3. THE TRUTH
Three weeks went by and Micah had spent every spare moment that he could with Ashley. Although it had been a short period of time, he felt like he was falling in love with her and she returned the feeling. In fact, she had been in love with him for years. Micah wanted to stay there forever with her but he knew that wasn't possible. Absolom's warning rang in his head "werewolves kill the ones that are close to them." The time had come when he knew he needed to leave.
He packed a small sack with a change of clothes and was now stuffing it with some food to get ready to head out when Ashley walked into the kitchen.
"You know, you don't have to steal it, I don't think you're parents would mind you eating their food." Ashley joked.
Micah's face was grim. "I'm leaving, Ashley. I'm sorry but I have to go."
Surprise found its way on Ashley's face. "What? What do you mean? Why?"
"You wouldn't understand." Micah pushed past her and went out the door but she followed him.
"Micah, you owe me a better explanation than that! Please, just tell me! Did I do something wrong?" Her voice cracked.
Micah stopped; he couldn't leave with her blaming herself. "Ashley, it has nothing to do with you. You're not the reason why I'm leaving."
"But I'm not reason enough to stay either?" The pain in her voice was evident.
Micah turned around and wrapped his arms around her. "If I could stay, I would. But there are things beyond my control. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me." Silent tears streaked her face.
Micah took in a deep breath. He was terrified that she might think of him as a lunatic, or even worse, that she would hate him when she learned the truth about the monster that he was. "A few months ago I was bitten by a huge dog, at least that's what I thought it was at the time. I got very sick afterwards and my eyes changed color, like I told you. But I also went through other changes, all my senses improved. Then I started waking up naked in the woods during the full moon. A man named Absolom came to me recently and taught me the truth about what had happened to me. He told me that I was a werewolf now." Micah waited for her to run away screaming but she didn't. He looked at her face but instead of fear or horror he found deep thought and contemplation.
Then she met his gaze and said, "I believe you."
Micah laughed, "Just like that?"
She was very serious now. "Micah, I believe that there are creatures out there that are only heard about in myths. When my parents died I was here, with Anna. I went home and I found their bodies. Everyone told me that they had gotten some kind of plague that killed them and that I was lucky to have not caught the disease. But I saw them Micah! They had bite marks on them and their blood was drained. I knew that they were killed by vampires but no one believed me. Finally, your family told me to never speak of it otherwise people would think that I was a lunatic and put me in an asylum. So I believe you Micah. You only confirm what I already know."
Micah hugged her tightly. He was relieved that she understood. But it didn't change the fact that he needed to get away from her so that he could never hurt her. "I still have to leave Ashley," he whispered into her ear. "I have to go and you can't come with me."
Her tears came harder now, "No Micah, please."
He pushed away from her and started to walk away, "I'm sorry." He called over his shoulder. She stood there crying as she watched him walk away.
Micah was furious all over again at the life that he did not choose. He walked towards the town center thinking bitter thoughts. The weather also turned bitter, it began to snow with hard winds blowing. So strange when the weather had been so agreeable only a few days before. Micah found the inn where Absolom had been staying. He asked the clerk for his room number and went and knocked on Absolom's door. It opened and he entered.
Absolom's bag was already packed and he seemed ready to go. "It's about time." Absolom scolded him.
"Can we just get out of here?" Micah said.
The men left the inn and got into Absolom's carriage. The winds blew even harder now and the snow had made a white blanket over everything. The sun had set and night was settling in. They were only about one mile out of town when Absolom slowed the carriage down to a stop.
"Why are we stopping?" Micah asked.
"Shhh. Listen. Do you hear that?"
Micah strained to hear what Absolom was hearing over the whistling wind. Then he did. A young girls scream. Ashley's scream.
Micah jumped out of the carriage and ran back towards the sound. He made it in time to see a pack of wolves surrounding Ashley and growling and baring their teeth at her. She was so frightened. Before Micah knew it he let out an awful growl at the animals and they all looked at him and whimpered and put their tails between their legs.
"Don't hurt her." He commanded them. "Ashley, are you okay?"
She nodded but was still shaken up. He made his way to her with the wolves backing off and he hugged her tightly. "What are you doing out here?"
"I wanted to follow you." She admitted.
Suddenly Absolom was standing next to them. Micah introduced the two and then asked "Why did the wolves listen to me?"
"Because you are superior to them. Wolves live by a system of leaders, or an alpha male. You hold a higher rank than any of them. They will do whatever you command them." Absolom answered.
Micah turned back to Ashley. "Listen to me, where I am going, you cannot follow. It is more dangerous than you can imagine. I swear to you, when it is safe for me to be around you I will find a way to get back to you but you must stay here. I will make these wolves protect you in my absence. But please trust me, you have to stay here and I will come and find you when I can."
Ashley nodded sadly. "If you promise to come back then I will stay."
"I promise." Micah kissed her goodbye and commanded the wolves to look after her. He and Absolom went back to the carriage and left Ashley under their protection.
