us is real, Ethan.I love you."

"Stop saying that!"I screamed, hurling the mug at him.He dodged it easily, the ceramic shattering against the wall behind him."You don't get to say that to me anymore!"

My mind was racing, trying to process everything.The way he always seemed to hear things before I did.How he could smell the monster on Jake's letter.The unnatural strength when he carried me.The golden glow in his eyes when we made love.

"My whole pack has been hunting the rogue wolf," Calder said, his voice low and urgent."The one who killed your father, who's been killing people here.That's why I was out last night—I needed to run, to shift.I was going crazy being cooped up."

"Your pack?"I repeated, disgust rising in my throat."There are more of you?All this time you've been...what?Playing with me?Leading me on?Was this some sick game?"