Chapter Eighteen

Kim wasn't saying anything. Why wasn't she saying anything? Maybe he should just keep talking…

"Well, not technically a werewolf, per se," Jared continued nervously. "It's more of a thing we can do at will—we call it phasing—so I guess the correct term is shape-shifter. I can shape-shift into a wolf. A pretty massive wolf, actually. That's why I had such a huge growth spurt last spring—I don't know if you noticed it, but I haven't always been this tall—and being a wolf is why I run such a high temperature, and…and…why aren't you saying anything, Kim?"

She simply stared at him for a moment longer, before a frown finally broke out across her face. Well that definitely wasn't the reaction he was hoping for.

"If you don't really want to tell me the truth, you didn't need to come back and give me such elaborate, far-fetched excuses."

Well, damn. This really wasn't going well.

"It is the truth," Jared insisted. "I'm just not explaining it right. Look, are you familiar with the tribal legends?"

Kim seemed confused by the sudden question.

"Yes," She replied eventually. "I pay attention in school."

"Right," Jared said, "So according to the legends, we're descended from wolves. But, the thing is, it's all true. Kaheleha and the spirit warriors and Taha Aki; it's all true. Those of us today who are descended from Taha Aki have the ability to phase into wolves in times of need, when the tribe needs protection."

Kim seemed to be mulling over the truthfulness of his words as she frowned at him speculatively. Well at least she wasn't outright shooting him down again. And then she finally spoke.

"Prove it."

Now Jared frowned.

Seeming to sense his hesitation, Kim continued, "I have always believed that the legends are at least based in fact, even if they aren't one hundred present accurate. And if they are completely true like you claim, then you should be able to prove it to me. Besides, I know this isn't something you can fake right in front of me. So become a wolf."

Jared ran a hand over his face wearily.

"There is nothing I'd like more than to prove it to you, Kim," Jared said slowly.

"But?" Kim prompted.

Jared sighed. "Do you remember how I said I was gone because of an emergency?"

Kim nodded.

"Sam…" Jared began delicately. "Well, essentially, phasing is influenced by our emotions and Sam…he lost control. He lost control badly. It was just for a second, but a second was all it took and Emily was standing too close and she got hurt. That's where I've been the past few days: at the hospital with Emily."

"Is she okay?" Kim asked immediately, concern morphing across her features. Jared sighed internally. This was one of those things that made his imprint so amazing; Kim didn't even known Emily-in fact, Jared was pretty sure Sam's imprint hadn't even come up in conversation before this-and she was concerned about her well-being.

"She will be," Jared replied. "She was unconscious for several days, and the doctors said there's going to be permanent scarring, but she's going to live...which we really weren't sure about for a little while. And that's just the thing. I could never live with myself if I hurt you like Emily got hurt, Kim."

By the time he finished, Jared was speaking to his hands in his lap. Just the thought that he was capable of physically harming Kim made Jared feel ashamed of himself.

"Jared," Kim said softly, and a moment later he felt her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. Surprised, Jared looked up to see that she was now standing beside him.

"I might be upset with you," She told him, "And I might not completely believe you about this whole wolf thing, yet. But," She stressed, "I do believe that you would never hurt me. You said this thing with Sam and Emily was an accident. Well, you're going to be phasing on purpose. We can take precautions. Besides, if your control is as tenuous as you're making it out to be, then it means it's dangerous for us to be around each other all the time. And if that was true, then you wouldn't be here right now, would you?"

Jared thought it over briefly and then nodded hesitantly. She did have a point…

"Okay then," Kim gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I just need to go make sure Kylie is still sleeping, and then…should we go outside for this?"

"Outside would be best," Jared replied resolutely. "But you don't need to go check on Kylie; she's still asleep."

A confused frown marred Kim's features at this pronouncement.

"How do you know that?" She questioned.

"Oh," Jared said sheepishly. "I have really good hearing, like freakishly good. It's another one of those wolf things. I can hear her breathing perfectly right now, and her heart beat. She's still asleep."

Jared was confused now, though, because Kim was still frowning slightly and…blushing? She was embarrassed?

"So," Kim began delicately, "That means you can hear my heart beat, too?"

Ah, now he understood.

"Best sound in the world," Jared confirmed with a slight smirk. Then, he pushed his chair back and stood up, grabbing Kim's hand after it fell from his shoulder. "Let's head outside. Your backyard is pretty secluded, but we should still head into the trees for a bit of extra cover."

Once they had reached a spot in the woods behind Kim's house that Jared deemed suitable, he stopped walking and turned back to face her.

"I'm not going to phase right next to you," He said, his hand reflexively tightening around hers in his nervousness. "But there are still a couple different ways we can do this. I can either go over there behind some trees to phase or I can do it right in front of you."

"I want to see it," Kim said immediately.

Jared couldn't help but sigh. "I had a feeling you were going to say that."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Kim retorted. "There's something else you aren't telling me, isn't there?"

"It's like this," Jared began slowly. "When I phase, my clothes…well, they don't exactly change with me."

"Okay…" Kim replied slowly, and Jared could tell that she clearly did not comprehend where he was going with this.

"In fact," He continued delicately, "My wolf form is much larger, so if I'm wearing clothes when I phase they tend to get ripped to shreds. And, well, I really can't afford to ruin any more clothes."

Judging by the sudden bright red color of her cheeks, Jared was pretty sure she'd finally caught on to what he was trying to say.

"I still want to see it!" Kim suddenly blurted out. And immediately, Jared learned she could turn an even deeper shade of red as she rushed to clarify, "I meant see you phase! I still want to see you phase."

And now, although they were still standing there holding hands, Kim was steadfastly looking anywhere but at Jared. He couldn't help but smile slightly despite the awkward situation; he'd almost forgotten how adorable she could get when she was embarrassed.

"I'll go over there," Jared indicated a spot several yards away. "You stay here while I, er, get ready and then phase. And then...and then we'll take it from there, alright?"

Kim merely nodded, still rather red and refusing to make eye contact with him.

As quickly as possible, Jared shed his clothes and placed them in a pile under a nearby tree. Not wanting to extend Kim's embarrassment any further, Jared chose to keep his back to her. Quickly gathering his anger, Jared felt the familiar spread of heat and then suddenly he was standing on four feet rather than two. Making sure to be cautious, Jared turned slowly to see Kim's reaction.