Grayson's POV

"I'm not really a werewolf." The sound of a smack echoed through the room as Michael lightly hit Taylor on the back of the head. In an instant, I was next to her, pulling her into me and growling at Michael.

"Don't. TOUCH. Her," I snarled, my eyes darkening. Holding her closer, I breathed in her wonderfully mocha scent and felt myself calming down. Michael gave me a weird look and I bared my extended canines at him as a warning. He shook his head and motioned for Taylor to continue. She gave him a blank stare.

"What?" She asked. Michael frowned.

"Go on."

"Oh, yeah. So...uh...," Taylor stumbled over the words. I buried my head into her hair and nodded. I wanted to know the truth, badly, but I didn't want to make my mate uncomfortable.

"Taylor!" Michael whisper-yelled. She gave him a scathing look and flipped him the bird. Taylor extracted herself from me and I wanted to whimper at the loss of contact.

She sighed and ran a hand a hand through her hair. "Can we at least leave this place before I tell him everything? I don't think those guys will wait for us." Michael grudgingly nodded. Taylor stepped up the silver bars of the jail door. Before she touched them, she turned her head and directed her piercing gaze on me.

"Being locked up doesn't feel good, does it?" She remarked with a lifted eyebrow. I frowned and turned my focus elsewhere, ashamed. Taylor pushed the bars open, bending them to part an opening for us.

As we left the room, Michael piped up. "What's this about being locked up?"

~

We didn't stop running until we reached a flower meadow. Yep. A meadow. Full of flowers. Lots of 'em too. Michael and I went behind trees to put on our clothes while Taylor just shifted right there and collapsed on the bed of flowers. A tired sigh escaped her mouth and a sliver of regret stabbed me.

I never stopped to ask how she was feeling. Taylor must've had less than an hour of sleep and she had to face all of those rogues with an injured friend.

Stupid! I chided myself, smacking my forehead. I sat down next to her laying figure and patiently waited for her to start.

"Hey." Michael came out from behind the tree. "I'm gonna go find out where we are, alright?" We nodded and he left.

Without opening her eyes, she murmured, "What do you wanna know first?" Too busy admiring her dark, luscious lashes, she had to repeat the question before I answered.

"Start with the shifting thing. How can you shift without your clothes being teared to shreds?" Another sigh. Instead of responding to my question, she asked one of her own.

"Grayson, how old were you when you first shifted?"

Bewildered, I furrowed my brows and replied, "Thirteen. Everyone shifts at thirteen."

"Seven."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I was seven when I shifted." My eyes widened and my jaw dropped.

"B-but, how..--"

"My dad gave me up to Beta John when I was six. I was so...sad. Not angry. Not hurt. Just....sad." Her torn voice had my heart breaking. I laid down next to her and wrapped her in my arms. She placed her head on my chest and continued. "I just didn't understand why he would give me up like that. Why he would never visit. Never call. Just never."

"When I first came to live with Beta John, Margaret, and Michael, I was...distant. I wouldn't talk, wouldn't eat. I would just lay on the bed in the room they gave me, staring at the wall." I held her tighter, nuzzling her neck. "I just felt so empty. I didn't care about anything else."

"One day, I left the house. I didn't tell anyone, I just started walking. And...somehow, I ended up in the middle of the woods. There was a nearby waterfall." She smiled at this. "I went to it and swung my feet in the water. Then I felt it. That sharp pain you get in your gut. I didn't know what was happening." Her voice became softer. "I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. So, I just laid there, surfing the waves of agony." Taylor grinned and I smiled at her beaming face. "Then...this voice started talking in my head. I was so excited; for once, I wasn't alone. I spent the next two years bonding with my wolf. Talking, training, she taught me everything. That's how I'm able to do these things, I've...well, bonded with her."

"I don't feel the pain of silver because a real wolf wouldn't. I can talk in any werewolf's mind because real wolves are all connected--they're not just connected by packs. I can shift with my clothes still on because I didn't change. I'm within her as she is within me. I'm stronger. I've reached my full potential. This mark," she pulled the sleeve of her shirt up, revealing the crescent moon. "is a symbol of it. That's also why I'm able to command other Alphas. I'm just slightly more powerful."

"So," I drawled out. "you're a Lycan?" Taylor rolled her eyes and reached up to flick my forehead. I pouted and rubbed the spot where she hit. I was honestly surprised by her confession. I knew she was different, special, but I didn't know it would be something as...crazy as this.

"Were you not listening or something? I've bonded with my wolf!"

"How do you do that?" I inquired.

I wanna do that, my wolf commented.

Taylor sighed and turned her head. "I don't know. Maybe Luna knew how lonely and pathetic I felt and decided to take mercy. Maybe it's because I got my wolf at an early age. All I know is: I wouldn't change a thing about it." Smiling, I kissed her temples. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. Michael says I have trust issues."

"It's alright, baby." I could never be mad at this girl. I had forgiven her as soon as she started. "It doesn't matter, you're telling me now and that's all that matters, 'kay?" She simpered and coyly nodded.

"Alright." Michael emerged from the woods. "Enough of this lovey-dove crap, let's go back home before those rogues find us. And I need to pee and I ain't going in those bushes." His face turned a light shade of pink before he admitted, "AlsoImissJasonplease."

 ~Author's Note~

 Yeah, I know, it's a short chapter. Whatever. I promise you a longer chapter next time, okay? I'm having a busy weekend.

 Please check out my new werewolf story "Alpha Turned Rogue"! I've posted the prologue so far. There may be a chance that you'll like it! Honest! Oh, and @ShorelineRoxy has this AWESOME book called "Glacia's Assassin"! Check it out!

 Thanks for reading and please VOTE and COMMENT. I LOVE READING YOUR THOUGHTS SO TELL ME THEM. Type wtf is wrong with you if you read my author's note!

 Love,

 4everAloneAnAwkward